"The Dark Knight"

"The Dark Knight" was a film that was so captivating for me. The story was constantly changing and always kept me on the edge of the seat. It was a film that was so packed with symbolism and hidden meanings, I had to go get a pen and paper.

Some of the most prominent symbolism in the film were the joker cards spread throughout the movie. On most of the cards, I noticed that the figure of the joker was presented as either a devilish figure or a serpant. I tie this symbolic reference in with another piece of symbolism I picked up on in the movie, and that is the fact that the Joker is constantly licking his lips and sticking his tounge out. I think by doing this, they were referencing the fact that the Joker is like the devil. Another piece of symbolism I think I may have found, although it may be nothing, is in the opening scene where one of the bank robbers is waiting to be picked up and he is holding his clown mask at his side. The car pulls up in front of him, and as the shaddows form, one eye in the mask goes black from the shaddow while the other stays white, ever though logically it should have turned black from the shaddow as well. I think that this is foreshaddowing what the film is ultimately going to be about, the fact that everyone has two sides, good and bad, and depending how we act on those sides will determine who we are as a person.

In the part of the movie where the two ferries are deciding whether or not to blow up the other ferry, symbolism lies here as well. The ferry with the civilians on it is leaning towards blowing up the other ferry more so than the actual criminals are. The criminal throwing the detinator out the window defies his stereotype and he is actually in the right. The fact that the civilians were closer to blowing up the other ferry than the criminals were sends a message to the viewer that civilians can be just as ruthless as criminals.

The use of color was done very well in this film. Color was used on the Joker's face to attract attention as well as to show expressionism. They are used to reinforce his personality and the viewer is supposed to be repulsed by his array of bright colors on his person.

In the middle of watching this film, I realized the title "The Dark Knight" has the potential for a double meaning. The title ultimately refers to Batman, but I think it could also refer to Harvey Dent. Early on in the movie, Gotham refers to Harvey as "the white knight." I think that the title could have something to do with the fact that Harvey eventually turns evil, or dark.

I also noticed a continuous motif of dogs in the movie. At the beginning, Batman is attacked by dogs and needs to upgrade his suit because of it. Throughout the movie, numerous references of dogs were used in the dialogue. At the end, the Joker was guarded by dogs. When Batman appears, the dogs attack him and knock him to the ground. The Joker then attacks Batman at the same time as the dogs are doing the same. This could maybe imply the fact that the Joker is a dog. To reinforce this theory, the last time we see the Joker, he is dangling by one foor by a rope, which could maybe reference a leash.

Perhaps the most well-done visual effect in the film is Harvey's face after the accident. The effect is done so flawlessly that even on a profile shot of the character, it still looks as though he only has half his face. This unique face in the film gives the director the perfect opportunity for reaction shots of Harvey's face. After the accident in which Harvey lost half his face, almost all of the shots of him are close up reaction shots. This is because the impact of Harvey's face on the viewer is so captivating that it makes you feel like you are living this movie.

"The Dark Knight" is filled with tons of guns, fast cars, and explosions. This means lots of sound is key to making the film as realistic as possible. The sound effects were right on, from the sound of Batman's deep voice to the chilling sound of Harvey's exposed teeth and muscules rubbing together, the sound effects done in this film are unmatchable.

Another unmatchable factor in "The Dark Knight" is by far Heath Ledger's performance at the Joker. Ledger actually becomes his character in this film, something that is sometimes hard for even the most experienced actoer to accomplish. The viewer becomes so captures by Ledgers acting that we kind of forget that it's not reality.

For the intense sound effects and incredible acting to the thoughtful symbolism and motifs, "The Dark Knight" is a film that was thought through and had a lot of time and effort put into the filming to make the film seem as real and believable as possible. I'd say, mission accomplished.