Batman pre-dates Darth Vader by several decades, but they've been born again in our culture with the release of these two films so closely together.

With the release of Batman Begins and Revenge of the Sith on DVD, I've now had some time to make some connections and comparisons from the comfort of my own dark lair. And when I say "dark lair", I mean a Lazy-boy in front of a bigscreen.

Both of these films explore the birth of a fractured persona. Both delve into their darkest nightmares and their greatest triumphs. But more than anything, both are an exposition on how Fear molds us. And just as Fear is a coin with two sides, so it's duality both galvanizes their resolve, and rips apart their psyche. But in the end, you couldn't have two characters further apart in their understanding of good and evil.

Bruce Wayne, son of a captain of industry, experiences deep and hurtful loss in the murder of his parents before his young eyes. He takes it upon himself to change the world that spawned such evil. His dark lust for revenge, and his fear for those he holds dear, drives him to exert extreme control over the moral wasteland that Gotham has become. Steeled in courage by Liam Neeson's teachings as Henri Ducard, he finds the iron core of his resolve.

Anakin Skywalker, son of slavery and poverty, likewise is scarred by the loss of his mother, and is haunted by the impending loss of his dearest wife. As a child, given guidance to listen to the will of the Living Force by Liam Neeson's Qui-Gon Jinn, he finds only heartache, and fear, and precious few reinforcements to this harmonious view of the universe. The duality of Fear (discussed further here) betrays him: Fear for the protection of loved ones leaves him impotent and bitter, while Fear for self leads to a quest for control. Fear is twisted into Hatred, and Hatred into Suffering.

Liam Neeson's respective characters in both films set these dynamic icons on their journies of self-discovery and destiny. Oddly born of two fathers of opposing idealisms that share a common face, (there must be little coincidence they are played by the same great actor) Anakin and Bruce Wayne diverge on their paths because they first choose to ignore the teachings given them at their genesis. Qui-Gon quietly gives Anakin counsel on patience, serentity of mind, and to trust his instincts. Conversely, Ducard warns Bruce Wayne about the weakness of compassion, to be ever vigilant, and ultimately go against his instincts.

The results of Anakin ignoring Qui-Gon, and Bruce Wayne ignoring Ducard, are both examples of how Fear is dealt with toward their respective ends. Anakin's Fear implodes upon him, leaving him locked in a moment of terror. Wayne's Fear propels him ahead, and forces him to find his way.

In either case, however, both undoubtably have allowed Fear to transform them, so that they now both are the incarnation of that dark human aspect.

The difference?

Batman, the Dark Knight of Gotham, uses Fear to protect the ones he loves without sacrificing his ideals. His use of Fear is countered by his fear of losing self. Thus his stalwart declaration, when put to the test: "I am not an executioner." Moreover, he holds close to his heart the words of his secret love: "It's not who we are underneath that matters, it's what we do that defines us."

Vader, the Dark Knight of the Sith, fully transforms Fear from the shadow of Greed into the quest for Power. His use of fear is no longer countered by his fear of losing self. In Vader's world, if Anakin existed as a separate person, Vader would have destroyed him. He no longer has fear for losing self, because it no longer exists. He starts down this path when he knowingly engages in the destruction of the good in his inner self, admitting to Padme after the Tusken massacre: "No, I'm a Jedi. I know I'm better than this." This deconstruction is seemingly shown to be long since completed by the time of his revelation to Luke: "That name no longer has any meaning to me." And it will not exist again until unlocked by none other than - Compassion.

In this way, Obi-Wan's admonition for Luke becomes more clear: "You're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view."

In our real lives, the lessons ring true, now more than ever. How we view Fear is at least as important as how we view ourselves, and the world.

The best advice on the matter the world has ever known, born of the courage shown in another dark time: "The only thing to Fear, is Fear itself."

DM out