My political musings from Hollywood's finest

Well, Joey and I just saw "The Dark Knight" last night and....hmmmmmm. That's all that initially came to mind. Seriously. We sat in the theatre after the movie was over in a state of shock. We weren't waiting for something extra...just shocked. Some thoughts to follow:

1. Normally, I love good vs. evil movies. Independence Day, Batman Begins, Iron Man...you name it - I love it. (Note: Good must win for it to qualify.) And in this movie the good was stalwart and honorable, but the bad was so evil and I was awake through half the night, too scared to sleep. I really liked Heath Ledger as an actor. He was super talented and always fun to watch. (I didn't see Brokeback Mountain...so I'm untainted.) But he played The Joker - evil and chaotic - so well...I kept thinking through the movie "No wonder he was on anti-depressants that ultimately killed him! I would be horrified to play this part and get so into it that you start to feel like him a little bit more every day." I would begin to loathe what I was becoming. You hear of lots of actors who will do anything for the love of "the craft", but truly - there are moments where the evil in that movie is just too evil. No talent or award would be worth it.

2. I loved how both of director Chris Nolan's Batman's have been about agency. 'You always have a choice' is the mantra of Bruce Wayne and Alred. What I loved more about this movie is that Batman learns that - even if the choice is unpopular - you MUST do what you know to be right. When he knew that everyone would hate him forever, Batman made the choice to continue on - fighting for what he knew was right. (I know, I know, he's a vigilante and breaking the law, but this point is made from the bigger-picture view.)

3. I read an article in the Wall Street Journal (after briefly hearing about on Rush Limbaugh's program) about the similarities between Gotham/Batman and America's War on Terrorism/GW Bush. No matter how unpopular the decisions may be...(I think) both men knew what was correct and acted appropriately. Very interesting.I give the movie a hesitant 2 thumbs up. But I've been reading that not only was Heath Ledger's death linked to his emotional difficulties in creating the Joker, but Christian Bale has also been "suffering" from some depression/emotional issues spawned from portraying this story. Let me tell you - no gold statue is worth it!!!



(comment posted by Michael - my dad)The movie was too dark for me, although I have to admit that the actor playing the Joker did an amazing job. The principle that I just can't reconcile is that 'means do NOT just the ends'. The movie seems to say that it is ok to do wrong things when good is the motive or the outcome, but I believe that is not a true principle.Cheers

(My response to him) Michelle
Monday, August 4, 2008, 03:29 PM
Dad (Mike),
You said that the movie lacked acknowledgment of the principle: The ends do not justify the means.I believe that this movie was a perfect example of why that principle can be flawed. If killing/terror is wrong - and everyone stands by that principle...then yes - ends/means works. But the Joker didn't care. There are people in this world who do not care. What regular, run-of-the-mill people like you and me are asked to do is what those people on the ferry boats did - do not act to promote their fear. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS choose life over hate and fear. Always choose love and peace over war and destruction. That is the path of our Savior - one we follow in trust and faith.

However. The part I'm thinking of specifically is when Bruce Wayne created that massive spy machine and Morgan Freeman was like: "No, you've gone too far - I will not be a party to this law breaking." At that point - Batman was walking a fine, fine line between right and wrong. Between standing up for freedom and drinking from the cup of power-mongering. And then - the moment of truth: Christian tells Morgan Freeman that only one man can have access to this power: a man that he knew was good, a man that keenly knew the danger that kind of machine could be - and that man can use it for the good it will do - and that same man who knows so in his being that too much power corrupts - he will then destroy it.I guess that's why the ends/means principle worked for me in this movie. For so long no one stood up to that madman...they chose fear, they chose hate and distrust. It wasn't until the ferry scene when even the worst of that city's citizens chose to not pander to a terrorist. It was when they chose the freedom and safety of their neighbors above themselves that the Joker lost. I guess the key is to elect people to lead us that we trust with the power they have. We need to ask people to lead us that we know are keenly aware of the balance between fighting for liberty and being a dictator. It's easier said than done, I know.

Batman's choice reminded me of the gunslingers in the frontier West. There were those lawless and depraved men who thrived on running rough-shod over hard-working, good people. And they succeeded time and time again until someone came along and cleaned up the mess - that man was usually as violent as those he came to fight. The difference? The cowboy or gunslinger believed in the law-abiding, honest way to live. He always knew their way was the future - not him. He knew once he did the "dirty" work, the people would take over and build beautiful, alabaster cities that would be beacons of liberty and freedom to the entire world. But someone had to start.

That's why the ends justify the means in this movie...and I dare say...the war on terror. Because as a nation, as the armed forces and the Commander-and-Chief - we are committed to freedom for everyone - not spreading our power and might through the world. Just like the cowboys of yore, when the dust has settled and the epitaph's carved - we'll ride off into the proverbial sunset to let the freedom ring.When we choose freedom and liberty over fear - terror loses. When we stand up and support those that fight for freedom and liberty, even if we don't physically fight ourselves - we win. Love and fear cannot coexist.