The Joker is somewhat scintillating, another Loki character to haunt our time, but the rest of the film is leaden, lacking wit or originality. The good-guy trio of Bale, Caine and Freeman is just cringemakingly scripted. I like comic-strip art, especially Gotham gothic, but it needs flair and conviction. This is just actors acting and a director directing. Another view.
Posted by Mark Adams on July 23, 2008 12:09 PM
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For me, the movie was about the limits of politics, though I don't think it was intended as such. If you ultimately put your faith in humans and even in philosophical principles, you end up in a mess of double binds such as those the Joker so skillfully designs.
The only real escape that I see is a faith I heard well articulated by Desmond Tutu: "We live in a moral universe and righteousness will prevail."
I don't expect redemption from the state, or from Batman. Evil gets considerable rein but it is not destined to prevail.
I actually think the character Bruce Willis keeps playing gets closer to the truth than this Batman. Give it your best shot and don't take yourself so seriously. And if you get an open shot at the real bad guy, don't get lost in philosophical tangles. Pull the trigger.
And for crying out loud, save the damsel in distress and let the professional warriors deal with what comes.
Posted by mlu | July 23, 2008 10:29 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 22:29