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- First reviewAugust 3, 2008
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MightyMartian's Reviews
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More Than a "Comic Book" Movie
PostedAugust 3, 2008
MightyMartian
from Florence, KY
At this point, encouraging you to see The Dark Knight is probably a moot point. Already shattering box office records for first day and opening weekend while rapidly approaching the $400 million dollar mark, it's the first film to have a legitimate shot at dethroning Titanic as all-time champ (which I don't expect, but wouldn't that be something?). So, odds are, you've seen it already or you're planning to soon (if you've haven't, I've gone three times to compensate). This review won't be about why you should...it's about why it is worthy of those records and the award buzz already surrounding it. It's about why a film about a billionaire dressing up like a bat to fight a clown is one of the best dramas of the modern film era.
To reflect, Christopher Nolan's 2005 reboot of the franchise, Batman Begins, was hailed for returning the character to his roots as a shadowy character with a twisted (if noble) sense of justice. Batman has always been one of the most fascinating and enduring "super"heroes because he isn't super. He's just a man, albeit a very wealthy and driven one, but even so...with the right training, trust fund and childhood trauma, any of us could strike fear into the hearts of criminals.
After seeing The Dark Knight, one gets the impression that this was the picture Nolan was truly aching to make...he just had to get that pesky origin story out of the way to bring the character back from the farce Joel Schumacher (and to a lesser extent, Tim Burton) created in the 90s.
As Knight opens, we've seen the fruits of Batman's work in Gotham City. The mob is being worn down at every turn...he is able to strike them just outside of the law while still cooperating with the police, who are, in turn, emboldened to step beyond their own internal corruption. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is pleased with his work, but he wants to be sure he's inspiring the right kind of action. He finds that confirmation in the charismatic Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), the new District Attorney who truly believes in what the Batman does and sees it as an example for how the common man can stand up for what is right. Bruce sees something in this man operating without a mask that he can't be...including the romance he has with Bruce's childhood friend Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal, taking over the role from Begins' Katie Holmes).
Naturally, the mob isn't keen on these developments, so they eventually turn to, as Bruce's faithful butler Alfred (Michael Caine) puts it, "a man they did not fully understand." That man is known only as The Joker (Heath Ledger). If Dent is the inspired, humane response to Batman's actions, the Joker is the equal, but opposite, reaction...a literal agent of chaos with motivations that are, essentially, non-existent. This dichotomy is precisely what fuels the movie...Batman is merely a catalyst for these two to battle for, as Joker puts it, "Gotham's soul." There's a reason Batman isn't in the title.
All this drama and political allegory doesn't replace the action that one would expect from a summer blockbuster. It simply enhances and elevates it...a distinct reason why this movie is bringing in so much money and appealing to audiences outside of the aging nerds like yours truly and teenage boys. Batman still kicks butt and the movie's action centerpiece, a rousing chase through the Gotham underground, still makes me giddy with each viewing.
Of course, the biggest story of the film is Ledger, who turns in the performance of a lifetime in his last complete role. His Joker is a magnetic fireball of energy, menace and perverse glee. You know that a memorable villain has been born when you find yourself laughing at how he commits a murder. From a distance, you're in on the joke, but you know that if this man walked into the room your life would be in danger. The biggest tragedy of Ledger's death may be that we can never see this character on screen again...how can anyone possibly fill his purple suit and smeared makeup? He will likely receive a nod for Best Supporting Actor and deserves it. One can only hope the rest of the film gets more recognition than Oscar usually pins on such movies.
The Dark Knight is so much more than a "comic book movie." It's a powerful action-drama that dares the audience to see more than just a man in a costume...a new high-water mark for the genre that goes far beyond box-office receipts.
To reflect, Christopher Nolan's 2005 reboot of the franchise, Batman Begins, was hailed for returning the character to his roots as a shadowy character with a twisted (if noble) sense of justice. Batman has always been one of the most fascinating and enduring "super"heroes because he isn't super. He's just a man, albeit a very wealthy and driven one, but even so...with the right training, trust fund and childhood trauma, any of us could strike fear into the hearts of criminals.
After seeing The Dark Knight, one gets the impression that this was the picture Nolan was truly aching to make...he just had to get that pesky origin story out of the way to bring the character back from the farce Joel Schumacher (and to a lesser extent, Tim Burton) created in the 90s.
As Knight opens, we've seen the fruits of Batman's work in Gotham City. The mob is being worn down at every turn...he is able to strike them just outside of the law while still cooperating with the police, who are, in turn, emboldened to step beyond their own internal corruption. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is pleased with his work, but he wants to be sure he's inspiring the right kind of action. He finds that confirmation in the charismatic Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), the new District Attorney who truly believes in what the Batman does and sees it as an example for how the common man can stand up for what is right. Bruce sees something in this man operating without a mask that he can't be...including the romance he has with Bruce's childhood friend Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal, taking over the role from Begins' Katie Holmes).
Naturally, the mob isn't keen on these developments, so they eventually turn to, as Bruce's faithful butler Alfred (Michael Caine) puts it, "a man they did not fully understand." That man is known only as The Joker (Heath Ledger). If Dent is the inspired, humane response to Batman's actions, the Joker is the equal, but opposite, reaction...a literal agent of chaos with motivations that are, essentially, non-existent. This dichotomy is precisely what fuels the movie...Batman is merely a catalyst for these two to battle for, as Joker puts it, "Gotham's soul." There's a reason Batman isn't in the title.
All this drama and political allegory doesn't replace the action that one would expect from a summer blockbuster. It simply enhances and elevates it...a distinct reason why this movie is bringing in so much money and appealing to audiences outside of the aging nerds like yours truly and teenage boys. Batman still kicks butt and the movie's action centerpiece, a rousing chase through the Gotham underground, still makes me giddy with each viewing.
Of course, the biggest story of the film is Ledger, who turns in the performance of a lifetime in his last complete role. His Joker is a magnetic fireball of energy, menace and perverse glee. You know that a memorable villain has been born when you find yourself laughing at how he commits a murder. From a distance, you're in on the joke, but you know that if this man walked into the room your life would be in danger. The biggest tragedy of Ledger's death may be that we can never see this character on screen again...how can anyone possibly fill his purple suit and smeared makeup? He will likely receive a nod for Best Supporting Actor and deserves it. One can only hope the rest of the film gets more recognition than Oscar usually pins on such movies.
The Dark Knight is so much more than a "comic book movie." It's a powerful action-drama that dares the audience to see more than just a man in a costume...a new high-water mark for the genre that goes far beyond box-office receipts.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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