Aurora Massacre: In Defense of Christopher Nolan and 'The Dark Knight'

Big Hollywood ^ | July 28, 2012 | John Nolte

[Bratch]

In the wake of the awful massacre in Aurora, Colorado, we're reading al lot of criticism directed at Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," the second feature in the director's trilogy and the one with the memorable "Joker" character that apparently inspired the alleged movie theatre shooter. The problem with much of this criticism, however, is that it portrays the movie as the exact opposite of what it really is.

[...]

If I had to choose the most inexpressibly moving and inspiring moment of humanity of any film released over the least five years, it would be the sequence in "The Dark Knight" when Joker is truly foiled.

In this unforgettable sequence, one ferry carries everyday citizens, another carries hardened criminals. Joker has rigged both to explode and will only save the passengers on the ferry who choose to blow up the other. In the end, both sets of passengers choose to die rather than commit murder.

Whatever drove that evil in Aurora, Colorado -- it was someone who missed the entire point of "The Dark Knight."

And that's not on Christopher Nolan.

[Biggirl]

The one version left out was the Jack Nicholson version.

[Talisker]

A totally conservative, traditional message and, as I said a week ago, the action and violence were NOT gratuitous.

Maybe that's why it was chosen for a massacre - it was the only way the enemy could think of to block it's message.

[LS]

Hmm. Pretty good point. The spirit world works in devious ways.

[Biggirl]

That is what movies is all about, escaping.

[UCANSEE2]

How’s your Yugo?

That's kind of personal, and besides, I didn't name him Yugo. I named him Albert Einstein, because he does all my thinking for me.

[UCANSEE2]

"Wait til they get a load of me."

(tell the truth. When you read those words, did you hear them in Jack Nicholson's voice?)

[Biggirl]

Yes! What I love about Jack Nicholson’s version of the joker is that he not only brought edge to it, but a bit of humor but not making it campy, balancing it with the serious in his role.

[tbw2]

I saw the movie today. I was thinking of logistics and the 2nd amendment. Several thousand bad guys, even with Batman’s arsenal, have no hope if 1 in 5 adults has a gun and used it against the terrorists.
But it’s possible in a disarmed city, where people can’t do anything to protect themselves and the police are powerless and gutless to actually defend the city, a small evil group can take over a realm of millions.