“…Some men just want to watch the world burn.”-Alfred
Over the past few weeks I have read about thirty different reviews in regards to The Dark Knight. The word that I have read numerous times is “hyperbole” and the fear of each critic to use the word in their review. Some have said The Dark Knight is the greatest superhero movie of the genre. I would like to take this moment to let those critics know how very wrong they are. The Dark Knight is not one of the greatest superhero movies ever, it is one of the great MOVIES ever to be made and will go into the annals of movie making as such. I often judge a movie on whether it is re-watchable. This movie has my money for a repeat viewings and a copy of the Blu-Ray DVD and that is saying something in this age of copycat cinema. I have heard this movie being compared to The Godfather and frankly, I agree with that statement. In The Godfather not a minute of screen time is wasted on frivolous plot angles. The Dark Knight tells its story in the same manner and it does it very effectively. It would take about five viewings for me to cram in all of the reasons why this is the “perfect” movie to hyperbolize. I won’t waste your time. Instead, I’ll break it down into segments without spoiling the plot. This is going to be difficult because the story is impeccable and deserves deeper analyzing.
THE FOCUS-This isn’t a movie about Batman, The Joker, Harvey Dent, or Rachael Dawes. This movie is about Gotham and its dysfunction. In this Gotham, people die just like in any other city. People are knifed, shot with real bullets, and the attitudes of the citizens reflect that of any major American city. In this Gotham, there are no buildings taken from brightly colored comic books. The setting is tangible and familiar. It is lived in and beaten. Gotham is a reflection of our society. It is confused when the lines become blurred and in some instances hope is fleeting even with the Batman as its self proclaimed guardian. This movie isn’t about a villain in Gotham, but villains working from the outside and inside to take the city’s pride and turn in it on itself. This is the Gotham Bruce Wayne has sworn to protect. The setting of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight is the true gem of this masterpiece.
THE JOKER- Is Heath Ledger as good as they say? He is better than they say. Ledger’s Joker deserves accolades and they would have been thrust upon him whether he was alive or not. He will get an Oscar nod and probably win. There is just no debate with his performance. His performance is the epitome of “good acting.” The amazing thing about Ledger in The Dark Knight is the script doesn’t allow him to steal the show. He doesn’t play a caricature of himself like so many other campy screen villains. This Joker is quick witted, scary, and just plain mean. He is born out of hate and the truth is there is no winning even when you have defeated him. His machinations are real and are intent on causing pain. He is the dark to the light and takes pleasure in the fact that Batman needs him. Personally, I was scared of The Joker because he has no real motives for inflicting damage. He can not be bought or bartered.
BRUCE WAYNE/BATMAN- Christian Bale’s Batman is actually the third character in his own movie. Batman is pushed to his limits several times. He is on the verge of becoming that of which he hates. Unlike any superhero before him, he must become the anti-hero without stepping over the “blurred line.” This Batman exists in our world. He isn’t invincible and is always in true danger. He is the one superhero who can be hurt and you can feel that on screen. He needs the police, politicians and his alter ego to defend the symbolism of The Dark Knight. Batman IS the people of Gotham and any villain trying to make a statement had better remember that Batman is more than man, he is a city. He is forced to make tough decisions and stick by those decisions no matter the consequences. People will die on his watch and the time to reflect on his decisions is limited. This is played with wonderful balance on screen.
HARVEY DENT- Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is the most intriguing of the three main characters. He is an ambitious DA and is truly trying to help Gotham. He realizes the toll organized crime has taken on the city. He realizes Batman is but one man and realizes that evil always lurks in the hearts of men who seek revenge. The tale of Harvey Dent is a strong story and gives real sustenance to The Dark Knight.
It has been years since I have seen a movie as good as The Dark Knight. The credit has to go to Jonathan and Christopher Nolan. Their screenplay for the reinvention of Batman is flawless. The action sequences are very organic and have the feeling of real peril. This Batman is not Adam West or Michael Keaton. He is a man with doubts, strength, and humanity. He is a representation of the struggle to be “good” in every facet of our daily lives. In essence, the Dark Knight is us. The Dark Knight is the culmination of all parts working together on screen. It is the perfect recipe for what is the perfect movie.
7 comments:
I cannot wait to see this again. My ass was thouroughly kicked by this giant of a film. No performance was underwhelming and I've got to say Maggie Gylenhall was a major improvement over Cruise's girl. Even Freeman steps up his game and great work by Caine. His story about the jewel thief and burning the forest was just poetic. Great GREAT movie!
I have not seen this yet, but I am eagerly anticipating it. I hope it lives up to all the hype, and my expectations.
Heath Ledger would not have been my first choice for the joker. When I heard Crispen Glover was up for the part, I got really excited. Then I heard Heath Ledger and I was kind of bummed, because at the time I was not a fan. However, not soon after that I saw a trio of movies that showed he had some chops. Those films are: Monsters Ball, The Brothers Grimm, and I'm Not There. I am eager to see how he is in this. I spent much of my time as sixth/seventh/eighth grader obsessed with the joker/batman dichotomy. Hell, I still am.
Truth be told, I dig most Batman adaptations on some level, no matter how cheesy.
On a somewhat related note, Today I was asked by Faft who the greatest villains of all time were. I had Vader, The Wicked Witch, and The Joker. Books can be written on the Joker. Check out his wikipedia entry...it's fucking nuts!! The only other comic book character that comes close to being AS complex to the Joker is (don't laugh)Jughead Jones from Archie Comics. Check out his wikipedia entry!
You are going to love the dynamic portrayed in this film between Batman and The Joker
i finally saw it, and therefore waited till now to read your review Dan. i definitely thought it was a well-written, well acted movie. but a masterpiece? i'm not sure. for me it was just too much. i think the first one (batman begins) is still the best. it covered so much (the origin story, raz al gul, scarecrow) so coherently so compellingly that even the OO7 stuff and the chase sequences fit in like musical sequences.
in the dark knight i felt like it was a 17 minute 70s rock song that kept circling back on itself and lost its way. all the parts of the film are great. just like each drum solo or guitar riff would be great but the sum is not greater than the parts.
maybe you're right, maybe i just need to watch it again and again. i am certainly willing to do so. i left feeling i missed something and i think all Nolan movies (memento and prestige) require a 2nd take for full effect. but to use your comparison to the Godfather films, this is like Part II. The sequel is impressive but the original is still the best.
Chris Hatton
Oh by the way, Aaron Eckhart deserves as many accolades as Ledger he was awesome.
I agree with you on some points
Chris, but I felt an emotional tie to the Joker. His need for The Batman to exist came off on screen better than I thought. He could have played a caricature of himself and it was avoided. Instead, the Joker was a complex villian equal to the talents of the Caped Crusader. I enjoyed the evolution of Alfred too.
Both Batman and the Joker are creations of a random and tragic "one bad day." Batman spends his life forging meaning from the random tragedy, whereas the Joker reflects the absurdity of "life, and all its random injustice."-Geoff Kluck
That quote sums it up for me. I'd be willing to see the IMAX version for anyone willing to go
yeah the Joker was great, the writing deserves a lot of credit for that. They purposely made him the dark anarchistic joker from the Killing Joke rather than the campy take from the TV show or even Jack Nicholson.
the characters openly discussed their yin to yang relationship and thereby dismissed all the usual gripes over why they don't just kill each other.
the joker's "wanna know how i got these scars comments" were a direct rebuttal to the original which focused more on the origin story. He is essentially saying it doesn't matter now. He is fucking nuts and that's all there is.
it's such a cool character and they did it well. same for dent. i guess i was just more impressed by Batman Begins because they made villains that i couldn't care less about seem as big and important.
Chris Hatton
Interesting to know.
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