On November 15, 2013, I got a wonderful birthday present. I followed a link to a story about a child's Make-A-Wish request being fulfilled, and 20, 000 strangers participating to cheer him on. And, then, thousands more around the world touched by it and stopped to thank a young boy who wanted to be a hero, just for one day. How appropriate then, we hear a choral rendition of David Bowie's "Heroes," at the beginning of this documentary. Cancer is a harsh disease for anyone; but especially for children. These are some of the most vulnerable people, with developing immune systems. They have to turn into fighters to beat the disease. This film tells the story of one of these brave little warriors.
Miles Scott was diagnosed with leukemia at age 18 months. 18 months! He finished his treatment in the year he turned 5. That's a long battle, for anyone. Along the way, he was introduced to the Make-A-Wish foundation, which grants wishes to kids fighting cancer, in the hopes of giving them a back a piece of their lost childhood. Miles wanted to be a superhero; he wanted to be Batman. Simple enough. Then, people took inspiration and the idea grew from a simple day dressing up and doing some superheroic stuff into a city stopping for a day to cheer on a brave little kid, whose wish was to portray someone who brings justice into the world.
The story is amazing and the people involved even moreso. We meet Eric Johnston, who would be Batman to Miles' Batkid. Eric had worked with Make-A Wish before, helping a child develop a video game about fighting cancer, for other kids facing the same battle. Eric and the young man were recognized for their selfless act by the Dalai Lama. You see that same commitment from EJ, here, along with his wife and friends, the volunteers at Make-A-Wish and thousands of ordinary people, who were touched by the idea of helping a child play makebelieve. They got to be kids again, and see the world with clarity and bring some kindness back into it. All were heroes that day.
The film captures everything wonderfully and will have you in tears of joy, constantly. It's a heartwarming story that a few cynics have tried to tear apart; but, its message is beyond that. Watch the film and take inspiration. Become a hero for someone else. Take a moment and extend a kind hand to someone in need. remember what childhood was like, when you did everything with enthusiasm and passion. This film makes you want to go out and make the world a better place. We could use a bit of that.
Well done, Caped Crusader, and all of those who helped along the way.
Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World
2015
Action / Biography / Documentary / Family
Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World
2015
Action / Biography / Documentary / Family
Keywords: woman director
Plot summary
On November 15, 2013, the world came together to grant one 5-year-old leukemia patient his wish to be Batman for a day. "Batkid Begins" looks at why and how this phenomenon took place, becoming one of the biggest "good news" stories of all time.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
A Wonderful birthday present.
An upbeat, fun film for the whole family.
his upbeat documentary with a heart is a must-see. It tells the story of a young boy's Make-A-Wish that captured the imaginations of people all over the world. At a time when cynicism is rampant, the film shows that so many people are inherently good.
The movie retells the story in an entertaining way, even adding fun animation. Which is so fitting since Batman began as a comic book hero.
When Miles Scott, who was diagnosed with leukemia at 18 months, was finally in remission, his parents contacted the Make-A-Wish chapter in San Francisco. What began as a routine wish fulfillment mushroomed into a major caper-filled day with an audience of 25, 000 people and about two billion following the action via social media.
President Obama tweeted his encouragement!
Even if you're down on documentaries, you'll love this one. The critics did.
From someone who was there: Batkid Begins is a perfect representation of the Batkid wish and local volunteerism
Hello potential viewers, Mike Jutan here. I "played" the Penguin for the SF Batkid Make-A-Wish Day and I am overjoyed at the beautiful work director Dana Nachman has done with this story.
I was part of the day (I played one of the two villains who Miles chased around San Francisco) and this movie for me serves as two things: a perfect time-capsule of Miles's wish, transporting me right back to the spirit of that day in SF, and secondly, a stellar discussion of what it means to create community in this modern social media-driven world of ours.
I'd also like to point out that the Director is donating 100% of her proceeds to The Batkid Fund, which benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation, along with 4 other charities. This movie was done with the same giving spirit and thoughtfulness of the Batkid wish, and I'm VERY proud to have had the honour to interview with such an incredible crew.
Please check http://www.batkidbegins.com for local listings, as it will continue on a limited release schedule nationwide in the US ongoing, throughout summer 2015. Thanks all for your kind support!