As the best of the movie franchise re-boots over the last decade, BATMAN BEGINS differentiated itself from the rest of the pack by taking the whole Batman thing so damn seriously. It was gritty yet precise and had a roster of amazing actors (well except for Katie Holmes) who brought a gravitas to a comic book legend which made it into glorious epic cinema. The long awaited follow-up, made even more anticipated by the untimely death of Heath Ledger, is even grander with an operatic majesty that even the best superhero movies have never even gotten close to attempting. Christian Bale returns as Bruce Wayne/Batman and with the sharp focus of a heat-seeking missile proves himself, yet again as one of the most solid actors working today.
Also returning is the laconically witty Michael Caine as butler Alfred, a haggardly effective Gary Oldman as Lt. James Gordon, and Morgan Freeman as Luscious Fox who provides Batman with a new line of crime-fighting toys. It has been called an upgrade for Katie Holmes to be replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaall in the role of Rachel Dawes and I definitely agree.
Aaron Eckhart is also a new addition as Harvey Dent, a noble D.A. that Batman believes is the real saviour of Gotham City despite that he's dating the caped crusader's true love (Gyllenhaal).
As suspected, and fortold by nearly everybody on the internets, Heath Ledger steals the show as the Joker and appears to have a had a great time with the part. Ledger has a frenetic energy and unique tone to his version of the classic character that takes over every scene he's in; sometimes disturbing, sometimes funny in a sick twisted way, but always intense and compelling completely justifying the "too soon" talk of a posthumous Oscar. I'll avoid any further story description; there are so many powerful surprising plot-points that it would be a shame to spoil but the action sequences are all top notch and despite its length it never lags.
To label or consider this film just a superhero movie seems an incredible injustice for it's more aptly a crime epic that definitely is in the league of Martin Scorsese's and Michael Mann's forays into that territory. One of the most satisfying and electrifying movies of the year if not the decade, THE DARK KNIGHT doesn't just live up to its hype - it blows it away again and again.
More later...
Were you able to see it in IMAX? I'm kind of holding out for a non-sold-out IMAX showing here in Philly.
ReplyDeletekudos to the makers Dark Knight for their record breaking opening weekend... it's no wonder there's talk of another one coming out ASAP
ReplyDeleteyup great movie. really cant wait for the next one
ReplyDeleteIntense for sure. I thought it was very tightly edited without a sequence to spare. I was a little put off by the morality play with Freemans character and the eavesdropping thing. Commentary on the Bush administrations policies are deserved, but a rather easy target. So that seemed a little trite and topical for me. Although a morality play in general can't help but be topical. When are moral questions not begging to be asked?? I agree with you Dan. Definitely one of the years best! Too bad about Ledger though. We lost a modern actor with real range!! Brokeback Mountain! his portrayal of the Joker!?!? Career highlights in a much to short of a career.
ReplyDeleteShoot I just left that last comment anonymous.....
ReplyDeleteThe Dark Knight is both a brilliantly nihilistic, incredibly dark and richly layered film going experience, and a painful reminder of what the film world lost with the senseless death of Heath Ledger. It's excellent. Download this horror movie The Dark Knight from here and enjoy it.....
ReplyDeleteWhy so serious? Get it? I made a joke by typing out a line from the film everyone was talking about. That's pretty good huh. Here's something else along those lines:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.voont.com/baron_film_2_batman
Hope you like worthless garbage...
the movie was amazing and has its own beauty in itself its a must watch and has been the best seller all around ........
ReplyDeleteno yaar i couldnt be able to see it in imax but i wathced it and im waiting for the dvd releaes .... wat about u ?
ReplyDeleteno was not able to see it but it wasn't that bad in the normal theater also but do u know wen is the dvd release ...
ReplyDeleteim waiting for the dvd relaese its gonna be really fun ...
ReplyDeleteThough I don't like movies like this, The Dark Knight, which I have found at this rapidshare se impressed me... Good and qualitative work!
ReplyDelete