Last night was beer and skittles. Lets face it, you know it, I know it... but I spent 100 beans on beer and skittles. I have no regrets. None.
For I went and saw the Dark Knight, the new Batman saga installation. Let me say it lived up to all I expected, the gadgets, the dialogue, the acting and most of all the evolution of what seems still a juvenile Gotham City. In saying that, I feel that most, if not all characters are in a developmental phase. The movie picks up where Batman Begins left off, the Bat is now on top of his game as far as personal emotional hang ups and is now a taut figure in the eyes of the justice system and a conjure of fear for the plethora of small time crooks and mobsters. Where we see Gotham in this film, is a different level of crooked policing and a much more organised group of sinister mobsters. The thing is, there is not much difference between both camps, but there is a high disapproval for what the Bat has done for Gotham.
The mobsters are angry at their flailing plans, and the police are angry because the mobsters are a high source of input into a fiscal and attention hungry law enforcement outfit.
No one is happy.
Then, in comes the Joker, the only one who sees the current predicament as a source for abnormal and anarchistic excitement. He cares not for the mob, he cares not for the just. He just wants everyone to see that they are all absurd... and hopefully drag them into his personal delusion. Boy, does he do a great job.
Acting wise, this movie is phenominal. Heath Ledger is simply amazing, and with the death of him still ringing in the ears of the world. It is fitting that he went out with this role. For, if you see this as a cruel statement, if he overdosed naked in a new york apartment after a role of more sentimental touch. His death would be seen as a disgrace. But out goes the anti-hero, and God bless this world for having them. They really do point out the realistic burden society puts on its entertainers. God bless you Heath.
Christian Bale is at his all time best. I was talking to a close friend who is an avid movie buff, and I was in complete line to say that he is of the exact prestige of actors like Johnny Depp. He is as involved with the Batman as he is with the wealthy tycoon Bruce Wayne. I don't know if it is just me, but American Psycho really added to his exuberant performance of the head of Wayne Enterprises. He is the perfect cast that has the ability to switch between both figures.
Gary Oldman, as Commissioner Gordan, is amazing. The movie takes him from his Lieutenant position and shows the evolution to the Commissioner role. One would think that once the honor was bestowed he would be the fast talking Gordon we all know from the original Batman series... But thank heavens it doesn't. Where this saga has amazing strength, and when I say amazing; I REALLY MEAN IT, is the growth of all the characters, it is not in a step by step format like a university graduation, where the character graduates to the next phase of maturity, they have to earn it, and watching the characters fill the shoes of the final stage of character growth is an awesome ride.
Where the movie takes a weaker twist is the development of the Two- Face character. This interception appears about three quarters into the movie. Some see it as a rushed addition to the plot, that the Two Face is a weak and very unmannered depiction of the comic version. After speaking extensively with the said close friend, we came to a consensus, after about 12 beers, that this was the stepping stone for the the precursor film, and with out giving too much away I would like to predict the next Batman Installment (note: for those who have not seen the movie, please cover your eyes right now as certain explanations will destroy the movie for you.)
Ryan and Aidan's combined prediction of the next Batman flick: The end of the movie sees a confused and agonized Harvey Dent (Two-Face) take hostage of Gordon's family at the place where his beloved Rachel was decisively murdered. Harvey blames Gordon for what has happened to his face and also for the loss of his true love. He makes Gordon choose his most loved family member, so that in an act of cruel desperation, Harvey attempts to make a brutal execution in front of the Commissioners own eyes, as a payback for his inevitable loss. The family member is the son. His prized son. Dialogue is exchanged between Dent and Gordon about how they will now be even, whilst the boy is trembling and apologies from Gordon come as sincere as any, in that situation. Gordon plea's with the estranged lawyer and makes little to no ground. Batman arrives, and after a struggle manages to rescue the boy but in the process push Dent off a heightened landing. When the dust settles, a bruised and battered Batman, in the company of his son, tells Gordon that Gotham does not need another vigilante, and in an anti - heroic measure accepts the blame for all of Dent's insanity driven crimes. Gordon reluctantly accepts the offer, knowing that in the grand scheme, Batman can take on any adversary, but Gotham needs to remember Harvey Dent for the good work he had done, prior to his accident. As Gordon makes the call, police are now ordered to pursue the Bat, but as this call is made, the Son screams "He Didn't Do it!"
The Plot: After all is said and done, the people of Gotham attend what can be best described as a state funeral for Harvey Dent. Exalting him as one of Gotham's finest. This is the perfect counterbalance of the Two-Face character. One side of him, engrossed in rage and agony over the loss of his true love, and disfiguration of his person, but on the other side... he is revered as the White Knight of Justice. Batman, now more than ever is the darker of anti-heroic figures, is being chased and accused of the murder of 6 people. 3 whom were police officers. Gordon being the only one knowing that he is truly innocent, but has to falsely pursue the Bat to save the face of Harvey Dent, now Two-Face, is faced with an even closer predicament, in the moments when he was asked by the enraged Dent, to decide who was his most loved family member, his daughter and wife were left out. This will create a massive tension. We figure his daughter, will respect Batman more than her father, she will idolize him no end, as she feels her life would be over if the Bat had not of saved her. She resents her father. Her idolization goes through her teenage years, as the movie only shows her and her brother as very young. She will dream of nothing more, and we think this is the format for Bat Girl. The comics tell us that Batgirl wanted to be Batman, with no association to the actual Batman, more something of her own violation. The comics also tell us that she has an accident that leads to her being a paraplegic as a result of her actions. This angers her Father, who is now a very fragile creature (what with the covering of Harvey Dent, The false pursuit of Batman and the now case of his broken daughter), we think this will play a massive role. The anger is too much for it not too. Two-Face grows into his character, with alot more depth. He is now inbuilt with rage and also an honor that has been appointed by Gordon, which has made him hide to salvage his own dignity, a part of the narcissistic face. He becomes darker and darker as the self loathing aspect begins to chew his moral core... every day it gets harder and harder to subdue his dark side. This resentment in-turn, turns back to Gordon... for he made him the way he is... the both sides of the coin. This turns into a violent secretive outburst that sees more people mysteriously murdered... both police and mobster. The Bat has to be blamed... as Gordon has gone too far with this volatile secret. The intensity and anger from Gotham citizens becomes akin to a witch hunt on Batman. The corrupt police and mobsters see this as a way to once and for all rid themselves of the Bat, the Bat becomes weak from the sheer amount of people after him. But here is the twist, the Son... the boy who saw him initially take the wrap for Gordon and Dent's secret now despises his father also, he takes pursuit of a venture to help Batman. Reluctantly we feel this is the inception of the Robin character. The boy tries real hard to convince Batman, who is now on the verge of becoming a villain to clear his name. Expose the now Two-Face, previously Harvey Dent (a man that Batman saw as the future hero for Gotham thru due process cause). The Dent rampage becomes more sinister, taking out more than the law and crime, but now civilians who deem his appearance as ungodly. Batman takes a stance, he also accepts the help of his new sidekick. They work independently and achieve set goals. Gordon who is still after the Bat, appears at a crime scene to find his son has taken the path of the force he is trying to convict. This is all too much.
That is where I will end it, as it makes for the excitement that could possibly purge into the next episode of the saga.
I will try and get a TAB betting tip on this...
But to me, and I hope Aidan....
We have created longevity for such an awesome story.
x
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