Batman villain info: Ra's Al Ghul

RA'S AL GHUL

Ra's al Ghul, sometimes written Rā's al Ghūl (Arabic: رأس الغول), is a DC Comics supervillain and an enemy of Batman. His name is Arabic for "the ghoul's head" (the Demon's Head, see Algol). Created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams, he was introduced in Batman #232's "Daughter of the Demon" (June 1971). He has also come into conflict with Superman and other DC Comics superheroes.

Character Overview
Ra's al Ghul is an international terrorist and assassin whose ultimate goal is a world in perfect environmental balance. He believes that the best way to achieve this balance is to eliminate most of humanity. Ra's usually tries to assault the world's human populace with a biological weapon, such as a genetically-engineered virus. He is aided in this quest by the Lazarus Pits, reservoirs of rejuvenating chemicals that restore the dying to life; these pits have granted him a lifespan of several hundred years.
He considers Batman his worthiest opponent, and has frequently sought to make the Dark Knight his successor. He is one of the few criminals in Batman's rogues gallery to have deduced his secret identity as Bruce Wayne. For his own part, Batman's opposition to Ra's is complicated by his love for the villain's daughter, Talia.
http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Ra%27s_al_Ghul

Film portrayal
In the film Batman Begins, Ra's al Ghul is the head of the centuries-old League of Shadows, an organization that is dedicated to keeping order and justice in a world which it views as decadent and corrupt. As played by Liam Neeson, who for the first half of the film goes by Henri Ducard, Ra's acts as a mentor to a young Bruce Wayne, teaching him the martial arts that he will one day use as Batman. During this time Ducard hides behind a decoy disguised as the real Ra's al Ghul. The decoy, played by Ken Watanabe, is killed while battling Bruce in the first half of the movie. Bruce sets fire to the League's temple, rescues Ducard from the burning ruins and returns to Gotham.
http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Ra%27s_al_Ghul_%28Ken_Watanabe%29

Months later, Ducard unexpectedly reappears, and reveals that he is actually the real Ra's al Ghul. In the ensuing confrontation, Ra's boasts of the League's exploits throughout history. He explains that the League plans to use a fear toxin invented by their partner Dr. Jonathan Crane (the Scarecrow) to infect the city with mindless panic and watch it destroy itself. He claims that the League of Shadows once attempted to use economics as a mean of destruction, but had underestimated men like Bruce's father, who used their wealth to restore the city (having aligned with Carmine Falcone briefly, Ra's Al Ghul was indirectly responsible for the murder of Bruce's parents). He explains that the destruction of Gotham City is merely another mission by the League to correct humanity's recurring fits of decadence. Ra's then orders his henchmen to burn down Wayne Manor, saying, "Justice is balance. You burned down my house and left me for dead. Consider us even."
With the aid of Alfred, Bruce survives the fire, and confronts Ra's al Ghul as Batman. Ra's scornfully comments that Batman has taken his advice of "using theatricality" too literally. He escapes and goes on with his plans. Batman follows him, however, and teacher and student have a final showdown on a runaway train. Ra's' arrogance is ultimately his downfall when he fails to notice that Sergeant Gordon has used the Batmobile to derail the train. Batman tells Ra's, "I won't kill you, but I don't have to save you." Batman then escapes the doomed train, leaving Ra's behind to perish as the train plunges into a car garage and explodes.

http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Henri_Ducard_%28Liam_Neeson%29