New education?

So I’m thinking of returning to school to get a different degree. I was thinking of bioengineering. I could then go on to get graduate and Ph.D. degrees, with a specialization in limb regrowth therapy. Then I could spend years developing a process by which I could grow myself a third thumb. Why?

So that I can give The Dark Knight three thumbs up.

I could talk about all the standard stuff: the awesome acting, the good story, the fact that it’s not a comic-book-y movie, but a good movie in a comic book setting. But if you’ve read any of the reviews, you already know all this, so I’ll focus on another point in the movie.

There is no backstory for the Joker. There are no clues given as to where he came from. In fact, the Joker himself gives a couple of conflicting hints as to how he got his scars. His real name is never given, no hints are provided as to why he acts as he does.

Personally, I think it was very smart storytelling on the part of the writers. We the viewers know nothing more about the Joker than the other characters in the movie do. And, just as importantly, we never find out. As one of the producers put it, the Joker is just an absolute. Within the context of the film, not only do we not know why he does what he does, there is no reason for what he does. He just does it because, well, he’s the Joker. It’s who he is. It forces you into a feeling of frustration about the character: you’re continually trying to understand him and his motivations, but there are none. It’s not just that they’re not explained to you the viewer, it’s that he literally has no motivation. It narrows the focus of the character and, in a way, makes him easier to watch. Once you understand the simplicity of a character who does things for no other reason but that he can, you can’t help but enjoy watching him do it.

So maybe this is a little bit high-minded of an analysis for a Batman movie. But this movie is different. It allows, even encourages, this sort of thought. The themes in the movie are modern-day and relevant, but treated smartly. So even you if don’t like comic book movies, this is one you should see.