Where to start? Ah, the begining would be the right choice. But where does it all begin? Does it, when the cloudy sky is shown lit with a bluish light? Or, does it, when the Batman makes an entry and breaks up the mob tea party(with scarecrow)? Neither, the start is just as you make out a pensive man looking away from us, holding a ski-mask in one hand, a bag slung across his shoulder and with an aura around him, which engulfs the story from this point onwards till the credits are over and the dedication flashes onscreen. The movie belongs solely to The Joker aka Heath Ledger, with some insignificant(in comparison) characters thrown in to complete the story. Insignificant, but not inconsequential, for the prsence of these characters helps build the tale. Who are we to judge, when the Joker himself tells Batman “Kill you? I don’t want to kill you! What would I do without you? Go back to ripping off mob dealers? No, no, you. you complete me. “.
Christian Bale, as Batman sizzles, but not so as Bruce Wayne. Strangely, the moment he changes his attire to tights, maybe the pressure around his balls constricts his throat and there is distinctly more depth and huskiness in his voice. As Bruce, he does not compare to neither George Clooney, nor to Val Kilmer(My fav. As Bruce) But still he delivers in the context of the film. Had he been too intimidating, there was a chance that he might have got more footage than the real star(Joker). Some wise cracks and one liners:
*Bruce: *Why don’t we put some tables together?
Harvey: *I don’t think they’ll let us.
Bruce: *They should…I own the place.
As Batman, the dialogues are better like:
“Sometimes, truth isn’t good enough, sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded.”
Or
Lt. Gordon: We’ll have to hunt you.
*Batman: *You’ll hunt me. You’ll condemn me, you’ll set the dogs on me. But that’s what has to happen.
Morgon Freeman, as Lucious Fox has done exceptionally well for himself and remains in the viewer’s memory lon after the movie is over, as does Michael Caine. Lucius Fox is shown as a straight, fearless, incorruptible, sarcastic, and technically hi-fi individual and has some excellent single-liners like:
“Spying on 30 million people is not part of my job description.”
Or
“Let me get this straight. You think that your employer, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is spending his nights running around the city beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands. And your plan is to blackmail this person? Good luck.”
Gary Oldman, as Lt Gordon, has done a reasonable job and has depicted the character of an almost apologetic, weak Police officer, who is sorry that he can’t control the crime or prevent it. He presents the righteous cop who tries to function within the law. Some memorable lines of his are:
To Harvey Dent]Everyone knows you’re Gotham’s White Knight.
Or
[To his son in the end] Because he’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now.and so we’ll hunt him, because he can take it. Because he’s not a hero. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector.a dark knight.
There are many more characters that do or do not work(for me) in the movie. I missed Katie Holmes as Rachel. Maggie Gyllenhaal is just OK as the new Rachel Dawes. Michael Caine, as Alfred lends good support. The Scarecrow is there for a very brief moment and seems wasted. Maybe its deliberate and we might see more of him in the sequels to come. Eric Roberts, as Salvatore Maroni, has looked good and fits the part of a Mafia don.
Aaron Eckhart, as Harvey Dent/Two-Face bears special mention as the role was complex with parts of a fearless man, able attorney, doting(even jealous) lover, and in the end, a person wronged. He has donned all these roles with aplomb and is the White Knight that Gotham so needed. His open-ended’end’ leaves a mystery behind, if he would return, although a cermony is held in the end, in his memory. Some of his notable conversations are:
Judge Surrillo: [after witness attempts to kill Dent] Take the witness away.
Harvey:Your Honor, I’m not finished.
Or
Batman:You don’t want to hurt the boy, Harvey.
Two-Face:It’s not about what I want, it’s about what’s fair!
Or
You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
Or
The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.
At last I’ve dealt with all the riff-raff and can now cater to the lead figure in the movie. It is not certain why this Batman film does not carry’Batman’ in the title but I think its because the movie is about the Joker. He overshadows everything else. Batman at the end is shown as a Dark Knight unwanted, but hunted by the city he serves. This is all because Harvey Dent transforms into Two-Face, but there are bigger things at stake if his change-over were to be revealed. All this is the result of the maniacal, unrelenting, enterprising and outrageous efforts of the Joker. The character is a lot scarier and at the same time more believable than the one played by Jack Nicholson earlier. Heath has really worn the mask of the Joker and played it so well that you feel it for real. I was really impressed by the mannerisms incorporated by him to play the mad man’s character. He keeps lying about the origin of the scar on his face but the line “Why so serious?” is a sucker punch. His turning over Harvey to the dark side is shown well and his words seem reasonable to even the viewer.
“Do I really look like a man with a plan, Harvey? I don’t have a plan. The mob has plans, the cops have plans. You know what I am, Harvey? I’m a dog chasing cars. I wouldn’t know what to do if I caught one. I just do things. I’m a wrench in the gears. I hate plans. Yours, theirs, everyone’s. Maroni has plans. Gordon has plans. Schemers trying to control their worlds. I am not a schemer. I show schemers how pathetic their attempts to control things really are. So when I say that what happened to you and your girlfriend wasn’t personal, you know I’m telling the truth."
Some good lines:
*[Batman slams Joker’s head on a table] *Never start with the head, the victim gets all fuzzy.
Or
*[To Batman]
You have nothing to threaten me with. Nothing to do with all your strength.
Or
We really should stop fighting, we’ll miss the fireworks!
Or
I took Gotham’s white knight, and lowered him to our level. It wasn’t hard. Y’see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little.push.
Or
And I thought my jokes were bad.
Heath has captured my imagination as far as the characterisation of Joker is concerned. It seems he really worked over the mannerisms, gesticulations and dialogue delivery for the role. He really seems to be enjoying himself while committing gory, and dangerous but exciting actions, just as the Joker would. For me the Joker rules. Heath, I bow to your class.
“Why so serious?”