Like everyone else in the world, I was excited to see the new Batman movie, The Dark Night.
I chose to see the movie at Scottsdale's Cine Capri theater, which is billed as the largest screen in Arizona. It is also replete with an amazing 9.1 surround sound stereo system.
Very cool for those of us that like such things.
This movie did not disappoint. It was brilliantly filmed, the music was perfect for the subject, and the sound effects were out of this world.
Heath Ledger's characterization, of the Joker, was frighteningly brilliant. He left you clearly disturbed in his portrayal of this madman.
I have seen a lot of speculation regarding Heath Ledger's recent suicide and possible connections to his recent portrayal of the Joker. Is it possible that Heath took this character too serious and went into dark and mysterious places that one shouldn't go? I have no idea, and therefore can't speculate.
What I was unprepared for, was the reaction of quite a number of the audience members.
At several places in this movie, you are watching Heath Ledger, aka The Joker, and you are stunned with his ability to bring forth the dark and insane personality of this character. He accomplishes this so much so, that at several points you feel as though you are watching something so dark, so sinister that you shouldn't be here. His performance was that dark.
Then, at one evil climax, the full fury of this sinister madman is clearly evident. The music builds, the camera comes close in, he (The Joker) performs his evil deed and then it is as if you are looking straight into the eyes of Satan himself.
At that very moment, while most of the audience was stunned with the evil presented, about 10 Gen Xers started to applause this evil. Cheering! Actually reveling in the portrayal of this evil against the innocents.
This...left me disturbed. The movie was a movie. The reaction of these young folks was reality. I left the theater saddened by their reaction.
Have we, through scores of very popular demented video games, created a whole sub-culture of those who relish in evil and violence?
