I thought I'd start a new thread for those that have seen it, to discuss a few things I've been thinking about since seeing it.

Ra Al Ghul

Now I'd never heard of this character before hearing about the movie (same with the scarecrow), and I read a little about him on this site here http://stuffo.howstuffworks.com/ras.htm before I saw the movie. Basically he's some kind of immortal or something. Now in the movie, my question is, was liam neesons character always Ra Al Ghul? and he was hidden all the time, or was the original bald headed guy from the last samurai Ra Al Ghul, and when Bruce Wayne killed him, Liam Neesons character stepped up being the next in line of succession and became the new leader of the league of shadows, Ra Al Ghul. Is the name Ra Al Ghul just the given name for the leader of the league of shadows throughout history? and this concept gives the impression to outsiders that Ra Al Ghul is immortal? or was Neeson Ra Al Ghul all along? just using the bald headed guy as a decoy?

The impression I got is that there is no Ras Al Ghul, it's just a myth Ducard uses to control people.

Then again I had trouble figuring out who the bad guy was in this film just about as much as anyone.

If there is one reason I need to see this film again, it's to be clear on who the bad guy is, who Ras Al Ghul is...

My impression was that Neeson was actually Ra's the whole time.

This is backed up by

After Wayne's Birthday party a man turns up - It's Ducard who declares himself to be the real Ra's Al Ghul. He and Wayne duel in the Manor whilst a fire breaks out. Wayne manor is destroyed. Batman discovers Ra's plan to unleash Dr Crane's gas into the water system.

from http://www.moviespoilers.net/batman.html

Liam Neeson was Ra's Al Ghul the whole time. Ken Watanabe was just a decoy. I haven't read any comics so I assume when he dies he hands over the title to his apprentice and The League of Shadows continues on. On a sidenote I hate the imdb Top 250 list, every new movie that comes out that is decent immediately goes into the top 100, Batman Begins is #68.

Liam Neeson was ra's the whole time, the last samurai was the decoy.

That being said, when ra's dies, the next dude in line takes his position and name. So it's like he's imortal, but its just someone else taking the title.

thats how i understood it anyway

In the comics, doesn't Ra's Al Ghul use some thing called the Well of Shadows to give himself power and make himself immortal? And he starts off good, but the Well of Shadows corrupts him and then Batman has to take him out? I remember reading up some about him ages ago when Batman Begins was first announced and he was in there as a villian, but I can't remember the details.

Also, I'm pretty sure the Scarecrow appeared in a few episodes of that animated Batman series they made.

Yeah, the Scarecrow was in the cartoon. They did a pretty good job of not making him crap. It would be funny seeing an outake reel of Cilian Murphy jumping up and down screaming in the mask without the effects added in yet.

short bit of info regarding the next two batman movies:

http://www.cinecon.com/news.php?id=0505203

can't wait.

In the cartoon he had the lazarus pit.

Yeah, Lazarus pit, thats what I'd be thinking of. I just took a wild guess and called it the well of shadows cos it kinda sounded right :P

just saw the movie tonight. was pretty awsome, better than all the other batman movies but not the best superhero movie. thought scarecrow would have a larger role than he did but atleast we may seem him in a sequel. hopefully if they stick to the comics the sequel with the joker should rock.