So much more than just a superhero movie...

Rating: Null/10 (19 July 2008)

I have seen my share of superhero movies. In fact, I've seen more than my share. Having developed rather an insatiable interest in the genre lately, I've been watching quite a few of them. I've watched all the classic Batman and Superman movies. I sought out the current mainstream superhero titles, even the ones I'd never really given any thought to before, or had any kind of investment in their characters or story lines. And I even watched a number of direct-to-video animated films on Netflix, some of which were surprisingly good, and others of which should be used as punishment for inmates at Arkham.
So I've become pretty familiar with the genre. But Dark Knight was a whole other ballpark. Not for the story or the effects or the various elements of the comic books that they managed to work in or for any of the other million reasons why people might like or dislike a superhero movie. This movie is incredible, not just for what's in it, but moreso for the philosophy that's behind it.
One of the goals of this "re-imagining" of the Batman saga was to make it seem more realistic. In Batman Begins, they accomplished this mainly with the design of the gadgets and technology, such as making the Batmobile look like a cross between an armoured car and a monster truck. Dark Knight prefers to focus more on characters and philosophy in this respect, and in so doing, gives us a re-imagining of not just of Batman, but of the very battle of Good vs. Evil. It poses questions like: How do you fight a villain you can't even understand? How far do you go to stop him? And who are the real heroes and villains when times are at their most desperate? Is there even a difference? Some of the answers to these questions are provided in the movie. Others are not so straightforward. You could write a book about all the moral and philosophical issues presented in this movie. In fact, someone already has.
Of course, if you're not into the whole philosophical treatise thing, not to worry. This movie is still one heck of a thrill ride from beginning to end. There's explosions, car chases, high-tech gizmos, and diabolical games of cat-and-mouse. But underneath all the action, all the effects, all the excitement, is this one fascinating and harrowing concept: Some men just want to watch the world burn.