"To Conquer Fear, You Must Become Fear"

Required Reading: Asadullah, Khalil. "Movie Review: Batman Begins." Comic Book Resources.

The running question this summer is, "is Batman Begins better than Star wars Episode III?" The answer is "yes." A better story goes a long way. Both have dynamic and iconic characters but the blend of a better story line and arguably the better talent makes Batman Begins the summer's biggest blockbuster. Do not go to the theatre thinking that this is a comic book movie; this is nothing of the sort. This is an action/drama that just so happens to use a comic book entity. So put down your lightsabers and take a dive into a world that is as much real as it is fantasy.

It's sad, Star Wars was just a diversion. Ever since seeing the first teaser I believed this movie would probably be my pick for 2005. Gone were Tim Burton's goth overtones, as well as Joel Shumacher's 70's inspired campy gay-jokes. Most people are going to going to go in theaters believing Batman Begins is just another "superhero" or "Batman" movie. I think they're going to be surprised (or at least I hope so). Sin City showed how well the comic medium could be translated to film, if in its own disjointed way. I think Spielberg's reinterpretation of War of the Worlds is going to have some real competition this summer.

It rose into space,
It's wings spread wide,

Then fell, its wings
Now a fluttering cape
Wrapped tight about
The body of a man.

Comic of the Moment: Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli