While it is true that “The Dark Knight” is the movie that proved comic books can be taken seriously, and many would argue that it has a very high place in history, I however would go so far as to say that it’s precursor “Batman Begins” is the better film.
“The Dark Knight” achieves a breathtaking scope and story and is quite magnificent for it, but in doing so it makes many mistakes in the minute details of the film. “Batman Begins” in the other hand is nearly flawless in every little way.
Take into account that before “Begins” the Batman name was utterly tarnished and thought unsalvageable, due to a string of horrendous movies. Then in steps Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, The incredible cast and creative vision of director Christopher Nolan were able to take what is one of the most laughable series of movies and with much reworking and reinventing turn it into what is one of the most anticipated and critically acclaimed film series of this day.
The story, as is easily gleaned from the title, follows Batman’s origins, that is to say how Bruce Wayne became Batman. Unlike all the previous Batman flicks this one is grounded in the real world. Gone are the over the top villains and gang members. Gone is the nightmarish carnival like city of Gotham. Instead we get Chicago, mobsters, and ninjas. Batman is not transformed by any insect bite, nor does he fall into a vat of green acid. Instead he is a man destroyed and rebuilt by the grief and guilt of losing his parents as a boy.
“Batman Begins” combines action, suspense, scope, fear, wonderful acting, fantastic music and a mastery of creative directing and returns the world’s greatest super hero to his rightful thrown.
Book “The Long Halloween” Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale
The last time I read comic books I was 8 years old and was more engrossed in imagining my own super powers than I was with the stories and artwork in front of me.
It wasn’t until “The Dark Knight” was released that I regain an interest in comics. After all, that is the movie that legitimized comic books. The first comic book I picked up was “Batman: The Long Halloween.”
“The Long Halloween” follows Batman as he tries to solve the mystery of the holiday killer, each holiday of the year someone from either the Gotham underworld or someone important is murdered. As Batman struggles to solve the mystery he runs into nearly every character good and bad from the Batman universe.
Writer and artist team Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have created a fascinating crime noir story with breathtaking artwork. “The Long Halloween” sucks you in and keeps you invested and before you know it you will have flipped through it’s many pages, multiple times.
Music “Danger Doom” Danger Mouse & MF Doom
What happens when two quirky and immensely talented rappers with a taste for cartoons and comic books get together? Well, you get “Danger Doom,” an album from collaborators Danger Mouse and MF Doom. The beats are typical of almost all Danger Mouse and Danger Mouse like productions, but that is not in any way a bad thing. The lyrics, which sometimes border on ridiculous, are always fun and the flow is always tight.
As the annual Snow Fiesta kicked off with a snowboard rail jam competition last Monday Feb 15. SOU student Richard Balzer was there with his camera to capture the glory, the drama, the agony of defeat and the sweet smell of victory.
To see Richard Balzer’s photos in high resloution please visit The Siskiyou’s website at www.siskiyouonline.edu
If you have an interest in taking photographs for The Siskiyou or if you have photographs from SOU related events that you would like featured, please email siskiyou@students.sou.edu
