For one thing, his refusal of integrating special effects, by way of computer graphics, into his latest movie, The Dark Knight, says a lot about his priorities that stay intact despite the pressures of contemporary aesthetics. Superhero movies are the “in thing” nowadays, that’s a point no one can argue with. Film adaptations of classic comic book superheroes or cartoon shows of yore are proving to be the most marketable and accepted genre of film to date. In just six months, we’ve witnessed Iron Man, Speed Racer, and The Hulk make millions in the box office. We also witnessed how these movies use dazzling, eye popping special effects that are, let’s face it, impossible for any stuntman to produce without the help of a greenscreen. Computer generated effects, or 3-D graphics, have become a staple when it comes to contemporary movies, especially for those aimed more in producing a wow factor in its audience rather than winning prestige at award ceremonies. It’s understandable; if we were to watch something we know to be impossible and fantastical in the first place, it’s only right to expect over-the-top scenes with all those bright colors and explosions that are enough to make our eyes water.
While The Dark Knight might have a superhero protagonist, what separates it from the rest is that Director Christopher Nolan has made it abundantly clear not to use any special effects during adrenaline pumping action scenes. He prefers to get down to the gritty reality, and do it just like how they did it back in the old school.
Batman isn’t like any other superhero. He doesn’t have innate powers, or special biomechanical suits. He relies on instinct, skill, and intelligence; “powers” which he has acquired after years of dedication and hard work. Also, he is vulnerable to the same fears and troubled past that most of us humans are akin to. This sort of argument concerning Batman has been around for as long as I can remember, the classic example is the essay discussing Batman and Superman. In any case, it all boils down to Batman being limited to human feats. This in turn makes him more believable, and in a way more endearing, for he is what we may call a “down to earth” superhero.
If Batman suddenly leaps off from a building, clearing three city blocks in a single bound, while obviously becoming a 3-D animated figure, it surely ruins the experience, and more importantly defeats the whole purpose of his character. When Lebron James stuffs the ball after jumping over a slew of defenders, we cheer and say “That’s unbelievable!” But if he flies from half court and makes a 1080 degree dunk, we start scratching our heads and question the very foundations of our reality. Batman’s “wow factor” works pretty much the same way. His abilities that are so exciting to watch rest on a fine line between realistically acceptable to an unbelievable joke. Therefore, Nolan pushes the limits of the audience’s trust in the film’s faithfulness to reality while giving them enough to be surprised and awed. The director could have saved plenty of time and effort by giving us a film chock full of special effects, but with his unshakable vision he was willing to spend days studying an 80 plus story building and risk his budget on a single shot. That feat makes Nolan almost like a superhero.
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