Reality is always more shocking than fantasy, but it's always surprising how fantasy can sometimes be derived or even simply be similar to reality. When I saw the movie Batman Begins, I immediately recognized Gotham City as a metaphor for the Philippines - where corruption abounds and the honest are perceived as weak and naive. Short of wearing a cowl and cape, I was wondering how I could change the situation by myself. Does our country need a Batman? An urban legend who fights crime by using fear to scare criminals into abandoning their plans and if that's not enough, actually thwart them? Compare it: Gotham had a legal system bought and paid for - heck the Philippines has had two consecutive Presidents so embroiled in corruption that they both underwent impeachment trials (the first was successful, the second was not). Gotham's streets were full of thugs and criminals, it was not safe to walk alone in the dark - oh really? In the Philippines, you could get mugged in front of others in broad daylight and no one would be the wiser for it. Gotham's few honest people are looked upon by their peers as disturbers of peace or fools - in our country even the "honest" citizens look at law-abiding people like fools - you're stupid if you don't bride traffic cops, you're impractical if you do things by the book instead of buying your way out with a bit of cash, etc. etc (in fact, some of the people who read this will probably think I'm an idealistic, sanctimonious bastard). Will a Batman figure help curb the undying corruption in our country? Well, I'm not willing to try it myself.
On a lighter note, it's funny to think how George Lucas may have thought it sheer genius on his part to use the "cause-unrest-behind-the-scenes-to-rise-to-power" method for Palpatine to rise to power as the Emperor of the Galactic Empire in the Star Wars saga, but we Filipinos would probably think more in the lines of "Yeah, whatever - been there, done that." What am I talking about? Well, Ferdinand Marcos's and Martial Law of course! Palpatine used the Separatist movement as an excuse to confer more power to himself, Marcos used the same excuse when there were bombings (alledgedly from communist parties, I think - my history's a bit spotty). Both leaders were charismatic and were loved by the people - and that is how they managed to play the Dictatorship card so smoothly. Although in the succeeding eras, Marcos proved to be a bit more subtle than Palpatine when the power became his (Marcos's assassinations were, until now, mostly speculations and hard to prove while in Star Wars, the Empire would openly destroy a Planet without flinching). How did the dictatorship end - with open rebellion on both cases (only the manner of which differs immensely in either case). The thing is, watching the prequel only reminds me of how Marcos achieved what he did. Like I said, it's funny how fantasy can be so similar to reality without it really intending to be.