Darkness before the dawn!

Rating: 10/10 (18 July 2008)

The Dark Knight- Heath Ledger Everyone will see "The Dark Knight" and awe in sheer unaltered amazement in the beauty of the darkness of this film in so many levels. I cannot help but remind myself as I watched that the true impact of the film is made all the more powerful and enduring with the true essence of an artist who left it all on the page. Heath Ledger as The Joker is so menacing and raw; that you cannot wonder and wish to see it again and again and again until you realize that in some way that The Joker via Heath is a mirror image of one own self destructive behaviors and tendencies.
"The Dark Knight" is a pun on so many themes and nuances throughout the film. I myself a lover of story; stories about the human condition; stories about the essence of life; the story about the truth of our true selves we as humans are taught to hide from themselves.
The Joker knows who he is and makes no apologizes about it. He challenges the nay sayers who feel they can control the truth within the soul. I was completely captivated by the challenge! The Joker is provoking The City of Gotham through its heroes to see its true self; embrace it whether it is light or dark or some where in the middle; but take ownership of it and dive in.
Perhaps I saw too much in the film. Maybe I am projecting my own thoughts a realization; of late; into the work on the screen before me. But watching this film in a dark theatre alone yes alone I was screening it for the public it was a moment of true clarity of the rawness life brings. The anger, the angst, the destruction, the power, unbridled and strong; pulled at those in caverns of the soul; it remind me that true artistry is not in the editing room; but in the soul. To Heath I say THANK YOU!
I knew and prepared myself for the fact that the viewing of "The Dark Knight" was going to be a bittersweet experience; for it was going to be the second to last time I will see the absolute talent of Heath Ledger on screen (note: his last film is slated to be released July 2009). But somehow I felt transcended through the 2 hours and 45 minutes at the close I wanted more; and I couldn't verbalize why. I wished it went on for hours more!
After some introspective I have come to the realization that the film's effect me so; for I wanted to see the humanity of The Joker as he was able to show us "the darkness before the dawn" in everyone else in the film. I crave the other side of the menacing Joker. I wanted to see the softness; was there any we will never know and we shouldn't know; The Joker was to be that outlandish and raw... he knew who he was.
As I crave the other side in those around me in my day to day. I wish those individuals in my day to day; and I my self were embraced their true selves and make no apologizes for it! Many people will see "The Dark Knight" for it powerful blockbuster showmanship. But I found it as a quotation; not a commentary; on the human condition. It spoke volumes to my soul at all levels.
In short; "The Dark Knight" doesn't disappoint!