The Dark Knight The Dark Knight Fan Review Thread

How Do You Rate The Dark Knight?

  • 10 - The praise isn't a matter of hyperbole. Get your keister to the theater to see this NOW! :up:

  • 9

  • 8

  • 7

  • 6

  • 5 - We had to endure the boards crashing for this? :dry:

  • 4

  • 3

  • 2

  • 1 - They should have stopped while they were ahead with Batman Begins. :down


Results are only viewable after voting.
Seriously you guys are just fanboys...The movie was good but no to the extent you guys are hyping it up to be.
 
The movie opens next friday here in Finland so I've been avoiding these boards like a plague.

I only have two questions

1) The white lenses. Hot or not? Do they look cool?

2) Are there any actual bats in the movie? Well, I guess there's no actual bats...but are there any CGI bats like in Begins?

1) They didn't look that good to me...Maybe they needed to be a bit "smaller" but I appreciated their inclusion. That way fanboys can stop b***ing about Batman having lenses in the movies.

2) The bats...? Um, I don't recall any bats. Then again, there was no BatCave this time around, so that makes sense. :oldrazz:
 
In the batcave obviously...

Seriously There are alot of members overrating this movie, I went and I expected to see what I was gonna see. Nothing surprised me.

You guys act as if you never seen a freakin movie where crap gets blown up all the time, god get off heath ledgers nuts.
 
Seriously you guys are just fanboys...The movie was good but no to the extent you guys are hyping it up to be.
Oh thank God you finally came in here and told us what our opinions should be. I was worried for a second there that people might actually make up their own minds on how good they thought the movie was. That's just unacceptable.
 
Alright, I said screw it and went this morning at 9am despite being on call for work.
I thought the movie was excellent.
Being in law enforcement, I noticed a few things that were total BS, but just shrugged and let them slide. One example-when the detective came back and said that the Joker card had 3 people's DNA-the Judge, the Police Chief and Harvey Dent...that is total BS. Where would they have gotten these people's DNA to match it with, is it a requirement in Gotham to have city officials give samples of their DNA or something?! Another was getting the fingerprint off the bullet that lead to the apartment with the guys tied up. He was testing the bullet, not the casing which had the print...so WTF? But, again, I tried to shrug it off, since this is a comic movie after all.

I was very impressed with Ledger. When I heard he was going to be the Joker, I hated the idea of it and named at least 3 people I thought were more suited for the role. Well, Ledger won me over with his sick portrayal. I only wish he could be alive to reprise the role in a sequel down the road, but maybe its better this way. Not once did I say "see..._______ wouldnt have done that and it would have been much better, screw Heath Ledger!" and I had expected to.

Oldman was impressive as always.
Batman's fighting style was very good. I noticed moves from a few different arts, all of which I would expect him to use, based on both real life abilities and what I have seen in the comics. Go back and watch "Batman and Robin" and you see backflips and crap that Jackie Chan does...definitely over the top and not what you would expect from the Bat. That was definitely great.

Story was great-complex, but not hard to follow for any average person and definitely interesting because it was full of twists and turns. You can tell they didn't just throw a script together just for the sake of getting a sequel out and making some money.

I was a bit disappointed with the ending though. Can't explain why, but it left me a little bit empty. I dont have to have a happy ending, this isnt Disney, but I needed something more than they gave. I will see it again, so I kind of expect to change my mind on this.

I wasn't crazy about the cell phone-sonar deal.

Of course when it was over...I was mad again...because Daredevil could have been that good.
Oh and dont forget there were special appearances by Spawn and D-bo!!!!!!!
 
“Holy Multi-Genre Batman!”
By Matthew J.

In physics we are taught about the light spectrum. It is a continuum that goes from all colors at once (white), to the absence of color all together (black). In Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” the screenplay tells us that this idea can’t be related to the society we live in. In the follow up to 2005’s highly successful “Batman Begins,” the more experienced Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is still on his quest to rid Gotham City of corruption and criminal activity. Wayne believes that he, along with the charismatic new DA Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), can shine light on the darkness that has overcome Gotham. Seems easy enough as long as he can be a step ahead of the mob in terms of the weaponry it will take to win the battle. And trust me he is way ahead of them.

Enter the Joker who challenges the seemingly easy equation of smoking out the mob. This incarnation of Batman’s most formidable foe is unlike his predecessors in that he is in the mix solely for the thrill of the game. He doesn’t care about the money or the power that comes from being a villain. He is here to show us that good vs. evil isn’t so clean cut. There are moments in this film where morality is questioned within the criminal fraternity and when the forces of good tend to go beyond bending the rules, and commit acts that “good guys” aren’t supposed to do.

Nolan and his brother Jonathan have written a script that shows us that it is near impossible to be at either the white or the black end of the spectrum. Some of us are red, while others are blue, and in the Joker’s case, green. Thus we have an amazing cast that provides various color to different characters who remind us that life is more complex than black and white. As usual Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman provide exceptional performances as Alfred Pennyworth and Lucius Fox respectively. Both characters have to face tough personal decisions that will affect Wayne’s storyline. Gary Oldman returns with a more well-rounded character than in “Begins.” His portrayal of head of Major Crime Unit Jim Gordon is the most thoughtful and human character in the film.

But it doesn’t stop there. Some colors are absent from the spectrum and are created by mixtures of multiple colors. Here we have Wayne/Batman and Dent who see each other as admirable symbols. The trouble comes when the Joker confronts they’re beliefs and makes them face dilemmas that could threaten the standards that they have set for themselves. The focal point is Dent who, really not until the end do we notice, the Joker and Batman are competing for. After countless games the Joker makes Gordon, Dent, and Batman play, it would be easy for anyone to give up. This triumvirate, however, doesn’t get a chance to give up even if they wanted to. The Joker endlessly has something up his sleeve until one of these men is driven to the edge of his sanity.

The film is driven by the performance of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker. Many have cited it as the best Joker, even topping Jack Nicholson’s in Tim Burton’s original version. I believe that Ledger draws more similarities to Nicholson’s performance than people might think. Critics have focused on the deranged, sadistic side that Ledger portrays. If you look, however, at the comic relief that Ledger provides, it bares resemblance to a Nicholson-esque performance. He is a true villain who finds just as many problems with organized crime as he does with crime fighters such as Batman, if not more. Ledger is so buried in this character that you can’t help wonder what might have been. And those who have been throwing the word “Oscar” around may not be far off.

The film itself is a mixture of “colors” on the film genre spectrum. The Batman universe is and will always be included in the superhero genre. What we are beginning to see, though, is that directors are breaking free of this category and expanding into others. Their films are becoming more about character study’s than they are about visual effects or simply planning the next sequel. There were times throughout TDK that I felt the suspense that one might get from a horror film. The Joker’s presence is so eerie that you can’t help feel that Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers might pop out at any time.

Of course we can’t ignore the gangster mentality that the film portrays. Eric Roberts is the ringleader of a 21st century type of mob that becomes a concern for both Batman and the Joker. Comparisons have been made to “Heat” and “The Godfather II.” While this isn’t a “Gangster” movie, it is structured similarly as one and certainly plays to the same type of strengths.

Finally, Nolan has brought Batman back to what he was originally intended for: Film Noir. The Pulp Fiction that Batman was created in is set up perfectly here. Batman has gone back to his roots by utilizing the one true superpower he has: detective work. As Bruce Wayne, he takes the time to investigate clues and evidence, which some might argue, takes more skill than fighting off untrained Joker goons. The scene that best demonstrates Nolan’s neo-Film Noir is one in which the Joker and Batman finally get a face-to-face discussion and the Joker reveals that it is not about destroying Batman, but preserving him. Because without him, the Joker himself would not exist.

While I don’t recommend this for children under 14, it is definitely the must-see film event of the year. Nolan has a style that perfectly demonstrates the pros and cons of the human spirit. And he does ever so subtly. As in his previous installment, he creates villains in which we can learn from just as much as the hero. And not to discredit Batman himself. We learn why in fact he is labled the “Dark Knight”: “He is a hero…because he isn’t a hero.” The film displays an ethos that few superhero movies dare to touch.

This also might be the best looking movie of the year. While I’m sure it will look fine in conventional theaters, you should really do yourself the favor of buying your IMAX tickets (once showtimes are again available at IMAX theaters). The action sequences in TDK are state of the art and in some instances revolutionary in motion picture history. Say what you want about the “Sonar” sequences. If this bothers you than you might be focusing on the wrong aspects of what this film is trying to accomplish. Nolan has opened the doors to a new type of realism and for sake of the future of the film industry, I hope it is here to stay.
 
Not enough joker,, thats the only reason I'll give this movie 9.9 out of 10
 
Oh thank God you finally came in here and told us what our opinions should be. I was worried for a second there that people might actually make up their own minds on how good they thought the movie was. That's just unacceptable.

Don't get mad, hell You people are simply overrating this..Heath didn't even have a lot of scenes.

You act as if you never seen a freakin movie with a maniac that just blows crap up..What is wrong with you people? Has America lost it's mind? Heath did a good job but nothing extrordinary.
 
Don't get mad, hell You people are simply overrating this..Heath didn't even have a lot of scenes.

You act as if you never seen a freakin movie with a maniac that just blows crap up..What is wrong with you people? Has America lost it's mind? Heath did a good job but nothing extrordinary.

IYOP ofcourse.
 
Don't get mad, hell You people are simply overrating this..Heath didn't even have a lot of scenes.

You act as if you never seen a freakin movie with a maniac that just blows crap up..What is wrong with you people? Has America lost it's mind? Heath did a good job but nothing extrordinary.

Don't speak of your opinion as fact. And there are countries outside the USA. And they love the film, as well.
 
I actually bought Maggie Gylenhaal but couldn't with Katie Holmes which is funny since Holmes had the meatier role and Gylenhaal was just a plot device. Both were the weakest links but I felt Gylenhaal put a little more effort into selling the role and actually made me feel something for Rachel Dawes compared to Holmes.

I'm undecided about Dawes...but I'm inclined to favour Maggie Gyllenhaal's performance, just because she seemed to offer more depth to the character imo. I don't know, personally I wasn't a fan of the character to begin with, but as an actor, I prefer Gyllenhaal to Holmes. For some reason I felt Dawes in Begins was always on the defensive...just a thought.
 
I went to a 2:15am showing friday morning and end up loving this movie, I would give this film a 4 in a half out of 5 stars only because of two-face dieing and batman's voice. Heath Ledger was better than I expected and I don't want to see another joker ever again. I actually enjoyed the villains in this movie more than batman,lol,but the introduction of the bat pod is siiiiiiiiiiiiiick. Will be seeing it again later on in the week, I still have to calm down from seeing it the first time. This is not only a great movie but also a great sequel,right up there with Terminator 2 and Aliens.
 
I was a bit disappointed with the ending though. Can't explain why, but it left me a little bit empty. I dont have to have a happy ending, this isnt Disney, but I needed something more than they gave. I will see it again, so I kind of expect to change my mind on this.

I think a lot of my disappointment at the end stemmed from the fact that Ledger's Joker left me wanting more...and I obviously we won't be seeing anymore in this regard. As for the darker ending, I kind of liked it, certainly leaves things to be worked out in the next installment. I almost felt sad at the end, heh.
 
I think a lot of my disappointment at the end stemmed from the fact that Ledger's Joker left me wanting more...and I obviously we won't be seeing anymore in this regard. As for the darker ending, I kind of liked it, certainly leaves things to be worked out in the next installment. I almost felt sad at the end, heh.

Maybe that is where I am with it too (hating the loss of the Joker)...not sure just yet.
But yeah, I may appreciate the ending more the 2nd time...being open and having the police turn on Batman and all.
 
Maybe that is where I am with it too (hating the loss of the Joker)...not sure just yet.
But yeah, I may appreciate the ending more the 2nd time...being open and having the police turn on Batman and all.

Also, the tone of the movie was dark from the get-go...maybe somehow we're used to see things get wrapped up in a positive way in the end? There were several lost in this movie - Gyllenhaal (but I'm not too concerned about that, and I think others will agree), Eckhart arguably (some will debate his death), and Heath/Joker too really, seeing as he won't be back...argh I'm definitely mourning the Joker!
 
I chose to wait until I saw the film three times before posting here to express my thoughts on the movie. This is simply because with the first showing I could not find the words to convey what I went through in viewing this movie and I wanted to be critical.

First off, I truly believe that Nolan has given us a film that is not only very good but lends credence to the genre as well. This is because, in this movie, all characters are given weight and substance that is in general terms absent from other movies of it's ilk. His portrayal has brought a level of complexity and seriousness to a long overlooked medium. Hopefully Watchmen can accomplish half of what has occurred here. The acting is top notch, and everyone treats their character with the seriousness that those characters deserve. Especially Ledger! He is quite literally the personification of chaos. I have never felt so gleefully disturbed in a character before. He made me laugh and then immediately feel guilty for finding what he did funny.

Essentially, I think we are supposed to view this film through Gordon's eyes. We are the noble police Lt. caught up in a world that is slightly beyond our understanding but one we are forced to deal with none the less. I think this explained the pacing of the film that others have had problems with. The pacing increases the tension, making us wish for the happy ending that never arrives, which I think parallels the Gordon arch.

I Have seen many complaints about the fighting and technology used in the movie. I think these issues are a vast improvement over BB. For example, the skyhook thing is an actual program that was used in the past.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_surface-to-air_recovery_system

The fighting style was both frenetic and well executed, and as someone how has studied this for quite some time, makes complete and absolute sense to me. I still cringe at watching the old Burton/Schumacker versions whenever a confrontation occurs.

I think it is really impossible to take this film as a singular portrayal of the Batman character. For me this movie increases and augments Begins for me. It simply makes Begins that much better as we are exposed to more of the world of Gotham.

I have not been this effected since I first saw the Empire Strikes Back in the theater as a kid. I am generally not one for repeated viewings of films. This one begs for further immersion into the story. I didn't think that I would ever give a movie a 10, perfection is a mathematical impossibility, and this film DOES HAVE ITS SHARE OF SLIGHT FLAWS, however I truly believe that I have finally been given the comic book film I have always wanted to see. This is Batman.
 
I enjoyed the movie there were some awesome action scenes & plenty of funny laugh out loud moments that will be funny no matter how many times you see the movie but a few things annoyed me. I hated Batman's voice this time sure it was great for scenes like when he is question the Joker with the cops watching the whole thing but it would have been better if Bale spiced up the voice a bit the voice got very annoying & another thing that bugged me is they used the same damn music track for the action scenes. Sure they were remixes but the main music was the same & me being the Orchestra & Choir & Movie Music fan that I am that really annoyed me but it did not take away from enjoying the movie
 
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