arts / 10 Superheroes: grief counsellors in disguise? » What hero blockbusters can learn from Hiro’s journey Adam Tatelman Senior Columnist veryone wants to be Batman. The bleak and brooding Batman Begins may have saved the Bat-franchise from the abysmal Batman & Robin, but its tone and style have since been aped incessantly by directors who seem to think that comic book movies can't be relevant or profitable unless they are “dark.” I think this is born from some imaginary stigma that regards the source material as childish garbage. Asa result, the Spider-Man reboots cast Peter Parker as an immature James Dean wannabe, and Man of Steel somehow makes Superman—a blue tights-clad Moses-like figure—depressing and funereal. For me, intentionally campy films like The Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy get it. They understand : that monotone movies fail : dramatically because nothing : contrasts the moroseness. : Comic books have always : been silly. That’s not a bad : thing. In fact, a successful : transition from comedy to : tragedy makes the drama all : the more effective because it is : unexpected. This is why, in my : eyes, Disney’s latest animated : sensation, Big Hero 6, towers : over Hollywood’s super-elite— : its emotional core is poignant : and affecting, even though the : premise of the film is high- : concept and kid-friendly. With a title like Big Hero : 6, you could be forgiven for : thinking the film is yet another : : case of pandering fodder aimed : : exclusively at children too : young to be critical. You'd also : be utterly, undeniably wrong. : In this supposed kid’s movie, : young Hiro Hamada deals with : survivor’s guilt after the death : of his brother Tadashi. In his : depression, Hiro latches on : to Baymax, the robot medic : Tadashi built before his death. : Understanding Hiro’s wounds : aren’t physical, Baymax agrees : to seek justice for Tadashi : to bring Hiro closure and : help him back to his friends : and family. However, Hiro’s : obsession with punishing the : guilty party drives him toa : chilling snap-decision—one : made all the more tragic : when we discover the villain : is motivated by a similar : loss. There is real emotion in : this animated world, none : of it presented in a way that : condescends to a younger : audience. It’s the film’s ability : to balance laughs and tears : that sells it all. Big Hero 6isa crystallization of everything : wonderful about the superhero : genre that’s missing from the : frowning, snarling, ultimately : shallow competition. Not : because it’s faithful to the : source material (spoiler: it’s : not), but rather because— : unlike so many other super- : flicks—it is not ashamed to be : a comic book movie. Douglas College concert series offers pop-rock and classical hits » Put down the mp3 player and check out this live music Julie Wright Columnist Cau you do with some pop-rock covers, concert band, choral arrangements, original pieces, or a more jazz standard theme to your night’s soundtrack? Then check out the Douglas College music department’s concert season. Over the next few days, all of these musical options are available to you in the Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Theatre at the New Westminster campus! On November 26 at 7:30 p.m., the Douglas College Concert Band and Percussion Ensemble will perform concert band music that’s beautiful and emotionally stimulating, : pieces by both more famous ; composers, such as Gustav : Holst and Johann Sebastian : Bach, and by lesser known ; composers, such as Donald : Coakley, you’re bound to enjoy : at least one number. The : percussion ensemble will also : get your rhythm going with : their fantastic drum circle : beats. Everyone gets in for : free, so bring the whole family : along! After the band concert comes the choral concert on : November 28 at 7:30 p.m. : Douglas has three choirs: the : Choral Society, Chorus, and : Chorale. This performance will : : feature pieces by Mozart, Bach, : : Mendelssohn, and Guastavino. : The general admission for this : performance is $15, and $10 for : seniors, but students are free. just like music should be. With The next concert is the : Music Composition concert : on November 29 at 7:30 p.m., : with free admission for all. This : concert will feature original : compositions from music : students, some being sung or : played by individuals or small : ensembles. These students : have been working hard to : create the perfect composition, : and you'll get to hear the end : result at this show. The final concert of the Fall 2014 concert series is the : jazz band performance on : December 1. The show will : feature one Christmas song, a : lot of improvisation, and some : jazzy seventh chords. I hope you find some time : in your busy life to come watch : the Douglas College music : department because they : would love to have you as an : audience! Panem forever? » 'The Hunger Games: theotherpress.ca Mockingjay Part I’ review Steven Cayer Senior Columnist 0000 he third instalment of the Hunger Games phenomenon is finally here with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. First off, I'm actually glad the final book has been divided into two movies. The movies now have a lot more room to seriously follow what Suzanne Collins wrote. Warning: Spoilers are ahead for those who haven't read or seen the past two instalments. Ifyou haven't, I seriously recommend jumping on this bandwagon. Mockingjay Part 1 starts right where we left off in Catching Fire, with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) waking up in the secret underground base where district 13 was. It turns out the people who survived the bombings have been waiting for a window of opportunity to turn the tide of President Snow’s (Donald Sutherland) dictatorship. They want Katniss to be the face of the rebellion and the symbol of hope that’s needed to gather everybody. All she’s ever wanted was to save her sister, Primrose (Willow Shields), from participating in the Games and to keep Peeta Mellark Josh Hutcherson) safe, which is more prevalent in this one. This movie has a somewhat different approach to it, since there are no Games this time. Lawrence takes it in stride as she continues to be the beating heart of the franchise. You can really see her grow alongside her character as she becomes more important to the rebellion. She had a surprising number of emotional scenes that just stick with you. Seeing as how this movie is based ona book, I find it difficult to blame it for being a little predictable. I think even if I hadn't read the book, I would’ve known what was going to happen. On aside note, it was great seeing Philip Seymour Hoffman (who plays Plutarch Heavensbee) one last time. This movie has a typical underdog story, but it’s in the original world of Panem, which makes it well-worth the visit.