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Short Film Review: THE OATH: A BATMAN FAN FILM. Directed by Johnny K.

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Synopsis:

Sergeant Frank Kelly is one of the last good cops in Gotham, and his life is about to change forever. This fan film takes a trip back to the mean streets of Gotham when “the Bat” was just a rumor chased by reporter Alexander Knox, and the city was powerless against crime bosses like Carl Grissom.

Review by Parker Jesse Chase:

“The Oath: A Batman Fan Film” takes us on a journey back to the gritty streets of Gotham City when the Batman was still a whispered rumor. Written and directed by Johnny K., this short film centers around Sergeant Frank Kelly (Jerry Morgan), a dedicated police officer in a city overrun by crime and corruption.

The film begins with a moody orchestral score, setting the tone for a classic superhero story arc. The title sequence artfully transitions from comic book inspiration to visual reality, immersing viewers into the world of Gotham through a scenic painting executed by Joe Granski. The attention to detail in the location and production design shines through, particularly in the exterior shots of Sgt. Kelly’s surroundings and the play of shadows against brick walls, capturing the essence of a grim and atmospheric Gotham City.

Rather than relying on action-packed scenes, the film uses dialogue-driven moments to convey the struggles faced by Sgt. Kelly and his partner. The writing effectively presents the systemic issues and moral dilemmas plaguing the city’s law enforcement. These issues come to a head when Kelly is faced with a choice that challenges his principles—a choice many officers before him have made. The film portrays the inner conflict well, exploring the temptation to compromise for personal gain in a broken system.

Central to the story is the arrival of Batman (Guillermo Mejía), a symbol of justice and vigilantism. The film’s strength lies in its ability to incorporate Batman into a narrative that primarily focuses on the perspective of an everyday officer. The costume design adds a unique touch by giving the police uniforms a superhero spin, while maintaining the noir aesthetics Gotham City is known for.

The film doesn’t shy away from tackling deeper themes, such as the struggle between doing what’s right and succumbing to the darkness. Sgt. Kelly’s journey serves as a microcosm of the larger battle for the soul of Gotham. The fight sequences, choreographed by Stunt Coordinator Jason White, are well-executed and enhance the film’s visual appeal in the editing process.

However, “The Oath” doesn’t offer much in terms of groundbreaking storytelling. The narrative arc feels familiar, echoing themes Batman fans have encountered before. The film’s strength lies in its attempt to humanize the world of Gotham by showcasing the perspective of an ordinary officer.

The performances are solid, with Jerry Morgan capturing the internal conflict of Sgt. Kelly effectively. Guillermo Mejía’s portrayal of Batman exudes the iconic presence expected of the Dark Knight. The film benefits from its commitment to visual authenticity with Gotham City contributing to the film’s noir-inspired atmosphere.

Ultimately, “The Oath: A Batman Fan Film” is a love letter to Batman’s world. While it doesn’t break new ground, it successfully combines familiar elements from the Gotham universe with a fresh perspective on the city’s struggles. It’s a reminder even in the darkest of times, there are those who are willing to remind you to stand up for justice and do the right thing.

Directed by Johnny K.

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Short Film Review: CHECKED BAGS. Directed by Mark Cline

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Synopsis:

A combat veteran is traveling by a civilian airline. The airline now requires all passengers to check their emotional baggage before boarding any flight. After checking his bags, the man experiences the serenity of becoming unburdened by the guilt and trauma that he carries inside all the time.

Review by Victoria Olson

Artificial intelligence is generating multiple conversations in the world today. The film CHECKED BAGS shows exactly what it looks like when it comes to filmmaking. The images are pristine as if an artist carefully designed every aspect of the frame. A soothing voice of a female British airline attendant opens the short narrative by explaining the process for her particular airline. This simple, but familiar voice instantly relaxes the viewer through the dialogue. 

The scene quickly changes to an artificially generated man who looks familiar, almost a blend of several popular actors, with a rough beard. The shots are rapid black and white images that represent the memories of this particular character. The quickness shows he is being forced to release his emotional baggage before the scene opens to a bright and colorful terminal. He is now relaxed and clean shaven, signifying that he has dropped his emotional baggage. 

The film is composed of still images giving the illusion of movement through the use of time-lapsed illustrations. This allows the film to progress rapidly in order to give an example of artificial intelligence to create a concept of what could eventually be a full film. The concept of using emotional baggage before being allowed to board a flight is unique, which makes this film almost a trailer for a longer film. The idea being presented is clear and could be made into a feature film that would leave the audience feeling relaxed by the end. The tone is already there in the brief concept that artificial intelligence created and it would be wonderful to have people take over a feature in order to bring the idea of checking emotional baggage to a longer film. 

CHECKED BAGS is a great film to see what artificial intelligence can do in regards to film without overstepping the boundaries of the need for human creations. It was designed using both AI and humans to create the short, showing how both can work together to create a concept while bringing up a dialogue about what the world would look like if people could check emotional baggage. 

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Short Film Review: The Great Basin! Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Desert

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Synopsis:

The Great Basin! Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Desert is a film, book and print project that addresses climate change, the severe drought in the Western United States, gun culture, the military’s use of the basin and range of Nevada for atomic testing, cultural stereotypes, my own personal history, and my experiences in this mostly remote area. In the 15 minute short film I am creating complex collages of my still and motion captures made in Nevada with appropriated short clips from Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, recent weather footage, The Lone Ranger, as well as John Wayne’s and other historic films, cartoons, and many other cultural artifacts, in order to speak to the place and its significance.

Review by Andie Karvelis

Filmmaker Eric Weeks takes you on a unique journey centering around his experience in the remote regions of the Western United States.


What intrigued me most about this film was the creative way Weeks used existing footage from the past to bring attention to present day issues. Climate change, the drought and the Nevada military Atomic testing areas to name a few.


You have super quick cuts of footage and dialogue ranging from the local news to The Lone Ranger and even some Davey & Goliath thrown in for good measure. It’s a creative way to drive your point home about these important issues. The moments of overlapping audio and repeating footage leaves you feeling helpless and confused, but I think that is exactly what you’re supposed to feel. Apathy won’t bring about change, we have to feel in order to act. .

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Directed by Eric Weeks

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