The Origin of Hope

Batman BeginsJustin Gregorio

"I seek the means to fight injustice, to turn fearagainst those who prey on the fearful."

"And why do we fall, Bruce? So we canlearn to pick ourselves up"

The Rise of Hope in Gotham: Batman Begins, viewed through the Catholic lens.

Every story has an origin. Christopher Nolan’s interpretation of Batman’s origin story

is unique. In Batman Begins (2005), we learn about the back story of Bruce Wayne, through

several flashbacks, and the beginning of the ‘Caped Crusader’. Batman Begins is not only

another origin story, but a journey that Bruce Wayne takes, to become Batman.

Christian Bale takes on the cape and cowl in

this rendition. Bale is convincing as a

millionaire who seeks vengeance, under the

name of justice.

Scarecrow or Dr. Jonathan Crane (Cillian

Murphy) the major villain in this story. Dr.

Crane is the lead mastermind in the

destruction of Gotham, with the help of the

League of Shadows.

Batman’s first large scale encounter with a major villain will prove tobe a difficult journey. This journey will fade the line between Batmanand Bruce Wayne, assimilating the two different men, into one. But thisjourney will also uncover ties to hope, faith and a handful ofsacramental concepts that can be pulled from this film.

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Christopher Nolan and David Goyer have penned a

deep transformation between a man seeking

vengeance and a vigilante fighting for revenge.

We begin in a garden, flourishing with life,

with a young Bruce and Rachel. Bruce steals

from Rachel and falls into a well filled with

bats. Bruce is frightened by the bats, and his

fear of bats begins.

Summary

Then we alternate from moments

from Bruce’s childhood, and the

League of Shadows training;

the death of his parents, his

fear overcoming him, learning

to overcome his fears, seeking

vengeance, and fighting for

what he believed was right.

After returning from

the tedious League of

Shadows initiation, he

returns to the Wayne

Manor. This is where

Bruce Wayne begins to

become the Batman.

After visiting the old well that

once scarred him, and Lucious Fox,

Bruce embarks his journey to

becoming Batman. On this journey,

Bruce experiences his first grand

scale encounter with a major

villain, Scarecrow. This encounter

that determines the future of

Gotham, teaches Bruce that the

person is not defined by who they

are, but by their actions.

I viewed this film 9 years after the original release of the film, in aclassroom, these settings have changed my experience. My teacherpointed out some connections with different Catholic similarities. Forexample, the opening scene with Bruce and Rachel in the large garden issimilar to the story of Adam and Eve. A man and woman in a largegreen garden where sin will unfold. Batman Begins, although released in2005, does not seem like an outdated film. The film is very dark,aesthetics wise and at times the film feels dark; like there is an evilvibe. This darkness works in favor of Batman. The Batman comics andother forms of Batman literature (video games, television shows, andother movies) share the similar dark tone. This tone fits perfectly withthe movie, and I believe this darker tone would only fit with literaturebased around the Batman universe. There is ‘light’ in this darkness, hope,faith, friendship and responsibility can be seen. The ‘light’ in Batman Begins, is what I can connect to my Catholic beliefs.I will start with hope. When Bruce Wayne dons the cape and cowl andbecomes the Caped Crusader, he also beings to become the symbolfor hope. The bat symbol on the spotlight, that Gordon uses to callBatman, provides a symbol of hope for the residents of Gotham City.But Batman is not the only symbol of hope. Bruce Wayne is alsoanother symbol of hope. However, Bruce is blinded and cannot see thathe does not need a mask to be a symbol of hope. He becomes overwhelmed with seeking vengeance for what he has loss. Rachel does seethat Bruce could be the symbol of hope. I see Rachel trying to showBruce he himself is a symbol of hope as God speaking throughfriendship. Rachel attempting to help Bruce, is Rachel taking on a socialresponsibility. Rachel feels responsible for steering Bruce in the rightdirection. In the end Rachel fails because Bruce is blinded and is notaware of others, like Rachel and Alfred who try to help Bruce. Fromthis, Batman Begins says hope can come in different forms, the batsymbol, Batman. The symbols of hope are interpreted different fromperson to person. Rachel believed Bruce was the symbol of hope, whilethe citizens of Gotham believed the bat symbol was the symbol of hope.Alfred, Rachel and Henri had faith in Bruce. But Bruce had failed all ofthem. This movie tells me faith is something that heavily relies on trust.Faith is also something that coincides with hope.

Description & Analysis

Batman Begins is the Batman perfect origin story. This is a comic book movie, but Nolan's cinematography and Goyle's writing have made this film seem like a special action and adventure flick that must be seen. Batman Begins is one comic book movie that must be seen, regardless if you are a fan of Batman or not. There are other things that can be taken away from Batman Begins. My view through the Catholic lens has extracted things about defining one's self, the difference between justice and vengeance and the power of hope in the darkest times. Batman Begins is a movie that must be seen.