The image mirrors life...

Rating: 7/10 (10 August 2008)

It's a too close approximation to life... it's very dark, and shows how easily one can become corrupted, regardless of the good that they do in this world. The League of Shadows had a point. And the Joker was right on many occasions... not the in the "stories" he told, but in how humanity is easy to control. He burned the money because he saw no value. I was a bit disappointed. The Joker represented futility and apathy. Two-Face represented the corruption in us all. Batman represented the fear in which we must all face in life. 10 years ago, I thought that this movie would have been good. But as I see life in it's whimsical evils... the movie was no more than an overly-expressive image of life. In terms of artistic prowess and ingenuity, it's an excellent movie. But in terms of the entertainment experience... it was depressing.
It was balance... either side of the balance was far too extreme. This is what the League of Shadows was trying to reset. Bringing Gotham back to neutrality and order. But, when you have two extreme opposites opposing each other, you create chaos. The Joker wanted it this way. It entertained him. The harder Batman fought to bring justice, the harder the Joker came back with more evil schemes. It didn't phase him at all to get punched or hit or fall down to his impending doom. Chaos was the Joker.
Batman's symbol... the mask. It's as if he's hiding behind something. But it wasn't that. The symbol, the one thing that was incorruptible... the moment Batman let his humanity out, it hurt him.