Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Member since:
October 2007
October 2007
OK, so one of the most anticipated movies of the year is here (the most, is a cracking whip), and it opened with a bang...or something like it. To be fair, at least one third of the people who went to see DK on its opening weekend, didn't deserve, or really shouldn't have been those people are the ones who laughed at everything the Joker did or said, and that weren't waiting for DK since Begins opened...after you take that out, you are left with another $100 opening weekend, on par with Iron Man and Indy, go figure.
...Spoilers Below...
This movie is half aptly called the Dark Knight, since (even when DK means Batman) Batman is actually not the center of attention of this movie, it is Harvey Dent, the White Knight. Those critics who criticized that Burton's Batman movies are more about the villains than Batman, oddly are not disappointed by this movie having the same flaw (or is it flaw) like the previous movies.
We also have a liar Joker that is wonderfully played by the late Ledger let's face it, it is a great performance, but that's what actors do, perform, and he was doing his job. This joker is not the funny Joker Nicholson played, no, it's a mentally damaged person who needs attention, lots of attention, that only the Caped Crusader (which I hope is NOT the name for the third movie) is there for him.
We also have Lt. Gordon, which makes me want a solo crime cop movie drama based on him, and again played by Gary Oldman. Also, we have a cameo by the Scarecrow that actually fits the movie, at the very beginning. Oh, and poor Rachel Dawes, DA's Assistant that I don't think is half what that woman at Law & Order:SVU could be.
DK is also a crime movie, but unfortunately, this aspect of the script isn't played out the way it should. Yes, we have crime bosses, and their money laundering schemes, but really, nothing happens with them, nothing. What's up with that money subplot that got nowhere? I mean, Batman traveled across the world (without people noticing Bruce Wayne was gone) to catch a bad guy and it ends with Joker burning half the money? Okay...
Why does it get a 4/5 from me? Well, overall, the movie was indeed engrossing, it was engaging and it was interesting to think of. However, the movie is NOT visually appealing, and it's always dark, which is the way the director intended it to be.
I mean, if you want a great cop/crime movie, look elsewhere if you want a great Batman movie, look elsewhere. The mythos of the Batman is not enlarged with this movie, there is nothing for us to like or dislike the Joker, or for us to believe Harvey went mad, or why the showdown between Joker and Batman was a let down (I mean, dogs?!?). Oh, the action scenes are well directed and choreographed, but not enough of them and IMO, the editing is sometimes choppy, but nothing to worry (except on the interrogation scene, were the respect I had of Batman was lost, well after 'I can fly' or 'I'll be Batman no more...'.
The only regret? Not living in a large enough city with an IMAX theatre...I saw the bank robbery on IMAX when I saw I Am Legend, and it looked EXCELLENT.
...Spoilers Below...
This movie is half aptly called the Dark Knight, since (even when DK means Batman) Batman is actually not the center of attention of this movie, it is Harvey Dent, the White Knight. Those critics who criticized that Burton's Batman movies are more about the villains than Batman, oddly are not disappointed by this movie having the same flaw (or is it flaw) like the previous movies.
We also have a liar Joker that is wonderfully played by the late Ledger let's face it, it is a great performance, but that's what actors do, perform, and he was doing his job. This joker is not the funny Joker Nicholson played, no, it's a mentally damaged person who needs attention, lots of attention, that only the Caped Crusader (which I hope is NOT the name for the third movie) is there for him.
We also have Lt. Gordon, which makes me want a solo crime cop movie drama based on him, and again played by Gary Oldman. Also, we have a cameo by the Scarecrow that actually fits the movie, at the very beginning. Oh, and poor Rachel Dawes, DA's Assistant that I don't think is half what that woman at Law & Order:SVU could be.
DK is also a crime movie, but unfortunately, this aspect of the script isn't played out the way it should. Yes, we have crime bosses, and their money laundering schemes, but really, nothing happens with them, nothing. What's up with that money subplot that got nowhere? I mean, Batman traveled across the world (without people noticing Bruce Wayne was gone) to catch a bad guy and it ends with Joker burning half the money? Okay...
Why does it get a 4/5 from me? Well, overall, the movie was indeed engrossing, it was engaging and it was interesting to think of. However, the movie is NOT visually appealing, and it's always dark, which is the way the director intended it to be.
I mean, if you want a great cop/crime movie, look elsewhere if you want a great Batman movie, look elsewhere. The mythos of the Batman is not enlarged with this movie, there is nothing for us to like or dislike the Joker, or for us to believe Harvey went mad, or why the showdown between Joker and Batman was a let down (I mean, dogs?!?). Oh, the action scenes are well directed and choreographed, but not enough of them and IMO, the editing is sometimes choppy, but nothing to worry (except on the interrogation scene, were the respect I had of Batman was lost, well after 'I can fly' or 'I'll be Batman no more...'.
The only regret? Not living in a large enough city with an IMAX theatre...I saw the bank robbery on IMAX when I saw I Am Legend, and it looked EXCELLENT.
