The Dark Knight
Posted 26th July 2008 at 06:06 PM by RedKnight
Where do we begin?
Batman Begins was a superb film, this one feels like it's taken the lessons it's learnt from that and then built from those foundations from a solid two storey building into a towering skyscraper. That's not to say that Batman Begins becomes a lesser movie, the Dark Knight is just the character and the confidence of all involved in full swing. Many comic adaptations have the first movie leading a kind of 'half life', whilst the origin is slotted together, and then the sequel is free to do what it wants. The Dark Knight is the very model of a film that is now free to do what it wants, when it wants. Batman Begins always needed to re-tell the origin of Batman as the franchise's reputation required surgery after Schumacher and the rubber nipples. So what we have is Batman Begins being the pinnacle of how to begin a series and the Dark Knight being the pinnacle of how to do a sequel, and indeed a comic book movie.
Firstly, the Joker. Anyone who saw the early shots and teaser trailers knew that this performance was going to be special and special was only the half of it. I wasn't sure about Heath Ledger on his initial casting but he made the Joker his own part to the point where I don't think the character will ever be played be someone else in live action for a long time. To ground such a wild character in reality is difficult but Ledger's performance meant that seeing him dressed as a nurse made you feel uncomfortable (not knowing whether to laugh or be scared) rather thinking how absurd he looked. From him constantly licking his lips, pretending to be electrocuted, taunting Dent in the hospital and the infamous 'pencil trick', this is the definitive movie Joker; there will be no one better.
I was afraid that Batman might get overlooked but this film had Batman simply being... Batman. Very rarely do films show him actually doing detective work but here we have a Batman investigating crime scenes, testing out fingerprints and geneally just being what he has always been in the comics. Bale should tone the 'bat voice' a bit but apart from that he really is a very good Bruce Wayne/Batman.
Honourable mentions to Aaron Eckhardt who was a very convincing Harvey Dent and especially Gary Oldman, who absolutley rules as Jim Gordon.
Is this the best superhero movie ever? As an actual 'film' (ignoring it's comic roots) then it's a great film on it's own merits. For taking an established comic character and presenting a gritty, well-scripted ensemble movie, it is peerless. Other movie makers should take note of how do comic book movies. This year we've had Iron Man and the Dark Knight. Iron Man shows how you can make a good, family friendly movie. The Dark Knight is how you can make a real 'film' without sacrificing any of the source material.
The greatest Superhero movie ever? Yes, unless Bale and Nolan decide a sequel can be done.
Batman Begins was a superb film, this one feels like it's taken the lessons it's learnt from that and then built from those foundations from a solid two storey building into a towering skyscraper. That's not to say that Batman Begins becomes a lesser movie, the Dark Knight is just the character and the confidence of all involved in full swing. Many comic adaptations have the first movie leading a kind of 'half life', whilst the origin is slotted together, and then the sequel is free to do what it wants. The Dark Knight is the very model of a film that is now free to do what it wants, when it wants. Batman Begins always needed to re-tell the origin of Batman as the franchise's reputation required surgery after Schumacher and the rubber nipples. So what we have is Batman Begins being the pinnacle of how to begin a series and the Dark Knight being the pinnacle of how to do a sequel, and indeed a comic book movie.
Firstly, the Joker. Anyone who saw the early shots and teaser trailers knew that this performance was going to be special and special was only the half of it. I wasn't sure about Heath Ledger on his initial casting but he made the Joker his own part to the point where I don't think the character will ever be played be someone else in live action for a long time. To ground such a wild character in reality is difficult but Ledger's performance meant that seeing him dressed as a nurse made you feel uncomfortable (not knowing whether to laugh or be scared) rather thinking how absurd he looked. From him constantly licking his lips, pretending to be electrocuted, taunting Dent in the hospital and the infamous 'pencil trick', this is the definitive movie Joker; there will be no one better.
I was afraid that Batman might get overlooked but this film had Batman simply being... Batman. Very rarely do films show him actually doing detective work but here we have a Batman investigating crime scenes, testing out fingerprints and geneally just being what he has always been in the comics. Bale should tone the 'bat voice' a bit but apart from that he really is a very good Bruce Wayne/Batman.
Honourable mentions to Aaron Eckhardt who was a very convincing Harvey Dent and especially Gary Oldman, who absolutley rules as Jim Gordon.
Is this the best superhero movie ever? As an actual 'film' (ignoring it's comic roots) then it's a great film on it's own merits. For taking an established comic character and presenting a gritty, well-scripted ensemble movie, it is peerless. Other movie makers should take note of how do comic book movies. This year we've had Iron Man and the Dark Knight. Iron Man shows how you can make a good, family friendly movie. The Dark Knight is how you can make a real 'film' without sacrificing any of the source material.
The greatest Superhero movie ever? Yes, unless Bale and Nolan decide a sequel can be done.
Total Comments 7
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Haven't seen it yet, and I'm not a massive batman fan, but I enjoyed that write up Jules. I'll post my thoughts when I get round to watching it.
Also, anyone would be an improvement on that Jack Nicholson douche. Hate him. |
Posted 3rd August 2008 at 12:36 AM by dave u
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Saw it last week. Like I said, I'm not a big batman fan really, but I thought it was fucking boss, really, really enjoyed it. Ledger's performance was compelling, and he made the film for me. Miles better than that Nicholson douche.
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Posted 22nd August 2008 at 02:12 PM by dave u
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Cheers for the feedback, Skip. You're spot on about Nicholson, Ledger's performance shows up Jacks for what it was, Jack Nicholson dicking about in make up. He wasn't anything like the Joker was meant to be. Heath Ledger has an edgy menace about him.
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Posted 23rd August 2008 at 11:11 PM by RedKnight
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Yeah fuck Nicholson with his 'here's Johnny' one trick pony shite.
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Posted 24th August 2008 at 11:10 AM by dave u
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I think that's a bit unfair on Nicholson lads. His portrayal of the Joker fit in perfectly with what Tim Burton was going for, and if anyone should take the blame for how it turned out, it should be Burton. Silly and twisted, that's Burton's style, and that's what Nicholson's Joker was.
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Posted 3rd September 2008 at 10:01 PM by ATXRED
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I'm not so sure. I don't think Tim Burton (circa 1989) would've been able to command a performance out of Jack. That Joker is just Nicholson doing his own thing. It probably would have worked a little better if they hadn't felt the need to add the young hoodlum back story in. The Joker works best as a mystery, like in The Dark Knight. He flits in and out of the movie with no discernible pattern or backstory. I found the lack of origin for him refreshing, far too often we have to go through the rigmarole of watching someone become the villain, and he was very much as Nolan described, "a force of nature".
Nicholson seemed less dangerous and focused as the Joker. His use of henchmen (complete with Joker outfits) seemed more in keeping with the '60s show. |
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Posted 4th September 2008 at 08:10 PM by RedKnight
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I freely admit I'm biased due to my complete pathological hatred of Jack Nicholson. Fucking one trick pony.
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Posted 10th September 2008 at 11:44 PM by dave u
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