The main villain in Christopher Nolan’s groundbreaking 2005 superhero film “Batman Begins” was Ra’s al Ghul. Ra’s al Ghul first appeared in Batman comic books in 1971. Writer Denny O’Neil and artist Neal Adams created the character. Ra’s al Ghul made his debut in Batman issue #232 in June 1971.
Batman Begins was the first Batman film to feature Ras al Ghul, with Liam Neeson playing the role. In the film, Ra’s is a criminal mastermind. He seeks to cleanse the world of what he sees as its corrupt elements. At first, he believes Bruce Wayne is a key to achieving this goal. Ra’s is a formidable opponent for Batman, and their conflict drives much of the plot of the film.
Ra’s al Ghul’s Plot in Batman Begins
Ra’s al Ghul believes that Gotham City is so corrupt beyond saving that he must therefore destroy it. He thinks the city is overrun with crime and corrupt bureaucrats that must be allowed to die. To this end, he hatches a plan to lace the city’s water supply with a toxic nerve agent. This poison causes extreme fear and panic.
Ra’s will use an experimental military microwave emitter – owned by Bruce Wayne’s company Wayne Enterprises – to vaporize the city’s laced water supply. Ras believes this will create enough hallucinatory panic among Gotham’s population that the city will literally tear itself apart.
Ra’s enlists the help of corrupt psychologist Jonathan Crane, who also calls himself “Scarecrow” as he torments his asylum patients. The plan is for Ra’s to use Crane’s fear toxin as the poison to carry out the lethal plot.
Ra’s al Ghul and Bruce Wayne’s Relationship
Bruce Wayne Meets Ra’s al Ghul
Ra’s al Ghul, using an alter ego named “Ducard”, first meets Bruce Wayne at the beginning of the film. At the time, Wayne is imprisoned in a Himalayan jail where he studied and fights locked-up criminals. Wayne’s courage and determination to fight crime and corruption impresses the criminal mastermind.
So, “Ducard” tells Wayne that he speaks on behalf of,”Ras al Ghul, a man greatly feared by the criminal element”. Then, “Ducard” offers to train Wayne as a member of Ra’s al Ghul’s shadowy ninja group the League of Shadows.
Ra’s Trains Wayne
Wayne agrees to train with “Ducard” and the League. There, he hones the skills that he will use in his campaign to fight crime as Batman. During his training, Wayne undergoes intense physical and mental training to become a superior warrior and crime fighter.
As the League nearly forces Wayne to execute a criminal, “Ducard” reveals the League’s real plan to destroy Gotham City. Ducard pressures and threatens Wayne into helping them by leading this plot to destroy Gotham. But, Wayne rebels at the last minute.
Wayne torches the home of the League and kills the decoy “Ra’s al Ghul”. But, after “Ducard” is knocked unconscious, Wayne saves Ducard from sliding off a mountain cliff. Bruce then brings “Ras al Ghul “Ducard” down to some locals who will nurse him back to health. They tell Bruce that they will inform “Ducard” that Bruce saved his life.
What Is the League of Shadows?
The League of Shadows is a group of highly trained and skilled ninja assassins. They are dedicated to ridding the world of corruption and bringing about what they call “justice”. Ra’s al Ghul is the current leader of The League. He believes that humanity is prone to corruption. It is the League’s duty to cleanse the world of this corruption. They will do this through any means necessary, including mass murder and destruction.
The League is based in the Himalayas. They have a long history of carrying out terrorist attacks and other covert operations to destroy corrupt cities around the world. These cities include major civilizational centers like Ancient Rome and London. The organization is shrouded in secrecy and operates outside the law, using its skills and resources to carry out its goals without being detected.
Who Plays Ra’s al Ghul in Batman Begins?
Famed Japanese actor Ken Watanabe plays the “decoy” Ra’s al Ghul. But, the film later reveals that “Ducard”, played by Liam Neeson, is secretly the real Ra’s. Neeson is a famous Irish actor who has appeared in a wide variety of films and television shows. He is perhaps most famous for his roles in:
- Schindler’s List
- Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
- Batman Begins
- Kinsey
- Taken
Although Neeson didn’t win an Oscar for his role as Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece Schindler’s List, he easily could have. Lately, Neeson is most well-known for his work in January-released B action thrillers like The Commuter and Cold Pursuit.
Why Did Christoper Nolan Cast Liam Neeson?
It is not uncommon for actors to be cast in roles that are different from their usual type, and Liam Neeson in Batman Begins is no exception. Christopher Nolan, the film’s iconic director, has said that he chose Neeson to play Ra’s al Ghul because he felt that Neeson had the gravitas and presence to bring the character to life on screen.
Neeson is known for his strong and commanding presence. And Nolan believed that Neeson would be able to bring the necessary weight and intensity to the role. In addition, Neeson is a skilled and respected actor who has a wide range of experience. And Nolan felt that Neeson would be able to bring depth and nuance to the character.
Overall, Nolan believed that Neeson was the right choice for the role because he felt that Neeson had the talent and ability to bring Ra’s al Ghul to life in a way that was believable and memorable.
Why Did Nolan Choose Ra’s al Ghul As The Main Villain?
Christopher Nolan chose Ra’s al Ghul to be the main villain in the film because Nolan felt that the character would be a good fit for the Batman origin story he was trying to tell.
Ra’s al Ghul is a complex and multifaceted character. His belief that the world is corrupt and must be cleansed of this corruption. drives his villainy This belief gives him a sense of deep purpose and makes him a formidable antagonist for Batman. Bruce Wayne is also driven by a desire to bring justice to Gotham City, though in a much less deranged and murderous way. Ras al Ghul is a shadowy mirror of who a less stable Bruce Wayne might have become.
In addition, Ra’s al Ghul’s skills and resources as the leader of the League of Shadows make him a formidable and capable villain. He can challenge Batman on multiple intellectual and physical levels. Overall, Nolan believed that Ra’s al Ghul would be a compelling and memorable villain for his reboot of the Batman franchise.
Who Are The Other Main Villains in Batman Begins?
The main villains in Batman Begins besides Ra’s al Ghul are Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson) and Jonathan “Scarecrow” Crane (Cillian Murphy).
Carmine Falcone is a powerful and corrupt Gotham City mob boss who controls much of the criminal underworld in the city. He is a ruthless and feared figure. And he uses his wealth and corrupt influence to protect his own illicit business interests and maintain power over the whole city.
Jonathan Crane is a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum who uses his position of power and his fear toxin to manipulate and terrorize his patients. He wears a rather deranged “Scarecrow” mask while conducting these “fear experiments” on his patients. Scarecrow becomes a pawn of Ra’s al Ghul. Crane helps Ra’s release the toxin into the city’s water supply as part of the League’s plan to destroy Gotham.
If you enjoyed this article on the main villain in Batman Begins, check out my related article on “The Development of Batman Begins“.