This isn’t a review. This article is not about the film either. In fact, this film is not yet another Superhero film. The Dark Knight is not about Batman and exploits against his nemesis...it’s just a facade. It’s a facade that writer/director Christopher Nolan uses to question the dichotomy between good & evil...between hero and villain... between light and darkness.
Let’s start with the name – The Dark Knight. Does anything strike you? The name in itself is an oxymoron...well... not in the truest sense, but it does question the hegemonic beliefs about Knights/night. The pun on ‘night’ is obvious instantly. So the Knight is as dark as the night. Or is the night as dark as the Knight? Night has traditionally been associated with evil/Satan, and Knights with good deeds, and they are always in shining Armour (light). So, is our perception, correctly placed? And then who is the knight? The Batman in his dark costume, or the Joker with a technicolor face? Does this seem baffling? Well, it’s just the beginning.
This film speaks to the audience on various levels. The most apparent is the clash between Batman and the evil Joker. But even at this level, Nolan, seems to mock at the notion of such a struggle. And through Harvey Dent, he ties to convey the message. The two faced Harvey, is in fact, a perfect alter ego, of both the Batman and the Joker. In the first half, Wayne sees Harvey, as the man who can guarantee a retirement plan for the Batman, and in the second, Dent, becomes the Joker’s successor. Nolan uses the age-old theatrical device of the mask, to show two sides of a coin (Harvey’s coin is yet another device) and yes, the coin reminds me of yet another old debate between free will and pre destination, and man’s obsession with it. Dent thought that he could create his destiny, but then was he successful? Through the two faced Harvey, Nolan, tries to say that the battle is not being waged outside, but the struggle is inside us. Even in the climax of the film, it is not Batman vs The Joker, but the battle is raging inside the people stuck on the two barges.
The Dark Knight also brings to fore the question of identity. In a perfectly shot jail room sequence, the Joker asks the Batman, “What are you without me, and what am I without you?” The existence of the self is based on the construction of the other. The self cannot exist without the Other. God would not have existed if there were no Satan. How can there be a Heaven, if there is no Hell? And does Black have any meaning without the existence of White? For the preservation of Self, man constantly creates and re-creates the Other. So when Joker asks the poignant question, he is not only questioning the Batman, but the entire theology and tradition that gives birth to such ideas/heroes/superheroes. Imagine there was no dichotomy between good and bad, between God and Satan, between Man and Woman...Do you think there would have been any conflict? Look at any conflict raging around, and you can reduce all those struggles to the basic dichotomies. If there was no difference between Man and Woman, do you think the society would have been as it is now? If there was no Self and the Other, between God and Satan, do you think religions would have existed....and if there were no religion, then would have terrorism cropped up? If there was no God, then there would not have been Feudalism, and without Feudalism neither Fascism nor Capitalism would have cropped up. No Capitalism means no Communism, that means no Cold War would have had happened. No Cold War, means no Afghanistan. No Afghanistan means no Taliban and Al Qaeda. Can it be simpler than this? No matter how complex a situation is, everything derives its legitimacy from the basic dichotomy between God and Satan, between good and evil. Thus, a seemingly innocuous question by Joker has the potential to change the entire world order.
And this is the power of this film.
It does not matter whether you have seen the film or not, go and watch it again. You’ll probably unveil yet another layer beneath the apparent.
Yet another gangster film from 'THE FACTORY', and yet, another disappointment. There is not much to write about in this film...In fact, this film, does not have anything at all. Based on the alleged links between D-Company and the Al Qaeda, this film tries to explore the equations between the mercenary Mafia, and the religiously inclined Jehadi groups... There is much to explore and even more to show, but Contract is half baked film based on a shoddy storyline.
Like a typical 'Factory' production this film too introduces a host of new actors, but unlike a characteristic RGV film, Contract neither has fabulous cinematography nor is the editing brilliant. All in all, this is one of the technically poorer films to come out the RGV stable.
The performances are nothing to write about. Newcomer Adhvik Mahajan (as Aman/Amaan) looks like he suffers from perennial constipation. Prasad Purandare as Ahmed Hussain, the coffee guzzling, grumbling ACP of Mumbai Police, does a bit better. Sakshi Gulati, as Iya. looks sexy, but that's the end of the story. The rest of the cast look like mere cardboard characters.
So, should you go and watch it?
In times of sky rocketing prices, I would suggest you rather donate your surplus money to the needier sections of the population, rather than waste it on a useless movie.
(I know that this review is dry and uninteresting, but then writing a raunchy review for boring film would not be fair... Isn't it?)
If you are 20 something, tired of the pressures of a professional life and are still nostalgic about those fun-filled college days...Go and watch Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa. Yes, it's a trip down the college corridors, the booze parties and that pehla-pehla pyar!
So, before I start dissecting the film, I will make a confession- I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Yes, it definitely had an emotional connect, and that I think is the USP of the film. Loosely based around the Rahul and Anjali's story ( Remember Kuch Kuch Hota Hai!), Jaane Tu, is a tale about Jai and Aditee, their friendship and their eventual love story. Told in an extensive flash-back style, the story revolves around the lives of a bunch of youngsters going through the travails of understanding the meaning of love and friendship.
Jai and Aditee are best buddies, but they are not in love...Well, That's what they think...and so they set out to find the perfect partner for their mate. And when one finds the other in somebody else's arm, that's when reality/love bites them!
The casting is brilliant, and the lead actors...Rondu, Bombs, and Jiggy are fabulous. This bunch is as good as it gets, although Imran is a bit disappointing. Irrespective of what the critics say, Imran has a lot of ground to cover, before he makes a mark for himself as an 'actor'. And what can one say about Genelia...Well! She's the kind of girl I'd like to go out with ;) However, I think, she can do with some diction classes. The makeup and the costume of the characters make them believable, makes them one of us ( We the rising yuppies of emerging India), and thousands of youngsters will be able to see their stories through Jai or Aditee's eyes.
Jaane Tu also has a host of supporting actors, including veterans like Ratna Pathak Shah, Naseeruddin Shah, and Paresh Rawal. But the director,Abbas Tyrewala, has wasted them. Their portrayal seem sketchy and it seems the director treated them with contempt. Also the pot-shots taken at Feminism is totally unnecessary and unwanted. Either the scriptwriter/director have no idea about the feminist movement or they treat women with the same contempt as they have treated the supporting actors. Although, the director tries to temper his pun by taking a similar sarcastic take on Masculinity, it is anything but regrettable.
But then everyone has idiosyncrasies, even the Director, and whatever said and done, Jaane Tu is a fabulous film and a must watch!!!
This song is my current favourite. Just notice the tenor in Manna Dey's voice!!
It's fab! I get goose bumps everytime I listen to this song
ऐ मेरे प्यारे वतन
ऐ मेरे बिछ़ड़े चमन
तुझ पे दिल कुरबान
तू ही मेरी आरज़ू
तू ही मेरी आबरू
तू ही मेरी जान
तेरे दामन से जो आयी, उन हवाओ को सलाम
चूम लू मैं उस ज़ुबान को जिस पे आयी तेरा नाम
सब से प्यारी सुबह तेरी, सबसे रंगीन श्याम
मां का दिल बनके कभी सीने ने लग जाता है तू
और कभी नन्हीं सी बेटी बन के याद आता है तू
जितना याद आता है तू, उतना तड़पता है तू
छो़ड़कर तेरी ज़मीन से दूर आ पहुंचे है हम
फिर भी है यही तमन्ना तेरे ज़र्रों की कसम
हम जहां पैदा हुए, उस जगह ही निकले ये दम
1.If you love sports copy the link and paste it in your browser's address bar ( Don't worry it's not a bug...it's alink to an article)
http://www.india-today.com/itoday/08031999/sports.html
2.Read the preceding post.
3.Can you find a connection?
