the blog
A moment to breathe
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- Subversion, our code repository, is currently down, giving yours truly a chance to write some. It's been pretty hectic (in a wonderfully fun kinda way) at Raptr. Lots of work which will soon reveal itself shortly ....
I've wanted to write about the Dark Knight since seeing the stunning film weeks back. I'm a thinker of the 'grey', the cross-section of polarizing entities, that which provokes critical thought, rebuttle and careful listening. It's very easy to embrace the black and white, accepting the firm beliefs of those who stand by "I am such, like my colleagues" rather than putting a conscious effort to understand the debate.
That's where the film made me ponder the hero and villain dynamic: Batman, the vigilante creature who decides to tap the cell phones of all of Gotham (see Bush and his Patriot Act policy) for the greater good or the Joker, the master of chaos who tempts the city's citizens w/ ethical dillemmas, provoking thought and questioning themselves. I loved the Joker, not only for Nolan's portrayal of the infamous villain but because of who is: the anarchist who wished to break the status quo, to question self-being and not just being the arch-criminal, robbing banks, holding politicians hostage and painfully balancing the hero / villain levers. If I had to become a super-villain, I'd model m'self against Nolan's Joker =)
In the end, the Batman understands that Gotham City needed its polar forces and becomes the villain to uphold the upstanding and heroic legacy of the fallen Harvey Dent. It's sad that 2.5 hours of conflict and city upheaval lead back to the same black and white portrait: always a "good", offset by the "bad".Labels: batman, film, movies, philosophy
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chrispederick: I actually liked the ending and I saw it slightly differently from you it seems.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 8:07:00 PM
Yes, it lead back to the same black and white portrait, but I took that to be because that is what the public needed to have. They could only comprehend the black and white of hero and villain, so Batman took the fall to give that to them.
It was his way of allowing them to make sense of the world, if you will.
Either way - a fantastic movie. Comfortably the greatest superhero movie ever.- yahooza:
i hadn't meant that the film ended on a sour note. i agree that the ending needed to be just that: a sense of balance for the Gothamites, because they cannot function otherwise. i reckon, it's my selfish fantasy for human beings to stand forward for themselves.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 8:24:00 PM
let me repeat: i LOVED the movie. ALL of it. - chrispederick:
Poor Wally - you are such an idealist! :)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 3:39:00 PM
I think the movie suggested that humans can make the right decision at times and stand up for themselves. However, you have to take it one step at a time and not push the poor little lambs too hard too fast.
That's where Batman steps in and protects them until they are ready for the next "test".