The Dark Knight

[Chimpcheng]

After the disastrous and ill-advised 'Batman and Robin' in 1997 it looked like the Batman franchise had ground to a halt, that was until 2005 when Christopher Nolan rebooted the series with the gritty year zero 'Batman Begins'.

I absolutely loved 'Batman Begins' and until today it was THE Batman film to see, that was until today when I filed into a packed auditorium to see 'The Dark Knight'.

'The Dark Knight' is nothing short of brilliant!

The movie has a supremely dirty and gritty edge giving Batman a proper grounding in reality. The character is just as he should be - a man on the edge, a man walking the grey area between good and evil, a violent nut job in short. :D

The movie is brimming with fantastic scenes with Batman leaping and gliding from buildings, fighting bad guys in Hong Kong, the creation and morality battle of Harvey 'Two Face' Dent, the car, the bike, Alfred and of course those 'wonderful little toys'. :D

However, the true revelation of this movie is Heath Ledger. There was always going to be comparisons between his take on the Joker and that of Jack Nicholson in 'Batman'. Ledger, for me, wins hands down. You truly believe that his Joker, an immensely psychotic terrorist, is capable of killing without remorse or pity.

I did have my doubts about Ledger as I only really know him from 'A Knight's Tale', but he is the true star of this film and his Joker provides the perfect counterpoint to Bale's Batman, who you believe could easily have turned out like the Joker in another life.

I simply cannot rave about this movie enough!

From the camp irrelevance of the 1960s top Tim Burton's gothic fairy tale to Nolan's gritty reality of vigilantes and terrorism there is a Batman for all tastes.

For me, Christopher Nolan's epic vision is the one that matters.

5/5 stars.

[Matt B]

The best film I've seen in a long time. I really enjoyed Batman begins, but found this much easier to get into. I hope it also has the same hidden depths.

In fact I am almost tempted to go and see it again some time this week (or perhaps next when it's less busy!). It will certainly be in the DVD collection on day of release!

[tom pain]

The Dark Knight is one of those films that, immediately after watching, I was like "yeah wasn't bad. Pretty good."

The more I think about it after though the better it gets. I think on my second viewing I will get a better appreciation for it (I think initially the 2.5 hour running time made it feel like a bit of a drag).

And with regards to Heath Ledger's performance, I think it was an awesome. Jack Nicholsons was good, but it was the little touches that Heath added to the character that make it a brilliant performances. I haven't seen any other strong contenders for Best Supporting Actor this year so far, but it would take something really special to deny him a posthumous win.


5/5

[Matt B]

According to Amazon.co.uk this is out on DVD 8th Dec '08. Christmas present me thinks! If i can wait half a month! Not one to miss at the cinema though.

[Anth]

I know I've commented on the other thread but I'll put a full review here now. As its a new film though, its going in spoilers.

What an awesome film! The three main characters (Bruce Wayne/Batman, Harvey Dent and Joker) are played equally brilliantly with Michael Caine being on form with the little quips that add a bit of humour to the film.

I wont comment on Christian Bale as most people will do that for me, but Ledger plays Joker spot on for me. He isn't just a "clown gone mad", he truly is a psychopath. The bank job at the beginning shows just how mad he can be ("No, I kill the bus driver...") and the jacket full of hand grenades is brilliant :D

I'd read on some sites that they'd cut part of the film where Joker hides in a body bag due to Ledger's subsequent death, but its just another example of how screwed up Joker really is, especially the following fight for a job.

The press has been focusing on Ledger but they've missed a brilliant performance by Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent. The unhinging of him and his downfall from city saviour to "chance murderer" was done perfectly.

Bit that got me laughing most was when Joker's detonator didn't work right when blowing up the hospital, leaving him hitting it to get the big boom :D

As a big fan of Blues Brothers, I enjoyed the chase/battle on Lower Wacker Drive, Chicago (where Gotham is filmed) too - including the flipping truck.
All in all, an awesome movie that deserves the full 5/5.

Oh, and Chimp, why weren't you there on opening day like the comic-fan that you are?! :p :D

[dormindo]

Best Batman film thus far! As stated above, Ledger's Joker was an excellent interpretation. I gave 5 stars in the poll but I would probably in reality give 4.5 because I always like to leave room for improvement (though not sure what they would improve).

paz,

dormindo

[Schmeag]

Not much else to add. There were so many great performances, though Ledger's Joker is by far the most memorable. The plot seemed to follow a decently logical train of thought (especially with a deranged loony like the Joker in it) and the philosophical questions that the film poses added a lot of depth to the film. I particularly liked the Joker's social experiment regarding the instinctual nature of human beings. 5/5

[Chimpcheng]

I particularly liked the Joker's social experiment regarding the instinctual nature of human beings. 5/5

Now THAT entire scene was awesome and really made me think. Would I be able to push the button in the same situation, especially with the extra stress of time..? Brilliant, simply brilliant.

I have to agree with Anth's assessment, although everyone will rave (and rightly so) over Ledger's psychotic performance, Aaron Eckhart deserves praise for his portrayal of Harvey "Two Face" Dent.

It's a long film, but you don't feel it, it zips along at a relatively snappy pace and leaves you wanting more.

I cannot wait to see what Nolan has in store in the next installment.

[Matt B]

Who would Nolan pick as the next baddie? I'm no Batman expert, but i think he made up the guys in the first film (right?) so i guess he could almost do as he liked. The Penguin would be interesting, as would the Riddler but you'd want to make them as good as character as the Joker but not the same character. So long as it's not Mr Freeze!

[Just Guess]

Who would Nolan pick as the next baddie?... So long as it's not Mr Freeze!
Oh come on, don't be that way. A well done Mr. Freeze is actually one of Batman's better villains. He's a ruthless monster, but you can sympathize with him.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4VfVTWGwLFo

[Anth]

I agree with Schmeag and Chimp about the social experiment scene that went down to the wire. You really don't know what the big criminal will do when he says he's going to do something the guard should have done.

I'm not much of a comic fan so I'll leave it to the "more qualified" to speculate about baddies for any sequel, but it goes without saying that there will be one after how much Dark Knight has made already!

[Cait]

Who would Nolan pick as the next baddie? I'm no Batman expert, but i think he made up the guys in the first film (right?) Actually, no. Ra's al Ghul was one of the original baddies from the comics (intro'd in #232 in 1971). More props for Christopher Nolan for finding him, and leads me to hope for an even better set of baddies for the next one!

More on topic, I loved the film. But I don't really have anything to add that others haven't already said :D

[TheCount]

The film was immense but I'm not sure I was wowed by it... I don't know why. The Joker waqs very very well played... dunno why they killed off two face though.

[Doppleganger]

Who would Nolan pick as the next baddie? I'm no Batman expert, but i think he made up the guys in the first film (right?)
The Scarecrow too was a traditional Batman baddie, I think he was going to be in the next planned movie after Batman & Robin called 'Batman Triumphant', which luckily got canned.

I thought the movie was excellent but it's definitely one of these films that you need to see more than once to pick up all the little details. Like Batman Begins it has a great ending that sets things up for the next movie. There's no guarantee that Christopher Nolan will direct the 3rd movie but I hope for the love of all that's holy that he does.

Batgirl might be in the next movie too. :banana:

[Tatsumaru]

Just got back from the cinema and i thought that was absolutely amazing. The social experiment scene a few people mentioned previously was brilliant, i really did feel the tension right up to the last second. As everyone else already said, the joker was an incredible character and performance and harvey was also superb. In any other movie aaron eckharts performance would have probably overshadowed the other characters, its a tribute to the strength of all the performances in this movie that he doesn't outshine everyone with that role.

I heard a couple of people complain about the length of the film on the way out but almost everybody was clearly scoring it highly anyway and at no point in the film did i personally feel like there was filler scenes or anything of that sort. It's 2 and a half hours but its all quality!

[Chimpcheng]

I'm seeing it again this weekend, it's THAT good.

It got me thinking, Christian Bale is fantastic Batman so much so that you can't help but think is Batman Bruce Wayne's alter ego or is it the other way round?

Is it Bruce Wayne who is the secret identity and Batman is who he really is? If you get me? :confused:

Edit: I read somewhere, I can't remember where, but, apparently, Nolan doesn't want to touch 'The Penguin' as he doesn't feel it's in keeping with 'his' Batman universe...

[dormindo]

Edit: I read somewhere, I can't remember where, but, apparently, Nolan doesn't want to touch 'The Penguin' as he doesn't feel it's in keeping with 'his' Batman universe...

Probably for the best in my opinion. This series of Batman films seems a little more grounded and I think that the Penguin doesn't really fit. Nor would I want to see Mr. Freeze (plus, just thinking of Mr. Freeze gives me nightmares about that George Clooney garbage film) or Killer Croc. I think that the Riddler, Catwoman or the Ventriloquist could work, though. By the way, I loved Ra's al Ghul in the first film, but thought that the Scarecrow was very weak.

paz,

dormindo

[tom pain]

Edit: I read somewhere, I can't remember where, but, apparently, Nolan doesn't want to touch 'The Penguin' as he doesn't feel it's in keeping with 'his' Batman universe...

Plus the only person short enough for the role is....Danny DeVito again!

[Gary]

Finally got to see this, it was worth the wait! I really enjoyed this one for many of the reasons above, I loved the Two-face story and of course The Joker was my favourite incarnation yet, portrayed as creepy and twisted instead of comical. Ironically he reminded me of Jack Nicholson in The Shining.

Christopher Nolan is playing these out well, I'm looking forward to the 3rd film now that Batman's a hunted fugitive and Christian Bale's character is great, you can see his persona turning into Batman and Bruce Wayne becoming his mask.

I'm even starting to think Christopher Nolan could do a decent version of Bane without making him a dumb pro-wrestler :bang:

Roll-on Batman: Knightfall :D

[Mushroom]

Watched it today....as most people know, I'm an open geek. (my sig says it all) but due to work I had to wait to watch it. Deliberatly watched the 10am showing cos I didnt want to be surrounded by morons who cant keep their mouth/phones shut.

Absolutely loved it...very hard to put onto paper what I want to say.

Couple of notes...Bale recently did an interview on MyspaceTV saying he has no interest in bringing in Robin. And also from the Trivia pages of IMDB.com. It stated that Nolan had no interest in doing a Penguin. Deeming him too "unrealistic"

[Matt B]

Very much agree with the sentiments about Batman/Bruce Wayne being the true persona. I think it's evident over the first two films that there is a transition taking place.

Ledger's Joker also reminded me of Brand Lee's character in The Crow. But i'm not sure why. Perhaps the bad alter ego of the Crow?!

I'm not a big Batman fan so only know the characters that have graced each of the films. I can see what Nolan is suggesting about realism. I think that's what he has tried to add a touch of to this film (e.g. the Batmobile looking like a tank crossed with a 4x4 rather than a super car that can jump buildings). The Riddler would be good, but perhaps you don't want another character who is simply criminally insane?

[old palden]

Best Batman ever.

Next up-----

Gotta be Catwoman.

[carlos]

5 stars from me. Excellent film!

[Iron Palm]

I must say Heath Ledgers performance really lived up to all the hype. I really liked his joker. He was amusing without the sort of stupid slapstick humour delivered by Nicholson's Joker in the other batman film (water squirting from a flower?!?! come on...) fitting in with the whole dark nature of the film... i love when he makes the pen "disappear" :)


Who would Nolan pick as the next baddie? ...... So long as it's not Mr Freeze!


As for the next baddie i think i heard something about Johnny Depp being in mind to play Riddler in the next film... but i dunno if anything is definite yet.

What would be your opinions on bringing back Robin into this series... I really think they should stay away from it... it would wreck the atmosphere created by the first two films

[carlos]

Could someone tell me why, if you were going to shoot at the batmobile, you would shoot at the bulletproof glass/body? Why not aim at the enormous, bulbous tyres?

[tom pain]

He was amusing without the sort of stupid slapstick humour delivered by Nicholson's Joker in the other batman film (water squirting from a flower?!?! come on...) fitting in with the whole dark nature of the film.

That's the whole thing - in the previous Batman the Joker was more light-hearted whilst still being evil.

As you said yourself, this film is darker.

Jack Nicholson's performance was perfect for that film. Heath Ledger's was perfect for this film.

[fifthchamber]

Bloody brilliant film..Great performances from all I thought..Ledger truly outstanding as the Joker, easily the best role of his (too short) life, but Bale was outstanding again..A great role and a perfect pitch...

Two Face was perfect as well, and I agree, perhaps the death was a touch too early..But who knows?I trust Nolan with the series...

As for who next?Penguin would be sick if Nolan worked him in the same dark sense as he has the last two films...There's a lot of material to go through there..

And since Catwoman makes an appearance in the Loeb comics that Nolan has been loosely following it would work for her to come in against the Mob..Perhaps..Hush?Would make a cool enemy to fight against...But maybe too early to really flesh the story out for the film?

I think the Riddler would be good if done well..But everytime he comes up I get stuck with Jim Carrey sadly....Not a good sticking point..

Penguin is my bet...