The Dark Knight
July 27th, 2008
Filed Under: Comix, Reviews, movies
In a word: epic!
I finally got to see the much anticipated sequel to Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins” on Friday and I was completely blown away by both the scope and richness of the film. From the opening sequence of the bank heist right until the very end with Bats on run it didn’t feel like I was in the movie theater for 2.5 hours, and in fact I wanted to see more! This is by far the most sophisticated & complex super-hero comic book movie ever made for the big screen.
The movie really is gritty and I love how they had played up Batman’s detective skills more in this film. Heath Ledger as The Joker was EXCELLENT! Completely original, true to the character and just downright creepy at times. The film captured the Joker’s intelligence and dark wit very well. He was killing so many people that after seven I started to lose count as he started blowing up buildings, jails, and cars like they were going out of style. He even got in a few good shots on Bats. But that pencil magic trick was one of the best… wow!
Christian Bale delivered another top notch performance as the Caped Crusader while I swear that Gary Oldman IS Jim Gordon down to the last detail of his mustache! Big ups to Michael Caine & Morgan Freeman (Alfred and Lucius Fox respectively) in their superior supporting roles. And Aaron Eckhardt was pretty good too as Harvey Dent, the special effects displaying his accident was not expected, but good nonetheless.
Also, sorry, and maybe I’m not the only one, but I just couldn’t help but laugh everytime Havery Dent yelled out “RACHEL!”… it was just too funny, sad, but funny… “RACHEL!”.
HAHAHAAA…
Easily the blockbuster movie of the summer, if not the entire year. The Bat-pod (a.k.a. bat-cycle) was ridiculously kool and the way Batman jackknifes the semi-truck with it is jaw dropping! The tumbler Batmobile is growing on me as I see it more in action — it’s a freaking war machine!
Lastly, I liked that one-liner by The Scarecrow early on in response to Batman stating he “doesn’t need any help” [from the copycat vigilantes crime-fighting efforts] Jonathan Crane then wryly repiles “not in my [professional] estimation.” Nice one.
So, with that all said, I wanna hear YOUR thoughts about the film? Bat-Highs? Bat-Lows? Bat-Avoidance? Bat-broke? What?!
Popularity: 9%
(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
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8 Responses to “The Dark Knight”
Fes
Here’s the review I put on my blog…
Really great movie. Really exceeded my expectations.
If you’re going to see it with expectations of seeing pretty pink bunnies and beautiful sunflowers, you’ll be extremely disappointed. Why? It’s called the Dark Knight for fuck’s sake. It’s not a fucking Pixar movie.
But it wasn’t without negatives.
A few of you have written about the movie requiring you too suspend too much belief. Believe me, compared to Batman Begins, this is a lot more believable. But yes, I know where you’re coming from. Lastly, umm, IT’S A FUCKING MOVIE BASED ON A COMIC BOOK!
Ledger’s performance was everything the Joker required. I bought in to every minute of it. Devious, cunning, psychotic, chaotic. A true harbinger of anarchy. Fucker was maniacal. No wonder he wasted himself.
Bale’s performance really paled in comparison. But here’s the thing, his performance paled in comparison not to Ledger’s but his own performance that he gave in Batman Begins. The speech thing he did in costume really pissed me off. It was worse than in Batman Begins.
I don’t know, Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face was inspired casting. I really can’t picture anybody else playing that role. Gary Oldman and Michael Caine, as usual, solid as Gordon and Alfred.
Loved the fact that Gyllenhal worked really well as Dawes. Bought a whole new life to a character that Katie Holmes just stunk at.
The entire production design was SOOO much more realistic than Batman Begins. Visually, the second half of Batman Begins veered in to Joel Schumacher territory. No such thing here.
The sections filmed specifically for IMAX were just visually mind-blowing. Sensory overload!
Really wondering with Ledger gone, how Nolan and Co. will proceed with another Batman movie, if there is going to be another one in this franchise.
Fes
Lastly, the thing about Bale’s speech in the suit, fucking sounded like he was trying to talk with a bunch of fruit loops in his mouth. It was much better in Batman Begins.
lauren
I guess I’m tired of seeing so much action violent films…
Monkey Nutz
Pleased and shockingly surprised that a Comic Book movie actually was sufficiently worked into a quality film. It far exceeded my expectations for a “Comic Book movie,” and ultimately far exceeded that horrid farce of Batman Begins.
I also think that Ledger legitimized the pre-film/post-OD hype regarding his contention for the Oscar. Unfortunately, he will probably get it even if something does arise that delivers a deserving performance.
I may have to partake in the IMAX version.
Monkey Nutz
Please do something about that Batman voice though… it is so contrived, and wasn’t like that in that horrid last movie.
..:JJP
I didn’t think Batman Begins was bad at all?!
As for the voice, I don’t understand why people make such a big deal about it. Clearly he’s disguising his voice as Batman from that of Bruce Wayne. Besides, if anything, I thought his “bat-voice” was worse in the the first one, and I didn’t really think it was that much of an issue really.
And Heath Ledger was great as the Joker! On IMB database they say the studio had him under contract to do 2-3 more sequels, but with the actor’s untimely death we’ll see if they even recast the Joker at all, as I don’t see how anyone can match (let alone top!) Ledger’s performance. Jack Nicholson, go eat your heart out!
..:JJP
Haha… seems the dissatisfaction of the “bat-voice” has made it’s way through the mainstream:
“…Why does Batman talk like the offspring of Clint Eastwood and a grizzly bear?”
More from the article can be read here.
Monkey Nutz
The Bat voice in “Begins (garbage)” was different than the contrived voice in “Knight.” That’s why it’s a point of contention…consistency, it’s part of the same frickin’ run.
Joker…they should have found a way to kill him off after Ledger’s great performance…but then the pundits would have gone nuts…he died in his last role.
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