Of Guardians and Batmen

While it wasn't quite as hot as it was over the weekend when I got up this morning, it had returned to being hazy and humid, and not very fall-like. I perked things up a bit with breakfast and a first season Sailor Moon episode. Poor Naru gets caught in the crossfire between Nephrite and the Sailor Guardians in "Naru's Tears: Nephrite Dies for Love." She has a huge crush on Nephrite, but he can't understand her feelings. He thinks his crystal is reacting to her because she knows something about Sailor Moon. Three monsters sent by Zoycite kidnap Naru to lure him into their clutches.

Worked on writing for a few hours after that. Luke and Hank are going to be part of a magic act that'll make them disappear...for good. While the guys discuss what they have in mind, Leia and Chip try to find out from Jasper just what he intends to do to them.

Broke at 1 for lunch. Did another Sailor Moon episode while I ate yogurt and Tomato-Cucumber Salad. "Jupiter, the Powerful Girl In Love" introduces Usagi's tall, strong new classmate Makoto and the Rainbow Crystals. These seven crystals, each of which hold a monster, are hidden in seven ordinary humans. The first one found is a local guy who is exceptionally good at crane games. He's not the only one with an unknown identity. Makoto may be more useful than just as muscle...if she can stop drooling over every guy she sees...

Work was even quieter than yesterday. I really didn't have much to do during the first half of my shift. I did carts once, for about 20 minutes. They didn't really need to be done. I also mopped the bathrooms, bagged, gathered baskets, and shelved the very few returns that were laying around. By the time it started picking up around rush hour, the wind had also picked up, making doing carts a tad bit more bearable.

I was so sweaty, I went straight into the shower when I got home. After I got out, I had leftovers while doing one more episode of Sailor Moon. Usagi has something going on that's more important than even Guardian business in "Restore Naru's Smile: Usagi's Friendship." She and nerdy Umino want to cheer up Naru, who has been understandably depressed about Nephrite's death. Meanwhile, Rei and Ami are questioning whether or not Usagi is a decent leader. Makoto ends up helping out when the priest they encounter turns out to be a demon, and points out that Usagi may not be a perfect leader, but she is a really good friend.

Finished the night online while watching Batman Begins. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is in search of a way to fight injustice after having witnessed the murder of his parents as a child and seeing the murderer be let out of prison. He travels to Bhutan, where he's saved from prison by Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson). Ducard says he can train him to let go of his fears and become a member of the League of Shadows. Which would be great...if Bruce didn't find out that the League intends to destroy Gotham. Returning to the city, he becomes the fearsome crime fighter "The Batman" and takes over his parents' company, Wayne Enterprises. Archivist James Fox (Morgan Freeman) provides Bruce with much of his gadgetry, including his first suit and the Batmobile. His first case - find out more about the vicious psychologist "The Scarecrow" (Cillian Murphy), who has been adding a fear-inducing drug to Gotham's water supply. He's under orders...but unless Batman can find out from whom, all of Gotham may find themselves trapped in a never-ending nightmare.

A slower Batman tale than usual, told through flashbacks during the first half. It's confusing at first, but once we get out of the temple and back to Gotham, things pick up considerably. You really get to see how Batman ticks, even more than in the Tim Burton movies. (Which I was never the biggest fan of.) I like that they're using less-well-known villains here, too. I'd only heard of the Scarecrow once or twice, and this was my first encounter with Ra's a Ghul.

Wish the romantic aspect worked as well. Katie Holmes was out-of-place as Bruce's lawyer love interest and had no chemistry with Christian Bale. Bale had far more chemistry with Michael Cane as a wonderfully sassy and understanding Alfred than with her.

If you're a fan of Batman, the cast, or director Christopher Nolan's other work, you may be just as enthralled to find out how the "Caped Crusader" came to be.