The Dark Knight The Dark Knight Fan Review Thread

[C.F. Kane]

I saw the film last night.

I was stunned into silence by it.

 

[Apollo]

I saw it last night, and what a great movie! Totally wasn't what i was expecting, blew me away!

10/10

 

[FOG3]

Yeh this was definitely an R rated movie without swear words. I imagine as a kid this would have scared me right out of the theater. Don't know about kids today though.. Probably like Barney for them.

The magic trick was so sick and good. Hell, the Joker was perfect blah blah blah it's true. I had fun listening to people trying to figure out how to react to him. The girl next to me kept laughing at everything he said, and finally a gasp came when he threatened that guy's loved ones. His extremity seemed to finally hit everyone at different times. I love that he pushed Batman right to the edge and he still wouldn't kill him, these movies are getting it RIGHT. I was super happy to see Scarecrow in the first Batman fight scene too, the villains are not dead and are just hanging out in this world waiting for Batman to scoop them up again. That really made my day.

Really I can't have any problem with this movie, yeh there were some silly parts and some of the same exact silly scenes that they did in the first one (cutaways to dumb cops saying dumb things during the car chase) but it was overall so well scripted and acted and played out that those silly things are on the sidelines. This was almost three movies going on at once (A joker, batman, and two face movie) and they totally pulled it off. Even at two and a half hours, this has to be the most compact and dense movie I've ever seen. There is so much going on in that movie that I feel like I will be surprised by numerous things I forgot about already when I go see it again. I also think it truly worked to my advantage this time not to let myself visit this board or look at any of the clips they were putting out before the movie came. I was not going to let myself ruin it again.

 

[Mdizzle]

Sooo many good things about this movie, many of them have already been said. I can't stop thinking about Heath's portrayal of the Joker, and it really left you wanting to see more - it's truly regrettable that Heath is not around to film the third installment as the Joker. Also, I'm pleased to note how "villainous" the character was on screen...in creating a "badass" hero like Bale's Batman, you need a strong villain opposite him..I felt this portrayal really hit the mark. Bravo.

I also felt that the questions surrounding the Joker's motives also brought out this extra sense of horror - to me, he came across as legitimate, in that he lives in his own sense of morality; he's not "insane," per se...recall his convo with Harvey Dent near the end. That's the scariest part, that despite his apparent "illogical" motivations, he does kind of make sense in a way. Not sure if I explained this properly but in short - great performance, great villain.

Also...the score was excellent, I'm prolly going to get the soundtrack. Great job, and I liked all the music that accompanied the Joker's scenes in the beginning.

Thoughts?

 

[Superman-Prime]

No explanation or origin was given for the Joker. IMO, the character works so much better without a backstory, and I'm really glad that followed that path in this movie.

There were two scenes, where the Joker told two different versions of a story on how he received his scars, but that was more of a nod to "The Killing Joke" where the Joker says "If I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice."

Interesting. Interesting.

Thank you.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I also felt that the questions surrounding the Joker's motives also brought out this extra sense of horror - to me, he came across as legitimate, in that he lives in his own sense of morality; he's not "insane," per se...recall his convo with Harvey Dent near the end. That's the scariest part, that despite his apparent "illogical" motivations, he does kind of make sense in a way. Not sure if I explained this properly but in short - great performance, great villain.

"Chaos is fair."

 

[El Payaso]

Finally something fresh was brought to the genre. This is truly a great movie. Everything in it was daring, courageous and top notch.

Thank God Goyer was out of the dialogues. And it shows. Jonathan Nolan's script is genius. The acting is genius. Oldman, Eckhardt, Caine, Ledger, Gyllenhall, Bale and Freeman are very very good.

Amazing movie. After almost 20 ytears finally something that's worthy of all my praise about superhero movies.

10/10

 

[melancholiac]

I read that Nolan didn't want to portray the Joker's origin so the character would remain "absolute." I think it was pretty smart to do so, because if they did show his origin, it would have made the movie less perfect that it is right now. The movie would also totally become the Joker's movie, and Batman merely a sideshow. The Joker and even Harvey Dent... hands down stole the show. This movie is going to be one of the all time greatest films to ever be put on screen. Props to Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart for playing unbelievable roles.

For a more in-depth review:
http://atouchofmelancholy.com/blog/?p=499

 

[El Payaso]

I read that Nolan didn't want to portray the Joker's origin so the character would remain "absolute." I think it was pretty smart to do so, because if they did show his origins, it would have made the movie less perfect that it is right now. The movie would also totally become the Joker's movie, and Batman became the supporting cast. As it stood when I finished watching the movie, it indeed was the Joker's, and even Harvey Dent's movie. Batman was just the supporting cast. It was good then that they called the movie "The Dark Knight" instead of having any Batman in it. Still, the movie is going to be one of the all time greatest to ever be put on screen. Props to Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart for playing unbelievable roles.

I agree with you about Batman being another character in the whole. And it's nothing of a bad thing btw.

I can't express how perfect the Dent/Two face story is in this movie.

 

[Mdizzle]

Thank God Goyer was out of the dialogues. And it shows. Jonathan Nolan's script is genius. The acting is genius. Oldman, Eckhardt, Caine, Ledger, Gyllenhall, Bale and Freeman are very very good.

Amazing movie. After almost 20 ytears finally something that's worthy of all my praise about superhero movies.

10/10

I was certainly pleased with the supporting cast...Gary Oldman shines as Jim Gordon.

I also like the fact that TDK and its characters didn't come across as "cartoony" and "comic bookish" per se...it had characters and relationships from the comics but certainly had a very real feel to he movie. The "terrorist" comparison that someone mentioned when referring to the Joker - I felt it worked in this movie, because it helped root his character in our society and create a very credible on-screen presence.

 

[LightningFlash]

People will hate me for this, but after watching it for the second time, I must admit that I enjoyed Batman Begins a BIT more.

Yes, people can say, "But you watched it twice??", blah-blah-blah. So? I watch a lot of movies at least twice in the theatres, to understand the movie more and I think, even though TDK is a great movie, BB is a little bit better. I, for one, have the thought that Nolan wanted to have the story more about Joker and Harvey "Two-Face" Dent, and it's true; Bruce Wayne/Batman had a better story in BB.

 

[LostGuy]

I was certainly pleased with the supporting cast...Gary Oldman shines as Jim Gordon.

I also like the fact that TDK and its characters didn't come across as "cartoony" and "comic bookish" per se...it had characters and relationships from the comics but certainly had a very real feel to he movie. The "terrorist" comparison that someone mentioned when referring to the Joker - I felt it worked in this movie, because it helped root his character in our society and create a very credible on-screen presence.

I totally agree with you about Oldman/Gordon. IMHO, his character is the most rational and really loyal to his beliefs. I mean, he has to deal with Batman AND the Joker, he hopes that Dent can do his job but has to face that even the White Knight may have a dark side, he is betrayed by his colleagues, he has to face his family being threatened by the man he and Batman believed could bring hope to Gotham and, finally, he ends up having to lie about Batman, about what is right, to give some hope to the people of Gotham. The power of Gordon's speech in the end, while Batman escapes... man, it's awesome.

And I also agree with about the terrorist comparison, although I don't know if anyone can be really shocked after seeing his deeds in the movie. I mean, in the world we live in, what he does is not more than what have seen somehow. If he had blown up a hospital full of people (including old people and babies) or if Two-Face had blowed up little Jim Gordon with that gun, I might have get shocked. And that's what really scared me: that I had to see MORE violence to get shocked.

 

[The Guard]

Bale may make a better physical rendition of Bruce Wayne/Batman, and his rasping Batman voice may be a better approach overall, but let’s face is, his execution of the Batman persona is many times pretty subpar because of this approach. Keaton’s voice, like it or not, his calm, cool whispering, was appropriate for the character and his scenes. Bale just apparently has no idea what he’s doing half the time, and it’s painful to watch in certain sequences. He did a much better job with the voice in BATMAN BEGINS. This time around, it sounds like Christian Bale trying to force a different voice. It’s pathetic than an actor of Bale’s caliber can’t come up with some consistent way to read his dialogue, and it’s even worse that Nolan doesn’t seem to care that his lead actor, his hero, in one of the biggest superhero movies EVER, sounds like a complete tool when he’s trying to be dramatic. I don’t understand how so many takes go by with no one realizing this. Were there scenes where the voice works? Sure, but Bale seems to have no idea when to use which inflection. It's like he doesn't know whether to yell or whisper, and worse, like he almost can't control it.

 

[Va3H]

I, might, in fact, be the only one who likes Bale's voice as Batman.

 

[bunk]

Bale may make a better physical rendition of Bruce Wayne/Batman, and his rasping Batman voice may be a better approach overall, but let’s face is, his execution of the Batman persona is many times pretty subpar because of this approach. Keaton’s voice, like it or not, his calm, cool whispering, was appropriate for the character and his scenes. Bale just apparently has no idea what he’s doing half the time, and it’s painful to watch in certain sequences. He did a much better job with the voice in BATMAN BEGINS. This time around, it sounds like Christian Bale trying to force a different voice. It’s pathetic than an actor of Bale’s caliber can’t come up with some consistent way to read his dialogue, and it’s even worse that Nolan doesn’t seem to care that his lead actor, his hero, in one of the biggest superhero movies EVER, sounds like a complete tool when he’s trying to be dramatic. I don’t understand how so many takes go by with no one realizing this. Were there scenes where the voice works? Sure, but Bale seems to have no idea when to use which inflection. It's like he doesn't know whether to yell or whisper, and worse, like he almost can't control it.

Certainly the biggest blunder of this movie was Bale's voice. It's really too bad, because the whisper voice he sometimes used in Begins worked perfectly in my opinion. I really don't get how Bale was allowed to do what he did in this movie and not have someone realize it's ineffectiveness.

 

[Borat]

I, might, in fact, be the only one who likes Bale's voice as Batman.

I love the voice as well. When I first saw TDK I didn't like it as much. But after watching it a second time theres only two lines that actually bothered me. Besides that I love his voice.

 

[LostGuy]

I, might, in fact, be the only one who likes Bale's voice as Batman.

That makes two of us.

 

[Fenrir]

After watching TDK, I think I'm so used to Bale's raspy growl that I'll have a hard time watching Batman without it. I remember watching Gotham Knight and even Conroy's voice seemed to soft for Batman to me now. As for Keaton, sure, in some scenes where he has this cold whisper it works really well, but there's no way that kind of voice would've worked to portray the emotion in some of the scenes in TDK. I mean, can you imagine Keaton's voice coming anywhere close to expressing the pure rage and terror in the manner Bale does when he screams at The Joker "Wheeerrrre are they?!"? And even though there is some inconsistency here and there, overall Bale's voice works really, really well. It makes Batman seem an otherwordly creature at times, highlighting the manic ferocity of the character. Not to mention Bale sounds great in certain quieter moments of the film as well - like when he says Harvey's stand against corruption in Gotham is the one ray of light for Gotham in decades and the end scene when he says "because you were the best of us". I can't imagine Keaton's cold delivery would give anywhere near as much emotional intensity to such a scene the way Bale did.

 

[-Arya-]

That makes two of us.

Make it 3. His voice in TDK was done much better than in BB IMO of course.

 

[Theweepeople]

I also, liked Bale's voice as Batman in TDK. Though it sounded better in Batman Begins. Still it sounds more menacing than anytime Keaton wore the mask. His voice sounded okay in Batman 89 but, in Batman Returns it was laughable. Especially in all the scenes with Catwoman. What took her so long to figure out the man she was dating was Batman?

 

[HiPPiE]

After seeing it a second time I can understand why some hate Bale's voice.

I don't have a huge problem with it....It seems like he took the "Swear to me" voice and ran with it....Would have liked it more if he had brought it down a notch during his speech to Harvey but it's not a huge drawback to the film.

 

[squeekness]

I, might, in fact, be the only one who likes Bale's voice as Batman.

Nope. I did, too.

 

[Fenrir]

That makes two of us.

Me three. Bale's Batman voice rocks. The only time it seemed a little "off" in the film when he says "this city showed you that it's full of people who are ready to believe in gooooood". Must also be because of the awkward face expression. But then again, Keaton also sounded pretty dumb when he said "excuse me, did you ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?", "how much do you weigh?" and "you weigh a little more than 108". So it's not like Bale was up against some flawless competition.

Oh and may I take this opportunity to once again state that Kevin Conroy sucked as Batman in Gotham Knight. It's nowhere as good as his work in say, Mask of The Phantasm. I mean...what happened? Did...did his balls drop off?

 

[Mike]

Third!!! Bales growl is awesome in TDK. Everyone may have their own opinion about the growl, but most of you are missing the point. Batman is a freaking urban legend, a boogeyman to criminals. He's a monster, not the cool clint eastwood type. I for one love Bales take on Batman/Bruce Wayne. Oh and TDK kicked all sorts of ass. It didnt even feel like a comic book movie. The movie kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. But does anyone else feel somewhat depressed and sad after the movie. I've never had that type a feeling for a movie but have an appreciation and love for the movie. And on a side note the hype surrounding Ledger's performance is true. I felt guilty for laughing at most of his jokes. But the one who really stood out was Gary Oldman.​

 

[El Payaso]

I was certainly pleased with the supporting cast...Gary Oldman shines as Jim Gordon.

I also like the fact that TDK and its characters didn't come across as "cartoony" and "comic bookish" per se...it had characters and relationships from the comics but certainly had a very real feel to he movie. The "terrorist" comparison that someone mentioned when referring to the Joker - I felt it worked in this movie, because it helped root his character in our society and create a very credible on-screen presence.

Everything was so distant from cartoony it's incredible. I'd say this had more flesh than the comic books themselves, or most of them.

And yes, the Joker in this movie is a terrorist, driven by his own personal cause: chaos.