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Rhetorical persuasion and true love (24 February 2009)

Rocket999:

There's something about Dark Knight which leaves one thinking it's about getting the best from every particular scene rather than from the whole plot, which would seem to give real credence to your argument that there is little or no character development in the film. But there are many developments within conversations WITHIN these scenes, notably between Batman and the Joker, but with other characters as well, which has me thinking that the film, rather, is actually ALL ABOUT psychological movement and development. You experienced the movie as primarily about chasing, but the Joker isn't so much a dog chasing cars as he is the rhetoritician/politician/therapist set to make artful use of language and his subject's sensibilities, to draw them to see "just how pathetic they really are." He seeks to change people, and how, by appearances, such an outlandish, merciless, crazy, clown, set against the impossible, will actually manage (or come surprisingly close to managing) to win people (and you) over, is the question you get to ask in every scene he's in as you move along. And you watch, in fascination, as the Joker persuasively moves people who have set their will against him, through interesting back-and-forths, to ask questions of themselves, to doubt, to consider his point of view, to begin to think that maybe he isn't so crazy, after all.

Your characterization of the "love affair" between Wall-E and Eve as really that of a crush between 8 year olds, is bang-on enough to have me asking myself if it's the all of it. I would say no, because right now I find most relationships I see on T.V. and film rather guarded, and I would love it they could display the sort of vulnerable, enthusiastic, full commitment that Wall-E displays -- it would amount to a considerable evolution. This said, Wall-E immediately falls for someone who is all guarded up, who is ready to destroy anything which comes close to touching her. It's not necessarily typical of an 8 year old's crush, but there is some sickness, something wrong, something greatly undeveloped there, too. In sum: It's better than what many adults have, but it's not mature love, as you rightly argue.

Link: Oscar's Angst: It's fun for now (Salon)

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