The Dark Knight Review - Topic Powered by eve community

Batman The Dark Knight
Warner Bros.
PG. 13 150 min.

Well it’s now the official biggest opening in history, a record that will no doubt stand until, well, the next biggest opening in history. That in itself will draw an inordinate amount of attention, praise and scrutiny alike, and in this case, it’s probably warranted.
First of all will be the inevitable comparisons to IRON MAN or some other comic made for the big screen, but for me, that isn’t too important. I’d rather compare Batman to his cinematic and print predecessors.
There has been lots and lots of hype spearheaded by the tragic death of Heath Ledger add to the mystique.
As an actor, Ledger gets to leave the stage on a high note as one of filmdom’s great lunatics, the Joker.
I really liked this take on the Joker. In the past he’s been little more than a screwy bank robber, but Jack Nicholson gave him a savage edge and now Ledger makes him an actual psychotic; less interested in material gain than just plain sadistic madness.
That makes him unpredictable and thereby much more dangerous. Had the film been rated R I think that role could have been even better, but it would have cost millions in ticket sales to teens.
Ledger takes a good role and does a job with it. Kudos.
It’s ironic that the lead role, Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale) is the lesser of the two parts in range as well as screen time. Bale’s a fine actor but just about anyone can handle this role. Oddly enough the commissioner Gordon role isn’t a very demanding one but is filled by one of the worlds great actors, Gary Oldman and Alfred the butler by screen legend Michael Caine.
When playing Wayne, no matter how ably, an actor is required to tone it down as he preserves his secret identity, and as the Batman it’s mostly the cape and suit you see often inhabited by a stunt man.
In the DARK KNIGHT films the Wayne character has gotten a bit more notice, so Bale has more substantial work.
I was annoyed at first by the gruff voice he uses when in costume, but I figure that’s part of the disguise. Most people who talk to Batman are also friends of Wayne and the voice could be a giveaway. Then again one pair of specs fooled Lois Lane all those years.
I also like the plot device that sets up Batman as kind of a vigilante in the eyes of many.
I also like the lessened emphasis on the hero’s extraordinary abilities. Oh he’s tough all right but after all he is human. No superpowers at all so it bothers me to see too many completely impossible feats.
In past incarnations there’s been a tendency to put too many of the Caped Crusaders famed bad guys into the mix. That way we never get to spend enough time on any one super villain, and there are two here.
Here Aaron Eckhart does a fine job as Two Face, a popular DA disfigured in a life changing tragedy which leaves him unsure who is to blame. Hence the split personality. I hope that he’s not overlooked in the potpourri.
The addition of the second villain may make the film a bit long but director Chris Nolan, who also directed MEMENTO, is great at keeping a complicated plot afloat.
In summary THE DARK KNIGHT is darker, more human and less surreal than the Tim Burton films.
I’d have liked it trimmed a little bit and allowed Nolan the free hand an R rating would have given but it’s hard to argue with the cash flow.
A-

WSS

westsidesteve@aol.com

Keep drinking.
The show doesn't get any better.
www.westsidesteve.com

www.myspace.com/westsidestevemusic

Posts: 5314 | Location: Norton Ohio USA | Registered: Mon September 15 2003

Previous Topic | Next Topic

Please Wait. Your request is being processed...

[x]

Site

CLEVELAND SPORTS FORUM

Servlet

eve2da013

Version

1.2.22 build 9062

Module

Forums 4.0.3

Stylesheet

"Jingle Bells"

Wordlet Set

"Default Wordlet Set"

Logout: CLEVELAND SPORTS FORUM
Update Groupee Account

FRONT PAGE

SPORTS BOARD

WESTSIDE STEVE'S MOVIE REVIEW

The Dark Knight Review

	View $GS_USERNAME's Public Profile
	Add $GS_USERNAME to my Buddies
	Add $GS_USERNAME to my Ignore ListRemove $GS_USERNAME from my Ignore List
	Invite $GS_USERNAME to a Private Topic
	View Recent Posts by $GS_USERNAME
	Notify me of New Posts by $GS_USERNAME

Quick Reply to: The Dark Knight Review
Guest Name

Close \| Use Full Posting Form \| Quick Quote

Rate Topic