Review of The Dark Knight (2008) by Adams D — 30 Apr 2016

Chris Nolan captured a complexity in characters that was missing in the superhero movie universe. That the word hero and villain are interchangeable between characters. Both hide behind "masks" they have created, both are deeply conflicted and wounded individuals at their cores, as academic author Mithun Shetty puts it "Both are fighting against problems they believe to exist in their city, and have spawned from some tragedy in their life; they really only differ in methodology.

"(Shetty). Joker arrives in the movie not killing innocents on the streets, or tearing apart buildings in a fit of rage; he arrives almost subtly pulling off a clown mask and making off with millions in mob boss money.

Joker may very well feel that what he is doing is as justified as what Bruce Wayne does, he's making an example out of those he feels are in the wrong. He brings his own brand of "justice" terrible and psychotic yes, but arguably equally as effective as anything Batman had perviously done in Batman Begins.

Often villains are characterized as being power hungry, greedy, money-loving, self absorbed people. But the Joker is able to flip this role, without losing creepy and disturbed way he makes us the audience feel.

He is ambitious, intelligent, and frankly doesn't care at all if he ends up sitting on any kind of throne. He wants to show Gotham how truly corrupt it has become, a moral rotting that has taken form all the way from the alley ways to the courts.

The movie exemplifies everything a good fight between "good" and evil should entail. I love this movie until the end of time.