The Dark Knight Essay

TheDarkKnightAnalysis

GothamCityisrunningrampantwithorganizedcrimeandaheromustrise.However,it'snotthe herothatwethink.BruceWayne,A.K.A."Batman"(ChristianBale)isviewedasasourceof vigilantejusticebyamajorityofthecity,moreorlessascapegoatforthecity'smisfortunesThe situationinGothamtakesaturnfortheworseonceasadisticpsychopathnamed"Joker"(Heath Ledger)appearsforthefirsttime.TheJoker'scrimewavebeginssmall,butthroughhisabilityto manipulateanddeceive,hebeginstochangethecultureinGotham.Writer/DirectorChristopher Nolan'ssecondinstallmenttoBatmanBeginssuccessfullyprogressespastthestory'soriginsinthe lastfilm,creatingcharactersthatundergonoticeabledevelopmentNolanthrowsusintoapost9/11 world,withobviousthemesofdomesticterrorismembeddedthroughoutanurbansetting.Although thefilmmaybelabeledasdarkbymany,TheDarkKnight,capturesitsaudiencefromthebeginning throughHeathLedger'sperformanceastheJokerandthroughitscomplexthemes

TheentiretyofTheDarkKnightisenshroudedinacloudofdarknessfromthebeginning,then takingawayitsgreatestassettowardstheend.Anyelementofhumorusedinthisfilmisdarkhumor tosaytheveryleast.Forexample,theJokerinterruptsacrimeringinthemidstofameetinginorder todiscusshowtheBatmanmustbeeliminated.Sensingthetensionintheroom,theJokerplacesa pencilintothetable,rightafterasking,

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TheDarkKnight

2012wasagreatyearfornerdslikemyself.TheAvengers,TheHobbit:AnUnexpectedJourney, andTheDarkKnightRisesallcameoutduringthisyear.Eachmoviepiquedtheanticipationoffans everywhere.Forme,thelastofthesethreeseemedthemostintriguing.ChristopherNolan,freshoff thebrilliantInceptionwasconcludinghisepicTheDarkKnightTrilogy.TheDarkKnightbecame oneofthebestsequelsever,soIexpectedTheDarkKnightRisestoliveuptoBatmanBegins,at least.Unfortunately,lightningdidnotstriketwicebecauseTheDarkKnightRises,whilestillagood movie,istheworstinthetrilogy.

Thisfilmtakesplaceeightyearsaftertheawe–inspiringeventsofTheDarkKnightTheliestoldat theendofthepreviousfilmhaveservedtheirpurpose.Gothamhasbecomeacleaner,morecrime–freecitythaneverbefore.Butnotalliswell.BruceWayne(ChristiaanBalereprisinghisrole)has becomearecluse.JimGordon(playedagainbyGaryOldman)feelsoverwhelmedbyguilt.Totopit alloff,GothamfacesanewterroristthreatfromanunknownentityknownasBane(TomHardy).

TocombatBane,Batmanmustreturnfromhisself–imposedexiletosaveGothamoncemore Allthereturningactorsgiveworthyperformancesintheirrespectiveroles,whichtheyhavemade theirown.ChristianBalesimplyinhabitsBatmanatthispoint,andheaddsmoredepthtoBruce Wayneinthisthirdmovie.MorganFreemanprovidesacharacteristicallyonpointperformanceas

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PhilosophicalAnalysisofTheDarkKnight

TheDarkKnight,directedbyChristopherNolan,isanaction–packedmoviesetinthefictionalcity ofGotham.Itisareal–lifefilmbasedonthemarvelouscomicbookhero,Batman.Throughoutthe movie,therearemanyphilosophicalthemesportrayedAftercloselyanalyzingthefilm,Ifoundthat someofthemostdistinctideaswouldbethatofHobbes'theoryofhumannature.Morespecifically, Hobbes'ideathatwithoutthesecuritythatsocietyoffers,humanswillbecomefearfulandchaotic. Humansarepronetolooktowardsanauthorityfigurethatcanprovidethemprotection,andwhen thatfigureistakenaway,theygointoanarchy.

Therearetwomaincharactersthatthestorylinerevolvesaround,BatmanandtheJoker.Batman servesastheguardianofGothamCity.TheJoker,however,standsasthevillainwhostrivesto createaworldofchaos.Hobbes'theoryonstateofnaturesaysthatsocietyisthesolereasonthat humansactcivilizedHobbes'believesinthe"stateofwar,",whichisawayoflifethatisprovento bebrutalandshort.TheJoker'smaingoalistoprovethatpeoplehavethenaturalcapabilitytodo evil.Whileheattemptstoprovethisthroughouthismanytwistedplans,heisdriventoeliminatethe onethingthatkeepsGothamCityfromturninghopelessandchaotic,Batman.Withoutitsprotector, GothamCitywouldsoonturntoa"stateofwar."Hobbes'alsosays,"Fearmakesnaturalmanwant

toescapethe

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InthefilmTheDarkKnight,thedirectorChristopherNolanusesmanylanguagefeaturesto effectivelyhighlightthecontrastbetweengoodandevil,andthatpeoplehavebothgoodandevil withinthem.OneofthemostsignificantscenesthathighlightstheseideasisthescenewhereBane hasbeenknockedtothegroundbyBatmanwhichcrosscutswiththeflashbacksceneofMiranda andBane'spast

Thelanguagefeaturescharacteractions,cameraworkandcharacterisation,helpedmeseethe contrastbetweengoodandevil,andhowpeoplehavebothgoodandevilwithinthem,inthescene whereBatmanhasknockedBanetothegroundandisviciouslypunchinghim.AsBatmanisdoing this,NolanhasangledthecameraatalowangleonBatmantomakehimlookbig,scary,show morecontent

Nolanwantsustheaudiencetoseethatnooneisperfectlygood,notevenBatmanbecausehe abusespeopleeventhoughitisforagoodpurposeNolanwantsustoseethatnotevensomeoneas righteouslygoodasBatman,isperfectlygood,theystillhavetheirevilflaws.Understandingthis makesushumansfeelscaredandawarethatevenfriendlyandnicepeople,likeourselves,canbeas violentandscaryasBatmanwas.

Nolanusesthelanguagefeaturescrosscutting,camerawork,costumeandsymbolismtohighlight thecontrastbetweengoodandevilandthatpeoplehavebothgoodandevilwithintheminthe flashbackscene,whereweseethat,asachild,MirandawassavedbyBanefrompeoplewhowere attackingthepeopleinthepitshewasin,BaneincludedAfterwe,theaudience,seethis,thescene crosscutstoasceneofthepresent.NolanusesacloseupcamerashotonBane'sfacesothatwesee thetearthatrollsdownhischeek.BycrosscuttingthescenewhereBanesavesMiranda,withthe closeupofBane'sface,ourperspectiveonBane'scharacterchangesandweseethecontrast betweengoodandevilinhim.Throughoutthefilm,NolanhadusconvincedthatBanewasjustpure evil,

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TheDarkKnightSocialJustice

TheDarkKnightisaboutacityhero,knownasthe"Batman"ofGothamCity.Hefightscrime,inor outsidethecitylimitsaslongasitpertainstoGothamCity,inotherwords"thebatmanhasno jurisdiction".InthefilmGordon,thepolicecommissionerofGothamCity,Batman,andHarvey DentthedistrictattorneyforGothamteamuptotakedownthemobandtheJoker.Thelargest overarchingissueintheDarkKnightwastheorganizedcrimegroupinGothamCityaswellasthe Jokerneitherofwhichfollowanylegalrulesorwanttohelpthecommongood.Alltheycareabout isthemselvesandtheirmoney,excepttheJokersimplycauseschaosandanarchytohavefunaswe canseewhenheburnshisshareofthemoneyfromthecrimeleadersTheJokerandtheBatman haveahistoryofbattlingitout,buttheBatmanhashighermoralstandardsandwilldoanythinghe cantoachievethesafestoutcomeforeveryone,whereastheJokerdoesn'tcarewhogetsinhisway. TheJokerwillbeatthecrapoutofBatmanbuthewon'teverkillhimbecausethenhewouldn'thave anythingtodobutripofmobsters.TheJokeralsosetsupamoralitytesttoseeiftheperfectlyokay commonpeoplewillblowupthecriminalsandviceversaEitherboatwouldhavetomakea decision...showmorecontent...

CalltoFamily,Community,andParticipationandCommonGoodwasviolatedbecausethemoband theJokerarenotdoingtheirjobsofcommittingandhelpingthecommongoodofsocietygrowand succeed.PreferentialOptionforthePoorwasviolatedbyasmallroleonlyinthatallthehomelessin thecommunityofGothamCitylookedveryworndownandinverypoorconditions,alsoIam assumingthethreekidsthat"killedtheJoker"andwentafterGambleandhismenwerevery vulnerablesayingthattheJokerwasworkingwiththemandtheywere

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Batman:TheDarkKnightBatman:TheDarkKnightdirectedbyChristopherNolanisnon–stop actionthrillerthatcontinuallydidtheunexpected.ThefilmisbasedoffoftheoriginalBatman comicbookbutadditionallychangestheperceptionoftheeverydayworldasgoodtonaturallybad. Throughoutthemovie,BatmanstandsforhonestyandgoodnesswhiletheJokerisasymbolismof chaosandevilBothsidesareforcedtomakequick–witteddecisionsinordertostoptheopposing vigilantefromdoinghisdesiredwork.ThecitizensofGothamareputintheheartofthis circumstanceandfeelobligatedtogoagainsttheirvaluestostopthechaos.Numerouspeople habituallypursuetheirdreamsandvaluesbutoftenbecomeblindedfromtheirshowmore content...

Theabilitiesofthetwovigilantesinthecitycaptivatedmanypeopleandtheystartingforgetting whotheyreallywere.ThecityinGothamisinchaos.Theynolongerknowwhattheystandforand arestartingtowonderiffightingevilis,infact,creatingmoreevil.Onemanwhostandsstrongeven whenthepublicissecond–guessingisHarveyDentplayedbyAaronEckhartHeisthenewdistrict attorneyandisrespectedbytheentirecityforstoppingcorruptionalloverthetown.Heisaclean–shavenmanwithblondehairandblueeyeswhopresentshimselfasaveryproperman.Thismiseen sceneprovesthatthismanisagoodman.Ifhewereunshaven,haddarkeyes,anddarkhairitwould behardtoconsiderhimatrulygoodman.Thedirectorrealizesthismaynotbetruewitheveryone butitisatypicalstereotypeinoursocietytodayAsthemoviegoesontheenemy,whoisforcing himtosecond–guesshisvalues,testshimtimeandtimeagain.Beinganhonestmanisnolonger puttingcriminalsaway;theyarealwaysonestepahead.Bytheendofthefilm,theJokercrushes Harvey'svaluesandblindshimfromwhathistruegoalswereinlifeHistwo–sidedfaceshowsthis visuallyafterbeingburnedintheexplosion.Also,Harveyhasacoinwithaheadprintedonboth sides.ThiscoinnevercanlandontailsbutHarvey

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TheDarkKnightEssay

ChristopherNolan:TheDarkKnight(Reading2:Technical)

AkeyelementofChristopherNolan'spurposethroughouthisfilmTheDarkKnightisthe developmentofmoodintheviewer,moresothedevelopmentoffearanduncertainty.Christopher Nolansuccessfullyemploystechnicalproductionelementsintothisfilmtoachievehisintended purpose.Throughtheuseoftheseelementshehassucceededinsettingamoodfortheaudience,the audience'sinterpretationofthecharacteroftheJokerisformed.

Astheviewerexperiencesthismood,theyareabletolinkthesefeelingswithhowtheviewerfeels towardsthecharacteroftheJoker,andthustheaudience'sinteroperationoftheJoker'spersonalityis formedveryquickly.Thesameemotionsshowmorecontent

Thereisnodialogueforthefirstfewmoments,consequentlytheviewersattentionisfocusedonthe onlymainelementpresent,whichissoundTheeeriesoundconsistsofasinglecellonotewhich makesit'sappearanceinitiallysubtlyinthebackground.Asthesceneunfolds,thenoterepetitively buildsupinpitch,risingasemitoneoccasionallyandthensuddenlydropsinvolume.Eachtimethe risingofthenoteoccurs,thepitchseemstogethigherthanpreviously,effectivelybuilding suspense.Duetotheunusualtimesignatureofthispieceofmusic,theviewerdoesnotexpectwhen thechangewilloccurThisunpredictabilityinconjunctionwiththeeerietoneisveryunsettlingto listentoanddoesindeedaidinthedevelopmentofafearfulanduncertainmood.ChristopherNolan hasspecificallychosenthisstyleofsoundtofithispurpose.ComposerHansZimmer'sstates,"I wantedtowritesomethingpeoplewouldtrulyhate"ChristopherNolanalsomentionsinreference tohisfirstimpressionlisteningtothescore,it"wasaprettyunsettlingexperience,frankly",whichis exactlywhatNolanintendedforhisviewerstofeel.Hisdecisioninincludingthispieceofmusicis successfulandit'simplementationextremelyeffective.Thepieceofmusicistitled"WhySo Serious?",namedafterthelineofdialogueinwhichJokersaystoGambol.Thereferencetothe Jokeriscleverlyrepresentative,asthis

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TheDarkKnightThemes

TheDarkKnight–APowerStruggle

Batman,anamesynonymouswiththewordhero.HewasfirstintroducedtotheworldinDetective Comics#27(artistBobKane,writerBillFinger,1939).Hequicklybecameafanfavouriteandhas sincethenseennumerousfilm,television,andvideogameadaptations.Thefirstfilmadaptation beingBatman(LambertHillyer,1943),amere4yearsafterhisintroductionin1939Throughouthis tenuredcareerBatmanhasfacednumerousvillains,eachofthemreinforcingthethemesofevilvs good,power,andanarchyvsorder.ThethemesareespeciallyprevalentwhenBatmanfacesoff againsthisarch–rival,andfoil,theJokerInTheDarkKnight(ChristopherNolan,2008)these themesareperfectlyencapsulatedintheJokerinterrogationscene.Almostanhourandhalfintothe filmiswhentheinterrogationscenetakesplace.Thescenelastsforapproximatelyfiveminutesand iscomprisedof79cuts.Inaway,thescenealmosthasthreeacts.ItstartsoffwiththeJoker's perspectiveofCommissionerGordonenteringtheroomtobeginhisinterrogationoftheJoker.The Jokerisframedtotheright,whileGordonisframedtotheleftFromtheveryfirstshotofthescene, thethemeofpowerispresented.Theovertheshouldershot,combinedwithaslightdollyin, conveystotheaudiencethatJokeristheoneincontrol.AsGordonwalksupweseethattheJokeris completelyshroudedindarkness,withonlyhisfacebeingvisible.Thisportraysthe

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ThemovieTheDarkKnight(2008)isthegenreofsuperherofilms.Superherofilmsaremoviesthat dealwithvigilantessavingthecityfromcriminals.Criminalshavebecomemoreevil,heroeshave becomemoreviolentandvictimshavebecomemoreinnocent.Movieshavebecomemoregraphic andthecrimeshavebecomemoreunjustifiable.Crimeisakeycomponentofsuperheroherofilms andisoftenusedtoshowinjusticetowardsthestateTocontrolcrimesocietyhastotryanddeter crimebyaddingpunishmentthatoutweightherewards.Somepeoplearebiologicallymorecrime orientedthanothersanditconstitutesnaturalborncriminals.TheJokerisseenasthemaincriminal inthemoviechallengingthenotionofjusticeBruceWayne,alsoknownasBatman,isseenasthe vigilante.TheJokerbecomespersonalwithBatmanforcinghimtocomefacetofacewith everythinghebelievesandusestechnologytotryandstophim.HerveyDentisconsideredasymbol ofhopebecausehetakesthelawandusesagainstcriminals.TheCriminalJusticeSystemisthen corruptedbytheJoker,whichleadstothecorruptionoftwo–face.HarveyDentisangryabout Batmanlettinghisonetruelove(RachealDawes)dieandseeksrevengeuponhimwiththehelpof theJoker'scorruptionandbecomestwoface.Thisdemonstratesthateventhemostinnocentpeople canbecorrupted.TheJokerchallengesthenotionoflawandjusticebyattemptingtodestroy GothamCityandallthepeopleinit.Thelawdeals

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TheDarkKnight

TheJoker

Inthefilm,TheDarkKnightdirectedbyChristopherNolan,TheJoker,oneofBatman'smost dangerousenemieswhoseaimistoopushBatmantohisultimatelimits,tobreakhispersonalrules andstrictmoralcodeThis,beingtheJokersonlyreasontolive,hehasnofearofdeathandpain TheJokerischaracterisedasacalculatingandlogicalcriminal,arebelwithminimalempathyor moralandanemesiswhocommitspurposelesscrime.Togetherthesecharacteristicsaredeveloped throughspecificandappropriateuseoftechnicalaspects,suchas,cameramovement,cameraangles, propsanddialogue.Togetherthesetechniquescreateacharacterwhoisanextraordinarytowatch, ashecauseschaosinGothamCity,alltogetshowmorecontent

Anexampleofthisisintheopeningsequence,hetormentsmanypeople,byputtinggrenadesin theirmouthstostopthemfromtalking.Hehasnoremorseforanythinghedoes,toanyone.Another example,inthisscene,iswhenhesitswiththeownerofthebankAfterputtingagrenadeinhis mouthalso,toostophimfromtalkingback,makinghimvulnerableanduncomfortable.Camera anglesisonetechniquethathelpsdevelopsthischaracteristicasitisalowangletilt,toshowthat TheJokerissuperiorandadominantfigureinthisscene.Theanglealmostisintendedtobeaview pointfromthebankowner.Whichmakesthebankownertofeelvulnerable.Inthisshot,Lightingis alsoaveryeffectivetechniquethatshowshisminimalThelightingisdark,onlyexposinghalfof hisface,thisgivesthefeelingoffearanddistress.Also,toaddtothischaracteristicofminimal empathy,dialogueisanothereffectivetechnique.TheJokersays,"Whatdoesn'tkillyousimply makesyoustranger"AlmostinconfidenthystericsTheJokerwalksoffwiththepegtothefake grenadeinthebankersmouth.Thisdevelopshischaracterasacriminalwithminimalempathyand lackofmoral,ashedoesn'tcareaboutconformingtosociety.

TheJoker,isapurposelesscriminal.Hewilldestroyanything,oranyonewhogetsinhisway,just toaccomplishhisgoal,tobreakBatman'spersonalrules,toneverkillorharmanyone,buttosave GothamCityfromdangerand

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TheDarkKnightCharacterAnalysis

AccordingtoaRussianproverb,Godmakesthepriests.Jesterscomefromthedevil.Youwon'thave anytroublebelievingthataphorismwhenyouseeHeathLedger'smesmerizingperformanceasthe Jokerin"TheDarkKnight,"ChristopherNolan'smasterpieceandoneofthehighestgrossingfilms ofalltime.Batmanisnolongerjustacomicbook,butastorythatbecomeengrossingandunfolds intoahauntingtragedyWithgreatperformancesbytheentiremajorandsupportingcastthemovie createscharactersthatwecareandgiveaudiencesofallstripessomethingtosatisfythem.Inthe DarkKnightBatmanisnotjust"agoodguyisagoodguybecausehedoesgoodthings"storybutin factastorywhereyoucanhesitatetocallagoodguyatallThepeopleofGothamareinturmoil andarecallingBatmanavigilanteandareblaminghimforthedeathsofcopsandotherimportant figuresinthecity.TheJoker(HeathLedger)isnotjustamustachetwirlingvillain.He'saTrickster whosedeedsarenefariouslydesignedtoposemoraldilemmasforhisenemies.Gothamisunderthe processofrecoveringfromtheeventsofBatmanBegins(thefirstfilminthefranchises).Thecrime ofthecityisatitslowestpointinseveraldecadesandthereisfinallyasignthatGothamisworking towardspeace,apeacethathasbeenalongtimecoming.Thislowcrimerateisthankstotheteam workbetweenthethreeheavyhittersoflawenforcementinGothamtheBatman

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GoodVersusEvilInTheDarkKnight

TheDarkKnight(2008),directedbyChristopherNolan,demonstratestheideaofgoodversusevil. Batmanisknownastheprotagonist,andJokerisknownastheultimatevillain.Therepresentation ofcrimeinthefilmisseenfromtheactionsofbothcharacters.Thefilmessentiallydepictstheactof deviancemeaning,"behaviourthatviolatessocialnorms,includinglaws".Innormalitythe governmentwouldhavethegreatestamountofpower,butintheGothamcity,poweriscomplex ThereisminimalstructureoflawandorderinGothamcityduetopowerfulpeoplelikeBatmanand theJoker.CitizensofGothamcitycannolongerfightforthemselvesinaworldfilledwith supernaturalpowersTherefore,theonlyhopethatcitizenshaverestinthehandsofBatman AlthoughBatmanattemptstosaveGothamcityfromJoker'scriminalintentions.Batman,however, alsoplaysaroleindeviantactivitywhileattemptingtocatchtheJoker.Realistically,Batman violatesthemoralcodeduetodestructivebehaviour,andputtingthelivesofcitizensatharm.He doesnotcareforsocialnorms,norwhetherhisactsareoflegality.Heisdevotedtocombat organizedcrimewithHarveyDent,adistrictattorneyinGothamcityBatmanisinfact,the definitionofcrime,heunderstandsbutdoesnotabidetoindividualrightsandsocialcontractswhich makeuptheruleoflaw.Inaddition,themanbehindBatman,BruceWaynealsoportraysaformof deviancebydisguisinghimselfasBatman.

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ThemainconflictsintheworldofTheDarkKnightReturnsrevolvearoundescalatingcrimein Gothamcityandforcesoftheauthorityattemptingtocontrolit.Theauthorityshouldbeamoral forceandrepresentjusticeThefiguresthatrepresenttheauthorityshouldbeselflessandworkonly topromotetheintegrityoflawandorder.AuthorityprovestobecontradictoryinMiller'snovelas theauthoritativefiguresexpressqualitiesofvigilantismandoverallmoralambiguity.

Thefirstexampleofafigurethatcontradictshismoralsandskewstheintegrityoftheauthorityis thepresident(assumedtobeRonaldReagan).InthenovelReaganisfedupwithBatman's movementofillegalactions.HeusesSupermanasapoliticalpawnshowmorecontent Batmancontradictshismoralswhileheisfightingthemutantleaderandwhenheisabouttoshoot himhestopshimselfwith"thoughthatmeanscrossingalineIdrewformyselfthirtyyearsago" WhileBatmandidnotkillthemutantleader,earlieronBatmanshootsamutantgruntwitha machinegunandfadedbloodissplatteredbehindthecriminalholdingababycaptive(Miller,64). LateroninthenovelBatmansaystothejoker"agunisacoward'sweapon,aliarsweapon"(Miller, 149).Batmanhaspowertosticktohismorals,totakeontheevilofGothamCity,andtomakethe decisiontodeliverjusticenomatterwhosesideofthelawheisHowever,inthenovelhehas clearlystatedthatkillingsomeonecrosseshismoralsandthathedespisesgunsyetheusesthemto killcriminals.Batmancrosseshisgoldenruleofnotkillingcriminalsandshowsthathewillgo abovehisownmoralcodeofjustice

Authorityshouldandseekjusticetomaintaintheintegrityoflawandorder.Thisisnotthecasein thenovelastheauthorityconstantlycontradictsitselfwitheveryauthoritativefigurenonchalantly steppingacrosstheirmoralboundaries.

FrankMiller'sTheDarkKnightRisesissetintheverygrimworldofGothamCity.Bruce/Batman isinhis60sandthroughoutthenovelappearstobeonthebrinkofdeathyetcontinuestopersevere inhis

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ThemovieTheDarkKnight(2008)isinthegenreofsuperherofilms.Superherofilmsaremovies thatdealwithvigilantessavingthecityfromcriminals.Sincethereleaseofsuperherofilms, criminalshavebecomemoreevil,heroeshavebecomemoreviolentandvictimshavebecomemore innocent.Theyhavealsobecomemoregraphicandthecrimeshavebecomemoreunjustifiable. Crimeisakeycomponentofsuperheroherofilmsandisoftenusedtoshowinjusticetowardsthe state.Tocontrolcrime,societyhastotryanddetercrimebyaddingpunishmentthatoutweighthe rewards.Somepeoplearebiologicallymorecrimeorientedthanothersanditcreatesnaturalborn criminalssuchastheJoker,themainantagonistinthemoviewhoconstantlychallengesthenotion ofjustice.HebecomespersonalwithBatmanforcinghimtocomefacetofacewithhisideals,trying toshowhimhowirrationalbeinggoodis.Batman,inturn,attemptstoputastoptotheJoker's anarchywiththetechnologyathisdisposal.HarveyDentisconsideredasymbolofhopebecausehe relentlesslypursuescriminalsthroughlegalmeansasGotham'sDistrictAttorney.TheCriminal JusticeSystemisthencorruptedbytheJoker,whichresultsinthedeathofRachelDawes,Harvey's girlfriend.Thetwoofthemwerecapturedbycorruptpoliceofficersandtiedtoexplosivesintwo differentbuildingsallwhiletheJokerwasinprison.TheJokerthentricksbatmanintosaving Harveywhenhethoughtthathewasgoing ...Getmorecontent...

ChristopherNolan's2008film'TheDarkKnight",tellsthethrillingtaleofthechaoscaused throughoutGothambythecity'svillain,TheJoker,andBatman'smanyattemptstorestorepeace andorderinthecity.Thefilmnotonlyexploresthetwomaincharacter'sconflictbutalso incorporatestheideaofshowingmoralitywhenmakingdecisionsandthepowerheldbythecity's villain,ideasthatcanbesomewhatexperiencedinday–to–daylifeNolan'seffectiveuseoffilm techniquessuchascamerawork,dialogue,sound,andeditingdevelopstheseideastoaidtheviewer inunderstandingthemessageshowninTheFerryScene.Inthisscene,TheJokermakeshislast attempttomakepeoplesufferbeforeheiscaught,showingtheaftermathofshowmorecontent Hehadorganisedthisandwasthenreadytobegintocarryouthisexperiment,inwhichheexpected atleastoneboatfullofpeopletodieasaresult.Thisshowedthepowerandcontrolhehadas Gotham'svillainbecauseinjustonestatementhewasabletoterrorisepeopleandleavethemwith suchasdifficultdecisiontomake.Allscenarioshehadimpliedtothepassengersresultedinatleast oneferrybeingblownup,whileheremainedunaffectedbytheoutcomeAswellascreatinga feelingoffearandsuspensefortheaudience,whoarewatchingthesceneplayouttodiscoverthe outcome,italsomakestheviewerquestion:Whatistherightandwrongdecisiontomake?What wouldyoudoifitwasyouinthatsituation?Attheendofthescene,boththecriminalsandthe civiliansshowmoralityastheymakethedecisiontonotblowuptheotherboat,butneitherofthem areawareofeachother'schoiceThisshowsmoralitybecausetheyrisktheirownlivesinanattempt tosavethepeopleontheotherferryeventhoughtheyareawarethatifneitherofthempressthe button,theywillalldie.WealsoseeBatmansayingtoTheJoker"whatwereyoutryingtoprove? Thatdeepdown,everyoneisasuglyasyou?"astheycontinuetheirfightBatmansaidthistoprove TheJoker'stheoryabouttheexperimentwrong,ashethoughtthatsomeonewouldbeselfish,or "ugly"asBatmansaid,andputtheirownlivesin

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IamgoingtowriteafilmanalysisessayforthefilmTheDarkKnight.Mychosenessaytopicis: Analysehowvisualorsoundeffectswereusedtoemphasiseathemeinthevisualororaltext(s).I needtoshowhowthemainthemesofshowingmoralitywhenmakingdecisionsandthepowerheld bythevillainarepresentedinthefilmthroughtheuseofdialogue,camerawork,sound,andediting. IwillrefertothescenewhenTheJokerannounceshissocialexperimentandheandBatmanhave theirfinalfight,TheFerryScene,formyspecificexample.Iwillalsocommentonthedirector, ChristopherNolan'sintentionsinordertoshowmypersonalinsightintothefilm.

ChristopherNolan's2008filmTheDarkKnighttellsthethrillingtaleofthe...showmorecontent... If,however,oneofyoupressesthebutton,I'llletthatboatlive.So,who'sitgoingtobe:Harvey Dent'smostwantedscumbagcollection,orthesweetandinnocentcivilians?Youchoose...Oh,and youmightwanttodecidequicklybecausethepeopleontheotherboatmightnotbesonoble."This isTheJoker'swayofgivingthepassengersanultimatumLiveandkill,orbekilledHisexperiment furtherstheeffectofhisactionsasananarchistonthepeopleofGotham,asthepassengersareleft inshockandhavetomakealifeordeathdecisioninsuchasmallamountoftime.Thelackof hesitationinhisrelaxedvoicemakesitcleartotheaudiencethatthiswasawell–rehearsedand plannedannouncement.Hehadorganisedthisandwasthenreadytobegintocarryouthis experiment,inwhichheexpectedatleastoneboatfullofpeopletodieasaresultThisshowedthe powerandcontrolhehadasGotham'svillainbecauseinjustonestatementhewasabletoterrorise peopleandleavethemwithsuchasdifficultdecisiontomake.Allscenarioshehadimpliedtothe passengersresultedinatleastoneferrybeingblownup,whilehewouldremainunaffectedbythe outcome.Aswellascreatingafeelingoffearandsuspensefortheaudience,whoarewatchingthe sceneplayouttodiscovertheoutcome,italsomakestheviewerquestion:Whatistherightand wrongdecisiontomake?Whatwouldyoudoifitwasyouinthatsituation?Attheendofthescene,

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TheDarkKnightEssay

"I'mnotamonster,I'mjustaheadofthecurve,"(TheDarkKnight).Wasitamadman,agenius,ora nerdwhodeservescreditforthisdiscomfortingquote?Itdoesn'treallymatterbecausereally,it appliestoallthree.ThisrathercynicalquotefromHeathLedgersportrayaloftheJokerintheDark Knightisrepresentativeoftheviewthatsocietyhasonthosewhodaretothinkalittleoffbeat.Just asthecitizensofGothamCityaredriventofearbythecorruptandfrequentlysadisticmoralityof theJoker,Societies'tootendtofearunconventionalideasofscientists.Thepioneersofthemodern day,scientists,oftenintroducetheworldtonewandconfusingtheories;however,suchtheoriesare oftenviewedascontroversialatthetimeoftheirconception,becausetheythreatentheexisting interpretationoftheoriesasbasicasthelawsofmotion,toaxiomsascomplexasgoodandevil. Scientificadvancementsare,asanyadvancement,inherentlyaheadoftheirtime,andthosewho heraldsuchprogressareoftenseenasimmoralorevenevilbytheirrespectivesocieties.These individualshavemoralsthatdonotconformtotheethicsofsocietybecausetheirvaluesarebased onbeliefsthataredeemedwrongbythemajorityThisistosaythatnoonewillinglydoes somethingthatisimmoral;ratheronefindssuchcontroversialactivitytobejustifiedeitherby meansofacontrastingbelief,oranoverwhelmingdesirethatsupersedesone'smorality.Thismotif ispresent

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"TheDarkKnight"isgrimlymagisterial.It'sasummerblockbusterthatcontemplatesnear–total civicdisaster:Crowdssurge,tractor–trailersflip,andbuildingsexplode,butthepopviolencefeels heavy,mournful.Lightbarelyescapesthefilm'sgravitationalpull.

Yetflittingthroughthis10–tonexpressionistmurkisadiseasedbutterflywithstringyhairanda maniacalgiggle.Playedbyadeadactor,he'sthemostalivethinghere.

It'snotquitefairtosaythatthelateHeathLedgersteals"TheDarkKnight"fromChristianBaleand theforcesof(problematic)good,but,astheJoker,heisthemovie'sanimatingprincipleand anarchicspark–anunstoppableforcecollidingwiththeimmovableobjectsofBatmanand directorshowmorecontent

Confusionreignsintheopeningscenes;loosethreadsaboundtowardtheend(includingonemajor figureliterallylefthanging)

Yetthegenerousmidsectionworksasanagonizedbig–muscleactionfilmaboutaconflicted superhero.AsBruceWayne,Baleisgravelyshallow,andhelacksthesenseoffunRobertDowney Jr.gavehisobscenelyrichplayboyin"IronMan."Bruceuseshissecretidentityasahiddencamera togleaninformationfromthecity'supperechelons,buthe'snotquitethereotherwiseThis,oddly,is whatmakeshiminteresting,bothtousandtoassistantDAandex–girlfriendRachelDawes(Maggie Gyllenhaal,takingoverfromKatieHolmesandprovidingthecharacter–atlast–withaspineanda brain)

Batman'sawholeotherstory.Thefilmmakershaveworkedoutthemaskproblemsfromthe previousfilm;Balefillsthesuitwithgraceanddanger.Hisvoiceisdisguisedaswell–it'snowa bass–heavysynthesizedwhisper.Thecharacterseemsmorethaneveranextensionofhishigh–tech toys(liketheneat–oBat–scooterthatpopsoutoftheBatmobileatonepoint,ecstaticallyrearingup liketheLoneRanger'sSilver).Herepresentsacitizen'sdarkesturges,though,anditeatsathim. He'sDirtyHarrycrossedwithHamlet.

ThecomplicatedplotinvolvesBatman,Gordon,andDentputtingthesqueezeonthemobsters,who looktothe

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ResearchPaper:TheDarkKnight

"AblankpieceofpaperisGod'swayoftellingushowharditistobeGod."Thisquotecanbe interpreteddifferentways.IfyoutakeGodoutofthequote,Iseeitasablankpieceofpaperiswhat weareprovidedwhenwearebornandwedecidewhatwedowithit.Whenyoulookatitmyway, thenyoucanrelateittowriting.Everyindividualwritesdifferentwiththeirownuniquestyle.In English1230theclasswasinstructedtoreadacollegestudentspaperanalyzeitTheresearchpaper waswrittenaboutthemovieTheDarkKnightandthroughoutthepapertheauthorusesatypical styleofwritingandconstructsavividthesisfortheaudience.Forinstance,theauthorclearlystates thattheessayisgoingtoexplainhowthemovie

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ArturoGutierrez

ProfessorLevesque

English60

24October2017

TheDarkKnight

"Youonlyhaveyourthoughtsanddreamsaheadofyou.Youaresomeone.Youmeansomething." Veryinspirationalquoteright,maybeitcamefromthepresidentorOprah,someonebigright?It camefromafictionalcharacterinacomicbook,BatmantheDarkKnightComicshavebecome somethinggreaterthanwhatpeopleconsiderthemtobe.Especiallythecharactersportrayedinsaid comics.Comicbooksareliterallylargerthanlife,thecharactersinthesecomicsmayhave superpowersorliveinaplacethatwouldonlyexistinthecraziestofdreams.Buttheyarewrittenso wellthatitreallydoesconvinceonetobelievethataplacelikethismayactuallyexistandthat anythingcanhappeninitThisishowtheygetthereader,intothecomic;andbecauseofthisyou areentertained.Wereadourfavoritecomicbooksandtakeinthelessonswrittenineachandevery page.SuchasBatman.Batmanisoneofthegreatestandwellknownheroesinthecomicbook world.Hehasbeenverypopularinpopculturethroughouttheyearsbecauseoftelevisionand movieadaptations.

WhenIwasgrowingupIwasfirstintroducedtotheDarkKnightbymydadwhenhewouldturnon thetelevisioneverySaturdaymorningandtuneintoBatmanTheAnimatedSeries.Iremember instantlygaininginterestinitbecausehewasreallycool,hefoughtbadguys,andhehadallthese gadgetsthathelpedhimfightforjustice

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