The Dark Knight

POSTED BY: singate
UPDATED: Sunday, August 10, 2008 07:20
VIEWED: 11395
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SINGATE

Sunday, July 20, 2008 11:58 PM

This may be the best picture of the year. That being said I'm sure the stigma of sci-fi/comic films will prevent it from being nominated much less winning any actual awards. I know a lot of people are sounding off about Ledger possibly getting a posthomous Oscar nomination, and he did a fine job, but that would be a disservice to the rest of the cast. This may be the best ensemble performance since the first two Godfather movies. There is not a weak link in the entire film.

It is very hard to classify this picture. It isn't really a comic book movie. It contains elements of the classic crime story, psychological thriller, and of course action. It reminds me a lot of the old epic films such as The Ten Commandments or Spartacus. Not in content but in the fact that it tells a massive and lengthy story which could have easily been broken into several films.

Some of my favorite moments from the film:

Select to view spoiler:

Batman/Joker showdown in the street, concluding with Gordan putting a gun to the Joker's head.

Gordan and Batman seperately interrogate the Joker.

Dent talking to Rachel as Batman breaks in to save him, condemning her to death.

The Joker makes his one legally entitled phone call.

Everytime Dent/Two Face makes use of the coin.

The final confrontation between Dent, Batman, and Gordan.

The conclusion of the film when Batman becomes what Gotham needs while allowing Dent's reputation to remain unsullied.

Do yourself a favor and see this movie.

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We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.

JADEHAND

Monday, July 21, 2008 6:12 AM

I saw it tonight. I enjoyed it, but I didn't go as gah-gah over it as others. Without having ever focused on the stories of either, I think I still enjoyed Ironman more. I agree that sci-fi/fantasy/comic-book films don't get the credit they deserve. Since this is a discussion of opinion and perspective rather than argument over who is right, I'll contribute the following:

Select to view spoiler:

1)I loved Heath Ledger's performance. He deserves praise for portraying complete psychopath well. I think NPH's performance as Dr. Horrible far exceeds HL's though.
2)Creation and destruction of a new villain with potential to carry the next film was careless.
3)I'm still conflicted over the "rightness" of the deception of the population for their own good. I mean.. isn't that what all the folk are clamoring about in various political discussions? Is it right to accept deception to avoid being kept from the truth? (that makes no sense). accepting one set of lies to avoid others doesn't though. "Revolution Calling". no more 'lesser of evils'.

"It's all so clear. We can see the madness perfectly from here." - Asylum Satellite 1 - Happiness is the Road - Marillion

SINGATE

Monday, July 21, 2008 7:28 AM

Select to view spoiler:

While I do agree that killing Dent would be a waste I have read some conflicting information regarding his apparent demise. He may still return for another film.

Your final point is quite valid. Given what happens near the end with the 2 ferries it seems a little odd that Gordan and Bats would choose to deceive the public. Since the populace failed to "eat each other" as the Joker surmised, why would they be unable to handle the truth about Dent? Though it is a bit perplexing I really do enjoy Batman becomming what Gotham (apparently)needs him to be.

_________________________________________________

We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.

BLUESUNCOMPANYMAN

Monday, July 21, 2008 5:56 PM

"For my next trick, I'm going to make this pencil dissapear......"

To me, that scene was pure Joker. So very Chaotic/goofy/evil.

While that doesn't spoil much the following does:

Select to view spoiler:

The part of the film that isn't getting enough credit is the bank heist opening. The Joker truely doesn't care about his own life and the bank heist proves it. At the end when the final thug makes like he's going to kill his companion(Joker) I love the way the camera gives us a top-down view while the Joker and the thug circle each other before Heath says "I'm supposed to kill the bus driver". I LOVE that scene. And the final bit of the heist is like a cherry on top. He puts what we expect is an incendary grenade in the mouth of the Bank Manager and drives away thus pulling the pin. When it goes off however, we see that it's actually a PRANK in the form of a smoke bomb. That alone, was possibly the greatest demonstration of theme in the whole movie. The Joker cares nothing for the lives of others, he cares not a whit for his own, and throughout it still manages to plant a sick joke. Pure evil and chaos. That's the Joker.

Do not fear me. Our's is a peaceful race and we must live in harmony.

LWAVES

Saturday, July 26, 2008 4:11 PM

I saw this last night and found it thoroughly brilliant. As stated the whole cast never let anything down, they worked together perfectly. Heath Ledger made Jack Nicholson's Joker look like a wimp. His performance was chillingly psycho. Does he deserve an Oscar? Maybe. But if he hadn't died I don't even think he'd be considered. That may sound harsh but it's how I see it.

The action scenes were pitched just right so that they grabbed you but didn't go over the top and spoil things. The stunts and gadgets were believable for this type of movie and still added to the mystery and fear that Batman imposes on criminals.
If I had one minor quibble it would be that there may have been a bit too much moralising, but that would be about it and I'm still not sure if there was too much.

I've never liked the term 'superhero' used in conjunction with Batman and I think that can be applied to this film in the same way that 'comic book movie' can. The film isn't either. It is a serious film that should be far removed from the likes of Superman, Hulk, Ironman, Hellboy etc. Batman is a crimefighter, a vigilante or whatever you wish to call him. And as Singate rightly said this is a psychological thriller, a classic crime story, who's hero just happens to be a man in disguise. Come to that, is Batman really the hero? Surely it's Jim Gordon?

Anyway my fave moments are:

Select to view spoiler:

Fox telling the accountant "You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands. And your plan is to blackmail this person?"

The bank heist where each person has been told to kill someone.

The Joker meeting the mob. Especially the magic trick.

The Joker waiting for the final explosions at the hospital.

Batman and The Joker in the same room. Excellent stuff.

Batman doing what is needed at the end. Becoming a murderer. I could never see Superman doing that. And of course the Joker wins. What a dark ending.

There are so many other momnents I couldn't list them all.
See this film now. It is and will be film of the year.

"I don't believe in suicide, but if you'd like to try it it might cheer me up to watch."

PLATONIST

Saturday, July 26, 2008 4:49 PM

I saw this the other night...Brilliant on all accounts, an ensemble cast worthy of Coppola and a direction highly influenced by Scorsese.

Definitely recommending for the over 13 set though, as it is very violent with adult themes.

WHOZIT

Saturday, July 26, 2008 4:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
I saw this last night and found it thoroughly brilliant. As stated the whole cast never let anything down, they worked together perfectly. Heath Ledger made Jack Nicholson's Joker look like a wimp. His performance was chillingly psycho. Does he deserve an Oscar? Maybe. But if he hadn't died I don't even think he'd be considered. That may sound harsh but it's how I see it.

The action scenes were pitched just right so that they grabbed you but didn't go over the top and spoil things. The stunts and gadgets were believable for this type of movie and still added to the mystery and fear that Batman imposes on criminals.
If I had one minor quibble it would be that there may have been a bit too much moralising, but that would be about it and I'm still not sure if there was too much.

I've never liked the term 'superhero' used in conjunction with Batman and I think that can be applied to this film in the same way that 'comic book movie' can. The film isn't either. It is a serious film that should be far removed from the likes of Superman, Hulk, Ironman, Hellboy etc. Batman is a crimefighter, a vigilante or whatever you wish to call him. And as Singate rightly said this is a psychological thriller, a classic crime story, who's hero just happens to be a man in disguise. Come to that, is Batman really the hero? Surely it's Jim Gordon?

Anyway my fave moments are:
Select to view spoiler:

Fox telling the accountant "You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands. And your plan is to blackmail this person?"

The bank heist where each person has been told to kill someone.

The Joker meeting the mob. Especially the magic trick.

The Joker waiting for the final explosions at the hospital.

Batman and The Joker in the same room. Excellent stuff.

Batman doing what is needed at the end. Becoming a murderer. I could never see Superman doing that. And of course the Joker wins. What a dark ending.

There are so many other momnents I couldn't list them all.
See this film now. It is and will be film of the year.

"I don't believe in suicide, but if you'd like to try it it might cheer me up to watch."

I do'nt think you sound harsh, many think the same thing, as a matter of fact I've heard worse.

MRBLUESUN

Saturday, July 26, 2008 4:54 PM

I saw it yesterday

Select to view spoiler:

My favourite part was when the Joker totally summed up the realtionship between him and Batman with the whole "you'll never kill me because of your morality, and i'll never kill you because you're so much fun" bit.
I also loved the the part where the Joker told two different stories for how he got his scars, but seemed completely earnest about both. It really demonstated his broken psyche.

Does anyone think that they'll make a third film? If they do (and with Ledger now sadly deceased)who would you like to take over as villain? Personally i think that they could do some interesting stuff with the Riddler, and maybe try and undue the damage done when Jim Carey butchered the role.

I may wear brown, but theres a little purple mixed in there too.

DEEPGIRL187

Saturday, July 26, 2008 6:33 PM

I saw it last Saturday. Everyone did a wonderful job, though I agree with Singate in that they'll never nominate it, and even if they do, no one will actually get the Oscar (see Lord Of The Rings for a great example of this).

Select to view spoiler:

I was particularly pleased with Aaron Eckhart, who I thought brilliantly played a man pushed over the edge.

In a way, you can divide the film's characters into three types; order (Gordon and Dent), corruption (the crooked cops and the mob), and chaos (The Joker and Batman, strangely).

I say The Joker is chaos, not corruption, because he really doesn't do what he does for personal gain. He wants to see just what people will do when pushed to their utmost limits. Batman is a force of chaos in his own way, because even though he tries to be a force for good, he refuses to use conventional methods (and frankly, they rarely work). I think what scares Batman most is not The Joker himself, but that they're really so much alike.

But then I suppose that makes sense. Batman was the only DC superhero I ever really liked, because he got to have insanity as a superpower.

**************************************************

"This is my timey-wimey detector. It goes ding when there's stuff. Also, it can boil an egg at 30 paces, whether you want it to or not, actually, so I've learned to stay away from hens. It's not pretty when they blow."

PHOENIXROSE

Saturday, July 26, 2008 6:45 PM

Loved it. Loved the speech at the end, too, because it's so true. But really, couldn't they have hung it on the Joker? Anyway, it was amazingly dark and creepy, as it should be. I need to see it again so I can be a little more coherant about it :)

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBlueSun:
If they do (and with Ledger now sadly deceased)who would you like to take over as villain?

Catwoman.

You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one.

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