When a new movie about a comic book hero hits the theaters, there is an interesting reaction that comes from the Catholic media. They usually give the movie an overwhelmingly warm welcome. The Catholic reviewers are a group of people that usually do not have many positive comments about most of what is manufactured in Hollywood. Let’s face it, even the secular media recognizes that much of what comes out of Hollywood is junk. So what is so different about the comic book hero? Typically, the movies that are comic book based have an established formula, where the hero chooses self-sacrifice to help his fellow man. This is a notion, along with the idea of redemption, which has been seen as “old fashion” and “not cutting edge enough” for Hollywood. The creative evolution of cinema has been based on breaking down values and not building on what has been established as being good (both creatively and morally). This just leads to movies with increasing elements of violence, explicit sexual content, and amoral behavior from characters that we are suppose to relate to. It has been much easier for the movie makers to pump up the titillation and not deal with constructing a quality story that enriches the art-form and the lives of others. But we also have to realize that at the core “move making” is just an industry. And this industry has no qualms about selling what we are more than happy to buy.
This brings me to the new Batman offering; Batman: The Dark Knight. This is a very well constructed movie, both on the level of script development and the production skill. The camera work and special effects (a mixture of in-camera, models, and computer effects) can not be topped. I would suggest seeing this movie an IMAX theater. Many of the Catholic reviewers have suggested going see this latest installment because it does offer what most comic book movies have typically provided…a hero. Yes, this is a greatly flawed, PG-13 hero. But considering the fictional world that this character lives in, which mirrors much of what needs to be overcome in our own world, we probably cannot expect Batman to be an unblemished example. Although he is a vigilante, Batman does realize that there is a truth--a right and wrong--a good and an evil. This is juxtaposed against the Joker whose want for anarchy leads him to swim in a pool of relativism that is very close to what we see on the news everyday. My hat’s off to Christopher Nolan, the Director, who must have an insatiable need to create. Although the movie is long, just over two and a half hours, he has filled the entire experience with a dizzying array of scenarios and special effects that leaves the audience exhilarated. No time for checking your watch on this trip. With so many heavy hitters (including Micheal Cain and Morgan Feeman), this is essentially an ensemble cast. But unlike many movies with a bunch of big names, the entire cast was fantastic due to their ability to convey characters without trying to steal the scene. Highly professional. Due to all the media coverage of Heath Ledger’s death, I’ll admit I was very skeptical that his performance could actually measure up to the hype. Let me wipe all doubt aside. He gave the best performance that I have seen on the screen in a long time. Truly unique. Many of us remember the Joker being played by Jack Nicholson in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), and it was very well done. But Mr. Ledger brings an intensity and culturally significant performance that ensures that this character is his own. I have intentionally left out a plot summary because you should just go see it.
The USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting classification is A-III, which means that it is for adults only.