Okay, I’m ready to write about it now.

SPOILER ALERT***************SPOILER ALERT*******************SPOILER ALERT

(All those asterisks make this post look like spam.  Or a really old RPG game.)

Please stop reading if you haven’t seen the movie. Unless you don’t plan on watching it.

I think the best way for me to talk about this is to split up my analysis of The Dark Knight (TDK) in separate categories: entertainment and themes.

The comments in this post will solely be about the movie as entertainment.

Action sequences were delightful.

It makes me wonder why more action movies don’t gamble on the IMAX.  I loved the opening heist.  I loved the great car chase scene at the end.  I loved soaring over the cityscapes.  Staying in line with the first movie, sound and suggestion were used powerfully to create Batman’s presence instead of relying on actual hand to hand combat (like scenes from The Bourne Identity)– great movie trickery at its best.

Plot development was probably this movie’s greatest strength.

Even though Batman is my favorite comic, it’s been a long time since I’ve read them and I felt a little rusty.  Batman Begins deviated quite a bit from Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One but it was so enjoyable that I didn’t mind.  I readily accepted the new twists.  The same happened for TDK.  I only wish they didn’t kill Two-Face.  I mean, I understand that they needed to in order to explore the depth of their themes, but I wish that they could have explored his complex character in future sequels (there will be sequels, right?).  I enjoyed The Joker’s antics, especially the ferry sinking quandary and his constant mockery of the mob.  One of the best scenes of the movie was when The Joker showed up for the fund-raising cocktail party for Harvey Dent at Wayne manor.  It was such an arresting and horrifying moment to mix the faceless and vulnerable elite of Gotham with one of its worst villians.  It seems like usually the crimes are committed in dark, sketchy neighborhoods in abandoned warehouses and factories.  It was jarring to see The Joker in a ballroom underneath sparkling chandeliers.  This was fantastically symbolic of the eventual inability to keep the two things separate if untamed.

Casting was exemplary for the most part.

Never in a million years would I have picked Heath Ledger as The Joker but what incredible vision it was to see how that would end up being one of the greatest casting choices.  Maggie Gyllenhaal was a terrible choice for Rachel Dawes.  Anytime a movie or television show changes actors for a particular role, they better make sure that they make the audience fall in love with the new actor or it is usually a disaster.  Casino Royale is a prime example of how to succeed at this.  People love Daniel Craig and I didn’t hear a single person wishing for Pierce Brosnan’s return.

Romantic interest was weak.

Really weak.  I know the romantic interest isn’t the most important relationship in a superhero movie, but it’s kind of critical in this one.  It bothers me when people half-ass this aspect.  It was weak in Ironman and it was even weaker here.  And no, it’s not because Maggie’s not a knockout.  There’s more to it then that.  They just had no chemistry together.  I really had to use my imagination on this one.  I mean, if Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner can have chemistry in The Bodyguard (to the point where I would reference it here, so many years later), then it’s fair to expect that “one of the greatest movies of all time” would have great chemistry between the superhero and love interest.

Character development was a bit shallow.

I wonder how many people watched TDK as a standalone without having first watched Batman Begins.  I think this movie relied a little too heavy on the prequel for character development.  The physical discipline showcased in the Batman Begins barely trickled into the TDK and there wasn’t a concentrated effort to develop as deep of a respect for his character in the audience.  There was a general admiration but not as much awe for what he was trying to accomplish.  This was worsened by his cheesy Batman voice.  I had to fight the urge to giggle sometimes.  I think Aaron Eckhart did a fine job as Harvey Dent.  But his character didn’t require as much depth.  The Joker’s character development was the most profound.  While I do think Heath should win an Oscar for his performance, I think the screenwriting deserves a lot of the credit.  Actors can only do so much with the roles they are given.  I absolutely love the scene when Batman is barreling down on The Joker on his Batpod (super motorcycle) and The Joker stands facing the Batman bracing himself wishing for death.  That was brilliant.

TDK Gadgetry was not too impressive for me.

I enjoyed the Batpod but it wasn’t really that cutting edge.  According to WIRED, “The Bat-Pod’s forward-swooping design allows the rider to steer with his shoulders. Currently only one stuntman in the world has the skills to drive it.”  Oh and I thought the cellphone sonar technology was pretty lame.  I mean, the idea is cool, but the setup looked like a bad ripoff of The Matrix.  I think I was most amazed by Christian Bale’s physique.  My goodness.  Not in a drooling kind of way but a very objective assessment and appreciation kind of way, of course.

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So, in conclusion, I really enjoyed the movie.  I just don’t think it’s the “best movie evar!!!” or anything silly like that.  I told the husband that I don’t think we’ll be referencing this movie when we’re 40 years old.  And I think that’s the true test of a good movie (and other things): time.

On a side note, one of the trailers they showed before TDK was for Watchmen.  I’ve been meaning to pick this one up for awhile now and am finally getting around to it.  I ordered it off of Amazon and will let you know my thoughts.  I’m excited about how thick it is.

I’ll write a followup post soon to discuss my comments on TDK’s themes and ideas.

Last Modified : September 5th, 2008 Filed under : Stage/Screen Navigate : Previous post / Next post