Christina sent me this email when she saw The Dark Knight. She described everything that I felt but couldn't quite put into words properly. Leave it to a Brown Student. :) Just to add something that she didn't mention, the music was unreal. For some reason, it was a lot more impacting in this movie. Every time it started playing I got a burst of excitement and couldn't stop smiling....simply, indescribable. Heath Ledger's amazing portrayal of the Joker was actually scary and believably psychotic. I was at the edge of my seat every time he held his knife to someone's face. AND THE LAUGH, don't even get me started on the laugh. Sorry Jack Nicholson, you got pwned!!! The Dark Knight was not another Batman movie. This movie is in a league of it's own. Well, enough said here. Now for the email:
"O. Myyyy GODDDDDDd. That was SUCH a freakin good movie. My heart wanted to burst like every 5 seconds and it felt like 7 rollercoaster rides in a row. I can't believe the director, Christopher Nolan. EVERy, and I mean every, freaking moment was suspenseful. It wasn't as gross as I thought it was going to be, and yeah, maggie gyllenhaal did way more than justice to her Rachel Dawes role. I don't even remember katie holmes' impression now, since maggie's blew me away. The guy who played Dent also surprised me, because in the previews, he didn't look so noble. I love Alfred, he is the coolest guardian/mentor EVER, saw the wisdom of Lucius Fox, and couldn't believe the role each and every person played. Ramirez, the prisoner on the ferries, the little boy, and AAAHHH the COIN! That coin is pivotal. But I think this movie did do a PERFECT job of describing reality. There were so many underlying themes and memorable quotes, I almost felt like whipping out a notebook then and there to start writing them down. I did occasionally squinch my face next to my friend miranda when the joker held that knife up to people to tell of his face slits. CHRISTIAN BALE IS THE MAN. He is such a good actor. And I love how he portrayed how difficult it was for his character to be nice to his "ex-girlfriend stealer". Seriously, it's been several years, and he still looks YOUNG. He really is a pretty boy, a pretty boy that can ACT. FINALLY. It's been a long time since we've had someone who can look that good and act just as, you know? I think it was touching when Alfred burned up that note, and that quote about how sometimes the truth isn't enough, that some people deserve more for their faith than the truth...which hurts, but is SO true. And I got why they call it the Dark Knight. And the guy with the phone in his chest?! What the heck. The scenes changed so many times though, I have to see it again. there were parts of the movie that kept flipping, the roles kept switching, the guns were pointed in different directions, EVERY SINGLE PLOT TWIST IMAGINABLE. "The joker really isn't that simple". " He really doesn't work that way". And I love how it wasn't a total defeat. Batman and the Joker. They.....complete each other. I loved how the townspeople proved themselves (especially the throwing it out the window part), and how the Joker (I can't even call him Heath Ledger now, he did that great of a job..), I loved how he mentioned that he likes frightening people more than killing them, because that's when you see their true colors. The role of love also played an incredibly huge and uncheesy role in this movie too. Everyone had that one person they loved most in the world, you know? Because it's true, even if you're not supposed to pick favorites at work, at school, even amongst your own family, there will always be that one person, and only one person that you would give your life up for, no matter where they come from and who they are in position to you. In the end, I got the final spin. It wasn't a simple shootout, it was a battle for the knights (thus the Joker going after the white knight/Ace, aka Dent), and in the end, they all turn dark. Batman is the hero Gotham deserves, but not the hero Gotham needs, while Dent is the hero Gotham needs, but perhaps not the one they deserve. I'm glad that Gordon finally got to save his family and I loved that line "Actually, I saved Batman this time" lol. I felt like crying because it was so good, then I'd realize the movie was still playing and still turning its tables over and over again. The entire time I had to keep checking with myself to remember the exact headcount of WHO was dead/injured/endangered, who was safe and under who's protection, etc. The coin explaining how life isn't fair, and it all depends on chance/opportunity. Not being able to control things, cuz sometimes they're just out of our hands.
The death toll was pretty high, and I liked how they showed Batman in turmoil of how many deaths he had caused. Those scenes were very well played out. How much is too much kind of a thing. I also loved how even Batman, everyone's hero, admired Dent even more because he did what Batman did, but without the mask, without being afraid to risk his life, admit his intentions, and face the crowd boldly. Now I'm not calling Batman a coward, but I like the subtle messages put in there about how even Batman is human, is less than the real "hero" Dent, and struggles with human emotions and imperfections. I think the overriding connection to Batman Begins though, was when Rachel Dawes realized how much Bruce Wayne needs Batman. It is his purpose in life, it's like his destiny is now stamped on him after he made the pivotal decision to embrace the responsibility. And how much Gotham needs Batman. Batman will never be gone. NEVER. He's in it for the long run. And his legend, his presence, his .....ideology is the one beacon of hope, even if it's imperfect. Like Dent screamed in the alley, he can't give up. Because if he does, everyone will. People have to have a leader, even if he's an outcast, even if makes the wrong decisions, hurts people, he will never belong because he set himself apart from the rest. Batman chose to be Batman. As long as the legend survives, so does Gotham."
Thanks Christina. I couldn't have said it better myself. :)
I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the Joker: "I believe that whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you...stranger."
R.I.P Heath Ledger <3
