The Dark Knight on Film pt 4: Batman Rises

After the debacle that was Batman & Robin, both fans and the studio decided it was time to give the Dark Knight a rest. It seemed that audiences were tired of tights and capes, as the superhero genre began to wane. Movies like Daredevil, Elektra, and the Batman spinoff Catwoman, just weren't pulling the numbers the way they used to. Comic books appeared to have lost their appeal.


Then, a funny thing happened. It was called The X-Men. After a number of failed attempts (including one by future Avengers writer/director Joss Whedon) to bring the Marvel gang to the screen, a respected filmmaker by the name of Bryan Singer stepped in. He brought in a new screenwriter and delved head first into the material. The X-Men had always balanced a serious idea upon a sort of ridiculous premise. Singer was able to take the books and bring verisimilitude to their world. He made the stories a little darker and recruited a stellar cast (with several Oscar nominees and winners.) His film was a big success, and studios took notice.



Warner Brothers decided to reinvent their Batman franchise under the direction of a independent director with a talent for telling bizarre stories. His name was Darren Aronoskfy. The idea was to bring the graphic novel "Batman: Year One" to the screen. Unfortunately (?), the script did not take the story in a direction the studio wanted to go and the project was shelved again. Luckily, the execs had enough sense to try once more; this time under the direction of Christopher Nolan.



Batman Begins (2005)


Nolan's films, up to this point, had been small indie dramas that were based more on concept than story. Pictures like Memento and the remake of Insomnia proved that the filmmaker knew how to handle the tension and darkness the franchise desperately needed. Still, it was a big gamble for Warner Brothers.




So, did it work? (As if you don't know...)


Casting: The cast of this film is pitch perfect. (Well, if you don't count Katie Holmes.) Christian Bale, who had made a name for himself in smaller films up until this point, is the Bruce Wayne for the next generation. He conveys the brooding and anguish of his character without completely giving way to the ridiculous. Whereas Michael Keaton played the role as a crazy man that could come unhinged at any moment, Bale acts as if he is compressing a devastating anger that he has finally learned to control.  Micheal Cane brings a gravitas to the role of Alfred that few other actors could have dared to. Morgan Freeman is always good to lend weight to a film, and Rutger Hauer is the perfect slimy businessman.Gary Oldman has always been one of my favorite actors, and it's a delight to have him as Gordon. Cillian Murphy is another favorite of mine. I was very happy to see him as the deranged psychiatrist who becomes the Scarecrow.


Script:  Christopher Nolan decided to keep the theme of Batman's origin from the previous attempts at a reboot, though he went with his own ideas rather than directly adapting one of the comics. In doing so, he broke all ties to previous incarnations and freed himself to begin his own story that would carry Bruce Wayne from childhood to his destiny throughout three films.

Batman Begins, as the film was eventually titled, starts by telling the story of a young man who is locked in a Chinese prison for petty theft. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that the man is, indeed, Bruce Wayne: the heir to a grand company and a vast fortune. We see his parents' deaths, and learn of their connections to the mob that infests the city of Gotham. Instead of a tragic accident, Nolan sets the elder Wayne's death as an intentional attempt to cause the city's implosion.

After his release from prison, Wayne joins "The League of Shadows" where his mentor, Liam Neeson, teaches him the survival and combat skills that will serve him as The Dark Knight. Wayne eventually returns to Gotham to avenge his parents' death the only way he knows how to do: by ridding the city of crime.

With this film, Nolan brings his unique vision to a well tread story. He doesn't just rehash the character's origin; he explores the reasons and consequences of doing so. Batman Begins is not so much an action film (although, there is plenty of it) as a psychological profile. We see just as much, if not more, of Bruce Wayne as we do the mask that he wears. Nolan is not interested in just showing us the toys in this film, he wants us to understand (and believe) the transformation of this character.

Set Design/Cinematography: Nolan further sets his film apart from the others by filming in actual locations. The previous versions all took place on soundstages in England. Though some of them were impressive, none could compete with the rough and rugged look of a real city. This Gotham was not a circus tent full of colorful clowns; it was a real town that struggled with problems that are faced by real cities.

Bottom Line: Batman Begins is a triumphant return to form, as well as a groundbreaker. It delivers the serious take that Burton first provided, and gives us a much welcomed shot of realism. The film provides us with a more believable version of the character's backstory while making it seem fresh and new. It potently envisions the world that this new version of the Caped Crusader inhabits.

If there is any flaw with the film, then perhaps it's that the movie does feel like a first chapter on occasion. Much of the plot in the final two acts seems more of a means to establish the tone and ground rules of this Batman, than an actual plot. This complaint is a very minor one, however. This film is far and above the best of the franchise since the 1989 version. It paints the picture of a new hero for a new generation. And it boldly takes us to the next chapter in our hero's story.

The Dark Knight (2008)


Three years after he reinvigorated the Batman franchise, Christopher Nolan released what most fans would consider the definitive installment. Having established the ground rules of Gotham in the previous film, Nolan unleashed Batman's most beloved villain: The Joker. Critics and audiences were dazzled by the film, and it became one of the top grossing of all time.

So, why so successful?


Casting: Nearly all of the previous cast is carried over from Begins, with one exception. Maggie Gyllenhaal replaces Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes. Many fans disliked Holmes in the first film, and it appears, she decided not to return. Gyllenhaal brings a more mature level of acting to the role.Holmes still seemed like the little girl from Dawson's Creek, whereas Gyllenhaal easily holds her own against the rest of the cast. In this film, Dawes is torn between two men: the obsessive Bruce Wayne, and the ambitious Harvey Dent. Aaron Eckhart joins the cast as Dent. He is exactly what the role requires: charming, driven, and a bit egotistical. Eckhart handles the cushy ride of Dent's success, as well as his downfall, with ease.

Of course, the most important addition, if not the most important role period, is Heath Ledger as the Joker. Ledger absolutely steals the film from Christian Bale. Every second Ledger is on screen is mesmerizing. He takes a villain that has been reinvented dozens of times and pushes him into a completely new direction. Even after a number of viewings, it still seems difficult to predict the Joker's next move. Ledger brought an edge to the character that not even Jack Nicholson could touch. The word tragedy is often tossed around with little meaning these days. The death of Heath Ledger was truly a tragedy for the acting world. It seems so ridiculous now to have ever been concerned with his casting, as many fans were. (Seems like that is a recurrent situation with the franchise.

Script: If Batman Begins is an exploration of the reasons a man becomes a super hero, The Dark Knight is a psychological profile of a man who becomes the villain. The script begins shortly after the previous film. Batman's efforts on the streets are getting mixed reviews. Some cops hate him. Others fear him. One or two, believe in him. The mob, however, is sick of him. After a particularly damaging bust, they turn "to a man they don't fully understand." In Nolan's world, the Joker is no mere criminal. He is a force of nature. He is chaos. This incarnation is not interested in crime for crime's sake. He just wants to watch the world burn. But, he'll do it for a price. Once the Joker's antics results in the deaths of several public officials, the public rallies against Batman. They demand that he give himself over to the police. Meanwhile, Dent hatches a plan to capture the Joker before he kills again. Little does Dent know, he is playing right into The Joker's hands.

This film is Batman at his grittiest. It takes its cues from legitimate crime thrillers like Donnie Brasco. The bank heist scene that opens the movie stands up against anything without a masked villain. There is also a slowness to the film that allows it to breathe. Events are played out in a natural order without having a lot of flash to keep them going. Thus, the action sequences seem much more organic to the story, rather than just an excuse to have the batmobile race up a wall.

One of the many strengths with this take, is that it is surprising and moving. There are deaths here that no one expects. There are real emotional consequences for those deaths. Every event in this film is a cause or reaction to the decisions made by the main characters. That is why the ending is so tragic. They have become the cause of their own peril. By the end, Batman has been knocked from his throne, and left bleeding on the ground.

My only complaint with the film is that it seems a little long. The scene with the Joker and the ferries full of passengers seemed a little unnecessary to me. It could have just as easily been worked into the hospital sequence and been just as effective. As it is, it produces a lull in the pacing before Two Face's rampage. It may be a minor complaint, but one worth mentioning.

Set Design/Cinematography: Like Batman Begins, TDK feels like it takes place in a real city. Actually, this one feels more real than the previous film. (With no CGI train system running throughout the city.) It helps that most of the action is filmed in real locations. Given that there are many different cities that make up Gotham, the scenery never looks boring or repetitive.

Some of the sets on this film are quite surprising. With the rebuilding of Wayne Manor continuing, Bruce and Alfred are forced to live in a luxury penthouse. At first, one feels a little betrayed by the mansion's exclusion. However, you soon realize how freeing it is to lose the staple. The design of the batcave here was initially jaw dropping. Instead of the dark caverns present in EVERY other version, we get something left over from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Both the floor and ceiling are covered by fluorescent panels. Under Nolan's expert guidance, the set works. It is amazing what the director can get away with and make everyone the happier about it.

The costumes here, are one of the strong points. When the first pictures of Ledger were released, fans complained and threw their arms up. What the hell was going on with his face? Was this make up, or was his skin deformed? For months, fans were up in arms about Nolan's direction. Once they saw the trailer, everyone's fears became awe. It was instantly clear that Nolan knew just what he was doing.

Two Face's make up job often gets overlooked given Ledger's appearance. It is unfortunate, because it is spectacular. This doesn't look like some ridiculous purple paint on his face. His face truly looks destroyed. The make up design is so graphic, that I firmly believe that it would have earned any other film an "R" rating.

Director: It would be impossible to overestimate Christopher Nolan's importance to the Batman franchise. Not only did he resurrect the character, he reinvented the comic film genre. He proved that a capable director could tell a story much deeper than one about a guy in a cape. His films have balanced the action with the psychology; they give you the explosions, but also the heartache. Nolan understands the conventions of film inside and out; so much so that he knows how to unravel them. He is one of the few directors that has never made a film that I didn't like.

Bottom Line: If you are reading this article, no one needs to tell you how good The Dark Knight is. The film had the rare distinction of being able to please die hard fans and broader audiences as well. It set the standard for all other superhero and action films to follow. With this film, Nolan showed Hollywood that people want strong characters and depth of story to go along with their popcorn. On July 20th, Nolan's trilogy will come to a conclusion with The Dark Knight Rises.

Of course, a reboot of the franchise is already in the works. I pity the director who is chosen to follow Nolan, though have faith in the character's longevity. Over the past 70 years, The Dark Knight has graced the screen nearly a dozen times. Some adaptions have proven more adept than others. A few have done their best to kill interest in the Batman. And then there are those that remind us of why we keep coming back. More than any other character, Batman reminds us of why we fall: to get back up again.

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