"It" happens in the case of every writer who suspects he's going to create a multi-billion dollar franchise (which happens to be almost every author, except yours humbly; whose jottings are read by a humongous readership of about three and a half people - half being the accounting number for his grandmother who can't read or write English but still grudgingly stares at the computer screen for exactly three and a half seconds).
"It" being - the author adds a few discordant linestrokes to the magnificent glory of the protagonist's otherwise airbrushed greatness. A Rama standing in front the "Jade and Crystal" fountain thinking about sending Sita to "vanvaas" in her chiffon sari, the Krishna thinking about his relatives, who've been belittling him and marking him the asassin of Prasena, and hence conditions being so should he attend the next Saturday's Costume Ball wearing his favourite green shirt with the non-hindu Swastika emblazoned on the armplates?. And that should give us a picture.
For a Batman movie, I must say - "The Dark Knight" does stand out and differ from all the others - 'coz here "the Batsuit doesn't have nipples on them" (George Clooney, anyone?). If you didn't get the stratospheric implications of this historic fact then this movie isn't for you, dude. (Read the rest of the review, though :) )
For probably the first time in a Batman movie the dark knight has had to share his screen-time with so many other characters. That combined with Christopher Nolan's magic gives such an ample exposure to the lot of supporting roles which is what makes the movie truly different. Even two whole shiploads of people are turned Super-heroes in the final few moments. Forget the timeless cliches : a lone honest officer (Gordon) in a "force" otherwise trenched in deep-dark turpitude, spineless mafioso bosses and a few logical uncertainties and you have a neat, glued-to-the-edge-of your-seat entertainer.
This isn't probably the first ever attempt at portraying the protagonists' bravado as a mask to hide their insecurities and weaknesses. And yet I must say the action sequences are pretty awesome!! (to borrow the quote from Ileana's T). Especially the one in which Wayne rides his Batpod to topple the Joker's "Slaughter" truck to choreographed perfection.
This isn't probably the first ever attempt at portraying the protagonists' bravado as a mask to hide their insecurities and weaknesses. And yet I must say the action sequences are pretty awesome!! (to borrow the quote from Ileana's T). Especially the one in which Wayne rides his Batpod to topple the Joker's "Slaughter" truck to choreographed perfection.
Quizfrats and brats can finally frame a Connect question that goes: MYB 3047, Nefertiti , a decrepit water tank, Rs. 2,36,45,00,000 vs $544 Mn, Danny Denzongpa = Hugh Jackman, Ghajini (the movie), and The Phantom of the Opera.
A little imagination and you'll recognise Harvey Dent/ Two-face. Again a well etched character who might just return from the dead in yet another sequel. To paraphrase, flipping a coin is totally symbolic of Harvey's character. The coin too gets defaced on one side as what happens to Harvey. The irony being that the coin almost always lands on the good face but Two-face flips his mind too and acts any which way that suits his evil side. Other symbolic references include his ambiguity over everything, Rachel's ambiguity in choosing between him and Bruce Wayne and lastly Wayne's own inner demons. Thinking about it, I feel The Joker is probably the only guy devoid of any ambiguous thoughts and choices. Another interesting motif the coin presents is "duality" that ocurs as a theme throughout. Harvey Dent being Gotham's white knight to Batman's Dark Knight, Batman as a savior contrasted with Batman the hunted (towards the end), and the Joker's vibrant interludes even as the city is engulfed in an aura of darkness and fear.
And yet, the movie does leave one desiring a bit of rationality.
- Cops of a Metropolis are awestruck/scared by a man firing a bazooka that they forget they have guns. Chrissake!! Isn't it America?Or is India responsible in some contorted way even for this?
- People of Gotham city dumbly board escape boats which are laden (no pun) with bombs at the Joker's threats. Update: Ever since I wrote this I had a chance to listen to a sampling of Customer Queries at a Call-center and I'm of changed opinion.
- The Police somehow miraculously don't evacuate Harvey Dent from the hospital making way for the Joker's rendezvous with him.
- The Bank Manager wields a gun the size of Bruce Wayne's ego, gives his two-bit about American honor and takes a bullet before you can even say Shreevenkatamadhavan.
As I said earlier, the movie is a bit racy. Add to it, Nolan's direction (Remember Memento? - the one-way ride to confusion street). The viewer does feel at times lost and also losing out on some of the finer emotions that the plot could've evoked, buried in the din.
Another interesing addition could've been a face-off between Michael Caine (Alfred) or Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox) with the Joker. Maybe in a sequel.
The Joker:
The Joker is one character who deserves much much more than can be captured in my writing here. The portrayal of a cold-blooded menace is so absolute that it alone makes the movie a worthwhile watch. He also justifies the plotline where Batman stakes all combating him. Complimenting his persona is the music score which shifts to a monotonic note of ever-increasing pitch that also sets a great backdrop for the macabre settings. Here's an attempt to collect some of his aphorisms:
- I thought my jokes were bad. (and I thought mine were...)
- Y'see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little...push.
- If you're good at something, never do it for free.
- This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object (Harsha Bhogle moment!!).
- You truly are incorruptible aren't you? You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness, and I won't kill you, because you're just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever.
In case I've come across as irreverent of the movie and you particularly liked it, consider this my tribute to "the Joker". Most of what he said is anyway true...
Total Trivia:
I confess that this tidbit of a trivia was "inspired" from imdb's trivia page.
I confess that I really regretted not having learnt Guitar basics so that I could even think of it by myself that I smacked my alter-ego with the day's TOI. Luckily, it was a weekday and low on ads; I'm alive and writing this piece.
The music score when The Joker makes a screen appearance is based only on the two notes D & C. DC comics publish the Comics and have also produced the movie.
- Cops of a Metropolis are awestruck/scared by a man firing a bazooka that they forget they have guns. Chrissake!! Isn't it America?Or is India responsible in some contorted way even for this?
- People of Gotham city dumbly board escape boats which are laden (no pun) with bombs at the Joker's threats. Update: Ever since I wrote this I had a chance to listen to a sampling of Customer Queries at a Call-center and I'm of changed opinion.
- The Police somehow miraculously don't evacuate Harvey Dent from the hospital making way for the Joker's rendezvous with him.
- The Bank Manager wields a gun the size of Bruce Wayne's ego, gives his two-bit about American honor and takes a bullet before you can even say Shreevenkatamadhavan.
As I said earlier, the movie is a bit racy. Add to it, Nolan's direction (Remember Memento? - the one-way ride to confusion street). The viewer does feel at times lost and also losing out on some of the finer emotions that the plot could've evoked, buried in the din.
Another interesing addition could've been a face-off between Michael Caine (Alfred) or Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox) with the Joker. Maybe in a sequel.
The Joker:
The Joker is one character who deserves much much more than can be captured in my writing here. The portrayal of a cold-blooded menace is so absolute that it alone makes the movie a worthwhile watch. He also justifies the plotline where Batman stakes all combating him. Complimenting his persona is the music score which shifts to a monotonic note of ever-increasing pitch that also sets a great backdrop for the macabre settings. Here's an attempt to collect some of his aphorisms:
- I thought my jokes were bad. (and I thought mine were...)
- Y'see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little...push.
- If you're good at something, never do it for free.
- This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object (Harsha Bhogle moment!!).
- You truly are incorruptible aren't you? You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness, and I won't kill you, because you're just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever.
In case I've come across as irreverent of the movie and you particularly liked it, consider this my tribute to "the Joker". Most of what he said is anyway true...
Total Trivia:
I confess that this tidbit of a trivia was "inspired" from imdb's trivia page.
I confess that I really regretted not having learnt Guitar basics so that I could even think of it by myself that I smacked my alter-ego with the day's TOI. Luckily, it was a weekday and low on ads; I'm alive and writing this piece.
The music score when The Joker makes a screen appearance is based only on the two notes D & C. DC comics publish the Comics and have also produced the movie.
Hey..Total trivia..enjoied reading it.may it b the rory's kiss, batman suit, Illeana's T or construing two face's ambiguity n the best thing was the confesssion :)
ReplyDeleteHey thanks maga.
ReplyDeleteHad been a while I had logged in...