FILM: The Dark Knight

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

The Dark Knight on Blu

Still fantastic. Looking forward to the next film, iffy title of not.

Bale is perfect as Bruce Wayne/Batman. The thing about him as an actor is that their is something innately cold and unsympathetic to him. It's in most if his films. Even if he smiles there's something just a little off. He's almost the dark side of Tom Cruise. Maybe that's why he will never achieve superstar status.

This films is a little less about Bruce/Batman, because that's how it's supposed to be. Near the end of the film The Joker says "This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object."

. Basically that's what Batman is most of the time. An immobile object, until he's put into movement by the actions of another person. The Batman does not exists for his own sake, only to react to the actions of others. He's basically not interesting untill you put him in an interesting situation. Which this film does.

There was a huge hype surrounding Ledger, his death and this film. Now this hype long since past his performance still stands tall. It's a Magnum Opus from an actor who's CV would not lead you to believe he had it in him. The Joker is comparable to Hopkin's Hannibal Lecter, and Bardem's creepy Anton Chigurh. He casts a presence over the film. You can feel him even in scenes were he's not in. It's also a very well written part. As written the Joker in tbhis film is more a concepr then a character. But Ledger filled in the blanks nicely.

Rounding of the trio of freaks is Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Twoface. Believable as Gotham's White Knight. You feel for him. Making his descent into madness more effective.

I can't put my finger on why, but Gary Oldman is really superb as Jim Gordon. Maybe that's the mark of a truly great actor.

Sir Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman both get a moment or two to shine and Maggie Gyllenhaal is good as Rachel. Though not quantefiably better then Katie Holmes was.

The film looks amazing but sterile. Which seems to be Nolan's style. Gotham city has even less character then it had in the previous film.

The special effects are 100% perfect. Even Dent's face looks believable. (despite the fact that It cannot be)

The fight scenes are better then in Batman Begins, but they still aren't that good. They just happen. There's nothing memorable about them. And in the end of the film, Batman in the dark fighting with guys dressed in dark blue, with that phone sonar things that was supposed to make the action more clear but didn't.....

Also the big chase scene was good, but it should have been better. I really wanted to be blown away. Nolan should just use a second unit, because action is not his forte. (why not hire the guys that did Casino Royale)

Having said that. the editing is not too tight and there's not a lot of shaky-cam.

The music.

Like Batman Begins it's works well in the film (though in the film I struggle to find any difference between the 2 scores)

On CD it's very tedious.

In the late 70's John Williams gave Richard Donner a great superhero score to accompany his movie.

In the late 2000's Christopher Nolan gave Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard a great Superhero movie to accompany their score.

**** out of ****

[MSM 126]

Never understood what is so great about this movie. It's about a terrorist dressed up like a clown, and a guy with a half-burned face who both don't like Batman. That's pretty much it. It's a headache movie that takes itself much too serious and which just fails to be entertaining in its efforts just to be 'dark'.

Batman Begins is much better as to character development, story and entertainment. Loved that one.

Rating: 2/5

[Brónach 1,301]

takes itself much too serious

I never got that sensation. It's about a terrorist dressed up as a clown being able to do many things for the sake of the fun of the writers and the audience, a guy with a tremedously unrealistic half burned face and a millionarie who plays superhero dressed up as a Bat and jumping from skycrapers.

and which just isn't entertaining in its efforts just to be 'dark'.

I was very entertained with all the little twists of the plot. It's more about being a constant climax than being dark.

For me, a solid 4/5, or 4´5/5 which is how I feel about it sometimes.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

takes itself much too serious

I never got that sensation. It's about a terrorist dressed up as a clown being able to do many things for the sake of the fun of the writers and the audience, a guy with a tremedously unrealistic half burned face and a millionarie who plays superhero dressed up as a Bat and jumping from skycrapers,

Potentially bizarre and fun idea in concept, yet achingly po-faced and one note in execution. There's no sense of irony or self-awareness. That's what made Burton's films adult in comparison.

[crocodile 7,978]

Strange, I think the ofirony is looming over the entire film. It's just executed in a different than usual.

Karol