I've been mulling over the theme of this movie, and the more I think about it, the more I'm taken to a place that I don't want to go to. Because, maybe, the people who complain about this being too "dark" have subconsciously picked up on something, but can't articulate. And I think I have.
Basically, this is the scariest Batman I've ever seen portrayed. And that's because unlike or moreso than other Batman's, this one has the potential to become something truly evil. If indulged, this new franchise could take Batman to a place he was never meant to go.
You see, in trying to decipher the theme of this movie, it becomes apparent that FEAR is the theme of this movie. This movie is obsessed with it. Or, to be more precise, this film is about the weaponization of fear. Every major foe in the film uses fear as a weapon. From Joe Chill who uses fear of his gun to pilfer a few paltry dollars from the Wayne's, to Carmen Falcone who rules the city in a grip of fear, to Dr. Crane who induces fear to get the things he wants and needs, to Ra's Al Ghul who is set to use the raw power of fear unfettered to cause Gotham to tear itself apart.
So then, Using fear against others is the theme. But I was wondering, what was the final analysis of this theme? What is the movie actually trying to say about those who use Fear as a weapon? Chill, Falcone, Crane and Ghul are all portrayed as evil and despicable for doing so, for perverting the natural order of things by using fear. Chill by depriving a boy of his parents, Falcone by depriving a city of it's justice, Crane by depriving men of their sanity, and Ghul by trying to deprive the people of a city of their right to live.
Put in that light, it seems exceedingly odd for the movie to portray Bruce's embrace of fear as a weapon in a good light. Sure, Batman has used a fearsome costume since his very inception. But, there seems to be a subtle difference here in how it's applied. Past Batmans have used the costume for tactical advantage, to through thugs off-balance through fear, making them easier to dispense with. Fear was a tool then, to help Batman achieve his ultimate aim of Justice.
But this Batman is different. It's a subtle difference, but an important one. This is a Batman who wants to visit "his fear of Bats onto all criminals of Gotham." This Batman, is one who seems to relish bringing fear to criminals, and making a city fear him. He eagerly seeks the power of fear, to use against his enemies. Here, it's a sort of revenge. He will pay back Falcone for gripping the city in fear by visiting this fear back upon him.
But this begs the question, "Why is it okay for Batman to use fear as a source of power, but not okay for Chill, Falcone, Crane and Ghul?" Part of what makes them evil is that they use fear to gain power. But Batman can't be evil, right? So what is it saying? That fear as a weapon has no moral value, but can be used for good as well as evil? But is that something you can really believe? Is it really okay to hold a human emotion hostage to achieve your ends? In any other case, this would be called "Manipulation," and a rather despicable form of it at that.
However, it seems that Bruce senses the inherent contradiction that using fear has. He knows that people shouldn't use fear against other people. So his solution, (or justification) is to elevate himself to being some sort of god. In the symbol of Batman, he seeks to become "incorruptible, and everlasting." He wishes to visit "his fear upon the criminals of the city," and speaks in such a way reminiscent of God visiting his wrath upon an evil populace. And when Flass happens to exclaim "I swear to God!" Batman makes no bones about it that he rivals the authority of the Almighty.
So that, in this, Batman makes himself above moral authority. He reserves the power of fear for him alone. And he also puts himself in the position to dispense final Justice. "I am no executioner" Bruce says. But as Batman, he becomes something worse. "I won't kill you, but I don't have to save you." Ha. Like any other Batman would argue semantics like that. In this action, Batman seems to be saying that while he does not claim to right to visit damnation upon Ra's, he does have the right to refuse Salvation to him. I'm sorry Batman, but you're kidding only yourself. For you have taken on the authority to decide who lives and who dies, no matter what you try to say. And can any man truly be trusted with that authority? Especially if that man deludes himself into thinking he' God?
In "Mask of the Phantasm," Alfred speaks of Bruce walking the edge of the abyss every day, and thanking heaven that Bruce hasn't fallen in. The Batman of Batman Begins isn't the first one to flirt with this sort of sacrilege, nor with the contradiction of using fear for power. But this one seems to be one that has already fallen into the abyss Alfred long ago warned of. Because, as you can see, Batman has already taken on the image of Ra's Al Ghul by the end of the film. Both are men committed to Justice, but with the conviction only they can bring Justice to this corrupt world. Both have no qualms about using the power of fear to impose their will. And both are more than willing to justify the loss of life in reaching those ends. This should be far from comforting.
But, it seems that the film does not let Batman's behavior slide. Because even Gordon points out the folly of this escalation. If Batman has made himself truly "more than a man," something bordering on the divine, the what demonic ghouls are about to come out of the wood work to challenge him? Make no mistake: Batman is about to be punished, by a foe who's own narcissistic ends cannot be phased by Batman's dress-up act, and who will humble the Dark Knight by visiting his own brand of terror upon the city. Those who said that now that he's Batman, there's no where left for his character to go, are wrong. But, it's about to travel into some dark, dark territory, one that even Batman fans may not be able to stomach.
In the end, the film offers and interesting interpretation of Batman, but hardly my preferred one. Because this Batman has the capacity to pervert his mission, and become something worse than anything he's fought.
