When the first Batman was coming out the ‘batmania’ was probably at its highest, people had bat symbols on everything, shirts, jackets even shaved into their hair. For me it was a time when I was discovering comics in a big way, my local newsagent didn’t really carry too many so the couple of copies I could get my hands on were like treasure.
Then I got to see the film and it was unlike anything I had ever seen before.
This morning Tracey and I dragged ourselves into the cinema to see the Dark Knight, full of hope, I had said to someone that I wasn’t actually that interested in the film, that the hype was beginning to wear thin on me.
But the ads started their magic on me and I was beginning to be more and more hopeful that this indeed would be the best comic book movie ever. The completely booked out cinema soon fell into darkness and the film started, it was 1989 all over again.
The Dark Knight is probably in my opinion the best film I’ve ever seen.
I know it’s a stupid thing to say, really it’s stupid to compare it to other films, Citizen Kane and Casablanca, brilliant films, but I find it hard comparing them to each other let alone movies made in my generation. I used to say the Lord of the Rings was the best made film (different to best film), but I’d even reconsider this estimation in regards to The Dark Knight.
It has to be said straight away that Heath Ledger is brilliant, creepy and completely reviting. A huge concern of mine was that he would steal the show, that it would become the Joker film with Batman as a supporting character. This didn’t happen, and it is a credit to the editor and the director because Joker is simply brilliant and could easily have been the focus. It isn’t Ledger up there on screen, he is the embodiment of the character and it is a tribute to the man. His final performance is incredibly Oscar worthy, it will be an outrage and a clear example that the Academy is out of touch if they choose to ignore the performance based on the fact that it is a comic book film.
This is the real Batman that we are finally seeing on the screen, he moves and fights with fluidity rather than relying on the suit to create presence as he strides through a fight scene (he can now move his head which hampered Batmen of the past). Bale has worked on his Batman voice and it never falters, he is a different man when he is wearing the cowl. This is the warrior Batman that the comics have shown through the years.
When I first saw Gary Oldman as Gordon in Batman Begins it was like a page of Batman Year One had come to life, he so much looks like a young Jim Gordon as he appears in that comic. But Oldman doesn’t just look the part he brings so much to the character, he is a sane good man in an insane bad Gotham.
The great thing about this film is that it is not the spectacle which delivers the impact, it’s the characters, especially the trinity of James Gordon, Harvey Dent and Batman as they struggle with how far is too far before you cross the line.
I’ve never seen Harvey Dent presented so well, no offence to Tommy Lee Jones or even Billy Dee Williams but Aaron Eckhart makes the role his own and puts in an equal performance to Ledger, Bale and Oldman. The origin is an interesting twist on the Two-Face story and the effects are extraordinary in addition to being faithful to the character’s standard comic book appearance.
This is a huge story that is told on a huge canvas, I won’t lie to you, it’s long, but you don’t care because you still want more.
Please start working on the sequel, now.
Popularity: 15% [?]
19/07/2008 at 6:43 pm Permalink
I’m not going to be able to see it on the opening night over here as I’m on the walk. The sacrifices I make in the name of charity!
Dans last blog post..Interview with a fat man
20/07/2008 at 7:31 pm Permalink
ok that’s it, I’m going to watch this in the cinema!
Arjans last blog post..Miniatures in Rome
21/07/2008 at 4:23 am Permalink
Wow Wow…what a movie. And Lee, you don’t have to put a question mark at the end. Go to the imdb page. It’s already no.1. I thought no one could replace Godfather.
21/07/2008 at 2:41 pm Permalink
I soooo want to see this, but my wife sooooo doesn’t. If I can’t find anyone to go with very soon, I’m just gonna have to go on my own.
Oh well, I gotta do what I gotta do!
21/07/2008 at 4:03 pm Permalink
That’s a shame Dan but it is for a good cause so what can you do? I’m pretty certain it will be in the cinema for a while any way!
21/07/2008 at 4:11 pm Permalink
Arjan - dude you so have to see this on the big screen, see it on the imax if you can (we don’t have one here in Brisbane) but it’s amazing.
21/07/2008 at 4:12 pm Permalink
Yeah Sujoy I was just reading about that, I think it’s such a great film, forget about comic book film.
Good review too man.
21/07/2008 at 4:18 pm Permalink
Ian sometimes a man has to do what a man has to do… or of course what his wife tells him to do
I think she might be surprised how good a film it is though, remembering that it is M rated so there is very little on screen gore and a lot of stuff is simply implied, if that is of course the issue.
22/07/2008 at 1:54 pm Permalink
I don’t know about best picture ever, but this is one heavyweight film. I totally agree with everything you said. In fact, I’m considering just pointing everyone to this review instead of repeating what you said on own my blog…
I lost track of the time at one point and was disappointed when I thought they were reaching a quickly resolved ending, but then it all twisted up again and holy cow… what a ride.
Jeffs last blog post..Pseudo-Review: The Dark Knight
22/07/2008 at 4:11 pm Permalink
Jeff - if we start pointing at each others reviews it might be quite the time saver
What you said about losing track of the time mirrors my own experience completely. I was talking with Miscmum on Twitter about how the ending has one of the most subtle cliffhangers I’ve ever seen in a film.
The Batman is left in condition that is not the status quo and a third film will need to return to it.
Hard to talk about it without spoilers but I know some of the guys haven’t seen it yet and I don’t want to be THAT guy who wrecked Dark Knight
22/07/2008 at 5:57 pm Permalink
Thanks Lee!!
And all the best with the new fitness regime.
My best exercise has been swimming. Its relaxing, a complete workout.
04/08/2008 at 8:03 am Permalink
Just saw this tonight. I think I want to see it again before I pass a definitive judgement.
But the Joker was fantastic, simply fantastic. Two face wasn’t hal bad either, although I think it’s a shame that they didn’t leave his confrontation with batman until the next film.
And that’s my main criticism, it was too long. I’m sorry but it was. Two face deserved more than he got, this should have been harvey dents film alone, with his transformation serving as the cliffhanger.
As I say I want to see it again as there were some pretty hefty themes I want to chew over. But overall it was two thumbs up despite a slightly numb bum
04/08/2008 at 10:01 am Permalink
Dan, I guess I don’t mind a long film unless it The Thin Red Line and I’m watching with the audience from hell… (that’s another story)
So the length of the film didn’t bother me, I am left wondering how they could even attempt to top it in the third, can’t go with the Joker or Two-Face. There isn’t too many A list baddies to go with.
I’ve had enough Catwoman and the Penguin is a hard character to do well.
Maybe the Riddler can get the ‘Dark Knight’ makeover?
09/08/2008 at 9:05 pm Permalink
OMG !!!!
Just got back after seeing this with Mr Shamrock.
Far out.
Christian Bale is by far my favourite Batman, moreso after tonight.
And Ledger, wow, I didn’t recognise him.
Widdle Shamrocks last blog post..An interesting conversation with Celtic Dingo
By Lee on August 10th, 2008 | Reply
It is pretty awesome isn’t it! I almost see Bale and Keaton as two completely different characters actually, but yeah Bale owns that role!
Ledger, nothing I could put into words does judgement to that amazing performance.
11/08/2008 at 6:04 am Permalink
I think you have to take into account that Imdb’s votes are from more internet savvy/webheads/gen 2.0 people, wouldn’t you agree?
I say that The Dark Knight reigning over the likes of The Godfather, et al is more a triumph of the Geeks than it is a truism. It’s the handing over of pop culture to a new generation, one that is less concerned that a story is well told or edited and more interested in pyrotechnics, geek savagery and faux drama. This film does not belong in the pantheon of the greatest films of all time. It does not even make the top 100. But I admit, it’s exciting when something you adore is vindicated by box office success.