Most fans would be disappointed at TDK losing the Best Picture and Best Director nomination. This may be disappointing, but it also makes a good point. TDK is a definite departure from traditional contemporary cinema. I was rather embarrassed at having to face my friends who’re die-hard fans of LOTR and Titanic if TDK won the Best Picture. TDK is not LOTR and it’s leagues better than Titanic – TDK has good characterization, and a good story. For one, it’s not a book-to-movie adaptation (but it does get very strong character roots from the comics), which gets it some direct art-points for conceptualizing something original meant for cinema. The same as Star Wars or Star Trek – how many other franchisees got such strong fan followings without the support of books?
I guess TDK fans must now join the leagues of fans of other franchises with some pretty damn amazing artistic qualities, but those that are a departure from conventional snobbish definition of “art” (art is only art if it doesn’t follow a formula – but that’s a topic for another day and another time.)
I’m not going to claim it doesn’t matter and Academy Awards aren’t the end of it. It does matter – that’s why I’m writing this blog. It mattered when Return of the King won the Best Picture award and it matters that they overlooked TDK. But this certainly isn’t the end of it. Nolan made one of the best movies ever – he brought realism, drama and intensely faithful character consistency to a previously campy comic-book franchise. Compared to the cartoonish Spidey movies with no character development at all (no, telling a long boring story isn’t character development), and cheesy one-liners, TDK really made me think of 2000′s X-Men.
I just hope Nolan comes out with a third installment of this Batman. The world is changing. Even if it gets overlooked for an award, I wouldn’t care – I’d want to watch it, and I’m sure many fans echo my sentiments. We love Batman, and we love the dark and serious roots you’ve taken Batman back to – so here’s to Nolan – you’ve already won. You have gathered a fan following only comparable to George Lucas’s original triology, or Gene Roddenberry’s ‘Trek.
