2008 Woodie Awards
Nolan's "Knight" conquers decades-old Batman franchise
By Shayna Murphy, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: Arts & Living
By now, you've probably seen Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight." In fact, you've probably seen it in IMAX. But being the massive blockbuster that it was, no back-to-school edition of The Daily Collegian would be complete without a few musings on the strengths and weaknesses of the summer's breakout film.
It's been a long time coming, but Christopher Nolan's much-hyped sequel finally gives audiences the real "Batman" story they've been craving. Fans forced to soldier through the goth overload of the Burton era, and then the camp of the Joel Schumacher years, no doubt cracked a smile upon the release of Nolan's 2005 original, "Batman Begins".
As franchise reboots go, "Batman Begins" starts strong, pulling from graphic novels and the original comics to form much of the film's storyline.
At times, though, the treatment is a little grim. You may find yourself wondering, why so serious, Christopher Nolan? While "Batman Begins" takes no pause to laugh at itself, "The Dark Knight" is all laughter. Crazy, psycho laughter, that is.
"The Dark Knight" pits Batman against arch-nemesis the Joker. Since his 1940 inception at the hands of Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the Joker's been the de facto alpha villain of the Batman mythology. So it makes sense that Nolan would set him loose here, as Bruce Wayne/Batman takes his struggles to new extremes.
"Knight" is very much a tale of extremes - of morality, sanity and good. On the flip side of the coin, there is madness, immorality and pure evil. At all times, there are questions and consequences.
For Bruce Wayne, questions override consequences. Can he sustain his dual identities much longer? Unlike Clark Kent or Peter Parker, Wayne's superhero role is always optional. He has to put on the mask in order to become his alter ego, the mask doesn't wear him. Or does it?
Meanwhile, even the public wonders. Is Batman a hero or is he just some freak running around in a bat costume?
Christian Bale scores again as the angst-filled Caped Crusader. As the rich and aimless piece of the Batman puzzle, he plays Bruce Wayne with all the wastrel entitlement first glimpsed in "Batman Begins." Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman round out the good guys, charged with playing science wiz Lucius Fox (Freeman) and butler Alfred Pennyworth (Caine).
It's been a long time coming, but Christopher Nolan's much-hyped sequel finally gives audiences the real "Batman" story they've been craving. Fans forced to soldier through the goth overload of the Burton era, and then the camp of the Joel Schumacher years, no doubt cracked a smile upon the release of Nolan's 2005 original, "Batman Begins".
As franchise reboots go, "Batman Begins" starts strong, pulling from graphic novels and the original comics to form much of the film's storyline.
At times, though, the treatment is a little grim. You may find yourself wondering, why so serious, Christopher Nolan? While "Batman Begins" takes no pause to laugh at itself, "The Dark Knight" is all laughter. Crazy, psycho laughter, that is.
"The Dark Knight" pits Batman against arch-nemesis the Joker. Since his 1940 inception at the hands of Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the Joker's been the de facto alpha villain of the Batman mythology. So it makes sense that Nolan would set him loose here, as Bruce Wayne/Batman takes his struggles to new extremes.
"Knight" is very much a tale of extremes - of morality, sanity and good. On the flip side of the coin, there is madness, immorality and pure evil. At all times, there are questions and consequences.
For Bruce Wayne, questions override consequences. Can he sustain his dual identities much longer? Unlike Clark Kent or Peter Parker, Wayne's superhero role is always optional. He has to put on the mask in order to become his alter ego, the mask doesn't wear him. Or does it?
Meanwhile, even the public wonders. Is Batman a hero or is he just some freak running around in a bat costume?
Christian Bale scores again as the angst-filled Caped Crusader. As the rich and aimless piece of the Batman puzzle, he plays Bruce Wayne with all the wastrel entitlement first glimpsed in "Batman Begins." Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman round out the good guys, charged with playing science wiz Lucius Fox (Freeman) and butler Alfred Pennyworth (Caine).
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