Well it is just a couple of hours after the credits rolled on one of the most intense film experiences I think I have ever seen. Thankfully we had booked tickets in the VIP screen and enjoyed the free coffee and luxury oversized leather recliners which helped as the run time of the film is 152min, not that boredom was a problem. The film starts of at a steady pace and soon picks up to end in a crescendo of action, implied violence and subtle scripting. I do not want to give away too much of the plot and if you are interested there is no shortage of detailed reviews of whet you can expect all over the www. The acting was great especially that of the late Heath Ledger, and I felt Michael Caine was excellent as the understated Alfred. The film has stirred many issues in my mind firstly the problem of veneration of the ‘superhero’ and what happens when we elevate a human to a position of being super human or saviour like, inevitably we will be left disappointed and left dealing with the hopelessness when our only hope seems to be gone this happened to at least two of the main characters in the film. The film also depicts the true nature of man that craves power. The descent into manic irrationally is well depicted in this film. Mainly expressed through the body count but also the blatant disregard of any sense of purpose. This left the ‘villain’ almost unstoppable as he had no real weakness other than his insanity.
I am sure over the next few days I will have process further. I would definitely encourage you to see this cinematic creation but if you are of a mindset more like my wife Alison please do be prepared, it is intense.
One further comment.
We both noticed just before the film started a group of children watching the film with their families. Ally and I both felt a little surprised that a parent or guardian of what looked like 6-8 years olds would bring them to the cinema to see such a film. I am not a parent but I could not imagine I would bring any child of mine to see a 12a certificate film who is well under this age. I do not know what the policy for implementing the certificates in a cinema are I imagine they are for guidance only and at the parent’s discretion only, but this was the most disturbing experience I had today. When we see so much in our media about youth violence, knives, guns, suicide and we bring the same children to see films with violence as a main theme are we just exacerbating the problem. And as the parents or guardians of these children we are the ones responsible.
S:
