Batman, Battles, and my Brother
Today the new Batman film opens, and I’m excited about it. I generally hate sequels. They have a habit of screwing up everything the better original did right. But The Dark Knight looks like an exception to the rule.
Excellence is not restricted by genre. As long as a film has a strong story, capable actors, and makes us believe its reality, it doesn’t matter what the initial concept is. A cop thriller, a giant ape movie, a futuristic detective drama… excellence can raise a film to the top of its genre, and enter it into the ranks of art. There’s even been a great film about giant ants, of all things; check out 1954’s Them!
I think its interesting how superhero/action films bring back the old myths, though. Timeless concepts are given a new playground. Look at James Bond and Indiana Jones. They belong right there against the rich tapestry of global mythologies, pursuing villainous rogues, traveling to exotic locales, and narrowly escaping certain death. And neither Batman nor Bond are the first heroes who fancy gadgets; Thor had his magical hammer Mjolner, and various Greek heroes were given special swords, invisible cloaks, and winged horses in the absence of Batmobiles or Aston Martins.
Batman Begins was a well-crafted experience. Tight script, good arc. With its veneer of realism, it edges the myth closer to our world… or at least to a nearby borderworld. My argument with the earlier Batman films was that they LOOKED like set pieces. I was always cognizant that I was watching a movie; Tim Burton may be given credit for injecting grimmer colors into the mix, but otherwise his installments have not aged well.
But speaking of movies…
My brother called this week to let me know that the trailer for the documentary he’s in was just released.
My brother is the actor David Michaels. He approaches his craft with the right combination of art, heart, and science. And he works incredibly hard in pursuing his big break. Believe me, he deserves it. He’s headlined at some of the best theaters in the state, in such shows as Blood Brothers, Bat Boy, The Zoo Story, Grease, Guys and Dolls, and too many others to type without my fingers dropping off. I’m very proud of him
Well, he just finished acting in a Wolf Gang Pictures documentary called The Devil Among Us: America’s First Witch Hunt. Where did these witch-hunts happen? If you guessed Salem, you’re wrong. Connecticut is the none-too-proud owner of that ugly record. It wasn’t just pilgrims we imported from Europe… it was the wickedness of theocracy.
Check out this short snippet from the film.
Random Fact:
The average human lifespan in developed countries is about 78 years. Bristlecone pines reach ages of more than 5,000.
Quote of the Day:
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” Mark Twain
