Monday, July 11, 2005
More Reasons to Celebrate/Enjoy Batman Begins?
Well for the center-right side of the blogosphere -- perhaps (reg. required). You have to love any article that quotes the Cato Institute's David Boaz commenting on a comic-book themed movie:
Of course, the idea of criminals being clearly evil and needing to be punished comes through in most comic books -- at least most of DC's heroes and villains which have always tended to be more Manichean and iconic than the more conflicted Marvel variety. Yet, even in Batman Begins, Ra's Al Ghul -- created in the 1970s, not 1940s like the classic Bat-villains -- is probably the most morally ambiguous of adversaries. Understand, that he thinks he is doing good by wiping out Gotham City, which he sees as corrupt.
In any event, the article actually ran in the Washington Post last week. A couple of letters responding to it can be found in Saturday's Post.
Much thanks to Harry for giving me the heads-up on the story.
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Boaz was happily struck by the fact that the hero was a businessman, he says, ``but I think what was more interesting . . . is that the movie takes a strong stand that some things are evil, some people are evil. Crime is bad. And criminals need to be punished, not to be understood and coddled and let out of jail for more therapy.''(Hmm...given the depiction of evil businessman Doctor Victor Von Doom in Fantastic Four, I think David will hate it.)
Of course, the idea of criminals being clearly evil and needing to be punished comes through in most comic books -- at least most of DC's heroes and villains which have always tended to be more Manichean and iconic than the more conflicted Marvel variety. Yet, even in Batman Begins, Ra's Al Ghul -- created in the 1970s, not 1940s like the classic Bat-villains -- is probably the most morally ambiguous of adversaries. Understand, that he thinks he is doing good by wiping out Gotham City, which he sees as corrupt.
In any event, the article actually ran in the Washington Post last week. A couple of letters responding to it can be found in Saturday's Post.
Much thanks to Harry for giving me the heads-up on the story.
