I had the chance to see "The Dark Knight Rises"
over the weekend. This was the first
opening weekend my wife and I have had the chance to make since before our
little boy was born last year. Needless
to say we were thrilled at the prospect.
Unfortunately for many, the excitement of a night at the movies turned
to a night of violence and horror that will not quickly, if ever, be
forgotten. And beyond that, people that
planned on going to the movies this weekend probably pulled back and changed
their plans, allowing the actions of a lunatic to dictate how they live.
Before I
delve into my thoughts about this, I have to pause to express my deepest
sympathies for the victims of this horror and their families. I can't begin to fathom the pain these poor
people are undoubtedly experiencing, and I only hope that my prayers and
sympathies will be a help in some miniscule way.
This type
of tragedy causes many to reflect, at least for a moment, on the way they treat
people, the way they live their lives, and the way they see the world around
them. That last point can be
particularly warped if looked at in the wrong light, a point that this very
touching movie covers very nicely. There
are many themes and stories to cover in TDKR, but I think after this weekend,
the idea of fear and despair as it relates to this film is uniquely
compelling.
The movie
starts with Bruce Wayne, who is now somewhat of a cane-assisted hermit, locked
up in the East wing of Wayne Manor. After
some prodding by a young cop and a now critically injured Commissioner Gordon, Wayne dons the Batsuit
once again, eight years after the death of Harvey Dent, to take on a brawny man
with a very evil plan, Bane. On top of
that, Bruce is being toyed with by a tricky cat burglar named Selena Kyle, who
seems to have the answers he needs to defeat Bane. It is wonderfully entertaining. It is not without its flaws, but they are
minor for me in comparison to how entertained I was.
Bane acts
as an inciter of sorts, who helps the downtrodden of the city to become kings
for a time. They have let their past
struggles lead them to bitterness, and when given a chance for what they see
as revenge, the results are
catastrophic. However, out of the clear
blue, an unexpected turn of events at the half-way mark moved this film from
entertainment to a completely profound and somewhat cathartic experience for
me. The Batman has disappeared from the
scene, dealing with a completely different type of hell.
I won't
mention what happens for those who have yet to see the movie, but it is the
ultimate challenge to come back from for Bruce Wayne. A broken man must use sheer will to rise
above his fears and ultimate despair to have the chance to save Gotham once again.
TDKR begs
the question: When hope is gone, do we
continue on anyway, or just allow ourselves to be taken over by darkness? This theme is played out marvelously by all
of the key characters. Does fear stop
one from doing what they know is right, or drive them to do just that? It is a hard context to discuss when trying
not to spoil the movie, but the key is this:
Does our fear and our despair damn our progress, or drive us forward? Can we rise above it?
After this
weekend, for some time fear will be the basis for the decision making of many
people, whether directly involved in the tragedy or not. Unfortunately for those who choose to embrace
the fear brought on by the actions of a deranged man, they will miss a chance
to see a beautifully shot, directed, and acted story of overcoming exactly
what they are being controlled by.
I am not
saying that the weariness to go to the movies isn't justified, but if we allow
our lives to be run by the things we are afraid of, we may as well live like
Bruce Wayne did at the start of TDKR- behind closed doors as nothing but a
figment of people's past memories.
If,
however, we continue to live life, allowing that fear to drive us to become
something more (Batman for Bruce, better neighbors and friends for the general
population), than this man who sought nothing more than to scare and hurt will
have failed a huge part of his pointless mission.
TDKR
director Christopher Nolan made this statement upon hearing the news of the
massacre, and I couldn't agree more:
"I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the
shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and
joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my
home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place
in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me."
Many of us
see the movies as a momentary escape from the problems in our lives. I plead with everyone reading this to
continue this practice, to do it the Bruce Wayne way and allow ourselves to rise
above what we fear and overcome it. Do
not allow an outside force to dictate your choices. Live the way you believe in living.
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES 9.8/10