Batman Begins

A visually stunning film yields more poetry than one might expect from a comic book movie. We romanticize Batman because of all the "super heroes" he is one that is attainable. The co-author of the film said it best: "Like maybe if we tried hard enough, if we worked hard enough, if we trained hard enough, maybe, just maybe, we could become Batman."


This keeps us engaged, hanging on every word, every action, every detail of Batman. Are you ready to begin?

The journey to becoming a legend requires something elemental: the will to act. Between Dr. Wayne and Alfred, Bruce has Ducard as acting father figure for his 7 years in hiding. As such, Liam Neeson's Ducard is rich with snippets. Among the best: "You become more than just a man in the eyes of your opponent" and the cold truth, "your parents death was not your fault. It was your father's...Anger does not change the fact that your father failed to act...the TRAINING is nothing, the WILL is everything...the will to act".

Like a low grumble of a far off storm, Ducard casts a glow of muted wisdom: "But I know the rage that drives you. That impossible anger strangling the grief, until the memory of your loved one is just... poison in your veins. And one day, you catch yourself wishing the person you loved had never existed so you'd be spared your pain."


Learning The League of Shadows' diabolical plan and doing "whatever's necessary" to stop them, Bruce nevertheless cannot let Ducard die. What does he do? He pulls one off the most underrated feats of strength in movie history:

The will to act.

Now, there aren't too many real world applications for this paternal back and forth, unless you feel like plagiarizing this movie to your son.

Still, I find myself referencing Batman Begins to this day because of these parts:

1. Pushups
2. Pool Area
3. I'm Batman
4. The Line
5. Thank You

1. Pushups

There is no Alfred like Michael Caine. As we learn in The Dark Knight, he was ex-military, which explains how he's able to kick ass in Batman Begins. It might also explain his refreshingly English banter even in the most dire circumstances: "What is the point of all those pushups if you can't even lift a bloody log?" Say this to a guy who can do more pushups than you in the gym and you'll be off and running with talking about Christian Bales body metamorphosis

2. Pool Area

In case you were to ever forget that Bruce Wayne has the money cheat code enabled for his life, he drives cars like this...

and pulls moves like this.

If a maitre d ever gets in your face, whip out your checkbook (because everyone carries their checkbook at all times) and tell him, "I'm buying this Hotel and setting some new rules about the pool area".

3. I'm Batman

The hair on my ballsack stood on end during first and numerous subsequent viewings of this moment:

There's not a lot to say other than to compare it to the Michael Keaton comically done version in the original Tim Burton Batman. Keaton might have been the second best Batman behind Bale, but this is no contest. Bale wins.


4. The Line

Circular storytelling and leitmotifs dominate Batman Begins. For some reason, this line wormed its way into my world as fundamentally true: "It's not who I am underneath, but what I DO that defines me."

5. Thank You



To that end, Batman is principled to the finish. Because he can take it. He's a hero that Gotham deserves. Does he want our thanks? You tell me...