Undertones of The Dark Knight

[weirdel]

I was so mixed when the Joker had scenes.. Every scene was like "Aww.. :(" or I just had an overwhelming melancholy feeling (while simultaneously laughing), even though I did enjoy the movie, and laughed at most of the scenes, I just had a weird undertone of sadness through the whole movie.

I just wondered if anyone else felt a hint of .. something while watching the movie.


L.P.E.

[Claptonian]

I assume you're referring to Heath Ledger's passing, in which case I felt nothing at all, which I think says a lot about his performance. There were times I felt regret that he wouldn't be able to reprise the role, but for the most part I was too immersed in the movie to think about it.

Some undertones I did pick up on (which I think is a testament to my talent for paranoia and over-analyzation) was a pro-Bush, pro-war on terror, pro-war in Iraq agenda. The justification of spying on innocent people to prevent attacks and catch terrorists, Alfred's speech about how important it is to make the tough decisions even if everyone disagrees with you, Dent talking about how the people of Gotham can't give in to or negotiate with a terrorist, etc.

I still love the movie, though. :)

[notoppings]

I understand what you mean, but for me it was a sweet sorrow. I made up my mind to enjoy it to it's fullest. Knowing that this would be the last performance of a star that I enjoyed, like the last bottle of a favorite wine or the last anything that you enjoy you can choose to dwell on the negative or you can enjoy it to the fullest. After it was over all I could think to myself was "Yes Heath, that was fantastic, thank you for a beautiful performance" If you have to go out it's great to go out on the top of your game, and he did.

[INTJewel]

I just wondered if anyone else felt a hint of .. something while watching the movie.


Definitely.... down around my nether regions. The Joker was sizzlin'. I have the same reaction to Hannibal Lecter, too. Maybe I should talk to my shrink about that.

[Jughead]

I didn't feel anything during the movie, but I'm shattered that Heath Ledger cannot reprise the role.

It was a brilliant movie.

[Dominguez]

I assume you're referring to Heath Ledger's passing, in which case I felt nothing at all, which I think says a lot about his performance. There were times I felt regret that he wouldn't be able to reprise the role, but for the most part I was too immersed in the movie to think about it.

Some undertones I did pick up on (which I think is a testament to my talent for paranoia and over-analyzation) was a pro-Bush, pro-war on terror, pro-war in Iraq agenda. The justification of spying on innocent people to prevent attacks and catch terrorists, Alfred's speech about how important it is to make the tough decisions even if everyone disagrees with you, Dent talking about how the people of Gotham can't give in to or negotiate with a terrorist, etc.

I still love the movie, though. :)

thank you!! i made that same connection and tried to explain it to a friend to no avail.

[weirdel]

I didn't feel anything during the movie, but I'm shattered that Heath Ledger cannot reprise the role.

It was a brilliant movie.

Oh yes, I was thinking about that at the end, why did they kill off Two-Face and let the Joker live? Were they thinking of making another, like the other Batman sequels? That would have been awesome to see a sequel with the Joker, but now they kind of got themselves in a rut, with Two-Face gone, and Joker in jail. I thought that somewhere down the road that Harlequin might be resurrected, but oh well. :]

I assume you're referring to Heath Ledger's passing, in which case I felt nothing at all, which I think says a lot about his performance. There were times I felt regret that he wouldn't be able to reprise the role, but for the most part I was too immersed in the movie to think about it.

Some undertones I did pick up on (which I think is a testament to my talent for paranoia and over-analyzation) was a pro-Bush, pro-war on terror, pro-war in Iraq agenda. The justification of spying on innocent people to prevent attacks and catch terrorists, Alfred's speech about how important it is to make the tough decisions even if everyone disagrees with you, Dent talking about how the people of Gotham can't give in to or negotiate with a terrorist, etc.

I still love the movie, though. :)

I know exactly what you're talking about! I tried explaining that to someone and they thought I was reading into the movie too much. xD


L.P.E.

[Jacopo]

There was a strange sense of fun to Joker. His anecdotes were creepy, poetic and were presented light heartedly. Perhaps it's that blend that made him mesmerizing.

I didn't get a sense of sadness for him, if I were to feel sad it would be for mediocre people who can't face truth and will never attain such heights of delight.

[MichaelH]

Oh yes, I was thinking about that at the end, why did they kill off Two-Face and let the Joker live? Were they thinking of making another, like the other Batman sequels? That would have been awesome to see a sequel with the Joker, but now they kind of got themselves in a rut, with Two-Face gone, and Joker in jail. I thought that somewhere down the road that Harlequin might be resurrected, but oh well. :]



I know exactly what you're talking about! I tried explaining that to someone and they thought I was reading into the movie too much. xD


L.P.E.

Same thing here. In fact, the people I saw the movie with seemed to reject my interpretation. I tried to make the point that I enjoyed the movie as a movie, but I hated what the movie said. They seemed disappointed that I didn't just enjoy the movie without further qualifications, and were not inclined to analyze it given the direction it would head.

Still a fun movie. The joker laughing as he fell to his near-death really resonated with me. It was the fulfillment of a dream for him; it was what he had worked for! I could share the ecstatic, insane joy at that moment, and felt let-down when he didn't actually hit the pavement.

[Claptonian]

Same thing here. In fact, the people I saw the movie with seemed to reject my interpretation. I tried to make the point that I enjoyed the movie as a movie, but I hated what the movie said. They seemed disappointed that I didn't just enjoy the movie without further qualifications, and were not inclined to analyze it given the direction it would head.

Glad to know I'm not alone!

I do think the movie had some good things to say, too. I loved the Joker's line about how no one panics when things go according to plan, even if the plan's horrifying.

[Jughead]

Oh yes, I was thinking about that at the end, why did they kill off Two-Face and let the Joker live? Were they thinking of making another, like the other Batman sequels? That would have been awesome to see a sequel with the Joker, but now they kind of got themselves in a rut, with Two-Face gone, and Joker in jail. I thought that somewhere down the road that Harlequin might be resurrected, but oh well. :]

I don't think Two-Face is dead. They just showed him lying prone on the ground. I really hope he comes back.

[upuaut]

It's just a movie. I did enjoy it. It really was brilliant. But if this is a reflection, and it is, on how corrupt a human can be, then it is sad, familiar, and real. What I mean is, the joker could not have achieved such damage without being able to buy and blackmail people, and people succombing to him. Wars are the real life example, and politics.

[Rohsiph]

For me there was a strong sense of hopelessness through it all that I often feel, at least in part, when reflecting on the modern world . . . largely revolving around how impossible it really is for heroes to emerge, and even in the rare circumstance when they do that miracles are still fiction.

[PHS Philip]

Some undertones I did pick up on (which I think is a testament to my talent for paranoia and over-analyzation) was a pro-Bush, pro-war on terror, pro-war in Iraq agenda. The justification of spying on innocent people to prevent attacks and catch terrorists, Alfred's speech about how important it is to make the tough decisions even if everyone disagrees with you, Dent talking about how the people of Gotham can't give in to or negotiate with a terrorist, etc.


I noticed that too, and I noticed that they sidestepped the questions they raised about Batman pretty clumsily. They had the big question about the vigilante, but then misdirected away from it because the answer seemed more and more inevitable as the movie progressed. The rest of the movie was well done, but those bits ruined it a little for me.

[Claptonian]

I noticed that too, and I noticed that they sidestepped the questions they raised about Batman pretty clumsily. They had the big question about the vigilante, but then misdirected away from it because the answer seemed more and more inevitable as the movie progressed. The rest of the movie was well done, but those bits ruined it a little for me.

Yeah. I chose not to let those things ruin it for me because some aspects of the films are, in my opinion, absolutely brilliant. I just accept that a movie doesn't have to be totally in accordance with my political/philosophical views and not every subject it touches on has to be dealt with perfectly. In the end, you have to look at the total picture. For me, The Dark Knight, as a whole, is a brilliant movie.

I think the vigilante question will be addressed more in the next one, since it will most likely involve the public and the police persecuting Batman. I think The Dark Knight was just a set up for that, since Batman doesn't really adopt the out-of-control vigilante image until the final moments.