Unless you live under a proverbial rock you surely have heard of Batman. The franchise has seen many different styles on both television and in film. The popular television series pushed batman into the 'nice guy' category but most batman fans are fans because of his inherent struggle with the darker forces of his inner morality. Tragically taken from an idyllic life at a young age, Bruce Wayne dedicates his life to combating the same forces that took his parent's life... crime and evil. Operating outside the law and considered a vigilante by the very city he protects, the Batman persona may represent the desire in all of us to acquire justice at any cost, and is in itself a statement about our dissatisfaction with the way the world operates.Batman in film over the last decade hasn't enjoyed the popularity that the Batman character theoretically should have seen. This film is proof that Batman appeals to us in a very big way. We all yearn for an antihero to settle our scores, and make the bad guys pay. Locking them up for trial is so boring when we have the option for a Gotham City smack down. Sure the criminals go to jail, and sure, Batman doesn't kill his victims, but why is it so appealing to see a bad guy get a little 'back-alley' justice before going off to jail?
Robert A. Heinlein, one of the most famous sci-fi authors of all time considered this form of justice to be mankind's last hope. Anyone actually reading his book Starship Troopers - rather then watching the film, a bug-hunt mashing of the book - would see the Batman philosophy right there on the page. The belief that humans do well with swift and painful justice as a deterrent to crime. Heinlein believed that to arrest and detain was counter to our own natural way of learning. As children we hurt ourselves, and then learn. Even as adults, when physical pain is involved the lesson is channeled directly to the 'oh man, gotta stop doing that' center of the brain. As children, how many stern talkings to and time outs did it take to replace a swift kick in the behind. Many.
Batman represents the swift arm of justice rather then the currently ineffective way of punishing crime. Perhaps Batman's popularity represents a frustration with this perceived ineffectual method of crime deterrent. Perhaps we are frustrated with innocent people being victimized and yearn for a simple time when the town square was for more then then city-sponsored festivals.
To the criminal, Batman represents instant retribution in the form of physical pain for their activities, and a beating modifies criminal behaviour more effectively then the fear of 20 years in jail. When we consider this idea carefully it shines a huge batman shaped spotlight on our carefully constructed model of society, illuminated it's flaws in vivid detail.
So, now we know that perhaps Batman represents to us an answer to our frustration about the criminal element filling prisons, costing us huge amounts of money, generating fear for ourselves and our children. This would explain why the previous Batman films failed so miserably to capture our attention like the Dark Knight has. Just picture 'Doctor Freeze'.
What was the film like? There are many reviews floating around on the web but the general consensus is that the Dark Knight is a true summer blockbuster. There are a couple things that make this film stand above other potential ways of spending movie dollars. First and foremost in my mind is the performance by Heath Ledger.
Though the star of the show I'm told is Batman/Bruce Wayne, it's Ledger's Joker that just wows us. His portrayal of the joker is likely the best villainous film character I've ever seen. This is a thoughtful and downright perfect take on the character and is executed with such panache and style as to leave us just stunned. The horrible part is that we sit there watching this onscreen brilliance with the recent headlines regarding his tragic and pointless end running amok in our heads. Most of us first became aware of Heath in the excellent and stylish Knight's Tale in 2001 which he played the film's title 'knight'. A must see for anyone who liked his performance in the Dark Knight. Batman is not to be his last film. Ledger will appear in the upcoming Terry Gilliam film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus where his character is to be broken into three facets, the other two played by Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell.
The Dark Knight is a long film. Come prepared, and don't drink too much Coke or you will be forced to run off to the little boys/girls room right when the Dark Knight starts going battish on the badguys! The film is a slow starter, filling in the details of the new character Harvey Dent (two-face) played by Aaron Eckhart who has been in many-a-film and in my opinion was a perfect choice for the roll.
This time around I found Christian Bale's performance as Batman to be a little monotone. Though nobody can yell so scary as Bale as the angry bat, I found the constant gruff voice to be somewhat tiring after the first five minutes. I understand the need for the whole 'secret identity thing' but you don't hear superman talking like he's got a hedgehog in his throat. Don't get me wrong, overall his portrayal as the Dark Knight was excellent and he sure works as the billionaire Bruce Wayne.
The weak link in the Dark Knight's armor and the love interest for both Wayne and Dent is Rachel Dawes played by notable actress Maggie Gyllenhaal sister to also-celeb Jake Gyllenhaal. Her character pins the story to her like a linchpin, and in the end I felt that though her performance was excellent she just didn't seem believable as a woman both men would be so much in love with as to risk so much.
The other standout roll is longtime screen gem Gary Oldman who can do no wrong! His rolls in the past have established this man to be one of the most versatile and powerful actors working today, and though Commissioner Gordon doesn't give him much to sink his size 9 fangs into, what he does contribute is the perfect Gordon.
Though in many of the comics Alfred the sardonic and dry family friend and tea bringer doesn't have a pivotal roll, in the Dark Knight Alfred has become the conscience of Batman, the devil's advocate, the one who says "I told you so". In this role Michael Caine was the perfect choice. his short and precise delivery of his lines, mixed with his expert skill garnered from decades in front of the camera once again bring Alfred into the core group of characters.
Morgan Freeman, the man who never ages reprises his role as Lucius Fox, Batman's Q. He supplies Batman with the where, the how and the cool. Without him, batman would be a little less of a flying rodent James Bond and more of a martial arts vigilante with a cool hat. Though Freeman is less versatile and chameleon-like then the likes of Gary Oldman he works well here, simply because he radiates intelligence and power, as usual.
Eric Roberts shows up as gangsta boss Salvatore Maroni. His accent is a big weakness here but overall he did a good job as the mob go-between and helps fill in the blanks for the viewer regarding the Joker's motivations as well as some of the plot points involving the mob.
Anthony Michael Hall, forever the geeky kid from 16 candles, the geeky kid from the Breakfast Club and the geeky kid from Weird Science, all 80s cult films. From the geeky kid Hall has evolved into a startlingly good and accomplished actor with both the very excellent 'Dead Zone' TV show and various film roles. In Dark Knight he plays the 'go getter' news man where seeming without purpose in the plot decidedly adds to the fabric of the film.
Review by Ian Davis
All DC Comics characters and the distinctive likeness(es) thereof are Trademarks & Copyright © 1986 DC Comics, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
LINKS:
Frank Miller - Author of the graphic novel 'the Dark Knight' >>>
Review of 'the Dark Knight' the graphic novel. >>>
Review of film 'the Dark Knight' >>>
For those wanting to read more excellent Batman >>>
Official Batman site >>>
Chicago as Gotham >>>
the new Batsuit >>>
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