The movie begins with that iconic shot, the 'Joker' standing with his mask in his left hand. And right then and there, it establishes the theme of the movie, with the Joker as the lead role, not the 'Batman'. Director Christopher Nolan has spoken of the movie and his handling of the editing as preparing an eulogy to the departed Heath Ledger and ensuring that what was so eerily portrayed by Ledger would come true on screen and would be recognised by audiences as the finest ever enaction of the character.
Make no mistake, the movie is much more about the Joker than Batman, and Nolan had to ensure that this came out subtly, even while letting Batman triumph in the end.
So many scenes from the movie will remain etched in my memory forever, recounting a few:
1. When the Batman battles his look-alikes, and is thrown from the car, he stands on the top of the railing preparing to drop. The way he climbs the railing, staggering a little, and so matter-of-factly like he's been doing right since coming out into this big-bad world, and the actual scene, where the camera goes above his head and follows him as he drops, Mindblowing! It's worth rewatching the movie even for just this scene alone!
2. The 'pencil-disappearing' magic-trick first establishes the nature of the mind behind the painted face. Hiding a simple and innocent pleasure in trying to one-up whatever it is that others think and do.
3. The first time he utters the phrase "WHY SO SERIOUS?" He says it so menacingly, it shakes my spine, no kidding! I don't know whether the voice used as the Joker is actually Heath's or is digitally altered, but the final editing as it comes out in the movie is so creepy, it deserves all the adulation it gets.
4. The 'sky-hook' in Hong Kong. Truly amazing in the way it got conceptualised. Simple and deviant. Even the Joker would have been proud of that.
5. "We are tonight's entertainment!!" What a way to capture the nonchalance of the Joker. He makes fun of himslef in a way that is scary to people around him! Also the accompanying gesture he makes- smoothing his hair when Rachel confronts him- a classic! if not for the situation, it would make for perfect date-behaviour!
6. The 'Bat-mobile turns to Bat-bike!' Incredible was what I thought when I saw the bike finally break out of the Bat-mobile as a separate piece. I remember watching "Batman Begins" and marveling at the design of the bat-mobile. The design is such that it seems really tough and no-nonsense, all-terrain vehicle, something you don't wanna mess with. And then you are hit with this one, pure-magic! One would be wholely forgiven for calling that bike design 'gorgeous'
7. The 'truck-overturn scene' No words to describe this scene. Just pure charisma. And the subsequent scene where the Joker stands his ground as Batman comes charging on his bike. Just another instance of the diabolical mind and brilliant psychologist behind the veil of a clown-faced fool.
8. The 'Joker-interrogation' The way the Joker laughs and utters, "you have nothing to threaten me with, nothing to do, with all your strength!" And the smirk on the Joker's face says it all, he is enjoying it! I have read in an interview given by Christopher Nolan (Director) that this was the first scene shot for this movie, and that it established the tone of the movie from thereon, with the Joker toying with Batman, Harvey, and Gotham City.
9. "So in a way, I know your friends than you ever did!" The psychologist at it again. And that little 'tongue-flick' he does every now and then, scary.
10. "I just want my phone-call!" Watch out for the innocence in his voice as he makes his request!
11. "Hi!" the look on the Joker's face. watch this scene again.
These are only a few of the many iconic dialogues brought out in the movie, nearly every word of sentences spoken by Sir Michael Caine's Alfred is so beautifully structured, it is as if the words are just the URLs, with an entire site linked behind it! (Yes, that's true!)
The above are just facets of the screenplay, the direction is exemplary. A batman scorner will bring out facets like the fight sequences, which might seem a bit robotic on critical analysis, but that is the whole point, this is the BATMAN! and he CAN beat this guys to pulp, he does not need to know kung-fu to do that.
But what carries the movie through despite its insane length (running time of two and a half hours) is the vision of Christopher Nolan. With the story on a knife's edge the whole movie, he leaves you just one step behind in every plot, you are second guessing yourself at every juncture and marvelling at how the plot unfolds after every rivetting scene.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing can distract from this movie with the amazing cinematography, the darkness in the plot, the continual hope for Gotham City, the uncertainty in Batman's future, the seeming invincibility of the Joker's tricks. There's nothing I can do, with all the movies around, to distract me from being partial to The Dark Knight. It is a masterpiece, and deserves to be called so. The Oscars should have been a forgone conclusion, and in my heart, it already has.
And long past this Oscar season, I will still be watching for the 'nth' time, - The Dark Knight.
Make no mistake, the movie is much more about the Joker than Batman, and Nolan had to ensure that this came out subtly, even while letting Batman triumph in the end.
So many scenes from the movie will remain etched in my memory forever, recounting a few:
1. When the Batman battles his look-alikes, and is thrown from the car, he stands on the top of the railing preparing to drop. The way he climbs the railing, staggering a little, and so matter-of-factly like he's been doing right since coming out into this big-bad world, and the actual scene, where the camera goes above his head and follows him as he drops, Mindblowing! It's worth rewatching the movie even for just this scene alone!
2. The 'pencil-disappearing' magic-trick first establishes the nature of the mind behind the painted face. Hiding a simple and innocent pleasure in trying to one-up whatever it is that others think and do.
3. The first time he utters the phrase "WHY SO SERIOUS?" He says it so menacingly, it shakes my spine, no kidding! I don't know whether the voice used as the Joker is actually Heath's or is digitally altered, but the final editing as it comes out in the movie is so creepy, it deserves all the adulation it gets.
4. The 'sky-hook' in Hong Kong. Truly amazing in the way it got conceptualised. Simple and deviant. Even the Joker would have been proud of that.
5. "We are tonight's entertainment!!" What a way to capture the nonchalance of the Joker. He makes fun of himslef in a way that is scary to people around him! Also the accompanying gesture he makes- smoothing his hair when Rachel confronts him- a classic! if not for the situation, it would make for perfect date-behaviour!
6. The 'Bat-mobile turns to Bat-bike!' Incredible was what I thought when I saw the bike finally break out of the Bat-mobile as a separate piece. I remember watching "Batman Begins" and marveling at the design of the bat-mobile. The design is such that it seems really tough and no-nonsense, all-terrain vehicle, something you don't wanna mess with. And then you are hit with this one, pure-magic! One would be wholely forgiven for calling that bike design 'gorgeous'
7. The 'truck-overturn scene' No words to describe this scene. Just pure charisma. And the subsequent scene where the Joker stands his ground as Batman comes charging on his bike. Just another instance of the diabolical mind and brilliant psychologist behind the veil of a clown-faced fool.
8. The 'Joker-interrogation' The way the Joker laughs and utters, "you have nothing to threaten me with, nothing to do, with all your strength!" And the smirk on the Joker's face says it all, he is enjoying it! I have read in an interview given by Christopher Nolan (Director) that this was the first scene shot for this movie, and that it established the tone of the movie from thereon, with the Joker toying with Batman, Harvey, and Gotham City.
9. "So in a way, I know your friends than you ever did!" The psychologist at it again. And that little 'tongue-flick' he does every now and then, scary.
10. "I just want my phone-call!" Watch out for the innocence in his voice as he makes his request!
11. "Hi!" the look on the Joker's face. watch this scene again.
These are only a few of the many iconic dialogues brought out in the movie, nearly every word of sentences spoken by Sir Michael Caine's Alfred is so beautifully structured, it is as if the words are just the URLs, with an entire site linked behind it! (Yes, that's true!)
The above are just facets of the screenplay, the direction is exemplary. A batman scorner will bring out facets like the fight sequences, which might seem a bit robotic on critical analysis, but that is the whole point, this is the BATMAN! and he CAN beat this guys to pulp, he does not need to know kung-fu to do that.
But what carries the movie through despite its insane length (running time of two and a half hours) is the vision of Christopher Nolan. With the story on a knife's edge the whole movie, he leaves you just one step behind in every plot, you are second guessing yourself at every juncture and marvelling at how the plot unfolds after every rivetting scene.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing can distract from this movie with the amazing cinematography, the darkness in the plot, the continual hope for Gotham City, the uncertainty in Batman's future, the seeming invincibility of the Joker's tricks. There's nothing I can do, with all the movies around, to distract me from being partial to The Dark Knight. It is a masterpiece, and deserves to be called so. The Oscars should have been a forgone conclusion, and in my heart, it already has.
And long past this Oscar season, I will still be watching for the 'nth' time, - The Dark Knight.
0 comments:
Post a Comment