The Dark Knight
>> Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Batman and Gordon find alliance with a newly appointed DA Harvey Dent to stop a vicious killer with a warped sense of humor known only as The Joker, a threat to both the good, and the evil of Gotham City.
Directed by: Christopher Nolan.
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman.
<< "You see, madness is like gravity, all it takes is a little...push" >>
The Dark Knight continues the legacy of Batman. Based a year after his encounter with Ra's Al Ghul and his thugs, the streets remain the same and Batman continues to do what he can with the help of newly appointed Commissioner, Jim Gordon and Gotham's new D.A, Harvey Dent. Before long a menacing madman called the Joker introduces something into Gotham that no one would have ever expected.
This is no doubt the hundredth review you have read on this film, massively hyped for years by fans and recently by the general public, reviews have been pouring in by the bucket load...my review is simply just a reminder, from both an obsessed fan and a general moviegoer, that this film is beyond anyone's expectations, especially mine and that it simply...is...masterful.
Everything about the first film is simply raised in level here, both in quality, complexity and story; everything seems to be in a new direction, yet never forgetting what made Begins so great and simply growing around it. Christopher Nolan has always been one of my favorite directors and he has simply dazzled me once again on all cinematic levels. To many it might appear flashy that he has taken hold of the newest technology for the film with IMAX cameras etc and in the wrong hands it would have just been for show, but Nolan is god behind these cameras and the sweeping, epic scope is deftly handled and perfectly assured, the man is long overdue to be recognized more...and Wally Pfeister once again, dazzles with his thoughtful tone on this epic scale, it adds such a lovely feel and broadens Gotham's seemingly normal first look and the ever dark atmosphere growing underneath.
The Nolan brother's screenplay is simply remarkable and again, 'beyond' everything I expected from the film. I was one of the men who knew the film was going to be more than just a Batman film, the footage I saw showed it, the dialogue I heard rang true of it and the mythology and the psychology was both there for them to pick at...and as I am no doubt repeating in this review, it's more than you would ever expect. In Batman 89, the problem that fell on it was the fact that the storytelling was lax and extremely second-rate, where the Joker became a first rate character in a showman fashion while Batman, who simply became third rate, seemed to cower in a corner, with very little to tell. Begins proved that Batman and Bruce Wayne can both equally be powerful forces and complex humans and faces as the basic psychology of the large mythology showed us and TDK continues that power by delving that much deeper into the complexities of human emotions and morals. Morally complex from every angle, its one hell of a raging pathos of real persona's all colliding at every turn, it keeps everything thoughtful, deep, intense and ever so exciting...and not to mention it's also a perfect crime saga, even under the superhero cover, which many will see it as. Each character is given special treatment and in one word, a 'soul'. Bruce Wayne must now face the facts that his vengeful and pretentious *masks* ultimately are blocking the relationship with his love Rachael and now being with another man, Harvey Dent, seen as the 'White Knight' of Gotham who is Gotham's DA, its harder when he is basically the challenge, he's a man doing exactly what he is doing, but as a man without a mask who is ridding the streets of Gotham of its criminals. Batman has to make that choice on where he stands in Gotham and where exactly his morals have taken him, especially when revenge, the one thing he has pushed himself away from doing, lingers so close. That there is the simplistic overview of the films elements, it delves so much deeper. The Joker is also is never given a major origin story nor is he ever shown where he lies, away from all the grand spectacles he creates...and thank god for that, because the direction of Nolan's vision didn't need it. He's unrelenting, mysterious, among many other things much like Batman yet so self destructive and simply one hell of a scary, menacing clown that promises anarchy and chaos...and that he delivers.
I can't go on without mentioning something highly under-looked in films...the score. It is the first soundtrack I would have ever bothered to sit down and listen to throughout and for good reason. Its a rich force that blends beautifully with the complexities of the films morals and emotions, beautifully adding richness to every epic scene on screen, its up there as one of the greatest pieces of music I've heard that can add so much to the moving image, each note shows each character perfectly.
You all knew I was getting to this...the performances. Christian Bale once again proves to be the greatest mix put on screen for these characters and has settled in nicely. As Bruce Wayne, he continues to show the charming and cheeky wit around the way he is seen in city, yet he remains so human, dark, and troubled and battles the strong emotions with others as we all do. Aaron Eckhart simply blew me away, especially when everyone is going in for Heath. He's perfect...there I said it and easily blows Tommy Lee off the face (no pun intended) of the earth. He's got the perfect charisma to play this all American man as D.A of a major city and really is a nice threat for Bruce in his personal life, because he is not only similar in statue as the force of Gotham, but he has won Rachael over...and when Harvey changes into who he is destined to become, Aaron is scary as hell and really compelling and chilling. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a great replacement for Katie Holms. However I really liked Katie Holmes in the first movie, too bad she couldn't do the movie this time. Maggie is given much more to work with this time around and she blends in just well, showing an intimidating streak where need as her character should....AND of course Heath Ledger. What more can I say that no one has already said? Many still believe a posthumous Oscar win would be a sympathy vote; the truth is, if anyone said that, they deserve no audience, nor an opinion. If the man was still alive today, he would wipe the field for what is quite possibly the greatest villain to ever grace celluloid...and that will be argued. Equally unexpected and expecting, his performance as the Joker will stand for a lifetime. Sure Cesar and Jack will always have a face for Joker as the showman side of the character, but Heath is the dark side everyone knows from a 50+ year old character. Charismatic, dark, edgy and scary as all fucking hell, he breezes into every scene easily stealing it and delivering something so intense, so unexpected, yet so real. It's a performance to be remembered by someone who died so suddenly and whether or not he wins the truly deserved Oscar, he's already in the hall of fame in my eyes.
The Dark Knight is almost a masterpiece. Moral complex, beautifully captured, deftly controlled, greatly performed...all the elements I look for in a film, put to near perfection. I still can't say that the film is 'flawless' and I ain't going to nitpick at what those minimalistic flaws are, but The Dark Knight deserves the praise for standing on a parallel line to perfection...a film so deserving of everything it gets and a film of such exquisite quality and the fact that it somehow managed to beat my insane expectations, it comes so daringly close for me...as perfect.
<< "You truly are incorruptible, aren't you? You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness...and I won't kill you because your just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever." >>
Directed by: Christopher Nolan.
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman.
<< "You see, madness is like gravity, all it takes is a little...push" >>
The Dark Knight continues the legacy of Batman. Based a year after his encounter with Ra's Al Ghul and his thugs, the streets remain the same and Batman continues to do what he can with the help of newly appointed Commissioner, Jim Gordon and Gotham's new D.A, Harvey Dent. Before long a menacing madman called the Joker introduces something into Gotham that no one would have ever expected.
This is no doubt the hundredth review you have read on this film, massively hyped for years by fans and recently by the general public, reviews have been pouring in by the bucket load...my review is simply just a reminder, from both an obsessed fan and a general moviegoer, that this film is beyond anyone's expectations, especially mine and that it simply...is...masterful.
Everything about the first film is simply raised in level here, both in quality, complexity and story; everything seems to be in a new direction, yet never forgetting what made Begins so great and simply growing around it. Christopher Nolan has always been one of my favorite directors and he has simply dazzled me once again on all cinematic levels. To many it might appear flashy that he has taken hold of the newest technology for the film with IMAX cameras etc and in the wrong hands it would have just been for show, but Nolan is god behind these cameras and the sweeping, epic scope is deftly handled and perfectly assured, the man is long overdue to be recognized more...and Wally Pfeister once again, dazzles with his thoughtful tone on this epic scale, it adds such a lovely feel and broadens Gotham's seemingly normal first look and the ever dark atmosphere growing underneath.
The Nolan brother's screenplay is simply remarkable and again, 'beyond' everything I expected from the film. I was one of the men who knew the film was going to be more than just a Batman film, the footage I saw showed it, the dialogue I heard rang true of it and the mythology and the psychology was both there for them to pick at...and as I am no doubt repeating in this review, it's more than you would ever expect. In Batman 89, the problem that fell on it was the fact that the storytelling was lax and extremely second-rate, where the Joker became a first rate character in a showman fashion while Batman, who simply became third rate, seemed to cower in a corner, with very little to tell. Begins proved that Batman and Bruce Wayne can both equally be powerful forces and complex humans and faces as the basic psychology of the large mythology showed us and TDK continues that power by delving that much deeper into the complexities of human emotions and morals. Morally complex from every angle, its one hell of a raging pathos of real persona's all colliding at every turn, it keeps everything thoughtful, deep, intense and ever so exciting...and not to mention it's also a perfect crime saga, even under the superhero cover, which many will see it as. Each character is given special treatment and in one word, a 'soul'. Bruce Wayne must now face the facts that his vengeful and pretentious *masks* ultimately are blocking the relationship with his love Rachael and now being with another man, Harvey Dent, seen as the 'White Knight' of Gotham who is Gotham's DA, its harder when he is basically the challenge, he's a man doing exactly what he is doing, but as a man without a mask who is ridding the streets of Gotham of its criminals. Batman has to make that choice on where he stands in Gotham and where exactly his morals have taken him, especially when revenge, the one thing he has pushed himself away from doing, lingers so close. That there is the simplistic overview of the films elements, it delves so much deeper. The Joker is also is never given a major origin story nor is he ever shown where he lies, away from all the grand spectacles he creates...and thank god for that, because the direction of Nolan's vision didn't need it. He's unrelenting, mysterious, among many other things much like Batman yet so self destructive and simply one hell of a scary, menacing clown that promises anarchy and chaos...and that he delivers.
I can't go on without mentioning something highly under-looked in films...the score. It is the first soundtrack I would have ever bothered to sit down and listen to throughout and for good reason. Its a rich force that blends beautifully with the complexities of the films morals and emotions, beautifully adding richness to every epic scene on screen, its up there as one of the greatest pieces of music I've heard that can add so much to the moving image, each note shows each character perfectly.
You all knew I was getting to this...the performances. Christian Bale once again proves to be the greatest mix put on screen for these characters and has settled in nicely. As Bruce Wayne, he continues to show the charming and cheeky wit around the way he is seen in city, yet he remains so human, dark, and troubled and battles the strong emotions with others as we all do. Aaron Eckhart simply blew me away, especially when everyone is going in for Heath. He's perfect...there I said it and easily blows Tommy Lee off the face (no pun intended) of the earth. He's got the perfect charisma to play this all American man as D.A of a major city and really is a nice threat for Bruce in his personal life, because he is not only similar in statue as the force of Gotham, but he has won Rachael over...and when Harvey changes into who he is destined to become, Aaron is scary as hell and really compelling and chilling. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a great replacement for Katie Holms. However I really liked Katie Holmes in the first movie, too bad she couldn't do the movie this time. Maggie is given much more to work with this time around and she blends in just well, showing an intimidating streak where need as her character should....AND of course Heath Ledger. What more can I say that no one has already said? Many still believe a posthumous Oscar win would be a sympathy vote; the truth is, if anyone said that, they deserve no audience, nor an opinion. If the man was still alive today, he would wipe the field for what is quite possibly the greatest villain to ever grace celluloid...and that will be argued. Equally unexpected and expecting, his performance as the Joker will stand for a lifetime. Sure Cesar and Jack will always have a face for Joker as the showman side of the character, but Heath is the dark side everyone knows from a 50+ year old character. Charismatic, dark, edgy and scary as all fucking hell, he breezes into every scene easily stealing it and delivering something so intense, so unexpected, yet so real. It's a performance to be remembered by someone who died so suddenly and whether or not he wins the truly deserved Oscar, he's already in the hall of fame in my eyes.
The Dark Knight is almost a masterpiece. Moral complex, beautifully captured, deftly controlled, greatly performed...all the elements I look for in a film, put to near perfection. I still can't say that the film is 'flawless' and I ain't going to nitpick at what those minimalistic flaws are, but The Dark Knight deserves the praise for standing on a parallel line to perfection...a film so deserving of everything it gets and a film of such exquisite quality and the fact that it somehow managed to beat my insane expectations, it comes so daringly close for me...as perfect.
<< "You truly are incorruptible, aren't you? You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness...and I won't kill you because your just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever." >>
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