Finally got into an IMAX theatre this weekend to catch THE DARK KNIGHT. Ledger does walk away with the movie handily, which means I guess he has already taken it to his grave. But the whole enterprise is seriously thought-provoking, which is why I don't mind that it's as talky and cheerless as it is. By the way, between the talking, stuff blows up. Frequently.
SPOILERS AHEAD! If you haven't seen the movie, stop reading this and instead, read this. Lithwick makes the same point using a TV show. More elequently too, I suppose.
Okay, you've seen it. Good. Little long, wasn't it? How 'bout that Harvey Dent! Am I right? Whew!
A week or so ago, the WSJ published an editorial attempting to draw a parallel between Batman and G.W. Bush. I laughed my head off when I read it then, but now that I've seen the movie I can see what he's talking about. Like the Batman, Bush isn't afraid to use a few extra-legal techniques in the service of a larger good. In fact, among others things he tortures suspects to get information and taps the cell phones of the entire population of Gotham. And these things do indeed wind up saving the city from a terrorist, albeit a terrorist who wears clown makeup.
So the parallel is drawn, very obviously. I can see a conservative watching this movie, finding comfort in it and concluding that the filmmakers are rooting for the current administration, calling them heroes. And it's true, right up to the ending.
Where Batman and Bush part ways is here - Bush will do everything to avoid the consequences of his transgressions. Where Batman accepts the resignation of his technology guru and exiles himself, even taking the rap for murders he did not commit, Bush continually blames others for his policies and lobbies to change laws that we've respected for centuries.
Since we're using movies to define the moral high ground, let's make it clear - Batman isn't a hero because he tortures and spies. He's a hero because he knows how truly wrong these things are and he's willing to accept the consequences. A movie character who behaves like Bush and doesn't include that second part is Darth Vader.
SPOILERS AHEAD! If you haven't seen the movie, stop reading this and instead, read this. Lithwick makes the same point using a TV show. More elequently too, I suppose.
Okay, you've seen it. Good. Little long, wasn't it? How 'bout that Harvey Dent! Am I right? Whew!
A week or so ago, the WSJ published an editorial attempting to draw a parallel between Batman and G.W. Bush. I laughed my head off when I read it then, but now that I've seen the movie I can see what he's talking about. Like the Batman, Bush isn't afraid to use a few extra-legal techniques in the service of a larger good. In fact, among others things he tortures suspects to get information and taps the cell phones of the entire population of Gotham. And these things do indeed wind up saving the city from a terrorist, albeit a terrorist who wears clown makeup.
So the parallel is drawn, very obviously. I can see a conservative watching this movie, finding comfort in it and concluding that the filmmakers are rooting for the current administration, calling them heroes. And it's true, right up to the ending.
Where Batman and Bush part ways is here - Bush will do everything to avoid the consequences of his transgressions. Where Batman accepts the resignation of his technology guru and exiles himself, even taking the rap for murders he did not commit, Bush continually blames others for his policies and lobbies to change laws that we've respected for centuries.
Since we're using movies to define the moral high ground, let's make it clear - Batman isn't a hero because he tortures and spies. He's a hero because he knows how truly wrong these things are and he's willing to accept the consequences. A movie character who behaves like Bush and doesn't include that second part is Darth Vader.
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Update 8/07/08 - Patrick Leahy, who is IN the THE DARK KNIGHT, laughs off the Bush comparison but says this: "I do grant the parallels between Superman’s nemesis Lex Luthor and the Vice President."
Interesting, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteHollywood makes movies that slam religion, and they do poorly. Mel Gibson does one that is respectful, and it makes a fortune.
Hollywood pumps out anti-war, anti-military stuff and they tank, Batman uses parallels to the ticking time bomb scenario, and it makes a fortune.
You would think that Hollywood would have figured it out by now.
And yet there are some who point out that it's a sequel to the other Batman movie, like THAT had anything to do with it.
ReplyDeleteAlthough maybe you're right. I haven't seen the SAW movies. They all are said to prominently feature torture and they made a fortune too. And 24 is very popular on television. So maybe America loves torturers.
I'd recommend you read the Lithwick piece I linked to. You might find it interesting.