Slumdog Millionaire (2008)Slumdog VS. TDK4/4 starsSlumdog Millionaire and The Dark Knight represent two of the best films from this past year. There are many similarities between the films and not only are they directed by the best directors currently working in cinema, but they also provide villains, underdogs, heroes, and heroines within air-tight stories.
That being the case, let's get started. The Dark Knight begins with a profound introduction to the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker, as he steals money from a mob-enforced bank. The Joker has alterior motives of course, but within five minutes there are multiple shootings, a bus crash, and a grenade left in the bank manager's mouth. Slumdog opens with a bathtub being filled with rupees and then we are introduced to Jamal who is about to win 20 million rupees from a corrupt TV executive. Jamal and the Joker are neither very interested in money so much as the Joker wants to attract and burn Batman while Jamal wants to attract and save his love, Latika. Two sides of a coin.
Next come the obstacles to our main characters, Batman and Jamal. Primarily both are close friends to the main characters and they play vital roles in redefining our heroes. While Harvey Dent, later Two-Face, represents the White Knight that can save Gotham and allow Batman to retire, he also is the only obstacle to Batman's love, Rachel. With him around Batman can never be "normal". On the other side of the coin is Jamal's brother, Salim. Salim ditches Latika, leaving her to a life of childhood slavery, kidnaps Latika after shooting her pimp in the face, later he cuts her cheek open when she tries to escape with Jamal, yet he finally kills himself to avenge his wrongs and free Latika. While he is alive though Jamal's life is never anywhere close to "normal".
Harvey Dent also dies. He, unlike Salim, is trying to avenge Rachel's death. He attempts to and kills police, mobsters, and nearly the Joker. He is remembered as a savior figure in the public eye and Batman becomes Gotham's villain as a result. Salim becomes India's hero, everyone in the public loves him, and Salim is not remembered by anyone for anything. Again, two sides of the coin.
While the villains in Slumdog and Knight are both believable, they are also incarnations of our darkest nightmares. The Joker is complete chaos incarnate, Maman burns out children's eyes so they can earn more money begging for him, Two-Face is the reduction of life and death and fault and innocence to mere black and white, and Javed is a master lynch-shovinist that can kill you for anything, even making a bad sandwich.
Thus, choose your poison between the two greatest and far-fetched love stories from the past year. Slumdog gives you chance, the God Rama, and insurmountable odds on a journey to true love that is written. The Dark Knight gives you billionaire boy toys, a giant costumed Bat, Scarecrow, Clown, and burn victim, and insurmountable odds on a journey to true justice. At one point in The Dark Knight the joker laughs and tells Batman, "No, no, no! You complete me!"
When Jamal and Latika finally embrace and kiss the entire movie erupts into a choreographed and high-energy dance. In the end, Slumdog leaves you accomplished, closer to your mate, and maybe with a lingering tear of happiness because you should always expect happiness. The Dark Knight leaves you accomplished, closer to your self, and maybe with a lingering sense that you should do the right thing in the face of chaos and never expect happiness. A flip of the coin again: happiness or unhappiness. And, no matter which side you get, you have a great film to watch. Now, perhaps the films similair developments eliminated The Dark Knight from the best picture race. At least it's flip-side won! After all, it was written!
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