The Sourcerer

Batman Begins

I saw Batman Begins this evening. I was impressed. My co-worker Meshaal's friend Brian didn't like some of the quaint dialog, but I managed to completely fail to notice it until the film was complete. Batman Begins conveyed a simple but strong morality play, a first in the series as far as I recall, accented by an apt score by Hans Zimmer.

Of course, I must note that the last two movies I saw were in the Downtown Cinema and the Fremont in San Luis, both of which had appalling sound. The Regal in Arroyo Grande's stadium seating and comparatively rich, 3d sound made this a better movie-going experience than Star Wars.

Kingdom of Heaven

Today, Tom and I abandoned our academics for a while and saw Kingdom of Heaven. As I prefer experiencing movies with a bare slate in mind, I won't bother you with details, but I will say that the film has bolstered my idealism. While I heard quivers from possible military science anachronisms from my friend, I believe that any exaggeration on mediaeval warfare only made the film more pertinent to our times: where bombs and automatic rifles replace trebuchet and archery. More moving, however, than any feat of arms I found the spirit of engineering in this movie: "What is a man if he does not see the world and improve it." Kingdom of Heaven is a story about idealism. When you see this movie, remember your oaths, wake your conscience, and rise a Knight.