New Olympics TV Spot for SKYFALL

Reminds me of a discussion I once had about the relative importance of plot. I asked my friend, “So what is the plot of Jaws?”

To be contentious, however, many plots are often reduced in criticism to a slim structure that betrays their nuances. TDKR, for example, is more complex than the simple plot of Bane bad, Catwoman appear, go… It involves, for example, the relation of a (spoiler) certain antagonist to the primary antagonist of Batman Begins (revenge, clean energy initiatives, the access and resources to pull off the assault on Gotham City) and the effects of the end of TDK (especially the noble lie, Dent Act, and the facade of cleanliness), etc.

An important illustration of the initial point, however. In terms of plot, John Blake’s character is relatively superfluous. He does save Gordon, but this represents the only purely functional role he plays in the plot. Everything he does has a slight superfluousness to it if we think only in terms of plot. Why try to save people before a nuclear blast? What is the importance of finding out about the explosives in the underground if the plot succeeds anyway? Gordon saved himself in the hospital. He captures Catwoman to find out what, Bane is bad? Catwoman is broken out of prison as quickly as she is put in it.

What Blake does is represent some of the most important themes of the film: hope and the responsibility of the rich to those less fortunate (it is a very Dickensian film underneath). He is the most idealistic character, a young embodiment of the early motivations of Bruce Wayne and Gordon, both of whom are stained by their handling of the Joker’s rampage. So my argument here is, theme can be as important as plot, and perhaps you would agree.

oups… *genius