July 19, 2008, 4:57 pm : The Movie “The Dark Knight”

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Let me start by saying that this review will be very biased. Batman is the only comic book/movie/television super hero that really matters to me, and, in my opinion, the Joker is the greatest villain in film or print, ever. Let me also say that the review of this film may contain things that you may not want to hear before seeing the actual film, so if you have not seen it and care about not knowing too much about it before hand, stop reading now.

Before this movie “Batman” (the 1989 movie with Jack Nicholson, and Michael Keaton) was my favorite movie of all time. Batman, a hero trying to bring good back to Gotham city, after the death of his parents left him selfishly seeking revenge on those who circumvent the law and/or pray on innocent citizens. The void in this man’s heart and soul will never be filled because nothing he does will bring his parents back and bring him true happiness. The Joker, a dangerous sociopath who’s anarchistic views and pessimism make him the most dangerous person that anyone could face because you can’t do anything to him that he wouldn’t do to himself or others. Now “Batman” completely satisfied me in every way. It took these characters that Bob Kane created and updated them for current times. Bruce Wayne was a figure in society with lots of friends and connections, none of whom knew about his secret pain and his obsession with justice. Jack Napier was part of the gotham mob who was disfigured in a chemical accident and went nuts in the process thus turning him into the Joker and making him into everything that Batman is not, and at the same time very similar to him. The protagonist and antagonist have a grueling showdown and good prevailed. I would give this film a grade of 100%.

Christopher Nolan set out to make a gritty, more realistic interpretation of the Batman story, and with “Batman Begins” he did just that. He stayed true to the original Batman comic book story, while at the same time, making it modern for a 21st century audience. But as Bruce Wayne fell down a well, establishing a healthy fear of bats, watched his parents die, sought revenge on the crime boss responsible for his parents death, was humiliated, got trained, betrayed his trainers (when he found out their radical/evil intentions), went back to Gotham to wage war on crime, stopped a man from poisoning the innocent citizens of his fair city and killed any chance of his trainers destroying the city, it was almost too easy for the caped crusader. Although Bruce Wayne/Batman came across many hardships in that story, he overcame the odds and made Gotham a safe place, all well becoming it’s knight in shining armor. But just at the end, not to make it so cut and dry, Lieutenant Gordon reminds Batman that it’s not going to be easy for him to clean up this town, and that hardships are ahead of him. But Batman remained selfless in the end with my favorite dialogue from the movie:

Gordon: I never got a chance to say thank you
Batman: and you’ll never have to

But this was just the beginning, as on the rooftop, Gordon tells Batman about a certain criminal with a “taste for the theatrics” and hands him the criminal’s calling card (a simple playing card with a joker on it). Letting the audience know that the best is yet to come, and giving me goosebumps on the back of my neck.

So, in “The Dark Knight” we get to meet this criminal with taste for theatrics. A young man known only as The Joker. In any review you hear, see or read about this movie, you will hear about how amazing Heath Ledger’s performance is. I thought to myself “his performance wouldn’t be this well received if he hadn’t died.” And I thought people’s pity for this great actor who unfortunately died was slightly clouding their judgement. I was wrong. Heath Ledger’s Joker is the Joker that I have always wanted to see. All the Joker’s until now (not to write off Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, or even Mark Hamill) have not been anywhere near as pure as Heath Ledger’s Joker portrayal. He’s ugly, horrifying, witty, hilarious, frightening, beautiful, odd, psychotic, insightful, silly, murderous, absurd and genius. The Joker is the most human person in this movie. He embodies human nature. He is a master of human psychology, and he knows how people will react to his antics. He lets the city of Gotham, it’s citizens, it’s law enforcement, and Batman play right into his hands, and for what? For his own amusement, and to make a statement about life. He believes that anarchy is the only fair way, and without rules, the world would be better off. His statement on life is that people’s morals and ethics are all just a facade, and without these imposed rules, people would show their true colours. He takes absolutely nothing serious, but at the same time, he takes everything serious. His crimes are so elaborate and undermine everything that the “good guys” are trying to accomplish that only a genius could pull it off. But since he does it all well laughing like he’s of unsound mind, you think he’s unbalanced, but he is very much in control. He is the perfect villain because you can’t hurt him. Even when his cards are down, he goes about laughing his sick laugh as if he hasn’t a care in the world. The scary part about it is, that he doesn’t. Batman can’t do anything to defeat the Joker that the Joker wouldn’t willingly do to himself. His personality vastly contradicts itself at every turn, as many peoples’ do. But these contradictions are so massive that it makes the Joker one of the most complex characters ever. He will gladly laugh in hysterics while plummeting to his death. So how can Batman ever defeat the Joker?

In my favorite scene in the movie (it’s the one where Batman and The Joker are in the interrogation cell), The Joker sums up the Batman-Joker relationship “I don’t want to kill you!!! You complete me.” Batman can’t simply kill the Joker because he would be proving the Joker’s point about how people go against what they believe in when they get desperate. The Joker can’t kill Batman because he needs him as a worthy adversary, and the only way for the Joker to defeat Batman is to get Batman to kill him. This way Batman would have no choice but to admit that the Joker was right. This is what was missing from the ‘89 Batman, it was too black and white (good guy vs. bad guy, good guy wins, lets all go home and eat pie). With Batman and The Joker, no matter what happens, there will never be a “winner.” This allows The Joker to commit crimes and be himself, which is the ultimate “Joke.” Batman and The Joker are complete opposites, yet they are very much alike. Batman is no non-sense, straight forward, The Joker is all non-sense, yet he is able to 1-up Batman time and time again. But they are both very clever, and psychologically brilliant. They also share the same goal. They both want what is best for Gotham City. Batman wishes to rid the city of crime, and give decent people a chance to prosper again. The Joker wants the city to just be honest with itself and be as anarchistic as he knows it really is. So the question is: what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immoveable object? These two men will never be finished with each other.

Then there’s Harvey Dent. With all the hype about Heath Ledger’s Joker, nobody is talking about Aaron Eckhart. He is a perfect Harvey Dent. After seeing this movie, you’ll wish that you could vote for him in real life. The way he allows the character to change during this film, yet keep his key characteristics in tact is fine acting at it’s best. He is the new D.A. for Gotham City, who literally shares the same goal as Batman, to clean up the streets of Gotham so honest people no longer have to live in fear. But as in the case with Batman and The Joker, Batman and Harvey Dent are also the same/opposite in a way. They are both bold crime fighters who want to leave “the old Gotham” behind. But while Batman lurks in the shadows with the criminals waiting to strike at them, Harvey Dent makes sure the legal side of things is taken care of and ensures justice comes to all these criminals. In a city darkened and plagued with corruption, Harvey Dent is the bright light who keeps the “good” people optimistic about the future. Gotham needs a figure to stand behind, and Harvey Dent is the man for the job. He is everything Batman stands for, but he is also a face that ordinary people can relate to. He is Gotham’s white knight, there to ensure that the criminals’ oppression on the working class citizens of Gotham will not stand.

The combination of these three powerhouse characters makes every intricate part of this movie very entertaining and gripping. This movie has everything anyone could ever ask for in a film. It’s suspenseful, funny, insightful, gorgeous to look at, finely directed and written, the actors all give top notch performances, the casting is outstanding, the music, and lack of music in one of the action sequences, is very well thought out, and the story is nothing short of cinematic excellence. This movie explores just how deep Batman’s ideologies go. Batman is not a super hero. He has no powers, and he’s not from another planet. He’s not even that ethical. But he is willing to do what it takes to rid Gotham City from evil. As where Superman stands for “truth, justice and the American way,” Batman fights fire with fire, and uses his brain and his braun, combined with his resources to try and stop the criminals of Gotham from getting the upper hand. Batman is no hero. Half of Gotham thinks he’s insane and has the same motives as the criminals, but that’s okay. Batman is, and always will be a martyr for Gotham City. A silent protector who stalks in the darkness for the greater good, and receives no adoration for his doings. Harvey Dent is the face of good in Gotham, the white knight, a symbol for the people to get behind. Batman is the face that evil will fear, not bound by the limits of the law, he is Gotham’s Dark Knight.

I cannot give this film a rating, the scale doesn’t go high enough. It has replaced “Batman” (1989) as my favorite movie of all time. After seeing it twice (once in IMAX, if you can, go see that, it’s stunning), I still cannot give this movie enough praise. While the ‘89 Batman receives 100%, this film went beyond any and all expectations I had going in. This is the Batman story in it’s purest form. This is the Batman movie I have been waiting my entire life for. Christopher Nolan and anyone else involved in the writing or producing of this film deserves a pat on the back. All the actors were perfect, even though Katie Holmes couldn’t come back as Rachel Dawes and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Rachel was slightly less serious (it didn’t hurt the character or the movie one bit), and I can’t think of any actors I would have rather seen in any of those parts than the ones that played them. This, to me, is the perfect movie.

July 16, 2008, 9:52 pm : The Movie “Wanted”

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I went in expecting a white knuckle thrill ride with gore, chicks, fast paced action and absolutely no story whatsoever. And I was satisfied. The story is kind of stupid (I don’t want to ruin it so I won’t tell you why). But if you’re just looking for a series of cool action sequences, a few good jokes, and some cool gore, yeah go see it if you’re bored. I compare this movie with “Shoot ‘Em Up” starring Clive Owen. While that movie took everything so far that it it was ridiculously ridiculous, this movie is just ridiculous. See it if you already want to, or if have 2 hours to kill. But if you go into this movie looking for holes to tear it apart, you’ll manage to find them. So yeah, it wasn’t horrible, better than I thought. Three and a half dots (out of five).

•••1/2

July 10, 2008, 8:11 pm : New Beck Album “Modern Guilt”

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I can’t give this album enough praise. It is an instant classic. With vaguely depressing lyrics, catchy, bass heavy beats (thanks Danger Mouse), all polished off with Beck’s monumental song writing and attention to detail. I’ve always thought that people who didn’t like Johnny Cash or the Beatles just didn’t like music. Well, go ahead and add this album to that category, because if you can’t find something to love about this album, i’m afraid music may not be for you my friend. I give this album 5 dots (out of 5).

•••••

July 7, 2008, 9:20 pm :

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“Nobody questions things in this country anymore, nobody questions things. Why? People are too fat and happy. People are way too fucking prosperous for their own good. Everybody’s got a cell phone that’ll make pancakes and rub their balls now” – George Carlin

July 7, 2008, 9:11 pm :

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“have you pictured what this planet is going to be like in 40 to 50 years? It’s going to be a big smoking ball of shit” – George Carlin

July 7, 2008, 8:43 pm :

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“I have a very low tolerance level for stupid bullshit” – George Carlin

July 6, 2008, 8:51 pm :

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“The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry” – Brooks Hatlen