Batman Begins (2005)
Related: The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
This movie should be avoided because it involves and/or promotes profanity (at least 16 instances), blasphemy (God's name is taken in vain at least 3 times), immodesty, fornication, theft, deceit, defiance against God, and disdain for authority. Since its heroes practice sin, this movie conditions viewers to substitute evil for good and good for evil (Isa. 5:20) by praising evildoers who ought to be despised (Ps. 15:4; Pro. 28:4).
Violations of God's Law
Defiance against God
This movie violates the First Commandment.
- While trying to intimidate Detective Flass who swears a profane oath, "I swear to God," Batman demands that he swear to him instead of God—thereby making Batman out to be greater than God (Heb. 6:13, 16)
Blasphemy and Profanity
This movie violates the Third Commandment. God has warned that he will not hold guiltless those who take his name in vain (Ex. 20:7). God requires oaths to be sworn by his name (Deut. 6:13).
- Commissioner Loeb blasphemes God
- A technician says "Jesus" in vain
- Detective Flass swears a profane oath
- Profane references: hell (9), damn (4), among others
- A prisoner refers to himself as the devil, and his fellow prisoners as his subjects in hell
Disdain for Authority
This movie promotes violations of the Fifth Commandment. Those who despise government are likened to brute beasts who will be condemned (2Pe. 2:10-12; Jude 1:8-10).
- Vigilantism: as a self-appointed masked vigilante, Batman defies civil authority and ignores the laws imposed by duly appointed authorities
Immodesty and Sexual Immorality
This movie violates the Seventh Commandment. The Bible warns that those who do not repent of sexual immorality will not inherit the kingdom of God (1Co. 6:9-10), but will be judged by God (Heb. 13:4). We are commanded to "flee fornication" (1Co. 6:18).
- Bruce (Christian Bale, married) embraces and kisses Rachel (Katie Holmes, unmarried)
- Women are shown with breast cleavage, baring legs, and lewd behavior
- Bruce and a male prisoner are shown shirtless
Theft
This movie promotes violations of the Eighth Commandment. The Bible warns that unrepentant thieves will not inherit the kingdom of God (1Co. 6:9-10).
- Bruce justifies theft: "I stole so that I wouldn't starve," but the Bible says even hunger is no excuse to steal (Pro. 6:30-31)
Deceit
This movie promotes violations of the Ninth Commandment. The Bible warns that all liars, whom God hates (Pro. 6:16-19; 12:22), shall have their part in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8).
- Bruce lives a lie in order to keep his alter ego secret
- Due to visible injuries, Alfred encourages Bruce to come up with a "suitable excuse" to cover his nightly antics. "Polo, for instance," he says.
Sinful Content in Batman Begins
Warning! The following table contains direct quotations from the film, which include instances of blasphemy, profanity, and other vices.
| Timestamp | Classification | Character | Quote/Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:02:30 | Profanity | Prisoner | "You are in hell, little man, and I am the devil." |
| 00:04:58 | Ducard | "A vigilante is just a man lost in the scramble for his own gratification." | |
| 00:05:07 | Ducard | "But if you make yourseIf more than just a man, if you devote yourseIf to an ideal, and if they can't stop you, then you become something eIse entirelylegend, Mr. Wayne." | |
| 00:08:30 | Bruce | "I seek the means to fight injustice, to turn fear against those who prey on the fearful." | |
| 00:17:40 | Immodesty | Bruce | Shirtless |
| 00:18:15 | Ducard | "You must become more than just a man in the mind of your opponent." | |
| 00:21:35 | Profanity | Bruce | "If I have my way, I'll pull the damn thing down brick by brick." |
| 00:21:40 | Profanity | Bruce | "Why do you give a damn, Alfred?" |
| 00:21:45 | Profanity | Alfred | "I give a damn because a good man once made me responsible for what was most precious to him in the whole world." |
| 00:23:56 | Rachel | "What Chill did is unforgivable." (he murdered Bruce's parents) | |
| 00:27:20 | Rachel | "What chance does Gotham have when the good people do nothing?" | |
| 00:27:21 | Bruce | "I'm not one of your good people, Rachel." | |
| 00:31:37 | Theft | Bruce | "I stole so that I wouldn't starve" (shown stealing food) |
| 00:31:40 | Bruce | "I lost many assumptions about the simple nature of right and wrong." | |
| 00:32:00 | Profanity | Officer | "What the hell do I care what your name is?" |
| 00:36:18 | Immodesty | Prisoner | Shirtless |
| 00:41:35 | Bruce | "I want to show the people their city doesn't belong to the criminals and the corrupt." | |
| 00:42:10 | Bruce | "As a man, I'm flesh and blood. I can be ignored, destroyed. But as a symbol, I can be incorruptible. I can be everlasting." | |
| 00:55:45 | Profanity | Officer | "What the hell was that?" |
| 00:57:40 | Profanity | Lucius | "We never could get the damn bridge to work." |
| 01:02:47 | Profanity | Falcone | "Oh, shit." |
| 01:03:07 | Profanity | Falcone | "What the hell are you?" |
| 01:05:15 | Profanity | Officer | "What the hell is that?" |
| 01:05:55 | Blasphemy | Commissioner | "Now, I don't care if it's rival gangs, Guardian Angels, or the goddamn Salvation Army..." |
| 01:06:03 | Profanity | Commissioner | "It was some asshole in a costume." |
| 01:06:12 | Commissioner | "No one takes the law into their own hands in my city." | |
| 01:06:15 | Newspaper title: "Masked Vigilante Exposes Drug Ring" | ||
| 01:06:34 | Immodesty | Bruce | Shirtless |
| 01:06:40 | Alfred | "But even for billionaire playboys, 3:00pm is pushing it. The price for leading a double life, I fear." | |
| 01:07:00 | Deceit | Alfred | "If those are to be the first of many injuries to come, it would be wise to find a suitable excuse. Polo, for instance." |
| 01:08:45 | Immodesty | Women | Bruce is with two women, they are shown sitting on top of each other, and are immodestly dressed, showing cleavage and legs |
| 01:09:05 | Deceit | Bruce | "Well, a guy who dresses up like a bat clearly has issues." |
| 01:09:25 | Immodesty | Women | Same immodest women with Bruce shown swimming |
| 01:14:55 | Blasphemy | Flass | "I swear to God." |
| 01:14:57 | Blasphemy | Bruce | "Swear to me!" |
| 01:16:09 | Profanity | Finch | "What the hell is this?" |
| 01:39:30 | Profanity | Bruce | "Damn good television." |
| 01:39:38 | Bruce | "I didn't have time to observe the rules of the road, Alfred." | |
| 01:43:13 | Ducard | "But is Ra's al Ghul immortal? Are his methods supernatural?" | |
| 01:46:22 | Bruce | "Gotham isn't beyond saving. Give me more time. There are good people here." | |
| 01:53:00 | Profanity | Rachel | "What the hell are you doing?" |
| 01:53:37 | Blasphemy | Technician | "Jesus, the pressure, it's spiking." |
| 01:55:00 | Profanity | Commissioner | "What the hell is going on in there?" |
| 01:59:00 | Bruce | "It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me." | |
| 01:59:58 | Profanity | Commissioner | "Who the hell authorized this?" |
| 02:06:30 | Bruce | "justice is about more than revenge" | |
| 02:06:54 | Sexual Immorality | Bruce, Rachel | Kiss |