New Day, Old Excuse
So it's once again past midnight, quite a bit, actually. Fine: so those of you on the east coast are already awakening for another day of work; I have yet to become one with my beckoning bed. Eh -
Want to write about Dark Knight, despite the fact that my nights here are never truly dark except when there's a power outtage, in which case I wouldn't be blogging anyway, now would I? See, there's this street light attached to the telephone pole to which all the electrical lines in the forepart of the neighborhood are connected, and our house connects to said pole from the outer corner of my bedroom. It's all very logical really: the folks wanted the baby to be able to sleep with adequate night light, but babies have a way of growing. Now sensible grown folk change rooms, but only if that's an option... ah well...How can I make this nonstory longer? Hm...
So - Dark Knight
Feeling a bit groggy and foggy on account of being seriously underwhelmed by the whole Ledger performance aspect of it all. Probably should have ignored all the hype, but exactly how would that have been possible, now that there is a functional television in the house? See, Jack Nicholson chewed scenery at a time when folks were still working on being quiet; Heath Ledger strives to do the perfectly normal Everyman who is merely amoral, not outright insane. Unfortunately, I've seen so much of this on television in shows like Law & Order and CSI and their clones and spin-offs that Ledger's turn at it underwhelms me. I suppose I should watch again...
On the other hand, the overall quietude of the film makes the explosions that are inserted all the more effective, in clear contrast to the film's predecessor, in which Gotham City was a classic anarchic model. I particularly appreciated the manner in which Gotham General Hospital was blown up. Mind you, I'm not saying that I appreciated the fact that the hospital was destroyed, but I did admire the technique of the special effects crew.
Speaking of special effects, I particularly appreciate the Hitchcockian throwback technique of suggestion rather than graphic illustration. Developed to deal with early censorship, suggested violence as an art form is amazingly effective. It's the pleasure of the book over the look., and this film does it well for the most part.
My favorite bit has to be the "social experiment" that the Joker conducts. I didn't have any problems with believing when the convict tossed one of the detonators out of the nearest porthole, but I was surprised that the narrative didn't take the quipping way out by letting the upright citizen do his thing. And for a couple of beats, I actually thought the Joker might have put a little too much faith in humanity... ah well... where would the film have gone if he had?
Does anyone really believe that the Batman franchise can continue as the Spidey and 007 franchises have? Clearly this second installment will be followed by a third, if only because of all the freefalling box office records, but just how much tale is there left to wag?
Okay, Shannon: your turn.
Want to write about Dark Knight, despite the fact that my nights here are never truly dark except when there's a power outtage, in which case I wouldn't be blogging anyway, now would I? See, there's this street light attached to the telephone pole to which all the electrical lines in the forepart of the neighborhood are connected, and our house connects to said pole from the outer corner of my bedroom. It's all very logical really: the folks wanted the baby to be able to sleep with adequate night light, but babies have a way of growing. Now sensible grown folk change rooms, but only if that's an option... ah well...How can I make this nonstory longer? Hm...
So - Dark Knight
Feeling a bit groggy and foggy on account of being seriously underwhelmed by the whole Ledger performance aspect of it all. Probably should have ignored all the hype, but exactly how would that have been possible, now that there is a functional television in the house? See, Jack Nicholson chewed scenery at a time when folks were still working on being quiet; Heath Ledger strives to do the perfectly normal Everyman who is merely amoral, not outright insane. Unfortunately, I've seen so much of this on television in shows like Law & Order and CSI and their clones and spin-offs that Ledger's turn at it underwhelms me. I suppose I should watch again...
On the other hand, the overall quietude of the film makes the explosions that are inserted all the more effective, in clear contrast to the film's predecessor, in which Gotham City was a classic anarchic model. I particularly appreciated the manner in which Gotham General Hospital was blown up. Mind you, I'm not saying that I appreciated the fact that the hospital was destroyed, but I did admire the technique of the special effects crew.
Speaking of special effects, I particularly appreciate the Hitchcockian throwback technique of suggestion rather than graphic illustration. Developed to deal with early censorship, suggested violence as an art form is amazingly effective. It's the pleasure of the book over the look., and this film does it well for the most part.
My favorite bit has to be the "social experiment" that the Joker conducts. I didn't have any problems with believing when the convict tossed one of the detonators out of the nearest porthole, but I was surprised that the narrative didn't take the quipping way out by letting the upright citizen do his thing. And for a couple of beats, I actually thought the Joker might have put a little too much faith in humanity... ah well... where would the film have gone if he had?
Does anyone really believe that the Batman franchise can continue as the Spidey and 007 franchises have? Clearly this second installment will be followed by a third, if only because of all the freefalling box office records, but just how much tale is there left to wag?
Okay, Shannon: your turn.