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

SEX AND THE CITY

The much anticipated Sex and the City movie has finally arrived and is on course to achieve summer blockbuster status. Here’s the short review. It is a movie only to the extent that it is shown in a movie theatre and projected on a screen. It is little more than an elongated episode of the beloved HBO television series. Fans of the show should love it, but I wouldn’t expect it to win converts from its detractors.

I fall into the latter category. In the four years since the popular series ended, our heroines, Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha and Carrie have not matured one iota. They continue to live shallow, decadent lives, not so much in their sexuality (as the title might well imply) but in their absolute self-absorption, and disconnect with adult responsibilities. They want for nothing and so invent problems to sabotage their otherwise enchanted lives. In their world, love is expressed through shoes, or jewelry or closets. Authentic affection is interpreted as presumptuous control. Bikini waxing is not merely a grooming option, but a sacrament of obligation. The characters are in an arrested state of adolescence and by film's end nothing has changed. Expect sequels as competent writers can tease out endless variations using the established formula.

I’ve been accused of being a curmudgeon and told that Sex and the City is meant to be light hearted adult fare, nothing more. I don’t see it that way. While there is a hint of farce, there is no irony and there is no satire. Furthermore, the movie, like the television show, attempts profundity through the musings of Carrie Bradshaw. Like everything else in the movie, Ms. Bradshaw’s brand of wisdom is as childish as it is facile and offers no authentic insight into anything.

I could respect it if it was infused with wicked satire in the spirit of Desperate Housewives. I could respect it if it was peppered with Shavian irony (read George Bernard Shaw’s play Heartbreak House. . . no seriously read it. . .I’ll wait. . .). There is the occasional laugh, but it is mostly shallow and pretentious. Bah!

For all my bluster I admit that I watched the HBO show from time to time, and for the most shallow reason: Kim Catrall might be in various stages of undress. But at least my shallowness is transparent. I am a shallow man, but I own it!!!!!!!

I will give the producers this much credit: The actors turn in fine performances and the writing, as always, is finely crafted. They did a superb job of transferring this tv show to the big screen with well-defined, consistent characters and dynamic plotting. Maybe that’s what irritates me most of all; that so much talent produced something so flimsy and hollow.

As I said, if you liked the television show, there’s no reason why you won’t love this movie, but is this movie appropriate for your Brownie daughters? Well unless you want your daughters to embrace the values of the idle, the childish, and the self-absorbed you might want to skip this one. You should also be aware that there is a fair amount of sex in this movie. There is explicit nudity, bodies engaged in all manners of physical love, threesomes, dog masturbation, pregnancy, sushi, potty talk and lesbianism. Now I’m good with all that for me, but I’m a shallow man. On the other hand, this is probably highly inappropriate for your Brownie daughters regardless of the presentation at your school's mandatory "Family Health Night."

Sex and the City

I give it 1 Samoa!

Browny Dad