TERROR TACTICS

The Joker throws a lot of bombs. As he explains, gasoline is cheap. But is he a terrorist? Sure, he terrifies people, but he couldn't be confused with an Islamic terrorist/freedom fighter/jihadist or whatever the hell those guys call themselves these days. The Joker notably, and with repeated emphasis, calls himself an agent of chaos, a terrorist without a cause. He simply likes to see the world burn.

Is he a stand-in for the real-life terrorists who blew up the twin towers? Possibly-- to most people in Western countries targeted by Al Qaeda and Bin Laden, we only know they like to blow things up-- buildings, trains, bus stations. They talk a lot about bringing down the established order, but all we ever seem to know about is the chaos they create. And really, haven't these people been fighting these battles for centuries? If they can't get it together by now, maybe chaos is really what they're about. They haven't figured out what's supposed to rise from the ashes.

So then, who does Batman represent? The more secretive arm of the CIA, the people who used to do things covertly, like spy on people, and not overtly, like the current government? Batman's little cell phone trick (while making the climax almost incomprehensible) is considered so intrusive into the lives of private citizens that Morgan Freeman quits Wayne Enterprises in protest, leaves his wife, and gets into a car accident in Mississippi!

At the end of the movie, Batman becomes a pariah so people will still believe government officials are as good as their word, incorruptible. Batman is already outside the law, so he readily takes on the role of the vigilante, willing to stand for actions (like murder) he would never commit. It's a cynical idea, that people would rather have a bogeyman than admit our leaders are flawed-- almost as though we were better off when we thought Saddam was the ultimate bad guy, and not our own government.

BAD MONEY

If you saw "Dark Knight" you know this is not a pile of money, and if you're not living with Bin Laden in a cave somewhere you know the Batman movie makes this much money per second. Did Katie Holmes pull out of the comic book sequel to make this movie? It was called "Mad Money" in case you blinked, or you're not a middle-aged single gal who was so desperate for the "Sex in the City" movie you saw any movie that had more than one chick in the credits.

Okay, we know the reason-- Katie's only allowed to love one man who secretly wears a leather codpiece, and she can't make more money or be more successful than l'il hubbie. But Jesus Christ.

Now, I'm not one of those people who slags Katie because she's been chained to the stove by her midget-impresario-with-a-moptop, but whatever the reason, I'm glad she pulled out. Maggie Gyllenhaal-- now there's a bitch can go toe-to-toe with Batbutch. Whether she's striding in and out of the courtroom, the interrogation room, staring down the Joker or watching the clock tick down strapped to 100s of barrels of flammable oil, bitch got presence. She's no little girl. In "Batman Begins," Katie looked like she stumbled into the courtroom during "bring your daughter to work" day.

Oh yeah, Heath is good too. But you knew that already.

Photo Courtesy Big City Pictures

OH REALLY?

According to the Internet Movie Database, the #4 best movie of all time premiered last night. It was #4 before it was even released. It has a rating of 9.7 out of 10, better than any other movie. Jesus Christ, why didn't Madonna think of that? She should have overdosed on sleeping pills or pilates or whatever before "Swept Away," maybe she too could have received an Oscar nod.

To think Batman can defeat not only the Joker, but Kurosawa, Bergman, Orson Welles, Sergio Leone, Fellini, etc, etc--

--but the Shawshank Redemption is still undefeated! Says something about the people who vote on imdb.

And who's Morgan Freeman screwing to be in two top 5 movies?

Image courtesy powet.tv

EXIT LINES

That's Heath Ledger there, proving all jokes are indeed not funny.

David Denby has written a moving review in the new New Yorker (despite the tasteless cover!!) about Heath in the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight:

"Christian Bale. . .is upstaged by the great Ledger, who shambles and slides into a room, bending his knees and twisting his neck and suddenly surging into someone’s face like a deep-sea creature coming up for air. Ledger has a fright wig of ragged hair; thick, running gobs of white makeup; scarlet lips; and dark-shadowed eyes. He’s part freaky clown, part Alice Cooper the morning after, and all actor. He’s mesmerizing in every scene. . .At times, I was reminded of Marlon Brando at his most feline and insinuating. When Ledger wields a knife, he is thoroughly terrifying (do not, despite the PG-13 rating, bring the children), and, as you’re watching him, you can’t help wondering—in a response that admittedly lies outside film criticism—how badly he messed himself up in order to play the role this way. His performance is a heroic, unsettling final act: this young actor looked into the abyss."

Gosh. This is sad. I'm hardly moved by anything anymore, being a freaky clown shut-in myself, but Heath! We only had a taste. This is Kurt Cobain-kind of sad. I'm so attracted to his seeming craziness and pain. I never knew how much I loved him till he was dead. True of most things actually.

photo courtesy: Reuters

BATBROAD

Katie Holmes was "unable to reprise her part" of BM's girlfriend in the Batman sequel The Dark Knight. "Unable," code for "Tom won't be compared to anyone wearing a black leather codpiece. And bat-nipples." Just to be careful, Tommy-Love is stashing his latex jockstraps in the safe.

Maggie Gyllenhaal was chosen instead. Apparently there were rumours Maggie had made "unkind remarks about Holmes' performance."

Gyllenhaal denies the remarks, but thought she should get Holmes' blessing anyway, by email-- then decided, having such kind thoughts about Katie's acting, that he would have to make the character "a whole new woman." Hmm, a woman who can act better? You can read the full story here.

I don't want to get on the "bash Katie Holmes" bandwagon. Jesus Christ, the girl's made a pact with the she-devil, give her a break. But she did look like "I'm a big girl now!" in her role as the assistant district attorney. Maggie looks like someone who's actually been around-- you know, had a real baby, has a real husband, isn't shoved in a cryogenic tube when she gets home.

Besides, the producers would either have to spend a fortune on hair extensions for Katie, or otherwise explain her else hairstyle-- is she now a villainess? "Cleopatra Cruise" or "The Flapper!"

Photo courtesy Warner Brothers