The Dark Knight

To say The Dark Knight is a comic book movie is to say that The Godfather is about olive oil importers. This gem is a complex philosophical polemic that is layered with compelling mythopoeic imagery and penetrating philosophy, and as the title suggests, it is also a rich medieval tale replete with evil villains, a vulnerable populace, and a powerful but ultimately unknowable hero. There is an abundance of archetypical characters and classical themes no less ambitious than the struggle of good verses evil, stripping away one’s mask to reveal one’s true character, the sacrificial lamb, the impotence of the State, and a parade of ethical dilemmas too numerous to discuss here. The Dark Knight at once recalls The Grail Legends, Shakespeare, Dante, Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery, Disney’s The Scarecrow of Romley Marsh, and the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch. And yet the movie remains an original creation and sustains itself with excellent photography, vigorous screenwriting, superb acting and a healthy dose of fun.

The story is simple enough. Batman is called upon to keep Gotham (a city that has a strong resemblance to Chicago) safe from organized crime and the Joker, a villain who is as eccentric as he is deadly. But the movie takes us on a journey through twisted labyrinths where no one is sure who is good or bad, who is right or wrong, who is truthful or deceitful, and who is alive or dead. While Batman strives to capture the Joker, the Joker and one of Gotham’s citizens strive to reveal the identity of Batman. To say more is to reveal exquisite surprises and reversals that are best experienced in the theatre. Let it suffice to say The Dark Knight is a wild ride that is sustained for well over two hours.

As you probably heard, the late Heath Ledger gives a superb performance in the role of the Joker. His Joker invokes both Vishnu and Iago, while maintaining the suavity of Noel Coward and the seductiveness of the devil from Saint Matthew’s Gospel. In the Joker’s shadow, it would be easy to miss the seamless performances of Michael Caine as Bruce Wayne’s Butler Alfred and Gary Oldman as Lieutenant Gordon, but that would be a shame. Actually the entire ensemble is excellent. They play the style credibly while preventing their performances from devolving into a pastiche.

Director and Screewriter Christopher Nolan deserves accolades for even attempting so ambitious a film. Some might plausibly argue that his ambitions are not fully realized, but I give an “A” for effort and believe that he succeeds in bringing mythology and euhemerism to a modern audience through the medium of film. That he does so with such clarity and vivacity is stunning.

For as much fun as the movie is, you should be warned that it is extremely brutal, menacing and ultimately sad. This in no way resembles the television Batman with Adam West running around in his Batman underwear and Ceaser Romero (who looked a lot like today’s Mary Tyler Moore) as the Joker. You should expect as many tears as thrills and this movie demands you rise to its level. It is well worth the effort as you will be rewarded with a stimulating movie that is full of surprises.

I loved The Dark Knight, but is it appropriate for your Brownie daughter? Sure, and when you get home why not make her watch The Deer Hunter, Marathon Man and Shindler’s List. . .just to cheer her up.

Not only is the film violent on an operatic scale, but it is violent in a very personal way. Characters you care about are maimed and murdered. People are tortured both physically and emotionally. Even a little boy is victimized by the overriding brutally that is this film.

Human disfigurement figures prominently in this movie as well.

And if all this isn’t emotionally damaging enough for your daughter, she will be subjected to 2 hours of philosophical discussions that will surely make her hate reading and critical thinking for the rest of her life.

Why don’t you take her to see Kit, An American Girl Story or the Jonas Brothers in concert instead?


The Dark Knight. I give it 1 ½ Somoas!

Browny Dad