This might be the most difficult review/commentary I’ve had to write in my time as an iconogeek poster. The Dark Knight was cast into movie history on early Friday morning, amid hype bigger then Jack Nicholson’s shit-eating grin way back in 1989. I’ll admit that I had enormous expectations for this flick for several reasons, including the immense Batman Begins, my love for all things Batman (minus a little misstep known dearly as “the nipple suit”), Christian Bale, and oh by the way, Heath Ledger tragically and unexpectedly passed away right after his filming and post-production. Needless to say there was a minute amount of mystique and anticipation surrounding TDK.
Now that the weekend is over, Bale and Co. have broken the records for Midnight Opening Gross (over Revenge of the Sith), Opening Day and Weekend Gross (over Spider-Man 3). So the fans liked it….which, is a good thing, I think.
As far as what I thought about the movie is difficult to describe. In recent weeks I suppose I’ve been labeled as a rather stringent critic, which I have no problem with. Maybe you’ll hear more of my side on the next podcast. But to discuss how I would score The Dark Knight feels near impossible. Entertainment Weekly touted the flick by saying “This is what you call raising the bar.” In a way I both agree and disagree with that statement. The bar for comic book movies was certainly raised in a sense, but I feel more inclined to describe the bar as being broken down into little pieces and upgraded to a newer, shinier, nipple-less bar.
The Dark Knight is less a comic book movie and more an investigation into the human condition and the emotions shrouded behind a bad-ass bat suit, and psychotically applied white make-up. This summer has now seen three phenomenal comic book-based films in which the first 2 started the trend and the 3rd and most spectacular broke the mold. It seems that The Dark Knight has ushered in the era of Oscar-buzz worthy chatter amongst previously lighter fare.
It took me 2 days to finally post because the movie had so many story arcs that it took that long for me to process. That’s not to say that there were too many plot lines, its just an observation that no comic book movie has ever bitten off more than its ADHD riddled fanboys can chew at once (hence all the sequels). Where Batman Begins revitalized a tired franchise, The Dark Knight revitalized a tiring genre.
It’s an understatement to say Heath Ledger was superb as the Joker. Once the final credits rolled, and the Joker had already exited stage left, it was apparent that all the other players including a solid Bale, Aaron Eckhardt, Maggie Gyllenhall, and Gary Oldman among others, were simply a big name supporting cast to true work of acting genius. Ledger clearly had a vision in mind of what the Joker is and why he is that way. If for nothing else, this movie soared because of what Ledger added to it. Jack Nicholson…stick to Boston-based mob movies…because you just got out played.
The two scenes that stood out most were when Ledger and Bale are face to face in rather quiet and alone situations. I started to forget that the Joker was wearing ridiculous face paint and began to see him as a deranged criminal, with an ominous past, which I couldn’t even imagine, that would set him off the straight and narrow so far. He became a psychotic murderer the likes of which hasn’t been seen on the big screen since the aforementioned Nicholson in the Shining.
I’m going to use the old >I<score system for this one because it’s all too confusing as of yet.
![[del.icio.us]](http://iconogeek.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://iconogeek.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Google]](http://iconogeek.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://iconogeek.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Windows Live]](http://iconogeek.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/windowslive.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://iconogeek.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://iconogeek.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
Loading ...
I have heard nothing but good things about this film so far and look forward to seeing it, maybe Tuesday. However, my question is slightly off topic. Since you claim to have a love for all things Batman, I figured you may be the person to ask. I was looking at the DVD of the complete series of “Birds of prey”, and was wondering if it was worth getting. Have you seen it, and if so, is it worth me picking up? I am a fan of the Batman mythology myself. It was cancelled after just 13 episodes so I was thinking it probably sucked, but The Black Donnellys only lasted 13 episodes and I loved that show. What were your thoughts?
Just got back from the movie, and Brett is right, there is a lot to process. There are a few things that I am sure of though. One is that Ledgers Joker lives up to all the hype. He was awesome. Two is the look of two-face was equally as awesome. Three is that Maggie Gyllenhaal is just a flat out unatractive woman. To go from Katie Holmes to her is a major downgrade.
First impression is that I liked it a lot. It will take a couple days and maybe another viewing to tell if I loved it.
One thing did surprise me a bit. First Batman sets up his very own window to the world to listen in on all of gothems phone calls, then towards the end he spins some world class propabanda about Dent. I had no idea he was a republican.
Just a joke, not trying to go political on here.
Quick thing to add.
Don’t wait until the end of the credits, there are no extras after they are over.
You can thank me for saving you the extra 5mins and perhaps the traffic outside the movie theater parking lot.
Good looking out on the TwoFace make up, Chuck pointed that out during the movie that he looked like he’s supposed to, and not as cartoony as you’d expect.
I don’t know about Bird’s of Prey, I know that it involves Batman’s daughter and a paralyzed from the waist down Batgirl, but other than that, I’m not sure about the show. I’m sure far worse shows have lasted longer, or are still running, and far better shows have been shut down pre-maturely (ahem* Arrested Development)
I went ahead and picked it up. Its not very good. Not so bad that I wont watch the rest of the episodes. ( I have watched the first 3) But if I had Doc Browns Delorean, I would not buy it.
Thing is, it is a great concept, and as you watch it you can see how it could be so much better. Its a shame.
If they just tried to make a good show based on the Batman mythology, instead of taking a few Batman characters and trying to make the X-Men out of it, it might have been a nice idea. At least the chicks are hot.