Movie review (and analysis)!

I watched The Dark Knight today. This being Heath Ledger's swan song in Hollywood, I thought I didn't want to miss it on the big screen.

First off, let me commit a major trangression of film review and quantify the movie's (perceived) value - 3.5/5. Why 3.5/5? I don't know really. It just feels like it.

Anyway let me move on to a more qualitative assessment of this show.

I like TDK because it's got brains. It is thought provoking in so many ways. The nature of an action hero film like this is such that you're presented with opportunities to explore a myriad of themes. Heroism is in itself a theme that's explored in TDK. Who is a hero? Is Batman one? And then you're faced with the multiple facets of Batman's situation; Batman's role in society, making major choices for his city, is sometimes appreciated but at other times, loathed.

Morality is also a theme that permeates the show. Can we all agree on what is moral? Obviously not, as seen from the many moral controversies that have arisen in the world today. The inability to converge in our moral understandings is a reason why Batman's role as a hero can be disputed. His choice of action is more often than not questionable. And if morality is not universal, then what can be said of it? Someone in the movie says "the only justice in an unfair world is chance" (or something like that) which suggests morality may not even exist after all.

TDK also does not fail to provide the audience with insights of the characters. I am particularly fascinated by the Joker himself. Why does his do what he does? Can his cruelty be justified? Bruce Wayne's butler, assistant and confidante says the following which is very telling of the Joker:

"...Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn."

One of the plus points of this movie is that it spews forth many brilliant dialogues, many of them coming from the antagonist, the Joker. Here are a few:

Joker: This town deserves a better class of criminal... and I'm gonna give it to them.

And this is funny:

Batman: Let her go.
The Joker: Hmm.. Very poor choice of words.

Haha.

The only thing I didnt really like about this show is that it's too long. Being lengthy is not a bad thing per se. But when you begin to feel it, then you know the show has lost you somewhere. I guess that's why I'm giving TDK only 3.5 out of 5.

Ok i'll stop spoiling it for those of you who havent caught the movie yet. Do catch it when u can! Oh and I'd recommend u to watch it on weekdays, before 5pm. And bring your student card along with you, so u can enjoy $6 movie tickets. Anywhere, cathay, gv, eng wah, shaw..you name it.