Dark Knight Mania
‘The Dark Knight’ Is Everything A Comic Book Movie Should Be
Posted by Kevin Carr (kevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on July 17, 2008
There is so much buzz for The Dark Knight, it seems impossible to escape. I think even Osama bin Laden has heard about this movie, so watch out for some stinky guy with a beard and a dialysis machine sitting in the theater with you this weekend. Seriously, the hype is that big.
So, does the movie live up to this hype? Unlike Iron Man earlier this year, which was pretty darn cool but seemed a bit anticlimactic after all the hype leading up to it, The Dark Knight absolutely delivers a riveting film with tons of action but not at the expense of plot or character. And it is a huge step up from Batman Begins.
I’ll be the first to admit that I had some problems with Christopher Nolan’s first shot at the Batman franchise. First, they suppressed an awesome villain from the comics (the Scarecrow) and focused on a less interesting bad guy (Ra’s al Ghul) who was a tertiary character at best.
It also seemed that while Nolan could construct a tightly woven, intimate story of Batman’s origin, the studio demanded a “big” ending in which Wayne Manor burns down, a high-speed train crashes in downtown Gotham and Jim Gordon drives the Batmobile.
Finally, there was that whole Katie Holmes casting choice.
Well, we all know they got rid of Katie Holmes when the casting of Maggie Gyllenhaal was announced. But the casting notice for The Dark Knight had some other problems… like Heath Ledger as the Joker.
I know, I know. You’ve been hearing nothing but accolades (and even calls for an early Oscar nomination) for Ledger. But I was not sold on him as the Clown Prince until after I saw this movie. And there’s no zealot like the converted.
I have always struggled with the DC characters because those are the comics I read as a kid. They can muck up Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk and the Fantastic Four all they want, and I wouldn’t be the wiser. But screw with the DC mythology, and I fly off the handle.
It was clear early on that Heath Ledger’s Joker would not be the one from the comic books. He wears the make-up, rather than having freakish white skin, for example.
However, I am ready to jump on the Heath Ledger bandwagon right now. His portrayal of the Joker, while a bit different than the comics, is one of the most realistic, visceral and chilling villains you’re going to see on screen in a while. It’s better than the farce of Cesar Romero, and it’s not just a caricature joke that Jack Nicholson gave us. And while the Joker is more faithful in the animated series (with an often spot-on voice portrayal from Mark Hammil), Ledger’s Joker works so well in the story crafted for The Dark Knight that I wouldn’t have it any other way.
But the film is more than just a showcase for Ledger’s Joker. This is possibly one of the best casts assembled for a superhero movie ever. Christian Bale gives us the best and most believable Bruce Wayne. He holds back up the Batman as well, giving us a realistic hero. With his acting and the direction from Nolan, you can believe that a guy with almost unlimited funds could pull this off.
Then there’s Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes… definitely a trade-up from Katie Holmes. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman reprise their roles as Alfred Pennyworth and Lucius Fox, both offering acting cred for the film.
But the one guy who always seems to get lost in the wake of Heath Ledger is Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent. The main movie arc belongs to the Joker, but it is Dent’s ability to be a new breed of superhero to Gotham that really impacts Batman in this film. And unlike other superhero movies that get too crowded with too many characters, The Dark Knight doesn’t clutter itself but rather winds everyone together to make a solid plot.
The Dark Knight isn’t just the best Batman movie out there. It’s vying for the spot of the best superhero movie as well.
Quite simply, when you see The Dark Knight, you’re going to realize how truly awful the first wave of Batman films were.
THE UPSIDE: To paraphrase a line from the marketing for 1978’s Superman… You will believe a rich guy could dress up as a bat and kick ass.
THE DOWNSIDE: Not much, really. Unless you get the 87 oz. drink and need to use the restroom.
ON THE SIDE: Go see it in IMAX. Seriously. This is the best way to experience this film.
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14 Comments
July 17th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
:) Good review. I’m over here in the UK. Movie doesnt get released till 24th! a whole frigging week!! Its enough to make me want to paint my face and cut my lips, develop a terror-inducing laugh and go ape-s**t on some movie distributors ass!
July 17th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
oh another thing…this movie is number 4!!!! on IMDB’s top 250..in the same league as The Godfather I and 2! Holy **** batman!
July 17th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
excellent review… having already seen the movie once today (I plan to see it tomorrow and on Saturday *and* on Sunday… yeah, four times) I must say you’re review is spot-on, and that the film is a whole is AMAZING. definitely the best superhero motion picture ever crafted, and one of the most interesting and visceral crime dramas (yeah, you read well) I’ve ever seen.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I agree! The Dark Knight is a mesmorizing experience. The intesity of the first two hrs was pulseponding. My only little beef is that i wish they could have shaved 15 minutes off the end. Other than that it was great.
July 20th, 2008 at 9:20 am
I have to disagree about the Animated Series Joker– it was the most authentic until now. While Ledger’s Joker may apply his own face, he has the character right, and that’s the most important part. The Joker in the cartoon is still a little too jokey, too close the the 60s version. He’s almost never really threatening.
The Joker in the comics is a killer first. Insane to the core, and something the citizens of Gotham only whisper about. He is going to be the only one laughing. Though even Ledgers has a glimmer of that cartoon clowniness; watch as he exits the hospital. And Nolan understands the dynamic he has with Batman– neither will ever kill the other, and they will “do this forever.”
I never understand some people’s desire to see slavish devotion to setpieces and every technical detail realized from comics (and to a lesser extent, novels). Time and again, the best films are the ones which are inspired by their source material, and stay true to the characters, instead of just restaging another what another medium has done.
July 20th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
That was a good review. And thats ture that the first wave of Batmans really sucked. This movie was one of the best movies i ‘ve ever seen in my life. I mean this movie was amazing. Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gylenhaal. All did an amazing job they should win Best Movie Of The Year.
July 20th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
The Dark Knight is everything a comic book movie SHOULDN’T be.
The main thing: it’s too REAL.
What, are we supposed to take a playboyturnedsapturnednon-lethal vigilante seriously?
Where is the rest of the DC Universe? The Batman of the comics always dealt with a large variety of characters.
He was a detective.
Etc.
July 25th, 2008 at 12:01 am
dude! don’t knock the Burton Batman movies ok! I think that even though this joker is better than the Nicholson one the lighting, city and feel of the movie is better in the Burton ones. I don’t know why but I think this movie needed to be a bit more dark, even though I LOVED it I think that it could have been darker… damn pg rating bull shit
July 25th, 2008 at 11:16 am
I don’t think it is fair to compare the Burton films with what is going on now with the Nolan versions. The target audience is different for the two directors. When I was 8 years old watching the Burton version of the film, the film fit and was terrific.
Nolan has abandoned the concept of making a family friendly film from a comic book movie. He went for something much more realistic that could make people my age, now 27, believe that Batman is real rather than a comic book movie. I wouldn’t have believed the Scare Crow if he went around wearing a pumpkin on his head, that would be stupid. I might have thought that cool when I was 8 and true to the comics, and dismissed whether or not it was realistic. Nolan’s Scare Crow scenes would have been far too terrifying to me at 8 years old.
So comparing a film I first saw when I was 8 to seeing one when I am 27 is like comparing candy to beer. They are both good, but really shouldn’t be put up against each other for “Which one is better?”
July 26th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Great review of a great movie. I’d love to see it in IMAX, unfortunately we don’t have a real IMAX screen in Columbus. We have a regular small auditorium retrofitted by stringing a screen from floor from ceiling at Easton, but I don’t consider that IMAX. Where did you see it that you could actually see it in IMAX?
July 30th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Daniel Rubin is an idiot! Dude if you seriously think that about this version of Batman, I suggest you go back to watching the animated version of the franchise.
August 3rd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
“I have always struggled with the DC characters because those are the comics I read as a kid. They can muck up Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk and the Fantastic Four all they want, and I wouldn’t be the wiser. But screw with the DC mythology, and I fly off the handle.”
– Dude, I cannot say how much I agree with you. And on Ledger’s performance as well. Pre-TDK I was enraged by that make-up and garb with scars that made Joker look like nothing which resembled Mark Hamil’s portrayal via Bruce Timm… eh… okay now i’m confusing myself here. ANYWAY. Post-TDK, I have been proven wrong and one of those times where I am GLAD that i’ve been proven wrong. It’s different, but it’s a KICK ASS different. Hats off to Ledger and just hand the man his Academy Oscar. The physicality, the acting, the direction, and oh yeah… the obsession with the scars…. This guy was spot on perfect. and so was every one else.
As for that cheap-stake up here… Daniel Ruben? Look; how is a man on makeup and completely schizo NOT possible? If you got the slightest bit of perceptual ABILITY (that is, if you can see and understand what you are seeing) there ain’t no way you can dis the Dark Knight. This movie is perfection; just cause it’s different don’t make it bad. And if you’re just another persistent prick on the net trying to abuse the fans of the Bat, go fuck yourself.
August 15th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
agreed x 100
and lol, yeah dont drink a 42 oz. before. = missed movie
August 28th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
i still wish Katie Holmes had stayed on board as Rachel Dawes for the Dark Knight; it was like the time spent getting familiar with her character in Batman Begins was wasted…