Batman Begins (2004)

Christopher Nolan resurrects a revered comic book franchise once ruined by Joel Schumacher. He reboots the franchise by working from scratch to define the transition of the cape crusader.

Give thanks for this move starts off with Bruce Wayne's past, from his childhood to adulthood. Unlike Tim Burton's Batman (1989), this movie explores the depth of Bruce Wayne: the death of his parents, the convict who killed them, Wayne's anguish and guilt, his determination to explore the criminal underworld by incarcerating himself, and the depths of Gotham as a city in ruin. This movie pays more attention on Gotham's decay due to crime and corruption, the growing breadth between the rich and poor, how the less fortunate turn to crime to survive, and the exploitative determination to redefine regeneration.

Like the comics and unlike Batman, this movie shows that Joe Chill is responsible for the death of Bruce Wayne's parents. Joe Chill robbed them at gunpoint because he was desolate and desperate, not a psychopath as was falsely claimed in the previous franchise. He is arrested and incarcerated but Bruce thinks he is not worthy of parole. Now to conquer crime and uphold justice, should that involve execution of a perpetrator? And will taking a life of a criminal set things right? Well that is a topic left for Bruce Wayne to resolve as he trains among the League of Shadows, a cult of assassins trained to uphold justice in their way and combat fear and guilt in their hearts. Ra's Al Ghul acts as his mentor, trains him to combat his guilt for the past, and teaches him to realize that Gotham is a cesspit that must be destroyed to start all over again.

This film does more of what Burton's movie failed to do: it goes into greater depth to explaining Batman's ascent to the Dark Knight as he samples every piece of expensive armory and equipment. We see how every one of them is acquired and manufactured by Lucius Fox--just to answer some questions regarding who makes the paraphernalia for the Batman.

So what made Bruce Wayne don the Bat alias? Bats. He notes that bats strike fear into the hearts of men, just they did his. (This was also explained in Batman Forever.) So his suit dons a feature to intimidate his targets, and a newer bat insignia. 

So by adhering to the comics and evening the tone, this movie has appealed to fans and non-fans alike. Warner had recruited an action movie director to pioneer this project and drive this movie on a path to resurrection.