DARK KNIGHT REVIEW

[jesuspj]

It's taken me a while to think about how I'd talk about the Dark Knight. I just can't stay focused because I keep jumping from place to place when I talk about it. I figure I'll pretty much just talk about the actor's performances. So if I jump around, please forgive me. This time, spoilers are SLIGHTLY on.

I'll just come out and say it.

This is the greatest movie of 2008 and very well will also be the greatest comic movie of all time (for now). This isn't just the greatest comic movie. This is the greatest GRAPHIC NOVEL on film.
This movie is so much more than a superhero movie. This is a crime movie. This is a serial killer movie. This a secret agent movie.

Flash back to last year when we were treated to tons of pictures of the Dark Knight.
I was one of the many naysayers out there who scowled at Heath Ledger initially being cast as The Joker. I HATED that damn Bat Cycle. And why couldn't they have just forgotten to put in Rachel?

Flash forward to now.
Heath Ledger DOES deserve an oscar. Rachel gets written off in a very fan favorite moment (almost to the point where I could probably stand it if Katie Holmes returned JUST in time for the final scene.) and the Bat Cycle is involved in the best action scene of the entire movie.

Let's start with The Joker.

Heath Ledger was brilliant in this film. Heath was obviously very famous already. Brokeback Mountain was his foray into breaking the pretty boy image and if he didn't die, this movie would have turned Heath Ledger into HEATH LEDGER. He is THAT good. So good that he sent shivers through my body at times. I have seen a lot of real horror in both Iraq and Afghanistan and he truly disturbed me. When The Joker says to Batman "I think you and I are destined to do this forever." I geeked. I WANT to see that. I want to see Heath as the Joker continue to torment Batman. And for a quick moment, I forgot that Heath was dead and when I realized he was I instantly became saddened that we will NEVER see Heath's Joker take on Christian Bale's Batman again. And I know the powers that be at WB in their infinite wisdom will probably push to get another actor to take up the Joker's role and will be coached to "Play it just like Heath." I want to see the Joker again but I also do not want to see the character just "replaced".


Aaron Eckhart would have stolen the show if it wasn't for Heath Ledger. You truly feel for this poor bastard as he starts off as Gotham's "White Knight" and is tormented into turning into one of Gotham's deadliest residents. His face is truly sickening and you can't help but stare at it and start tuning out the actors. I would love to see Two Face return for a sequel. Maybe with a certain "immortal" character from the first flick?

Christian Bale is solid as always but I'd have to say that the initial shock of "We have a badass Batman! FINALLY!" has worn off it's effect. Christian just turns in a great performance and performs some incredible action as always. One could hope we do not see him replaced at all.

Gary Oldman transforms from good cop to badass cop in the Dark Knight. It was very interesting to finally see a Batman movie where we finally see the Comissioner Gordon/Batman relationship. In fact, Oldman was so good that I would have to say he's easily third place in this film.

Morgan Freeman is...well...Morgan Freeman. Again. Enjoyable with a nice little character story. I really hope what happens in this film does not mean he's officially out of the next Batman.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is a breath of fresh air to a really redundant character. You actually start to LIKE Rachel Dawes but I almost cheered when her character became the punchline for one of the Joker's grand plans. It made me wish that Katie Holmes would come back for just 2 seconds in this film. JUST 2.


I started off the summer movie season wishing this movie would do well but not beat out the Marvel flicks. Anybody who knows me knows I'm a Marvel Zombie. After seeing Dark Knight I can honestly say it deserved to make as much money now and to blow all the other films out of the water. I love this film in letters 5 miles high and have already seen it 3 times. I plan on seeing it again.

[ben]

No Spoiler Freedom Here
Since the movie has made over 300 million since opening, I'm going to assume that anyone who reads these forums has already seen this movie.

And now for the nay-saying:

As much as I wanted to pick this movie into shreds and keep Batman: 1989 as the top Batman movie of all time, I had a hard time finding disappointments.

1.) The first fighting scene (Where the fake bat-men were attempting to kill Scarecrow and his entourage) was choppy and ended abruptly, albeit badassly (i know it's not a word, don't email me) with Batman performing a well timed jump onto a van's roof.

2.) The new Batmobile (tumbler?) still sucks. The Batcycle, although implemented in an awesome part of the movie, sucks. Since they are the same vehicle, I'll keep this all as one disappointment and not two.

3.) Bale still uses his fake man voice. Can't stand it. Give the man some cough syrup or something.

Well... that's it.

For the Good:

I was amazed that Nolan was able to make a Batman film that flawlessly contained two popular Batman villains. (Not counting Scarecrow, who's part was mercilessly cut short after his huge suck in Begins)

I think it worked because, even though The Joker pretty much created Two-Face, he didn't really sit there and connive with him the whole movie, speaking face to face (or face to face to face...) for only one scene. I think this allowed the story to split, forcing Batman to battle on two fronts.

And - This is the only Batman movie that ever made me jump. You know, when the dead, fake batman slams into the window.

Ledger's Joker did rival Nicholson's very well. Nicholson's Joker really reminded me of The Joker in the comic books around that time period. Ledger took that Joker one step further and made a wonderful character out of him. "Watch me make this pencil disappear."

I don't think we need to ask, "Are they going to replace Heath Ledger?" I think the question to ask, as with all new Batman movies, is, "Which villain is going to be in the next one?"

I accurately predicted Catwoman in Returns, and the Riddler in Forever. I didn't bother to guess for B&R, mainly because I didn't really care. And, I nailed Scarecrow for Begins - pulling for an underdog villain.

Hmmm... my money is on either a new Catwoman (Since Bat-Bale's only real girlfriend died in this one, he will need a new flame) or maybe a less popular villain: The Hatter, Ventriloquist and his buddy Scarface, Clayface, Man-Bat? Perhaps Ras will make a return, after he visits the Lazarus pit? This next film doesn't seem to have a very logical next villain. Can't wait to see who it is, though.

New order of favorite Batman movies:
1.Dark Knight
2.1989
3.Returns
4.Begins

Those other abominations don't count: The ancient serial version, Bat-West, Bat-Kilmer, and Bat-Clooney .

Jesus - can you make more than two answers for poll questions? If so, poll up a bunch of Bat-Villains and start a vote on which one will show up in the next flick.

-Ben.

[jesuspj]

I'll come up with another Bat Poll (not the West version) later this evening.

A lot of good points about the Dark Knight.

Right now I've seen this 3 additional times since I've written this review. (6 total, folks) I gotta say that it definately gets better and better each time.

And as much as I defended Christian Bale's "man voice" in the first one, he DID kinda go over the top at some times. I can point to when Bats is talking to Lucius in the "fake Bat Cave" and during the last scene with Joker. Just a LITTLE much. Joker would talk and then Christian would sound like a Tuscan Raider trying to speak German and Kligon.

I think with the next flick should be without the Joker. My prime choice (along with everybody else's on the internet) would be the Riddler. But let's steer clear of the Jim Carrey/Wannabe Joker version. Let's have a crazy killer that speaks in riddles and crimes more akin to John Doe from Se7en than anything else.

I think it's too early to bring back Catwoman after the horrible Halle Berry version.

But Ra's and Two Fave returning (you KNOW they can bring back Two Face) would rock and I would also accept Rachel Weisz as Talia ANY day.


I also found it funny that the Dark Knight mirrored Batman Returns in the sense that the Bat mobile gets destroyed and has to split into a driving dildo. Hilarious. What new Bat Mobile will we see? Something less tank like but not neon/Burtonesque. Let's keep it practical but a little more sleek.


Oh and as for comparing Nicholson to Ledger.....Ben....I told you so.

[ben]

Yeah, yeah. For once you where a little more correct on a Batman situation than I was.

In fact, you might get another one on me. Now that you have mentioned the Riddler, I have started to get this sneaking suspicion that the Riddler might just make an appearance.

Good point on Ras' daughter, too. That would be an acceptable female replacement in the Bruce Wayne relationship position.

But why? Why? Why did you bring up the Halle "Let's completely re-write Catwoman" Berry film? Her name wasn't even Selena Kyle. WTF?

You may be right. It may be too early for a replacement after that steaming pile of garbage. Maybe I was just wishing....

By the way, have you seen the new Batmanime looking animated flick that came out earlier this month? Wondering if it's any good before I buy it.

-Ben.

Also - on Two-Face - It's a movie based on a comic book. In comic books, you can bring anyone back from the dead. Ask the X-Men.

[jesuspj]

Batman Gotham Knights (is that what it's called? Whatever) was decent but passable.

It's worth the rent/netflix or if your trying to keep a good Batman collection it's worth owning but that's about it.

I purchased it to keep the collection going. Had all the Bat flicks playing at my house including the old Adam West Batman movie.