IMDb >
Batman Begins (2005)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Watch it now at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsBatman Begins (2005) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 203 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 21) |
Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
15 June 2005 (USA)
See more »
Plot:
The story of how Bruce Wayne became what he was destined to be: Batman. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 6 wins
&
38 nominations
See more »
NewsDesk:
(1511 articles)
Jon Hamm might fly as Superman
(From Hollywoodnews.com. 29 July 2010, 5:06 PM, PDT)
quick list: five really relevant filmmakers working now
(From FlickFilosopher. 29 July 2010, 12:35 PM, PDT)
Neeson blasts decision to axe Film Council
(From digitalspy. 28 July 2010, 2:30 PM, PDT)
(From Hollywoodnews.com. 29 July 2010, 5:06 PM, PDT)
quick list: five really relevant filmmakers working now
(From FlickFilosopher. 29 July 2010, 12:35 PM, PDT)
Neeson blasts decision to axe Film Council
(From digitalspy. 28 July 2010, 2:30 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up. And such is the case for the Batman franchise
See more (2503 total) »
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Christian Bale | ... | Bruce Wayne / Batman | |
| Michael Caine | ... | Alfred | |
| Liam Neeson | ... | Henri Ducard | |
| Katie Holmes | ... | Rachel Dawes | |
| Gary Oldman | ... | Jim Gordon | |
| Cillian Murphy | ... | Dr. Jonathan Crane | |
| Tom Wilkinson | ... | Carmine Falcone | |
| Rutger Hauer | ... | Earle | |
| Ken Watanabe | ... | Ra's Al Ghul | |
| Mark Boone Junior | ... | Flass | |
| Linus Roache | ... | Thomas Wayne | |
| Morgan Freeman | ... | Lucius Fox | |
| Larry Holden | ... | Finch | |
| Gerard Murphy | ... | Judge Faden | |
| Colin McFarlane | ... | Loeb |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
"Batman Begins: The IMAX Experience" - USA (IMAX version)
See more »
See more »
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for intense action violence, disturbing images and some thematic elements.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
140 min
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Indonesia:Dewasa | Taiwan:PG-12 | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | India:UA | Malaysia:U | UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:12A (original rating) | Chile:Y7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Denmark:11 | South Korea:12 | South Africa:13V | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:12A | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Brazil:10 | Greece:K-13 | Philippines:G | New Zealand:M | Czech Republic:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:12 | Sweden:11
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Christian Bale lost his voice three times during filming after altering his voice while playing Batman.See more »
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When the ninjas in the Brotherhood withdraw their swords, there is a distinct metal-on-metal noise, yet their scabbards are made of leather.See more »
Quotes:
Soundtrack:
Happy Birthday To YouSee more »
FAQ
Where does Bruce go after he leaves Gotham City?Is there an animated sequel to Batman Begins?
What are the DVD/Blu-Ray editions of this movie?
See more »
See more (2503 total) »
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Batman Begins (2005) See more »Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The Dark Knight | Batman | V for Vendetta | Batman Forever | Batman Returns |
|
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb top 250 movies | IMDb Action section |
| IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |

























It sickened me in the past to see the Batman movie franchise slowly digging it's way to an early grave. After the quality Tim Burton films, the series pretty much went down the toilet, beginning a horrifically campy age of 'Bat credit-cards' and an armored Arnold Schwarzenegger tossing cringe-worthy puns at a Batman who seemed to be trying not to be embarrassed by the fact that his costume had nipples. So what could Warner Brothers producers hope to do to resurrect the franchise? Pretend it never happened, and start the whole series over again with a talented director, compelling story and capable cast.
Enter Christopher Nolan, the mastermind behind 2000's 'Momento', widely praised as one of the most innovative films of the decade. As director/co- screenwriter, Nolan creates a richly dark, atmospheric world for Batman to inhabit, similar to that of the Burton films, but less cartoony. The film's screenplay, written by Nolan and David S. Goyer is quality stuff, it's true that some of the dialog exchanges can seem kind of contrived, particularly between Wayne and Liam Neeson's character, Ducard, but it sounds so classy you tend not to care.
Nolan also puts a lot of trust in his audiences to stay put while the first hour of the film comprehensively explores Bruce Wayne's backstory, with no cape donning and few fight sequences. Nevertheless, the pace never slows, and the story is so unexpected and fascinating (who would have expected a Batman film to begin in a prison in Tibet? only Nolan could pull it off!) there's little chance of us losing interest. And this way, we really get a sense of who Bruce Wayne is, a trait none of the past movies were able to capture, including the Burton films. We see what drives him, what leads him to become this iconic crime fighter, and the reasoning behind the mask.
Of course, to help the audience get under Bruce Wayne's skin, it doesn't hurt to have such a talented lead as Christian Bale. Bale has been emerging as one of the most talented actors of his generation, and he brings that talent to a peak here, playing the darkest of all superheroes. If you were to break down the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne, you would find that it is essentially three characters: Wayne as Batman, behind the mask; Wayne's public facade as the billionaire playboy; and the real, brooding Bruce Wayne. Bale plays all three of the characters to absolute perfection, and molds them together well enough to make it clear to show they are still the same person. He has been given tons of accolades for his performance already, and needless to say, he deserves every one.
And the sheer quality of the supporting cast is mind-boggling, if for the number of big names only. It's very hard to find a weak spot in the incredibly strong array of performances here, but if one had to be found, it would have to be Katie Holmes. It's not that she gives a bad performance, on the contrary, but just she seems too young to be convincing as a district attorney. For me, Michael Gough will always be the definitive Alfred, but Michael Caine does an excellent job of taking over the role, giving a very strong (and often funny) performance. Liam Neeson is sheer class as Ducard, Wayne's mysterious mentor, as is Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Wayne's arms manufacturer and provider of the Batman gear. It's wonderful to see the incredibly talented and much underrated Gary Oldman as Sgt. Gordon, the only decent cop in Gotham, and he truly makes the role his own. Even cult favorite Rutger Hauer makes an appearance as Richard Earle, the ambitious head of Wayne Enterprises. And (surprise surprise!) the villains are also actually menacing for once, as opposed to cartoony and corny. Cillian Murphy just about walks away with the show as the truly chilling Scarecrow (the sequences involving his 'fear gas' are surprisingly frightening) Ken Watanabe is mysterious and creepy as guild leader Ra's Al Ghul and Tom Wilkinson is very convincing as Carmine Falcone, head of the Gotham city mob.
Nolan's knack for realism also comes as a breath of fresh air in this age of CGI bloated blockbusters - there are next to no computer generated shots in the movie, even a sequence with Batman standing on top of a high building staring down at the city was filmed with a stuntman. And it really works, the Batmobile actually interacts with it's environment, and looks so much better real than computer generated. But don't think that the film will come across as too serious and stuffy because of Nolan's realism - true, Gotham seems too dark and dirty to come across as a fantasy world, but Batman Begins retains that unmistakable sense of fun that seems to only be present in comic book movies. We jeer and fear the villains, and cheer the hero as he lays his life on the line to vanquish evil and save the city. And that is how it should be. There's even a surprising twist near the end, which is doubly surprising because it actually comes as a shock. What's not to love here?
(and, further cudos to director Nolan for finally managing to make a swarm of bats actually frightening for once)
Overall, I'd have to label Batman Begins 'The must see movie of the summer' - it's a well written, authoritatively directed, impeccably acted (especially by Bale's powerhouse lead performance and Cillian Murphy's sickly menacing Scarecrow) and very high quality production. Indeed, most other summer blockbusters could learn a thing or two from Batman Begins. If the Batman franchise died under it's own gaudiness years ago, let us rejoice this glorious rebirth - Batman truly does begin here.
-10/10