In Darkest Knight...

I'm feeling a bit better today. I think I'm sufficiently relaxed to explore some minor ideas without becoming incredibly bored. If I do get bored with my writing at any point, I'll take a deep breath, count to ten, and then smash in the computer screen with a hammer. I suggest you do the same.

To provide some atmosphere, I should say I am listening to a Graham Linehan Mixtape. You can find the link to it via his blog here. There's some good stuff on there that I've never heard of. Good listening for a rainy afternoon.

Linehan created Father Ted and the IT Crowd. His blog is quite a good read, but I find him a little bit annoying. I think he takes things a bit too seriously, and is a bit too analytical given that - well, he created Father Ted and the IT Crowd. Funny as they are, I don't think they're quite magnificent enough to merit his sometimes superior attitude. Of course, I've accomplished nothing and have a superior attitude, so I can probably be ignored.

He also got very touchy about someone comparing Mike Myers to PT Anderson. Firstly a direct comparison was not intended. Secondly Linehan acts like PTA is some film-making god, when in fact his films aren't really that good (I haven't seen There Will Be Blood though, so I'm sure my opinion can change).

Mr Linehan also has a touch of the stereotypical blogger about him. A lot of anti-capitalism and consiracy theories. He may be right, but the attitude is sometimes annoying. I prefer people to be cynical rather than sceptical. I don't know if there is an actual distinction to be drawn there, but it sounds like it might be really profound.

Hmm, this is an excessively negative way to start this entry. I like Graham Linehan and his work, and he's provided me with some good music. I like him a lot in fact. You could go so far as to say I... love... him. I love Graham Linehan with all my heart. Wait, that's too far.

Oh forget it.

***

So, The Dark Knight was a bit disappointing.

Given the ridiculous hype, it couldn't help but be.

It was alright. A bit long, I suppose. But it was quite good: some good set-pieces, some good performances. It was fine. I'm not as blown away by Ledger's Joker as some. He was very good, don't get me wrong. He greatly exceeded my expectations when I found out that guy from Ten Things I Hate About You was taking on the role. I just can't help feel that the role of the charismatic, crazy, insane villain probably isn't that hard to play.

They real problem with the film was Batman. In this film, Batman was a whiny, ineffectual, boring dick. He never seemed to solve any problems. He was led through the film by the Oldman, Caine, Freeman triumvirate of mentors. He was always outsmarted. He had no moral conviction. He didn't even do any cool action stuff (the best things were all the result of technology created by someone else).

This film's Batman was like some kind of sullen emo teenager.

Batman is supposed to be the baddest motherfucker on the planet. But here, Bale sits around, whining. Even when his girl is killed, he just mopes around for a bit. I want a Batman who takes action and kicks ass. I want a Batman who outsmarts people.

Batman is only as good as the stuff he does, because the character isn't that great.

It raises a interesting difference between Marvel and DC characters.

*INCREDIBLE GENERALISATION AHEAD!*

When Batman and Superman were created, they weren't interesting characters. They were just people who did good deeds. There was no conflict there; no ethical dilemmas. They were pretty well-adjusted fellows. It was only later when people looked back and wondered what kind of freaks did those kind of things, that layers of dysfunction and angst and inner-conflict were laid upon them.

With Marvel characters, the heroes are created with ready made character flaws. Even as far back as The Sub-Mariner and original Human Torch, the heroes are born twisted and angry. Spider-Man is a consciously complex character.

Batman only has complexity applied to him in hindsight.

I don't know which is better. Perhaps the DC model is best because it gives you a blank slate to work with. You can look back and say "actually, Batman is a paedophile. Or a racist. Or an allegory for the Franco-Prussian War".

Or maybe it's best to have fully rounded characters from the outset, so they are fully formed and tangible.

The good thing about comic book heroes is that complex characters evolve almost out of necessity. So much content is needed that you need to delve into new depths, and explore new outlooks. Through a thousand issues of one hero's adventures, you start to explore some fun territory.

It's also good in that it avoids stereotypes. Daredevil is blind, and in other media that would be enough: the good blind man. But because you have to generate so much narrative, you can't just have a disability as the only hook. So you add layers of Catholic guilt, childhood trauma, moral conflict and all that stuff. He's not just a blind man, he's a fucked-up, twisted blind man. I think that's real progress.

The size of the superhero universe makes it a pretty incredible creation. You have one huge organic narrative, which opens up a world of possibilities.

What was I saying?

Oh yeah, Iron Man was much better than The Dark Knight.

The bit with the lorry flipping over was pretty cool, though.

***

Here's a song that I discovered via a convoluted path. I think credit can be given to Edgar Wright's blog. He directed Spaced and co-wrote Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead.

I'm jealous of him because he's really good, is friends with loads of cool US directors, and seems really well-adjusted. Bastard. Also, he looks like he's getting younger. I mean, he looks really young. Does he have a youth serum? I wouldn't bet against it. But that's just because Ladbrokes are getting tired of me going in there and making bets about youth serum.

I think the joke will be on him. Soon, he'll get so young that he'll become a teenager, then a child, then a toddler. Eventually he'll be a baby, and he'll be so small that he'll slip through the gap in his director's chair and crack his head open on the soundstage. Hubris, Mr Wright. Hubris.

So, he mentioned this song on one of his posts. It's called Becky and is by a band called Be Your Own Pet. You probably heard of them ages ago, but I make no apologies for being behind the times. It's really catchy (and was banned in America for being too violent). Its catchiness derives in no small part from sounding a bit like The Locomotion.

Enjoy!



***

I may have more to right later (the use of 'right' here was originally a typo, but I my tendency for moral crusading might make this appropriate - fight the power). I should take advantage of my long attention span and cover everything I've thought of in the last couple of weeks. Not that much, actually.