The Dark Knight - Grading & Discussion

[Neroon]

In case anybody is interested, here is a nice collection of just about all of the Batman movie posters: Link.

[Agent Richard07]

^ Nice find. Thanks.

[Emh]

Wow, that's awesome. I'll definitely be saving some of those to the hard drive. I hadn't realized the last one was real.

Thanks for sharing that, Neroon.

[Neroon]

StumbleUpon.

It's a beautiful thing.

[Reverend]

Just saw Dark Knight yesterday afternoon an di have to say it's not the best superhero film I've ever seen, so much as the best crime thriller I've ever seen. It did such a good job of convincing me that anything could happen that for a minute, I thought they just might actually have killed Gordon. Then after they took advantage of that fake out to really kill Rachel, for a minute I thought they might actually kill Gordon's son on screen. For one, it'd be a hell of a motivation for little Barbara ten years down the line.

Also, call me crazy, but at times I could swear Heath was riffing on Hamill's vocal stylings.

[davejames]

Neroon wrote:

---

In case anybody is interested, here is a nice collection of just about all of the Batman movie posters: Link.

Wow, I'd LOVE to have the second to last one with Ledger. That is freakin sweet. And I've never seen that Batman Returns one before, with all the characters. That would be a cool one to own too.

[Tomato]

Finally got around to watching it. It was freaking amazing. I watched it in IMAX, with two little kids beside me, you would thinking a Friday at noon would be good enough... but nope theatre is still rammed packed.

Overall, an amazing movie.

[Trekker4747]

Ugh.

I can't believe parents are bringing their kids into this movie.

[DigificWriter]

I saw this yesterday night, and all I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nolan and Co. are definitely Batman fans, since they gave us a film that is every bit as epic as the best episodes of the DCAU's Batman series, with characters that were spot-on in every way. Everybody has been right in talking so much about Heath Ledger's Joker, but props also have to be given to Aaron Eckhart for the job he did as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. I can't ever recall Two-Face being used in such a small role before, or such a personal one, but Nolan and Co. wrote the character in such a way that having him be a bit-player in the midst of the action not only works, it enhances the personal in a way that the Joker - for all of his prattling and setting himself up as Batman's other half - never could.

I also have to talk about the character of Rachel Dawes. Even having ended up spoiled regarding her death, I was seriously hoping they'd keep her around because she fills a central role in the Batman mythos that none of the other heroines we've seen come into Batman's life do: she represents the normal life that Bruce gave up when he became who he is. Although I would've preferred to have Katie Holmes reprise the role for continuity's sake, Maggie did a superb job, especially during her two biggest scenes: confronting The Joker at Bruce's fundraiser for Harvey and her 'death scene'.

In closing, I've got to give Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman props for their roles. Both are extremely prolific actors, and both totally disappear into their respective roles in this movie, even moreso than in the previous one. Caine's Alfred is guardian, mentor, and voice of reason (even moreso than any other version of Alfred that we've seen to date), and also provides Bruce with a bridge between his life as Batman and the life he pretends to lead as Bruce Wayne. Having Bruce abscond with the entire Russian ballet was one of the most brilliant - and hillarious - things I've ever seen, and was perfectly complimented by the darker, more serious turn that Alfred's advice takes once the Joker escalates things. In the case of Freeman, he plays Lucius Fox with both a knowledge and naivette (sp?) that is captivating; at the start, we as an audience are left wondering whether or not Lucius is now aware of Bruce's double life, but the question doesn't stay unanswered for long, since by the film's end, we're shown that Fox is not only very much aware of what his boss really does, he's chosen to willfully aide and abet his activities, up to a certain point. Fox also gets to deliver what I consider to be the funniest line in the film NOT related to the Joker ("Let me get this straight. You think that your employer, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is really a masked vigilante who spends his nights running around the city beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands? And your plan is to blackmail this person? Good luck.")

I gave this film an Excellent rating in the poll, and I think it totally deserves it. Two of my sisters both want to see the film, and I plan on going with them again if they do.

[Samurai8472]

Neroon wrote:

---

In case anybody is interested, here is a nice collection of just about all of the Batman movie posters: Link.

awesome. Only batman movie not in June is the dark knight.

[Emh]

DigificWriter wrote:

---

I also have to talk about the character of Rachel Dawes. Even having ended up spoiled regarding her death, I was seriously hoping they'd keep her around because she fills a central role in the Batman mythos that none of the other heroines we've seen come into Batman's life do: she represents the normal life that Bruce gave up when he became who he is.

Not only is she someone who represents the normal life Bruce gave up (and seeks to regain), but we also see and understand why he cares so deeply about her. All previous love interests in the movies have been two-bit floozies who Bruce suddenly falls for and we're suppose to care about (although I did care about Selina Kyle, but that's because she's a great character and not having that much to do with how Batman Returns presented her). Rachel is Bruce's childhood sweetheart and understand who he is and the choices he has made (like Alfred but from a different angle). Initially I had issue with her finding out that Bruce was Batman in Batman Begins, but The Dark Knight took this knowledge and worked with it to my satisfaction.

[Samurai8472]

Maybe the third movie will finally break a superhero movie cliche

"The girlfriend always finds out in the end who the hero is"

For Mary Jane and Lois it was part 2

The mistletoe scene in "Returns" was good

[Emh]

I think it would be interesting to have Selina Kyle and Catwoman in the next film but have neither Bruce or Selina figure out the truth. It's a bit of stretch, perhaps, but I think if it can be pulled of, it would be interesting thematically. And I can see Christopher Nolan pulling it off.

[Tomato]

Trekker4747 wrote:

---

Ugh.

I can't believe parents are bringing their kids into this movie.

Tell me about it. Some parts were down right nightmarish for a 8 year old girl to be watching it. I know I would not bring a kid to watch this movie, just that one min. clip of the Joker was practically terrifying.

But yeah I think I may have to re watch this movie again. There were so much going on. I love the character arcs and love where Nolan is taking Batman. His purposely shutting everybody off around Bruce. I know he doesn't in Robin, but this would be a perfect situation to bring in Robin, to have Bruce re discover his humanity again.

[Trekker4747]

Samurai8472 wrote:

---

awesome. Only batman movie not in June is the dark knight.

Notice how... dumb and groan-inducing the Schumacher posters are (bat... er ROBIN-nipples, Carrey's Riddler.) Ugh. Gives me the shudders just looking at them.