EPTOn December 29 2008 12:11 VoV wrote:
Have you read the Long Halloween graphic novel? (which The Dark Knight is loosely based on). I would be interested to hear thoughts on a comparison between the source material and the film. I enjoyed the film immensely too, but having read the graphic novel first, I thought the relationship between Harvey Dent and Batman was underplayed and perhaps a missed opportunity.
In the Long Halloween, Harvey Dent and Batman had a deep friendship, united by their desire to fight crime - symbolised by a pact that the two make between them to bend the rules if necessary, but never to break them. Harvey's character is far more ambiguous, he seems a principled man committed to justice, yet the reader is never sure of the full extent of his motivations.
The story focuses on the hunt for a mystery killer who is systematically killing off Gotham's biggest crime family. Batman has strong suspicions that Harvey is the perpertrator of these crimes but he maintains faith in his friend - a theme that is repeated in various contexts throughout the novel, 'I believe in Harvey Dent'.
Ultimately this friendship and faith that Batman had in Harvey makes his transformation into Two Face a much more emotional and tragic experience. This was a key element of the film and its climax, but I felt there was inadequate build up to it - Batman's relationship with Harvey was never fully explored and there did not seem to be much of a bond between the two of them.
Overall, the film ending lacked impact for me as I preferred the character building and downfall of Harvey Dent from the graphic novel, and felt that it would have added a lot to an already fantastic film if it had been incorporated.
Have you read the Long Halloween graphic novel? (which The Dark Knight is loosely based on). I would be interested to hear thoughts on a comparison between the source material and the film. I enjoyed the film immensely too, but having read the graphic novel first, I thought the relationship between Harvey Dent and Batman was underplayed and perhaps a missed opportunity.
In the Long Halloween, Harvey Dent and Batman had a deep friendship, united by their desire to fight crime - symbolised by a pact that the two make between them to bend the rules if necessary, but never to break them. Harvey's character is far more ambiguous, he seems a principled man committed to justice, yet the reader is never sure of the full extent of his motivations.
The story focuses on the hunt for a mystery killer who is systematically killing off Gotham's biggest crime family. Batman has strong suspicions that Harvey is the perpertrator of these crimes but he maintains faith in his friend - a theme that is repeated in various contexts throughout the novel, 'I believe in Harvey Dent'.
Ultimately this friendship and faith that Batman had in Harvey makes his transformation into Two Face a much more emotional and tragic experience. This was a key element of the film and its climax, but I felt there was inadequate build up to it - Batman's relationship with Harvey was never fully explored and there did not seem to be much of a bond between the two of them.
Overall, the film ending lacked impact for me as I preferred the character building and downfall of Harvey Dent from the graphic novel, and felt that it would have added a lot to an already fantastic film if it had been incorporated.
Agreed wholeheartedly. I would have LOVED to have seen it this way. It was a missed golden opportunity. But then again, that would have been one heck of a long movie. But who doesn't like a great long movie?
