The Dark Knight Official Critics Reviews of TDK

[Dark Jaguar]

Leonard Maltin didn't like the film. But don't be too hard on him, he's a good guy. Frankly, he just couldn't take the darkness of the film and is very honest about that. I can respect that:

http://www.leonardmaltin.com/home.htm

I normally enjoy Leonard Maltin's reviews. He's usually able to nail a concise review in such simple terms. But he's also capable of giving very indepth reviews...

I didn't see a review. I saw someone who was afraid of the dark like a small child, and forgot what his task was.

I'm not bashing him. I'm just making a comparison... Maltin can give better reviews... I got that he didn't enjoy it. I can live with that. But I was really hoping to see a more technical breakdown from him. *sigh*

 

[thatguyinmotown]

Apologies from The Motor City...and if this has already been posted.

Tom Long of The Detroit News has always been a pitiful reviewer and this time around is no different. You can find his rambling, less than stellar, no-rhyme-or-reason video review with the link below.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=ENT

I've gotten to the point now where if Long doesn't like it I'm gonna see it.

 

[Midnite]

Yay! Another one from NY.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dark_knight/comments.php?reviewid=1742345

 

[Batman>all]

Seriously what the hell is wrong with New York Critics?

Like 7 of the 11 rotten reviews come from that city. Really hard to understand how he rated Zohan fresh but not The Dark Knight.

 

[Commodore Schmidlapp]

Seriously what the hell is wrong with New York Critics?

Like 7 of the 11 rotten reviews come from that city. Really hard to understand how he rated Zohan fresh but not The Dark Knight.

That explains it all right there. Obviously he has no taste.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Yay! Another one from NY.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dark_knight/comments.php?reviewid=1742345

although Wall Street is in NY, I wouldnt categorize the WSJ as being a "NY paper." It's pretty much an international publication. Calling the WSJ a NY publication would be like calling Time Magazine an "Atlanta magazine." For all we know this guy could live in Dubuque, IA and write freelance for them as many of their writers do.

 

[PWN3R]

Leonard Maltin didn't like the film. But don't be too hard on him, he's a good guy. Frankly, he just couldn't take the darkness of the film and is very honest about that. I can respect that:

http://www.leonardmaltin.com/home.htm

One part of this "review" doesn't sound right:

"The Dark Knight is unrelentingly dark; the only moments of lightness are provided—all too briefly—by Michael Caine as Alfred the butler."

Yeah? So I guess the citizens and prisoners of Gotham not obliterating each other, Batman's unwavering discipline, and Gordon's integrity offered no hope to the audience at all?

Yeah ok.

 

[Dark Knight]

yeah I'm fairly certian that the VERY few handful of negative reviews this film will get will be from "reviewers" who have a negative agenda against the Batman character or in comic based films in general or they are just looking for anything to not like about the movie. Some idiots who think that Harvey is a rip off of Anton Chigurh from No Country for Old Men?? LOL...thats is laughable since it's the other way around. Two Face and his coin have been around far longer than Anton Chigurh.

 

[Motown Marvel]

Maltin is a goofball and I'm sure he liked the departed, godfather 2, heat, and no country for old men, but he doesn't like TDK?

Yeah okay....

well, uh, TDK was good, but is nowhere near the quality of those films.

 

[Dark Knight]

well, uh, TDK was good, but is nowhere near the quality of those films.

Really? Is there that much of a difference? Or is it just because TDK is based on a comic? I don't think there is that much of a difference at all.

I rank TDK right up there with Departed, Heat, No Country for Old Men (well maybe not the Godfather 2)...but the only difference really is the lack of blood and cussing to me at least.

 

[DSET]

I normally enjoy Leonard Maltin's reviews. He's usually able to nail a concise review in such simple terms. But he's also capable of giving very indepth reviews...

I didn't see a review. I saw someone who was afraid of the dark like a small child, and forgot what his task was.

I'm not bashing him. I'm just making a comparison... Maltin can give better reviews... I got that he didn't enjoy it. I can live with that. But I was really hoping to see a more technical breakdown from him. *sigh*

agreed

but he is a good critic
dropped the ball this time

 

[MasterOgami]

As I recall Maltin wasn't much of a fan of the original Alien either, he was "uncomfortable" watching it. He changed his mind years later, but still, on initial viewing, he didn't care for it.

Just tossing that out there.

 

[chaseter]

yeah I'm fairly certian that the VERY few handful of negative reviews this film will get will be from "reviewers" who have a negative agenda against the Batman character or in comic based films in general or they are just looking for anything to not like about the movie. Some idiots who think that Harvey is a rip off of Anton Chigurh from No Country for Old Men?? LOL...thats is laughable since it's the other way around. Two Face and his coin have been around far longer than Anton Chigurh.

Yea I joined RT just to bash that idiot. People that go see a movie without any knowledge of its history, especially one like this that has been around for decades shouldn't review movies. Great critics spend years analyzing the nuansces in films and the themes, etc...but if you don't care to understand those choices in the film without research then they shouldn't have a job. Another big thing these critics are harping on is that these movies are too serious and not as silly as Burton's Batmans. I just want to slap these people into reality.

 

[Darkly Dexter]

Really? Is there that much of a difference? Or is it just because TDK is based on a comic?

I rank TDK right up there with those films (well maybe not Godfather 2)...but the only difference really is the lack of blood and cussing to me at least.

Agreed. The Godfather is a totally different kind of movie and it plays in a diifferent level.

But TDK is at the same level than The Departed and much better than the most overrated movie of the year (No Country For Old Men) and Heat.

 

[chaseter]

TDK is not on the same level as Departed. Why do people keep relating this movie to other movies? This is not the same sort of movie as The Departed, as The Godfather, etc...

 

[Dark Knight]

Yea I joined RT just to bash that idiot. People that go see a movie without any knowledge of its history, especially one like this that has been around for decades shouldn't review movies. Great critics spend years analyzing the nuansces in films and the themes, etc...but if you don't care to understand those choices in the film without research then they shouldn't have a job. Another big thing these critics are harping on is that these movies are too serious and not as silly as Burton's Batmans. I just want to slap these people into reality.

Exactly...

 

[chaseter]

One more big things a few of these critics are irking me on is that they said TDK isn't like what Burton created. Well, these films aren't continuations of Burton's films and Burton didn't create Batman period. Google isn't hard and I guarantee you most of us fanboys have compiled all the research you need to know on one website.

 

[Raiden]

One more big things a few of these critics are irking me on is that they said TDK isn't like what Burton created. Well, these films aren't continuations of Burton's films and Burton didn't create Batman period. Google isn't hard and I guarantee you most of us fanboys have compiled all the research you need to know on one website.

I agree. It's like comparing TIH with Lee's Hulk; they are by two different filmmakers and they are mutually-exclusive, and should not be discussed like one is supposed to be a continuation of another.

 

[StorminNorman]

TDK is not on the same level as Departed. Why do people keep relating this movie to other movies? This is not the same sort of movie as The Departed, as The Godfather, etc...

I would disagree. I think it is very much on the level of The Departed as a Crime Thriller.

 

[Fanticon]

the reviews have hit a brick wall today...any new ones at all?

 

[chaseter]

I would disagree. I think it is very much on the level of The Departed as a Crime Thriller.

The Departed is a more realistic, crime drama, and character piece. TDK is a summer blockbuster action flick that just so happens to have a great plot, great writing, and great acting. Summer blockbusters are meant to have elaborate set pieces, big action, etc...while films like Departed are much more period pieces and focus more heavily on story. So IMO, it is wrong to judge TDK off of other movies like Godfather or Departed. I don't understand why people are forcing non-existant parallels. This movie is also in its own genre being superhero movies to which you can make those connections to other movies like Spider-Man. And this is by far the best superhero movie we have gotten to date.

 

[emadz89]

The Departed is a more realistic, crime drama, and character piece. TDK is a summer blockbuster action flick that just so happens to have a great plot, great writing, and great acting. Summer blockbusters are meant to have elaborate set pieces, big action, etc...while films like Departed are much more period pieces and focus more heavily on story. So IMO, it is wrong to judge TDK off of other movies like Godfather or Departed. I don't understand why people are forcing non-existant parallels. This movie is also in its own genre being superhero movies to which you can make those connections to other movies like Spider-Man. And this is by far the best superhero movie we have gotten to date.

that's the thing about TDK, it's much more than "just a superhero" movie...the writing is excellent, it clearly evokes emotions and can be considered a crime drama...the only thing that separates TDK from The Departed is you have a guy in a batsuit fighting a make-up wearing villian

 

[chaseter]

that's the thing about TDK, it's much more than "just a superhero" movie...the writing is excellent, it clearly evokes emotions and can be considered a crime drama...the only thing that separates TDK from The Departed is you have a guy in a batsuit fighting a make-up wearing villian

This has more nuances with the superhero genre than it does with the crime drama. However, the writing and acting in this is so superb that it is wonderful that it is more than just a superhero movie. But at the end of the day, this will go down as a superhero movie. Crime dramas are also quite a bit more realistic than this. This won't win best picture at the Oscars but I do hope Nolan wins a directing or writing nod. It also pains me to see people throwing out Heath as a potential winner because he is dead and the Academy rarely does that...and that biased bull**** is what has made hollywood so corrupt and lame.

 

[Conebone69]

I cant believe TDK is at 94% on RT

 

[jmc]

that's the thing about TDK, it's much more than "just a superhero" movie...the writing is excellent, it clearly evokes emotions and can be considered a crime drama...the only thing that separates TDK from The Departed is you have a guy in a batsuit fighting a make-up wearing villian

That's it, The Dark Knight is like The Departed in more elaborate costume. t:

I'll agree, I think this is more than just a mere superhero film, in fact I think it's an insult to Nolan to label it as one.