Christopher Nolan has taken the Batman franchise to places that it has never been. His second Batman film takes a great amount of emotion to even watch, let alone tackle an analysis of the film. We see in this film three of Batman's villain adversaries from Scarecrow, The Joker, and of course Two Face.
The Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger is the most colorful character in the film and embodies the very definition of anarchy, (winning a well earned although phostumous Best Actor Academy Award.) The villain in this film that truly makes me ponder what my own reaction to events like those in the movie however is Harvey Dent...AKA Two Face. Placing myself in his shoes, I can't see myself seeking revenge as he did, but I can't help but wonder how much faith in humanity I would have left if I were in his shoes. In the end, I suppose it would be only my faith that was left to sustain me. Harvey is a very sympathetic, and yet incredibly frightening and violent villain.
I also appreciate the historical reference that Harvey make to ancient Rome in this film, talking about giving complete power over to one person...a protector in a cities time of need. We know from history that this usually results in tyrannical rulers for generations to come. This film however gives such a power to the only man who did not want it, namely Morgan Freeman's character Luscious, and that is why in the end he is able to give that power back, after there is no longer a need for him to have it.
The Dark Knight shows that there is more to humanity that impulse and instinct. The people on the ferries tasked with destroying each other or if they did not to face the destruction of both boats by the Joker, prove that humanity stands for more that just base instinct and survival. We can stand for compassion, grace, and love, even to those that we may consider outcasts.
-David
So much can be said about The Dark Knight. It's hard to know where to start. When I saw this film in theaters, I wasn't really sure if I enjoyed it or not. Enjoy is probably not even the right word used to describe how one feels after watching this movie. It's incredibly well done, and one of the most amazing things about this movie is Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker. You don't even see Heath Ledger behind all the scars and bright red paint...you don't see the actor...you see the Joker. And it's scary. How do you negotiate with a character like the Joker? The answer is, you can't. He doesn't care who lives or dies. He doesn't care if HE lives or dies. He describes himself well when he says how he doesn't have a plan, he's "like a dog chasing a car, he wouldn't know what to do if he caught it." He is Anarchy. He wants to prove that he can break the best, which it's implied that he does, but I don't agree. He doesn't break Batman.
Aside from the Joker's performance, one of the key scenes that sticks out to me is when there are two groups on the boats, one boat full of convicts, the other full of non-convicted, ordinary people, trying to get out of Gotham. They are both given a detonator to the other boat, and told that if they don't blow up the other boat, they'll all die. So, do these "innocent" people decide to become murders, and kill convicts who "already had their chance?" And these convicts have killed before, so who's to say they care about anyone else beside themselves? Well, in the end, neither boat can kill the other, and this really shows how good people can be. Even in the face of their own death, they cannot take someone elses' life, and it is a defeating moment for the Joker. I think my exact words at that point in the movie were, "In your face!" The people of Gotham, both the innocent and guilty showed their true colors in that moment.
In the end, the decision is made to not reveal the un-doing of Harvey Dent, but to put the blame on Batman because one, he can handle it, and two, the people of Gotham need to remember Harvey as their white knight. Batman decides it's better to not tell the truth in this situation, because they need to keep faith, even if it's a lie, or at least not the whole story. I'm not sure I agree. I think the people of Gotham are strong enough to hear the truth, they show their strength in the boat scene. And if people find out the truth later...how much worse for them to lose their faith and their trust in the good people.
But, who knows. Maybe it needs to be that way for a reason. All I can say is I am definitely seeing The Dark Knight Rises in 2012.
-Bethany
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