Batman Begins (2005)
Ah yes, the film which started the trend of describing films with the buzz words “grounded” and “gritty.” 2005 saw director Christopher Nolan and writer David S. Goyer regenerate the Caped Crusader by revisiting his formative crime fighting days, in a real-world setting.
Sure, some fans were irritated by the bare-boned approach to the Batsuit, the Batmobile and Gotham itself, claiming that they bore little similarity to the comics. However, Nolan and Goyer’s greatest strength was that behind the no-frills aesthetic, they really understood what made the Caped Crusader tick. Batman Begins draws from several notable comic runs, and delivers a love letter to the character and all of his inner conflicts. It also helps that it’s a taught and thrilling movie with lashings of wit (seriously, there are far more one-liners in this film than people tend to remember).
Through their sterling character study, Nolan and Goyer started one of the most successful and acclaimed trilogies of the modern age. And, from Casino Royale to The Amazing Spider-Man, Batman Begins…erm…began a spate of brooding, back-to-basics, reboots for all manner of intellectual properties.
The Dark Knight (2008)
While it’s amazing what Christopher Nolan managed to accomplish with Batman Begins, his success with The Dark Knight is on another level. Ten years on, and many superhero enthusiasts will agree that very few films have come close to the same level as this sequel.
At this point, there’s very little that remains unsaid about the cinematic epic. From the intensity of the Batmobile chase to the nerve-wracking crescendo of Two-Face’s revenge, it’s a ride that’s filled with unforgettable movie moments. And then there’s the late and great Heath Ledger, whose work on the film became iconic overnight.
As it was – and still is – with The Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Knight is now the benchmark against which numerous sequels are measured. Its thoughtful musings upon morality represent the pinnacle at which superhero films can occasionally soar. And it’s doubtful that any movie has captured the post-9/11 zeitgeist any more than Christopher Nolan did here.
