charming and wickedly disarming. Thank you for sharing the perspective on the "Dark Knight", namely that it was fun. My 12-year old nephew loved it and that is what really mattered.
Though I have to admit, if one is to "reflect", I see uncanny metaphorical underpinnings of the adult male species with BaTMAN:
(1) The cave. When men are in trouble we head into our "caves".
(2) The clueless one. Men like Batman often have elevated view of themselves. Bruce Wayne actually thinks Rachel loves him and wants to marry him. ha! Ha!
(3) The tongue-tied. Like Batman, he cannot surmise the courage to say that four letter..LOVE. Instead he rather show off.
(4) The workaholic. Like most men, Bruce Wayne places his career as a crime-fighter over relationships.
(5) The bullshi..Yes, men like Bruce Wayne will often hide our insecurities with a mask.
-- Modified on 7/31/2008 10:37:55 PM
There are interesting differences between Batman/Bruce Wayne and POTUS Bush. I've "thought" about this just a bit, even unscuccessfully tried to solicit advice re this topic from the neighbors' kids but the parents vehemently objected, but let me give you a rundown anyway :
1. Bruce Wayne successfully operates profit-making enterprises as well as major philanthropic organizations, does it in his spare time, and usually does it quite well. POTUS Bush has a full time job [or so it's been rumored] running the US gov't, and has done less than swimmingly.
2. Bruce Wayne employs a manservant, his faithful and trusty butler Alfred, who's a dead ringer for Michael Caine. POTUS Bush is instinctively wary of the very term "manservant," thinking it is something connected with that pack of pederasts at NAMBLA. He takes out a crayon, slowly and carefully prints a memo to AG Mukaskey to see if manservantry is illegal under the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996.
3. Bruce Wayne is a debonair, sophisticated playboy [if than word isn't yet an antique]. POTUS Bush is to debonair what Bruce Willis is to world-class dramatic ability, and POTUS Bush is probably never going to remind anyone of Cary Grant. Though he did like to go out, carouse, and get massively shitfaced and event snort a few lines as a a younger man until spoilsport Laura put the kibosh on that.
4. Batman has a secret identity which he must maintain at all costs to protect himself and his loved ones against the vengeance of his many enemies. POTUS Bush has a secret past re his almost military service in the National Guard which he must protect at all costs, less he suffer the wrath of outraged voters, political opponents and assorted stand-up comedians and satirists.
5. Batman [under Frank Miller's reconceptualization?] is known, sometimes, as the Dark Knight. POUTS Bush had it explained to him very slowly and carefully, on multiple occasions, that when it's dark outside, that's called night.
6. Batman is a comic book figure who some people wish was a real person. POTUS Bush is a real life figure who many people think belongs in a comic book [like Howard The Duck?]
7. Batman fight violent street crime. POTUS Bush enables corporate crime.
8. Most people respect Batman. POTUS Bush, quite the contrary.
9. BatMan is smart, often using brainpower to solve criminal mysteries. POUTS Bush, not so much smart.
10. Bruce Wayne inherited wealth and successfully grew it to many times it's original size. POTUS Bush inherited wealth and lost most of it.
11. Batman is a competent figure, and folks are happy to see him arrive on the scene to render assistance. POTUS Bush is a little bit lacking in the competence department, and people are happy to see him depart -- but even happier when he's a no-show.
12. The new Batman flick is going to make a boatload of bucks. POTUS Bush has presided over unbalanced federal budgets for his entire time in office.
13. BatMan will still be around after January 2009. POTUS Bush, thankfully, will not.
-- Modified on 7/30/2008 5:04:19 PM
goes to Hong Kong to extradite the money launderer for the mob; that is an exact allegory to President Bush's rendering program to extradite terrorists from every quarter of the world. Much like Batman; President Bush does not believe evil doers should hide behind jurisdictions. No quarter buddy, that is the name of the game, and I'm for it.
(2) The Joker, the antagonist is much like Osama Bin Laden. Like the Joker, Bin Laden plays by no rules in his evil doing. Like the Joker, Bin Laden's believes his evil acts achieve a higher purpose. Money is not his thing, instead, anarchy is his game.
(3) The Joker's game of terror is a game, law enforcement authorities are unable and overmatched to play. The law enforcement authorities are burden by bureaucracy, intimidated, or simply killed.
(4) Thus like Batman, President Bush has to stand alone while the public castrates his methods of battling evil doers i.e. the terrorists. The public turns against Batman, as we do against President Bush not because his methods are a failure but because they are successful.
Therein, Batman's methods become unpopular and they decry the collateral damage though the public are able to live safely under his blanket of protection. War as always has, unintended consequences but the public cannot say thank you or join Batman's crusade. The American people much like the passengers on the boat do not want to get their hands dirty.
(5) When Batman drops Mobster Marinaro from the 2nd story building to find the whereabouts of the Joker; that is an allegory to waterboarding. Torture is sometimes necessary to extract information.
(6) When the character played by Morgan Freeman debates Bruce Wayne on his use of one hundred percent surveillance; that is the debate we have been having since the founding of this country i.e. the debate between civil liberities and law and order. Though Batman, was able to find the Joker by this method, save the boat passengers and bring justice, civil liberities were compromised.
Tell me XiaomingLover1, why are you unable to say thank you? I really want to know.
-- Modified on 7/30/2008 9:49:49 PM
At long last I had a chance to watch Dark Knight in Times Square in NYC.
I loved the movie, but have to admit it was my first Batman film. I had not thought about the common traits that are mentioned on this thread that Batman and Mr. Bush share. I shall have to do some reflecting on how I feel about their common connections. All I know is that Bruce can invite me to enjoy an adventure with him in his Batmobile anytime and I would for sure clear my schedule to go soaring through the air with him! LOL--Sitara Devi
if you want to be a superhero, I have one element in place for you : archenemy -- JackO!?
i'll need a few details to work out a backstory/secret origin/creation myth for you
power[s] : able to engage strippers in interpersonal relationshops with no effort?
charming and wickedly disarming. Thank you for sharing the perspective on the "Dark Knight", namely that it was fun. My 12-year old nephew loved it and that is what really mattered.
Though I have to admit, if one is to "reflect", I see uncanny metaphorical underpinnings of the adult male species with BaTMAN:
(1) The cave. When men are in trouble we head into our "caves".
(2) The clueless one. Men like Batman often have elevated view of themselves. Bruce Wayne actually thinks Rachel loves him and wants to marry him. ha! Ha!
(3) The tongue-tied. Like Batman, he cannot surmise the courage to say that four letter..LOVE. Instead he rather show off.
(4) The workaholic. Like most men, Bruce Wayne places his career as a crime-fighter over relationships.
(5) The bullshi..Yes, men like Bruce Wayne will often hide our insecurities with a mask.
-- Modified on 7/31/2008 10:37:55 PM
OK, thanks Bob Kane, thanks Batman, for many hours of amusing comic book reading when I was a preadolescent. And thanks, Frnak Miller, for your reconceputalization of the character. and thanks for 2 1/2 of the latest cinematic funfest.
Satisfied?
characteristic; when confronted with the truth or unpleasantries, they rather smirk or make smart-aleck remarks, then engage in thoughtful and rational conversation.
My post was merely intended to elucidate a perspective you may not have considered. Apparently, I hit a nerve. I cannot say, I agree with all the methods Batman and President Bush deploy to combat evil doers, the intention of my post was to illuminate. For another example:
Using Batman as metaphor on the war on terrorism Bruce Wayne though he is successful, comes to understand his methods and he himself are flawed or rather are limited in bringing forth a more just and fairminded citzenry. Now if you were to present a viewpoint on how we can transcend the mano y mano warfare to a more enlightened and perfect society based on intellect and wisdom, I would listen.
-- Modified on 7/31/2008 9:21:51 PM
It is a good flick even w/o any political readings or side shows. It's not art but it can be read on a number of levels, so the 10yr olds like it and adults. You won't change your political views, but you might better understand what is being said about it and why.
And so is anyone who still thinks he is still doing a good job.