Superheroes, stoners, and action movies rule the summer set
Sara Carr
Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: Arts & Society
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Not only did a major franchise return after an almost twenty year absence (Indiana Jones anyone?), the summer also marked a welcome homecoming to a major screen role for formerly troubled actor Robert Downey, Jr.
And this is not to mention the boxoffice behemoth also known as The Dark Knight.
Long before the summer sun would drench the days with blistering heat bloggers wrote about the summer's movie lineup with an impressive fever pitch. These websites fielded an enlivened digital discussion filled with speculation and questions that would soon be answered by a weekly trip to the theater.
Will Harrison Ford still be able to crack the whip with half of the old intensity after a 19 year absence since Indiana Jones' Last Crusade? Is Heath Ledger's last complete curtain call worth the premature Oscar buzz? Can Robert Downey, Jr. pull of the role of a superhero? And will Carrie end up with Mr. Big?
The greatest story of the summer is the massive achievement, both critically and commercially for Christopher Nolan's second attempt with the Batman empire, The Dark Knight.
It may be labeled by some as a superhero film due to its roots in DC comics. (Batman's nickname is "the caped crusader" after all.)
But this movie is something more.
The Dark Knight is a forceful departure from the norms of its comic book brethren. If anything, the film could be better described as a crime drama with as much of a focus on the psychological aspects of human nature as on the thrilling action and special effects.
The characters are flawed, bruised and broken, as Batman himself is faced with questions of morality in a city overcome by corruption. But even the titular hero ultimately takes a backseat to what will become an iconic performance by Heath Ledger.
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