The Dark Knight

Finally went to see the Dark Knight, if you hadn't already guessed by the blog title. I have to say, for someone who initially had no desire to see it, I was really blown away by it. The first weekend it came out, all I heard was how, well, how 'dark' it was and I really wasn't in the mood to go see a movie and walk out feeling horrible. But, then one by one, friends and co-workers were going to see it and everyone thought that it was really good... the only complaint I ever heard was that it was too long. (2 1/2 hours) Oh, and everyone raved about Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker. Now, this is the pessimist in me...people usually have the nicest things to say about someone once they've passed away, so I was pessimistic about how really "amazing" his performance really was. Well, I have to eat my words because it really was an amazing performance! With the exception of one brief shot of him without make-up, you would never recognize him by looks or his voice. And he really did give an Oscar-worthy performance. And, really, everyone's performance in this movie was incredible.

I think one of the reasons this movie was so interesting was the storyline. With this Joker, he wasn't creating havoc for the sake of power or money or drugs, rather, he was creating havoc for the sake of creating havoc. He loved to see 'civilized' people get pushed to their limits and how these so called moral people, if it came down to their lives or someone elses, they are capable of committing horrible evil acts upon one another. He puts them in situations that make them have to chose 'him' or 'me'. One particular scene (I won't give anything away), there were two ferry's out on the water and suddenly both of their motors died and they are stranded. Next thing you know, people on both of the ferrys find these gold boxes with purple ribbons wrapped around them. They open them up and inside is a detonator. Only, they come to find out, from the Joker, that the detonator is rigged up so that if ferry A presses the button, then ferry B will blow up. They have until midnight to make their decision, otherwise the Joker was going to blow both of the boats up. To put a little something more in the mix, the one ferry is full of prisoners who they are evacuating from the city and the other ferry is just everyday ordinary civilians... so, who deserves to live? Basically, whoever pushes the button first will live or both boats blow up if no one presses either button.

The movie was more of a psychological thriller and it really keeps you thinking about it long after you've left the theatre. I kept thinking back to the three part series Kay Warren did on her book. I remember her saying how we all like to think that everyone is 'basically good at heart'; but, that we really aren't. Our natural tendency is to look out for ourselves and that if we are put in the right situation and under the right circumstances, we are all capable of committing evil acts (nice thought, huh?). I mean, on a smaller scale, if someone cuts you off on the road, what is your initial response? Is it to shout, "God Bless You!" or is it to shout something else? Or even better, try to get in front of that car and cut them off? The only thing that keeps us from doing horrible things to one another is our sense of right and wrong, our morals and ethics, all of which were instilled in us by God.

I highly recommend the movie and if you haven't seen it, you should... just be prepared for a very intense movie :-)