"I want you to hit me!"

[eumelia]

My sister sent me this really good review of The Dark Knight, from the Jewish perspective.

It's very interesting and it gives a different spin and interpretation on this already riveting and multi-layered film

Batman: The Dark Knight in Jewish thought - contains spoilers!

Comments

[sabotabby]

It's an interesting read. I don't see Batman's outlook as inherently hopeful, though, at least not in the context of the comics and other movies. He isn't so much acting to heal the world—that's what Dent tries, and fails at.

The boat scene is really the only break in what I saw as a relentlessly nihilistic movie (a relentlessly nihilistic movie that I loved, but still). That was where I saw the filmmaker say, "yes, there's an alternative to this." And it was incredibly, incredibly powerful, especially when set against the darkness of the rest of the movie.

But otherwise, it's a struggle between Chaotic Evil (the Joker), Lawful Evil (Batman), and Lawful Good (Dent), in which Lawful Evil and Chaotic Evil pretty much come out even.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I personally think Bruce is in a constant state of self delusion - he believes that things can change, but he himself perpetuates the situation in which the Joker (and the rest of the crazies emerge).

I don't think the movie is particularly nihilistic, that's the position the Joker tries to covey (really, really well), Bruce himself has a lot of hope in regards to Dent and the future of Gotham (self-delusion, as I stated).

One of the things I felt the film brought about is the arbitrariness of the Law and the Order it supposedly defends - in the end, who really wins? Is Batman's "golden rule" of "no killing" the most ethical? The Joker is happy to continue in the struggle with Batman forever because he perceives and relishes the mayhem that comes out of that struggle.

Heh, sorry.
I kind of ramble.
I can't help it... pop-culture+depth=philosophical rambling :)

[sabotabby]

I find it funny that Batman's "no killing" rule probably causes more deaths than it prevents. Not sure what that says politically, but narratively, it's a fun twist.

Oh, and please don't apologize for pop cultural ramblings. They're rather enjoyable to read.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

He also has a "No Guns" rule, which I figure that narratively it's because he needs to distance himself from that which killed his parents and be above the criminals that resort to guns (and of course disassociate himself from the police).

I've been trying to figure out the whole "no killing" rule for years, because Batman does so many unethical things in any event and he could have prevented so many more deaths if he'd just killed the bloody villain (though as you say, narratively it's a fun twist) - also puts a dual perspective on the game of Chicken he and the Joker play in the movie. Who actually wins that one?

[sabotabby]

I think it's a draw. Batman wins with the boats; the Joker wins with Dent. I care more about the people on the boats, so I'm glad it's not reversed.

(And I'm actually fine with the no-guns rule; far more fine with it than I am with the Doctor's no-guns rule. Because that really makes no sense after one commits genocide, whereas Batman has trauma as a good excuse.)

[morin.livejournal.com]

.צר לי, אבל הקריאה הזו נראית לי שטחית ורדודה
.ביהדות, אם לא בסרט

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

זה שזה מעניין לא הופך אותו לממצה במיוחד, זה נכון.

אני חושבת שאני יכולה לתת לסרט קריאה יותר טובה ביהדות :)

I dare you.

[morin.livejournal.com]

.ואני מוכנה לעזור לך לכתוב אותה

Oh, cool

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

אחרי רביעי ואולי אפילו אחרי שנראה את הברט שוב, כדי שיהיה טרי
:)