Thursday, March 14, 2019

ESSAY: How the Dark Knight Rewrote the book on Superhero Movies

When the Dark Knight was released I worked as a projectionist at Regal Cinemas. Every night I would save Dark Knight as the last movie I reeled so I could watch it.  I've probably seen it over a hundred times and today I am still able to re-watch it and enjoy it.

It's more than a superhero movie, it's a masterpiece in filmmaking. I know, I know, it sounds silly when talking about a superhero movie, but it is executed with such precision, simplicity and quality. It has that dope, unique Hans Zimmer soundtrack that includes the notable violin screech when the Joker appears.  The noise plays at the opening of the movie and you already know something bad is going to happen in that building before the window blows out. The acting was impeccable. From Aaron Eckhart's transformation, to Christian Bale's performance as the guy from American Psycho, and of course Heath Ledger's performance as a young Tom Waites (seriously have you seen this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsRbhBXPgKk).  The editing is genius, seamlessly switching between action, like the Joker interrogating Harvey as Bruce saves the accountant. And also switching between the personal accounts to the big picture.

that it has inspired tropes in action movies as much as Sergio Leonne did with A Fistful of DollarsThe Dark Knight script has inspired action movie filmmakers and rewritten the book on how to make a helluva action movie. As the Joker says: "You've changed thing FOREVER"

1. The premise is realistic, dark and gritty. It is less cartoonish, as early Batman movies and superman movies were. Everything has to be justified and is made more plausable. From Harvey Dent becoming two-face to how Batman gets his awesome equipment.
      - EVERYONE very notably Man of Steel 
      - It should be said of course that The Expendables, Machete, and Scott Pilgrim chose to                 completely go the other direction, but I'd say it wouldn't have worked or been relevant to do         so without Dark Knight, and probably Sin City.

2. The villain intentionally being caught to further some convoluted plan.
      - Skyfall
     -  Star Trek: Into Darkness
     - Iron Man 2
     - The Avengers

3. Not being a Hero or a Vigilante.  Alfred says , Bruce Wayne always confirming through the first two movies that he is not a vigilante or a hero, but a legend, as Alfred perfectly puts it "He's not being a hero, he's being something more" Though in the examples, the hero doesn't become an idealist or icon, they become something else, but don't register as a hero.
     - Iron Man 2 and 3
     - The Avengers - They're what does Sammy L call them? Supersoldiers?
     - Thor - he's a god.

4. Having a villain that's more likable/intriguing than the hero
     - Loki, Thor, The Avengers
     - Kahn, Star Trek: Into Darkness
     - The hot chick from Man of Steel (in my opinion)
     

5. The main character/villain doesn't spend much time on screen. Of course Nolan didn't invent this technique, it's adapted from horror/monster movies, leaving the imagination to run free after a few glimpses of the monster. And making the audience want to see more of the monster/bad guy. Much like Jaws didn't make a full appearence until the last quarter of the film, Cloverfield, Godzilla, recently.

     - Dark Knight Rises - Ironically, don't see Batman too much until the fourth act.
     - The Iron Man Suit in Iron Man 3
     - Javier Bardem in Skyfall
     -

6. Playing up that the suits, government/city also fighting the hero.
     Of course most movies do this to up the stakes but they used this to fuel the plot very well, in        them chasing down Batman and getting Harvey. And Batman beating up the Swat team.
     - Iron Man 2 and Iron Man 3
     - Man of Steel
     - Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol 

8. The terrifying low-budget viral tape.
 Yes of course it's been done a million times, with the villain broadcasting his threat across the world but it had become scarier and relevant with Bin Laden's threats after 9/11 and the campy cheesy effect it had in the 90's
     - Iron Man 3
     - Man of Steel

9. ALCOHOL = BAD
     - Iron Man 2
     - Skyfall

12. Not being able to tell what one of the main characters is saying
     - Bane, The Dark Knight Rises
     - The Asian Businessman, Inception
    on second thought, maybe it's just a Christopher Nolan thing.

14. Straying from the series' tropes. As when Bruce Wayne says: Sonar? Like a... and Morgan freeman says: submarine, though it would be fun to see A Submarine Man movie. Also not saying "I am Batman". Also Nanananananana Batman!!
     - Quantum of Solace - "Shaken not Stirred" - also James Bond doesn't have sex with the girl.
     - Iron Man 3 - Tony never says "I am Iron Man"

15. Not letting Ben Affleck play the hero.
     - EVERYONE
     - Except Dare Devil and Batman/Superman

THINGS ACTION MOVIES SHOULD HAVE LEARNED:
1. How to do the disappearance of a main character properly. Just because we see Tony Stark the whole movie doesn't mean we're going to enjoy not seeing him in the Iron Man suit.
2. The love interest dies. To be replaced with a bad girl. C'mon Pepper Pots out, Black Widow in. Louis Lane out, hot alien chick in, or maybe Wonder Woman.
3. Straying from the goal of world domination to someone who "just wants to watch the world burn."
4. The resignation of the right hand man/butler.
6. This moment

7. Awesomely subtle Foreshadowing.
     When Bruce asks Fox how his new suit will protect him against Dogs, Fox says "Should be fine against cats" words he totally eats when Catwoman hands Batman to Bane.
8. An upside-down Monologue.
9. Include Morgan Freeman. Though I guess RED learned
10. Not really having a happy ending. Though Breaking Bad killed it while Dexter flopped.
11. Thanking Elvis Presley in the credits.
12. Don't harp on the dead loved-one thing for the whole friggin movie.
13. Not using the Inception Horns sound.

The line: We need a hero with a face about Harvey Dent
I love that the joker doesn't hide by wearing a mask, but by not wearing one, when his make-up is off during the assassination of the mayor.

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