OPINION:
Washington Times’ Higher Ground partner Plugged In provides reviews on “Merry Little Batman,” streaming on Prime Video, “Prince of Egypt: The Musical,” available to rent, and a confusing fever dream in the new anime movie in theaters, “The Boy and the Heron.”
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Merry Little Batman – Streaming on Prime Video
In “Merry Little Batman,” we meet two likeable characters, a father and his son, who both have good intentions. Bruce wants to keep Damien safe, and Damien wants to protect Gotham’s citizens from evildoers. By the end of this Y7 Amazon Prime release, father and son both come to understand each other’s desires better.
If Damien Wayne was in a different cinematic universe, someone might have told him, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Bruce tries to teach him that idea when he gives his young, aspiring hero a utility belt filled with safety equipment. Bruce doesn’t want to discourage Damien’s dreams of succeeding him as Batman, but he wants the boy to grow into the role with maturity.
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At least, that’s probably what Bruce tells himself. In reality, Bruce probably would never allow Damien to do what he does—it’s far too dangerous, he says. And he loves Damien too much to allow the boy to put himself in harm’s way, even if it is for the sake of others.
“Merry Little Batman” is mostly what you’d expect in a kid-oriented version of this franchise. But there are a few issues of note. Violence in this animated film is present, even if it is slapstick. Picture “Home Alone” levels of danger, where villains are burned or otherwise harmed in ways that would typically be lethal and yet are merely shaken off by our characters. We also have to contend with a couple gags of the toilet humor variety.
I doubt that “Merry Little Batman” will be the movie you play to get into the Christmas spirit. Other than one villain’s attempt to ruin the holiday, à la the Grinch, there aren’t any Christmas-specific family messages to be gained from it.
But as Batman content goes, you could definitely do a lot worse.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
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The Prince of Egypt: The Musical – Rent on Prime Video, Apple TV
Many movies and shows have, of course, depicted and embellished the biblical story of the Israelites exodus from Egypt. And now we can add “The Prince of Egypt: The Musical” to that catalog.
This enjoyable stage production bases its view of Moses’ tale on Dreamwork’s acclaimed 1998 animated film “The Prince of Egypt.” And it features five of composer Stephen Schwartz’s songs from that movie (“Deliver Us,” “All I Ever Wanted,” “Through Heaven’s Eyes,” “The Plagues” and “When You Believe”) along with 10 other brand-new tunes.
It’s easy to suggest that if you loved the 1998 movie, you’ll likely enjoy this live production with its talented cast, lively staging, state-of-the-art stage projections and soaring musical themes. The show is well constructed and worthy of all the praise that its London cast and orchestra has received.
I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t at least touch on that story “embellishment” I mentioned above. This version takes the tale’s conclusion even further than its Dreamworks inspiration.
“The Prince of Egypt: The Musical” isn’t so much a story about God using a reluctant man to powerfully lead His people out of slavery anymore. In fact, it’s not really focused on God and His people at all.
Instead, this is more a tale of two men, two brothers, who clash and find a way—through the use of godly power—to move their respective people toward a better future. The musical ends with Moses leading his people off into the wilderness and having a vision of Ramses becoming “a great ruler who stretches the reign of Egypt.”
That’s a distinctly humanistic difference worth noting. It definitely fits our contemporary desire for mankind to find a way to get along in a world full of strife. God’s power is a part of the equation here, but His hand, His biblical purpose, is less evident. And some may find that story turn disappointing.
That said, the production itself is very good. And if it leads fans to seek out the whole biblical truth, all the better.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
The Boy and the Heron – In Theaters
Right out of the gate, let me say that “The Boy and the Heron” is a very difficult film to wrap a Western brain around.
Yes, you can spot themes of grief, loss, sorrow and fear in this coming-of-age fantasy. There’s Japanese lore and even a sprinkling of WWII history here. And the movie’s images veer back and forth between the chaotically colorful and the strikingly beautiful.
But to actually understand director Miyazaki’s swirling, semi-autobiographical tale is a very heavy lift. Every time one symbolically structured story block slips into place, the cinematic table shifts and the whole perception tower tumbles down.
There’s a troll-like man emerging from the beak of a heron; large man-eating parakeets with butcher knives; little balloon-like creatures that represent both life and death; a mother repeatedly engulfed in the nightmare flames of war; and a magical otherworld sea filled with starving, dead boatmen amidst the disparate images and scenes. This is a fever dream of a film.
For adults longing for another shot of Studio Ghibli animation and singular moments of emotion, “The Boy and the Heron” might be worth the price of admission. But frankly, their kids could learn about growing up in far more coherent ways.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
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Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Reviews written by Bob Hoose and Kennedy Unthank.
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