10 Best Live-Action Batman Characters (Who Aren't The Dark Knight)
10. Ras Al Ghul - Batman Begins (2005)
In nearly every way, Christopher Nolans first round with Batman is atonement on Warner Bros. part for the disaster of 1997s Batman & Robin. Stripping away the extreme neon, nipples and knuckle-headed nature of Joel Schumachers vision of Gotham, replete with one-liner spouting villains and too-ridiculous costumes for a far more serious, grim and realistic take, Nolan was able to install Liam Neesons Ras al Ghul into the franchise as the supremely grounded and entertaining villain that had been missing since 1992s Batman Returns. While comic readers may find faults with certain liberties taken with the character compared to his comic counterpart theres no Lazarus Pit waiting for him in Nolans universe, for instance its forgivable given how well hes used not just as a means to set up a third-act showdown, but for his role in Bruce Waynes development from wandering soul to Gothams savior. Neeson plays the role straight, immediately giving his villain an advantage over Schwarzeneggers and Lee Joneses of the past, and its easy to find ones sympathies split between understanding the logic of Ra's and Bruce's different ideas about how to "save" Gotham.
Writer, film enthusiast, part-time gamer and watcher of (mostly) good television located on the fringe of Los Angeles, who now has his own website at www.highdefgeoff.com!
