The REAL Dark Knight
“I’m crazy for tryin’
Crazy for cryin’”
--Patsy Cline, from the song “Crazy.”
I will not ruin this for anyone who has yet to see it; but The Dark Knight was incredible.
It had an incredible story with plenty of twists and turns that will keep the viewer guessing.
The acting was top rate as Christian Bale plays a convincing Batman/Bruce Wayne. He is very much captured the essence of the comic character. So much has been said of Heath Ledger’s Joker that all I will say is that every positive word of it is true. He is mesmerizing as the Joker. I thought the best acting in the film was displayed by Aaron Eckhardt as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. This was a very gritty and capturing performance. Michael Caine returns as Alfred as does Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox and Gary Oldman as newly crowned Commissioner Gordon. All were perfect, but Oldman was just so good. The new Rachel Dawes played by Maggie Gyllenhaal was weak to be honest; but that is more my problem as they invented a character three years ago that was never in the comics. Cillian Murphy even has a brief return as Scarecrow to keep some sort of continuity involved in the Batman’s storylines.
Michael Anthony Hall has a decent part, but watch a party scene as politician Patrick Leahy has a talking bit part. No seriously, and I noticed it right off the bat (pun intended). Kind of an odd thing in this movie, but whatever.
What I liked the most was as soon as one figured the movie out, another plot change came that had the viewer guessing what would happen next. The plot twists play into the mind of a psychotic/schizophrenic Joker. To outwit him, Batman and the police had to start thinking like him. Harvey’s best pre-Two-Face line was “You either die a hero or you live long enough to become a villain” and that is the theme of the film. Duality, schizophrenia, and isolation capture this film in the form of Two-Face, Joker, and Gordon: and all are realized by Batman. This was a tightly written script that pays homage to the darker side of the Batman Comic Mythos. This was not a little kid’s version of Batman. This is the dark and grisly Batman that I think the character has evolved into being.
Now if only the writers of the comics could figure this one out.
Great comic insider one-liners are given for the fans mostly by Caine and Freeman, but it peaks the interests of the comic geeks in the crowd. I loved them.
There was also an incredible preview for The Watchmen. Holy cow, does that look great. Next March, I am so there.
In a recent interview, Bale said he will not play Batman if the writers decide to bring in a Robin. I think he wants to avoid the TV show campiness; but after this movie, there probably will not be a Robin.
And for the record (SPOILER ALERT DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU VIEW THE FILM) this movie very much opens the door for The Dark Knight Returns comic book type of story.
Go watch it now.
--Patsy Cline, from the song “Crazy.”
I will not ruin this for anyone who has yet to see it; but The Dark Knight was incredible.
It had an incredible story with plenty of twists and turns that will keep the viewer guessing.
The acting was top rate as Christian Bale plays a convincing Batman/Bruce Wayne. He is very much captured the essence of the comic character. So much has been said of Heath Ledger’s Joker that all I will say is that every positive word of it is true. He is mesmerizing as the Joker. I thought the best acting in the film was displayed by Aaron Eckhardt as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. This was a very gritty and capturing performance. Michael Caine returns as Alfred as does Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox and Gary Oldman as newly crowned Commissioner Gordon. All were perfect, but Oldman was just so good. The new Rachel Dawes played by Maggie Gyllenhaal was weak to be honest; but that is more my problem as they invented a character three years ago that was never in the comics. Cillian Murphy even has a brief return as Scarecrow to keep some sort of continuity involved in the Batman’s storylines.
Michael Anthony Hall has a decent part, but watch a party scene as politician Patrick Leahy has a talking bit part. No seriously, and I noticed it right off the bat (pun intended). Kind of an odd thing in this movie, but whatever.
What I liked the most was as soon as one figured the movie out, another plot change came that had the viewer guessing what would happen next. The plot twists play into the mind of a psychotic/schizophrenic Joker. To outwit him, Batman and the police had to start thinking like him. Harvey’s best pre-Two-Face line was “You either die a hero or you live long enough to become a villain” and that is the theme of the film. Duality, schizophrenia, and isolation capture this film in the form of Two-Face, Joker, and Gordon: and all are realized by Batman. This was a tightly written script that pays homage to the darker side of the Batman Comic Mythos. This was not a little kid’s version of Batman. This is the dark and grisly Batman that I think the character has evolved into being.
Now if only the writers of the comics could figure this one out.
Great comic insider one-liners are given for the fans mostly by Caine and Freeman, but it peaks the interests of the comic geeks in the crowd. I loved them.
There was also an incredible preview for The Watchmen. Holy cow, does that look great. Next March, I am so there.
In a recent interview, Bale said he will not play Batman if the writers decide to bring in a Robin. I think he wants to avoid the TV show campiness; but after this movie, there probably will not be a Robin.
And for the record (SPOILER ALERT DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU VIEW THE FILM) this movie very much opens the door for The Dark Knight Returns comic book type of story.
Go watch it now.
posted by Eric Sweetwood at 3:53 PM
7 Comments:
I look forward to seeing the film :-)
Eric,
Thanks for the review. I haven't seen the movie yet but will soon.
I find it interesting that nearly all the male leads are British or Australian. They hide their native accents quite well.
I wonder if Brits/Aussies are getting the plum roles because they ARE actors and not celebrities like so many of our American dudes. They are willing to stretch themselves in their roles and then become rather normal types off-screen.
Lou
Graycrow is from Ireland (home of the finest of beers, I think) and I was wondering when the film opens there. Lou is Irish and having been to Ireland (again mighty tasty beers) and she knows a good film when she sees it. She also is more than well aware of my compulsion for all things Batman related.
As far as I know, the film is opening this coming weekend.
Thanks graycrow for the reliable timeline or timeframe. Enjoythe movie and please tell me what you think.
I will Eric, on both counts.
Eric,
Patrick Leahy is a huge fan of Batman. Here is a great article from the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/12/washington/12leahy.html
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