What makes a hero?

OMG. What just happened? Did I really watch a movie about a masked and caped crusader who dons a rubber costume and fights bad guys?

Or did I just witness a powerful interplay of action, philosophy, psychology, criminal investigation, tragedy and heroism, condensed into a "long" 2.5 hours of pure cinematic joy?


What makes a hero a hero? Is it the fact that he dons a costume and fights bad guys and saves the world? Or is he one who awakens the complacent into action by his outrageous antics and appetite for chaos? Or is he the one who forms an unofficial alliance between law makers and law breakers with the hope of bringing further peace to the nation? Or is he the one who charges through with the laws of the land in hopes of utilizing the justice process to nab serious criminals? Or is he the one who stands by another in times of difficulty, often offering nothing but comfort and silence? Or is he the one who supplies incredible gadgetry to enhance law enforcement and vigilante's modus operandi?

Yes, The Dark Knight attempts to ask all these questions, and by large it succeeds. Henceforth, I am labeling it as the most intriguing movie I've watched this year!