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Batman Begins

© James C. Hess

Polyphonic.

As regular readers of this effort may know, a few years ago I set out to find, to discover writing talents in the form of storytellers who could tell a good story. So far this search has managed to yield three certain writing talents who will, should they decide to pursue this particular path, run circles around most storytellers nowadays simply because they know, instinctively, how to tell a good story.

I do not wish to be negative or demeaning with regards to this pursuit: There are others I have discovered who, although they are somewhat unformed and immature in their talents, abilities, and skills, have the definite potential to become good storytellers, should they be so inclined.

As I pursue this particular path, as I come across these natural storytellers I find myself engaging in a certain practice: The keeping of a laundry list, a check list of sorts with regards to characteristics and traits that go to demonstrate commonalities among genuine storytellers, and find that these characteristics and traits, by their existence, go to demonstrate an undeniable truth about storytelling and storytellers nowadays, and why it is the Hollywood Machine finds itself in freefall towards a certain demise:

It isn't enough to be a good storyteller. It isn't enough to be capable of telling a good story many times previously repeated and told again. A real storyteller, a natural storyteller knows what goes to make for a good story, and how to present these characteristics and traits accordingly.

Especially when it comes to telling a story often told.

Take as example "Batman Begins". Much has been made of this franchise and the slow death of it, at the hands of less-than competent storytellers. Much has been made of this franchise and what must be done to save it. After many late-night meetings and countless studies presumably involving great numbers of white-shirted bean counters it has been finally determined the only way to save and preserve this franchise is to turn it over to natural storytellers, who know how to tell a story, a good story, by way of presentation of relevant characteristics and traits--the mark of a true storyteller.

At last, in "Batman Begins", a due penetration and examination of what makes for the dark knight, by way of his dark and troubled, disturbed and wrought, depths and complexities, and in doing so brings forth a superhero who may not always be plausible but at least persuasive and believeable as a man driven by his own demons to strike down and fight demons often brought forth by others.