Not that I plan to reveal loads of the plot, mind--I just want to speak freely when I get to that bit. FWIW: 4 out of 5 stars.
A couple of days ago I was able to catch a matinée(that is, first and cheap) of the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight. I've been bats about Bats for ages, but the movie poster seemed to make this urgent as some seemed to think the movie might be used as a medium for 911 disinformation. This turns out to be true, but very, very subtly.
Briefly, before I get to the spoiling bits, Heath Ledger makes a brilliant and believable Joker, Aaron Eckhart makes an adequate Two-Face, though the makeup was a bit extreme IMHO, and Christopher Nolan is fine as Bats, contrary to whinging reviewers . I think their real dissatisfaction with the movie comes not from Nolan, but the pacing, which is more like a political action thriller than a superhero film. A superhero film--at least a good one-- usually has a "soaring" feel to it, leaving you light and breathless at the end, with a residual exhilaration. The Spiderman films did this, as did the first two X-men movies ; so did "Batman Begins". But "The Dark Knight" is going back to its darker roots and others have noticed, suggesting it may be too dark. Well, buckle up--that was the real Batman before the comics code almost destroyed him.
Right, last chance to AVOID SPOILERS-BEGINNING NOW.
In the beginning we learn some citizens of Gotham are inspired to dress up as Bats and go out and do their bit to fight crime. Luckily for them they're saved by the real deal who's a bit of an arsehole about it. When they ask the very good question what makes them different, Bats basically tells them they're amateurs. True, but still--Gotta give em credit for stones.
We also see a gang in clown masks--not to difficult to see where this is going--robbing a bank. And not just any bank, a mob owned bank. You'd have to be crazy, right? Nuts! And so you would:
Enter the Joker.
I think Ledger's Joke is THE BEST--like EVER. I believe not only the character is real but he is really crazy. And, to take a psych detour, NOT a sociopath.
I hear the objections all the way from here. Most people don't understand what a sociopath(some interchange psychopath) is: it is a person without empathy. Practically this means they cannot feel anything but their own desire for control and domination. Most are not criminals, but effectively they have no conscience. They really don't care about anything larger than themselves. And sociopaths are sane, very sane--that is, they are aware of objective reality--they just think they are the only important person in the world.
The Joker does not behave like a sociopath. He cares what people think--in a twisted bizarre way. At the same time he has no emotional investment in controlling others. And he is quite insane. The Joker fits the profile of a malignant narcissist(to be fair from a practical, public safety standpoint, a malignant narcissist may be indistinguishable from a criminal sociopath), someone destroyed by life( you cannot get this insane by chance or chemical imbalance) and who has decided everyone else needs to experience his insanity, which is the only real reality. A sociopath would not care what other people think.
But don't ask the Joker why he does what he does--his origin story changes depending who he's holding a knife to. He's probably long forgotten himself.
Back to the story. Needless to say the mob and it's various allies are not happy and meet to discuss this problem, a meeting crashed by--the Joker. Who does this great magic trick--but I'll let you experience the hilarity.
This Joker is not a joke. He is not a cartoon villain. He is seriously dangerous and the film is very good at showing how he applies his brilliance to cover all the angles.
Harvey Dent, soon to be Two-Face, not to dis the role, is not as inspired. That could have been planned--goody two-shoes, do gooder goes bad on one side, nutty nutso on the other. And, after Dent becomes Two-Face, it does give the nutters something of a conversation piece.
The main gist of the plot is the Joker cavorting around town being insane, robbing places, blowing things up, with a spot of murder here and there, whilst the virtuous and doomed DA tries to "clean this town up" with the help of Gordon and Batman.
Now the disinformation bits.
There is much bluster about not "giving in to the terrorist"--meaning the Joker. This part of the plot was handled clumsily. In real life cops do not refer to these people as "terrorists", nor do city officials consider acting--or speaking--as boneheaded as Bush and Co.
There is also a part where the Joker brags about his simple pleasures--among them gasoline and matches, which he is supposed to have used to bring down a multi story hospital. Riiight. Sure, guv. Now show me what's in your other hand--and they do, showing the nearly flat pile of debris from the building's collapse. Just from gasoline. Uh-huh.
On the plus side Morgan Freeman's character makes a point about power and privacy, resigning in protest when Wayne hijacks every cell phone in the city to make a radar network(don't ask--its magic).
Also, during a morally tense moment--unrealistically played(the guards would have just shot him), but whatever--a presumed convict makes a moral decision that destroys stereotypes.
And also on the plus side--the girl dies. Sorry, but that plot bit was DOA dead weight anyway. It there's going to be a girl, it should be Batgirl--or Catwoman. This is a geek movie, not bleeding Jane Austen.
My personal notes--
Some people complain about the editing, but I like it, especially during fight scenes. Like real fights, you can't see all what's going on at one time, but you act anyway, trusting your training. It looks messy and confused, but works--just like in reality.
The end is somber, but that's appropriate all things considered. You want a candy coated, feel good, superhero flick, go rent Superman. This is Batman, The Dark Knight. And we hope for many more.
End note: to whom it may concern:
A quote reminded me of you and your lot-
"Some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.''
Message received.
