By Jack Huang
‘The Dark Knight’ exploded onto summer screens
I feel what I have to say in the next few paragraphs about the “The Dark Knight” might be a little redundant, because if you haven’t seen this movie, then its likely many dozens of your friends have confessed their strong feelings about it to you. The simple truth is “The Dark Knight” is no ordinary movie, and probably one of the best movies of this decade. It masterfully blends peerless acting and multiple genres together.
I watched this movie at its midnight premiere and I must confess that when the curtains rolled, I left the theatre dazed and in awe. I felt as though I was the keeper of some intimate world-shattering secret. I felt as if I was amongst the first group of an elite few that was able to witness the immaculate conception of this jaw-dropping perfection.
I am no Batman fan and as I have stated in previous reviews I am not a particular admirer of huge sweaty men in tight leotards who are bound to survive every encounter and be endlessly ret coned into another
commercially appropriate storyline.
So when I watch superhero movies I am no more informed than the other regular movie goers. Most of the superhero movies from “X- men” to “Ironman” were pretty well acted and have a clear storyline. It’s no surprise then that superhero movies became one of the signature movie genres of this decade. “The Dark Knight,” however, combined good acting and a well-crafted story harmoniously and probably created the definitive capstone superhero movie of this decade.
“The Dark Knight” is uniquely precious because it is more “real” than some of the other superhero movies. This is largely due to the humane nature of Batman, who lacked the fantastic powers of his super-comrades. So throughout the film, the dividing line between superhero movies and other movies is ultra blurry and sometimes crisscrossed. Often times the movie feels like a mystery, a drama, a thriller, or a “James Bond” film. Although ultimately it is a composite creature, it is by no means a Frankenstein; the story is extremely well paced, with many unexpected twists and turns and there are many false leads to purposely deceive the viewer so some of the closing surprises are thus more delicious for the audience.
The movie is also engrossing largely due to the peerless acting of its deceased lead, Heath Ledger. I was never a pathos-induced Heath fanboy when I decided to go to the movie, though now looking back with
retrospective this movie can hardly be great without him. The Joker is simply chilling, as he waded through the screens in his distinctive air of equanimity, his presence only echoes psychotic. No gaudy
interpretations from Tim Burton or many megalomaniac villains from other mediums with the exception of Hannibal Lectre even come close to this perfect monstrosity.
Ironically this dark influence also hardens the Batman and a beautifully original conception of hero is introduced by the time the movie ends. Suffice to say, even if Bruce Wayne decided to suck his thumb
in the corner for the majority of the movie, the nitpicky people on Rottentomatoes.com are still going to hold “The Dark Knight” as a demigod.
Although I have found many people to chat about this masterpiece, I crave that I could persuade more of you to feel what I have felt, and experience the same empowering dark inspirations that I have experienced. It is an art waiting to be appreciated and inherited by the artists of SCAD.
