Batman

I saw the new Batman movie. It was awesome.

A week (or two?) ago, I was discussing the subject of Batman with some people. These people were under the misguided delusion that Superman was cooler than Batman. Clearly, this cannot be the case.

First, we must be clear: we are not discussing the 60s TV series. That series was a spoof, a self-parody that while amusing is not what I personally like about Batman. The Batman I think kicks ass is much darker.

Point: Batman has no superpowers.

At first, this would seem to be a reason to think that Superman is better than Batman. Powers are cool, right? Well, usually. But when your powers are just about every power ever invented (flying, super strength, super speed, laser eyes, x-ray vision, super hearing, etc.) at some point you have be like, okay, this is kind of boring. I mean, this guy should be able to beat everyone with ease. His only weakness is a rare substance called kryptonite, and that weakness isn't really well known to the rest of the world. Boring. I mean, come on, there are cooler sets of powers to have, say like Daredevil - toxic waste renders him blind but gives him the ability to hone his other senses. A weakness turns into a strength, which is pretty cool. But sorry, nothing cool about Superman's powers.

Of course, Batman has no powers. Why is this cool? Because I could be Batman. Oh sure, I need to be a billionare and in charge of a large company with a military supply arm if I really wanted to pull it off (plus train for years in the ways of Asian martial arts, plus just become less lazy and more disciplined in general), but nevertheless, Batman is a man. There is an 'everyman' appeal here that cannot be ignored. I admire Batman (or, rather, would if he were a real person) because he is so commited to his ideals that he has the discipline to build the necessary strength, endurance and agility needed to do what he does. Superman doesn't need to train. His powers come automatically. Pretty easy to be strong when you come from another planet that has a higher pull of gravity. But an ordinary man, who trains for years and focuses on honing his skills - that is commitment to an ideal that I wish I had.

Point: Batman is more interesting psychologically.

This is my biggest reason for liking Batman. With Superman, yeah, ok, I can imagine it would be tough being super strong and not being able to point it out to anyone. Like when Lois Lane is all "oh, Superman is so wonderful, too bad every guy isn't like him, right Clark?" and Clark always wistfully wishes he could tell her the truth, that is all-powerful, sure I feel bad for him. That sucks. But for the most part, he does what he does because he is compelled to do good for some unknown reason (see below).

Batman however is far more interesting. Bruce Wayne witnessed his parent's deaths at the hands of a mugger. I will not spoil the most recent movie, although it would provide a couple paragraphs of material for this point, only to leave it at that Bruce feels some guilt over his parents death. The guilt forms into rage and anger that drive Wayne to become Batman. As mentioned in the previous point he dedicates himself to his training to defeat criminals. Wayne is able to focus his anger into doing good, but it always seems close to consuming him. There is so much more here that the new movie shows, but again I refrain from expanded.

Point: Superman is a goody-two-shoes.

Face it, Superman may be super strong, but in some ways he's kind of a sissy. Superman always seemed like the kind of guy who was tattletale in school. Why is Superman a good guy? Because the good side is the right side. He believes in truth, justice and the American way, but what for? Why? Sure, he has this gift, wants to use it help people. That's nice, and hopefully I would want to do the same thing, but it makes for a character as interesting as a stone.

Batman though, is decidedly not a goody-two-shoes. Batman is menacing. Batman is dark. Batman has no qualms of beating information out of thugs, or of causing suffering to those who cause suffering to other. The cold anger he feels towards criminals pushes him to edge of the good/evil split. So not only do you get the superficial 'bad-ass' coolness of his menacing nature, but it also makes a much more interesting moral questions - where's the line?

Finally, I should say that I don't dislike Superman. The overwhelming sense of superiority his powers give him would be fun to have, and he isn't really a cardboard character. But Batman is just so much more interesting, twist psychologically in a way not unlike his foes. His drive is admirable, yet tragic and his life - his real life as Bruce Wayne - only a shadow of what it had or could have been.

In conclusion, Batman Begins kicked ass and you all should go see it.