I held off seeing Batman Begins until it reached Blockbuster's shelves. My friends had raved about it; critics seemed to like it; so when the right opportunity came along, my brother, dad, and I watched it. My initial reaction was that the movie was well-made, the acting superb, and the plot excellent (albeit the film in its entirety is dark).
My brother ended up purchasing the film and we watched it again. And this time I walked away feeling unsure of whether I could root for Bruce Wayne/Batman. Meaning I questioned if Batman was truly a "good guy".
I mentioned this to a friend the other night and the shock on his face told me my views weren't readily shared. Nevertheless, I hope I can explain this belief. I will begin with an interview I read with Christian Bale (aka Batman) before the film's theatrical release. Surprisingly, Bale mentioned that he wanted an R-rated version which could delve into the character of Bruce Wayne. In fact, he described Wayne as a guy you wouldn't want to be left alone in a room with. Interesting.
In another interview, Christian Bale said, "I mean, he’s the really on-the-edge one [superhero] because he’s the guy that, okay, he’s doing good but he’s the Dark Knight. I mean, a knight is meant to be in shining armor and he’s the Dark Knight. He could do good things but man, he could just as easily flip over and become like the ultimate villain" (1.).
The film begins with Bruce's terrifying encounter with bats, his continued fear of the winged mammals shown at the opera, and his parent's murder in the theater's back alley. That fear, pain, guilt, anger, resentment, hatred (I'm running out of negative descriptive emotions) is what drives his life. Everything he does is based on his desire to get revenge, to fulfill his "weakness" as a child by facing the bad guys head on.
My friend wanted to make the point that it's not revenge, it's avenge. However, if you look at the etymology of word "avenge", along with the words "revenge" and "vengeance", the word from which they are all derived is "vengier". In Old French this means "take revenge" (2).
"It is mine to revenge; I will repay." (Deut. 32:35)
Moreover, compared to Spiderman or Superman, Batman is not there to truly save the people of his city, he is there to get the criminals. It is protection of the innocent vs. destruction of the guilty.
I think what sealed it for me was the moment in the film where Ra's Al Ghul (Liam Neeson) is on a tram flying toward the city's main water tower. Batman defeats him and Ghul mocks him because he couldn't kill before. Batman replies, "I won't kill you; but I don't have to save you." In light of other superheroes, it seems pretty cold. Spiderman tried to save the Green Goblin, he successfully saved Doc Oc (though Oc dies in order to save the city), and he attempted to save Venom. Even Superman did not exact vengeance on Lex Luther.
Batman is the reality and Bruce Wayne is the mask. Can we really cheer for this kind of character? Channeling anger and hate can work for a while but at some point or another you have to decide if you want them to be the driving force of your life. Ra's Al Ghul/Henri Drucard reminds Bruce of this, saying, "Your anger gives you great power. But if you let it, it will destroy you. As it almost did me." Wayne inquires to what halted it. One word is all Drucard uses: "Vengeance." To inflict pain on those who have wronged you isn't any less destructive than anger. A choice is given. It appears Wayne has made his decision.
--HM
1. http://movies.about.com/od/batman/a/batman022005_2.htm
2. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=avenge&searchmode=none
My brother ended up purchasing the film and we watched it again. And this time I walked away feeling unsure of whether I could root for Bruce Wayne/Batman. Meaning I questioned if Batman was truly a "good guy".
I mentioned this to a friend the other night and the shock on his face told me my views weren't readily shared. Nevertheless, I hope I can explain this belief. I will begin with an interview I read with Christian Bale (aka Batman) before the film's theatrical release. Surprisingly, Bale mentioned that he wanted an R-rated version which could delve into the character of Bruce Wayne. In fact, he described Wayne as a guy you wouldn't want to be left alone in a room with. Interesting.
In another interview, Christian Bale said, "I mean, he’s the really on-the-edge one [superhero] because he’s the guy that, okay, he’s doing good but he’s the Dark Knight. I mean, a knight is meant to be in shining armor and he’s the Dark Knight. He could do good things but man, he could just as easily flip over and become like the ultimate villain" (1.).
The film begins with Bruce's terrifying encounter with bats, his continued fear of the winged mammals shown at the opera, and his parent's murder in the theater's back alley. That fear, pain, guilt, anger, resentment, hatred (I'm running out of negative descriptive emotions) is what drives his life. Everything he does is based on his desire to get revenge, to fulfill his "weakness" as a child by facing the bad guys head on.
My friend wanted to make the point that it's not revenge, it's avenge. However, if you look at the etymology of word "avenge", along with the words "revenge" and "vengeance", the word from which they are all derived is "vengier". In Old French this means "take revenge" (2).
"It is mine to revenge; I will repay." (Deut. 32:35)
Moreover, compared to Spiderman or Superman, Batman is not there to truly save the people of his city, he is there to get the criminals. It is protection of the innocent vs. destruction of the guilty.
I think what sealed it for me was the moment in the film where Ra's Al Ghul (Liam Neeson) is on a tram flying toward the city's main water tower. Batman defeats him and Ghul mocks him because he couldn't kill before. Batman replies, "I won't kill you; but I don't have to save you." In light of other superheroes, it seems pretty cold. Spiderman tried to save the Green Goblin, he successfully saved Doc Oc (though Oc dies in order to save the city), and he attempted to save Venom. Even Superman did not exact vengeance on Lex Luther.
Batman is the reality and Bruce Wayne is the mask. Can we really cheer for this kind of character? Channeling anger and hate can work for a while but at some point or another you have to decide if you want them to be the driving force of your life. Ra's Al Ghul/Henri Drucard reminds Bruce of this, saying, "Your anger gives you great power. But if you let it, it will destroy you. As it almost did me." Wayne inquires to what halted it. One word is all Drucard uses: "Vengeance." To inflict pain on those who have wronged you isn't any less destructive than anger. A choice is given. It appears Wayne has made his decision.
--HM
1. http://movies.about.com/od/batman/a/batman022005_2.htm
2. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=avenge&searchmode=none
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