Superhero Hall of Fame: Batman Begins (2005)

Join us for a new series we're calling "Superhero Hall of Fame" in which we go back to classic superhero movies and ask whether these movies hold up and whether the superhero genre has anything going for it, or whether it was all a fad.This week we look at Batman Begins directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman and Liam Neeson. Batman Begins follows the transformation of Bruce Wayne into Batman as he tries to stop the League of Shadows' plan to destroy Gotham City.We talk about why Batman Begins is one of the best superhero movies ever made, how it explores its themes of fear and justice and what role the choice of villains with Ra's al Ghul and Scarecrow play in that, and what superhero tropes and conventions this movie showcases and justifies that have fallen by the wayside in the 20 years since it came out.