RojoBatman and America - analysis of The Dark Knight
What is it that makes Batman as good as everyone is saying? How is it that despite all the hype; all the this is the best movie of the year I still was very impressed with this film. (Usually when a film is hyped so much I am disappointed due to the hype, not the case this time). And will there be more Batman’s? That last question is the easiest to answer, yes of course how could there not be.
Ok so I will just glaze over Ledger here because everything they are saying is true. He is magnetic, and delivers a truly amazing performance. Everything that anyone has said about how good he is true blah blah blah.
But surly one mans performance a incredible movie does not make, a good one yes but to achieve the success that this Batman has there must be other factors involved and there are. The story line to me is a stroke of genus if we consider the American audience. The story line could also be perceived as American flag waving and more fucking A we ain’t going to surrender to terrorism no matter what!
I’ll start with the genus. The Joker is a terrorist. His actions and machinations are motivated by terrorist ideas (no one is safe, no one is untouchable) it’s a scary concept to wake everyday and be in fear for your life. This is what the Joker bestows upon Gotham (just as Big Al bestowed this notion on America). Now I can’t fully elaborate on this point without being a spoiler, but I will say that when faced with a force that isn’t in it for the money but for the satisfaction of delivering terror you face something rather, - terrifying, at least with the motivation of greed you do have a point where negotiations can take place and a price can be found. But with the Joker there isn’t a price, there is only suffering under his psychotic will. Only two (yes two) men can stop the terror one wears pointy ears drives a missile and in his spear time appears in the guise of a ignorant sex addict. The other is the white light D.A who is destine to become what America has a tyrant under the guise of freedom and liberty.
This leads me to what could be faulted about the Dark Knight story. If we use The Batman and the Harvey Dent characters as metaphors for America we can see the this country is represented in two ways. One a crusader for all that is fair and just pursuing this crusade in a fair and just way until the time for words ends. The other realising that not all in this world is fair and just and with a fight fire with fire attitude tackles the problem accordingly. In the process being both immolated and demonised by its people, but delivering the results be it often in a cavalier way. We can understand why people of Gotham tire of the Batman (Just looks how much damage he does catching the criminals I mean Gotham’s insurance premiums must be through the roof) in the same vain America is demonised internationally but they are out there getting the world results, bring down terrorist and injecting fear into others pontificating on whether they will go down this slippery slope of pissing off the most powerful force in the world.
When faced with terrorism the time for words is short. The fire with fire attitude is the policy of choose and the Batman is given carte blanche, inferring what we should already know, America is just, America is the Batman in these times.
One thing that makes Nolan’s Batman’s great (this one especially) is there real world tangibility. Nolan uses the architecture of Gothem in a Michael Mann way (as in it sets the tone in may scenes, a character in its own right). Gothem feels like modern day New York, and the plot taking an international turn multiplied this feeling (I think Nolan is the only film maker to take Batman out of Gothem). Also references to pop culture are included ‘would the real Batman please stand up’ seems that the Joker is a Marshall Mathers fan, which does fit his profile.
I have recently watched Tim Burtons Batman which is great but when compared to The Dark Knight seems like the Batman with Adam West. Camp, unreal, gay. (And they just got worse after he stopped directing them) Nolan’s Dark Knight is dramatic, encapsulating, real. The Joker didn’t dance around acting deranged, he was deranged, he was tangible. Batman faces moral conflicts the city faced moral conflicts. There were times where I had no choose but to empathise with characters in the film which is rare in Superhero films.
The Dark Knight to me fits most of the criteria for a Best Picture nomination. Ledger no doubt deserves a nomination (and I think for lead), but this was more than just a superhero film. This reminded me of Heat in the respects to bringing into light characters motivation, their moral chooses, actions from the chooses. Such complex questions like remaining true to oneself and at what cost. This is what is making this film popular, people are almost watching a superhero drama film not an action film. Nolan is satisfying a large audience by giving them all what they want. The action is brilliant, the gadgets are cool, but the relationships of the characters, the touches of the landscape, and the empathy of the character’s positions and chooses are what makes this film outstanding.
8.5/10
Grammar Matters
Cooking Monkey
Maybe because I'm not American, I didn't see any flag-waving inherent in TDK. (Glad, too, because that would've annoyed me!) The terrorism aspect was overt, though, and I agree with you in that it makes it more immediate and relatable to the real world.
I was more conscious of the psychological and philosophical themes in the movie, e.g., both Batman and Dent are schizophrenic, if not clinically, then metaphorically. They both have these identity crises--which is kind of a running theme in several of Nolan's movies--but let's not forget, Batman isn't just Bruce Wayne/Batman. He's public Wayne/private Wayne/Batman. That's a distinction that doesn't appear in most of the Batman movies thus far (but Bale manages to pull it off, I think).
I will most likely watch the movie again soon, so I'll definitely be thinking about some of the points you raise here!
Tech News
Can you HACK it?
Genyration
If you're going to criticize somebody's wrting, please read your own before you comment. What in the heck does "if then that" mean?
If you're going to criticize somebody's wrting, please read your own before you comment. What in the heck does "if then that" mean?
If you're going to criticize somebody's wrting, please read your own before you comment. What in the heck does "if then that" mean?
I'm trying to write a semiotic analysis on this movie for my English class research assignment. I found this to be very helpful.
And TBH, I really didn't see anything wrong with the writing. But then again, I came back to US only 2 years ago after 10 years being overseas...lol