The Dark Knight The Dark Knight Fan Review Thread

[Sharkboy]

I just came from seein it, and there is only one word to describe it........AMAZING.
What an amazing movie, simply put, the best comic book movies ever (Lee´s Hulk was dethroned).
Everything was top notch, every acting was perfect (i still don´t like Maggie Gyllenhaal), the plot was incredible...i can´t stop loving this movie to death.
Serious, adult....perfect.....now that´s a comic book movie.

Not really a flaw, but the same thing as in the first movie, Batman is still not The Batman; and the Joker needed something more to be The Joker.
The characters were still a bit off, but then again, no comic book movie so far can´t really capture the character to perfection.

Hey, but i´m cool, the Thumbler is no more, so, i guess, in the 3rd movie, we can see the real Batmobile.
And, did anyone notice when Lucious Fox asked about contracts with the government?
I guess that´s a wink to Justice League, just like Nick Fury appearing in Iron Man.

The only scene i didn´t liked was the first enterence of Batman, the Scarecrow was poorly used.

No. You're Wrong.

 

[Mike059jig]

I just watched it again and in the interrogation room scene.....when the joker says "and tonight you're gonna break you one rule" he did it in batman's voice......LMAO...what a scene

 

[Conebone69]

New review after second viewing:

Ok, some of the problems that I had before grew on me the second time around but there are still some that remain and unfortunatly one new one. When I actually deeply look at the film it is a well told story. But the ONE new problem that I noticed was the movie kind of drifts away from bruce and focuses more on gotham. And when I think about it, thats probably one of the main reasons why I didnt give it a 9 or a 10. I still didnt like the ending that much or how they wasted a couple characters. But all in all its a very good movie

Basically heres all the complaints I had and now feel about after a second viewing:

1. Two-Faces look - Got over it a little but he still could of looked less exagerated

2. Feel of the movie - It grew on me and I think its a visually amazing movie

3. Cell phone device/white eyes - Got over it, but batman's white eyes deffinetly could of looked cooler

4. Waster characters - Still think they wasted two-face and scarecrow

5. Batpod flip off wall - Its a little nitpick but to me it still looks ridiculous

6. Ending - still dragged a little and was studden. To me it didnt feel like it wrapped everything up nicely

- 8.5/10

 

[Jkr]

New review after second viewing:

Ok, some of the problems that I had before grew on me the second time around but there are still some that remain and unfortunatly one new one. When I actually deeply look at the film it is a well told story. But the ONE new problem that I noticed was the movie kind of drifts away from bruce and focuses more on gotham. And when I think about it, thats probably one of the main reasons why I didnt give it a 9 or a 10. I still didnt like the ending that much or how they wasted a couple characters. But all in all its a very good movie

Basically heres all the complaints I had and now feel about after a second viewing:

1. Two-Faces look - Got over it a little but he still could of looked less exagerated

2. Feel of the movie - It grew on me and I think its a visually amazing movie

3. Cell phone device/white eyes - Got over it, but batman's white eyes deffinetly could of looked cooler

4. Waster characters - Still think they wasted two-face and scarecrow

5. Batpod flip off wall - Its a little nitpick but to me it still looks ridiculous

6. Ending - still dragged a little and was studden. To me it didnt feel like it wrapped everything up nicely

- 8.5/10

I've seen the film about 40 times now, literally. I can see your points but got a few disagreements. The first one on Two-Face. Have you seen his concept art/cartoon/comic appearences? I'd say TDK toned him down and tried to make him more realisic (batman tas, where TF still has eyebrows wtf). When it comes to being burn like that, that's hard to make realistic in a film. But if you consider what would happen in real life, man, that's not gonna be pretty. Especially with the addition of gasoline to the fire. But his TDK appearence to the side a bit, thank god we don't have Tommy Lee's Two-Face.

Agree with you on 2 and 3. Some of it did get that way after a few watches. Definately agree with you on 4. That's like spitting in the characters' face. But Nolan's gotta have a reason for it. Biggest character disappointment was Scarecrow's very short screen time and (once again) easy capture. But it did balance out the screen time for bats/joker/two-face so it worked I guess.

The fifth one, the whole batpod flip took me by surprise. But if you try and put yourself in Nolan's head, it was either slow down (like the tumbler does) and slowly smack into the wall then look like a moron to the joker, or just crash into it head first and probably gain a friend out of joker for the insanity of it. Or he just did the flip to be ready for the "playing chicken" scene.

Number six I kind of disagree. I don't think they wanted to wrap the film up, more to make it a set up for the next film, meaning no "wrap up" needed. But since there were no new characters to introduce at the very end (like in BB), it seems like they just focused on "this is what to expect of gotham/batman in the next film".

------

Now all in all this movie's "flaws" may as well be non-existent. With how completely flawless Ledger's acting was, with the dark obscurity of Two-Face and getting to see an even darker side to Bats; it all makes the flaws seem insignificant. Even with how many people are praising the film, and the few who want to give it a bad review (like that kid on RT), it's honestly one of the best films of all time. Nolan resurrected Batman in films. Burton's was great, Nolan's is a masterpiece. And to be honest, anyone who didn't like the film or are giving it 1's are only doing so to be different. So to those people I say; if you think the film's so bad, let's see you do better.

 

[GregComicFan]

I saw the movie for the second time tonight....

the only scene Im a little lost on is the tiny scene between Bruce and Lucius where Lucius questions if Bruce had R&D moved or something like that, and if he has government contracts now....

can someone explain that scene to me, please? thanks

Greg

 

[Figs]

I saw the movie for the second time tonight....

the only scene Im a little lost on is the tiny scene between Bruce and Lucius where Lucius questions if Bruce had R&D moved or something like that, and if he has government contracts now....

can someone explain that scene to me, please? thanks

Greg

It was Bruce/Batman setting up that sonar network he uses in the end of the film. He tells Lucious that he's playing this one close to his chest because he doesn't want to tell him about it yet. Most likely because it wasn't complete at that point.

 

[Gianakin_]

I saw the movie for the second time tonight....

the only scene Im a little lost on is the tiny scene between Bruce and Lucius where Lucius questions if Bruce had R&D moved or something like that, and if he has government contracts now....

can someone explain that scene to me, please? thanks

Greg

When Reese told Fox about money going into an R&D project, Lucious asked Bruce about it. Bruce told him that there is a projects going on, indeed, but he doesn't want to tell Lucious. Instead, he tells him that it's about a collaboration with the government.
Then, when the 2 barges are being filled with civilians and prisoners, Fox's secretary tells him about a security breach in R&D. Fox goes and sees the big screen from where you can see all of Gotham throught the citizens' cell phones. Batman had, of course, created that screen and that network by using Fox's sonar technology.

 

[Vile]

When Bats reveals the massive sonar-cellphone-detecting machine I was hoping for he and Lucius to have it out more verbally, rather than Fox being all, "...well, alright then."

 

[Episode29]

We all knew The Dark Knight was on its way. The viral marketing and media-fuelled hype guaranteed that even the peaceful fish-mongers of Bora-Bora were smearing lipstick across their lips and asking each other “Why so serious?”. We’ve followed each new superhero entry this summer, surprised each time at what well made entertainments they’ve been (Except Hancock). But there was no way that The Dark Knight would be able to withstand the hype-driven frenzy and deliver on the scale that Hellboy II and Iron Man did, was there?
Well, imagine my thankful surprise when The Dark Knight, helmed by returning director Christopher Nolan, blew past my sky-rocketed expectations akin to the Batmobile charging through the Axis Chemicals factory. I
apologize for the esoteric reference, but this is a film that had every neuron of my movie-nerd/Batman-fanatic brain exploding like Canada Day fireworks.

The Dark Knight is a gritty, epic-sized crime story that dispenses with almost all of the established strengths of Batman Begins, leaving only the central cast and a few remaining story bits. Now we are reintroduced to a much brighter and realistic Gotham City, which looks suspiciously like Chicago. Crime has been on the low since Bruce Wayne, posing as the shadowy Batman, (Christian Bale) took on the job of city watchdog, and the recent arrival of hot-shot District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) holds great promise for a prosperous future.

However, a new threat has emerged in the form of a shuffling, tongue-wagging psychopathic clown, with a telephone-pervert voice, known only as the Joker (Heath Ledger). Aligning himself with the desperate remainder of Gotham’s mob leaders, Joker, who lacks any desire for superficial profiteering, is determined to reduce Gotham City to a state of pure chaos and anarchy. Why? Because it’s just SO much fun, silly! To combat the problem, Batman, the diligent Lieutenant Gordon (Gary Oldman) and golden-boy D.A. Dent create a union to work towards capturing the Joker and restoring order to their increasingly frenzied city. They are aided, in varying degrees (and often unknowingly), by Bruce’s former love interest (And Harvey’s current squeeze) Assistant A.D. Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal – taking over for Begins’ Katie Holmes), Bruce’s loyal butler Alfred (Michael Caine) and Wayne Corp. president Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman).

Co-writer/director Christopher Nolan uses these events, and brilliantly illustrated characters, as a means to explore serious moral and ethical ideas regarding justice and power. Batman may have noble intentions, but he is also a magnet for deranged lunatics who will only further hurt the people that he has sworn to protect. As well, the relationship between him, Gordon and Dent has shades of The Treasure of The Sierra Madre in how a pact between assenting minds can lead to tragedy and unfortunate ethical compromises. There is a lot of action, including a spectacularly explosive French Connection-inspired chase (with the best physical and CG effects I’ve seen in eons), in The Dark Knight, but there are also negative repercussions associated with it, and Nolan doesn’t shrink away from putting his characters through emotional and physical pain. There are few great triumphs here, in fact the end results fall more into semi-failure territory. Yet, Nolan underscores the importance in the moral victory underneath the apparent misfortune. The ending, a bleak development, is more satisfying that most action films, as we feel like we’ve taken a journey through the character’s psyches and fully comprehend the themes and ethical resolutions that Nolan is imparting.

And yet, despite all the moody heaviness, The Dark Knight is the most exhilarating movie-going experience of the summer. Credit has to go to Heath Ledger, who has created the definitive on-screen portrait of the Joker. Unlike Jack Nicholson, who provided an amped-up exaggeration of his own bad-boy persona, Ledger simply disappears underneath the matted on grease-paint. His Joker is terrifying and blackly funny (His “Magic Pencil” trick is a moment of virtuoso genius), a “dog chasing cars” who casts a spell on the audience every time he prowls into frame. His final scene, which effortlessly captures the truth behind his and Batman’s relationship is an exhausting, yet inspired success. I don’t feel I’m going too far into hyperbole-land in stating that he is a classic villain for the ages, alongside Darth Vader, The Wicked Witch of the West, Norman Bates and Hannibal Lecter. You just wait and see.

Christian Bale continues to erase painful memories of George Clooney and Val Kilmer. He makes us experience the internal turmoil of Bruce/Batman, and feel his frustrations – Especially in the film’s best scene, a captivating interrogation room scuffle between him and Joker. Special attention must also go to Aaron Eckhart, who makes Harvey Dent’s fall from grace positively heart-breaking. It was a masterstroke to build the central narrative around Harvey Dent, as the added exposure builds up our trust and faith in the character, making his physical and emotional damage Shakespearean in scope and effect. Eckhart, as Two-Face, doesn’t give as showy a performance as Ledger, but it is still an equally riveting creation.

Gary Oldman, the most unfairly ignored of the central cast, gives an equally powerful understated performance. His Jim Gordon is sturdy and overburdened, and we can feel the weight dragging him down. He is the true source of strength in the picture, and the most relatable to the audience. Also, Maggie Gyllenhaal adds an affecting gravitas to her Rachel Dawes. We can understand why both Bale and Dent are attracted to her brainy resourcefulness, and why her fateful developments are so powerful. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman have the thankless jobs of exposition readers, but handle the chore with aplomb. Caine has some inspired moments involving a sensitive letter, as well as a terrific monologue regarding an unconventional bandit.

Attempting to explain the magnificence of The Dark Knight in such an economical number of words is nearly impossible. It’s among the finest works of recent mainstream cinematic art I’ve witnessed, and easily the most intellectually fascinating entry in the ever-broadening genre of superhero films. I’m actually nervous about how Nolan will (If he comes back) be able to even come close to matching the quality and inventiveness seen in The Dark Knight. I’ve seen it twice now, and each time I’ve emerged from the theatre tingling with excitement, in a state of wondrous awe. ...And with a big smile plastered across my Joker-loving face.

5 out of 5

P.S.: I love how Nolan keeps resurrecting washed-up former toughguys for these films. First it was Rutger Hauer in Begins, now Eric Roberts! I think it's time to bring my homeboy Steven Seagal in for part 3!

 

[RoboAmish]

I'll try writing a proper review when I'm able to string together a few coherent sentences after that masterpiece blew my mind...

 

[John Connor]

i'm not so sure that Dent is really dead

 

[Darkfly]

New review after second viewing:

Ok, some of the problems that I had before grew on me the second time around but there are still some that remain and unfortunatly one new one. When I actually deeply look at the film it is a well told story. But the ONE new problem that I noticed was the movie kind of drifts away from bruce and focuses more on gotham. And when I think about it, thats probably one of the main reasons why I didnt give it a 9 or a 10. I still didnt like the ending that much or how they wasted a couple characters. But all in all its a very good movie

Basically heres all the complaints I had and now feel about after a second viewing:

1. Two-Faces look - Got over it a little but he still could of looked less exagerated

2. Feel of the movie - It grew on me and I think its a visually amazing movie

3. Cell phone device/white eyes - Got over it, but batman's white eyes deffinetly could of looked cooler

4. Waster characters - Still think they wasted two-face and scarecrow

5. Batpod flip off wall - Its a little nitpick but to me it still looks ridiculous

6. Ending - still dragged a little and was studden. To me it didnt feel like it wrapped everything up nicely

- 8.5/10

Snap, those are pretty much the exact problems I had with it, though I still can't get over the sonar system bit but I gave it a 9/10.



And to everybody else hoping, let's face it Harvey's dead. A serious dark film like this would never pull a "oh wait he's not dead but alive secretly hidden somewhere, cover up BS" especially from a director like Nolan, never gonna happen.

 

[wikum]

I just watched this on Imax yesterday and this film is totally made for Imax in all ways....because it adds to the film sooo much.

Example....the fight scenes look quite slow on a normal screen...watch them in Imax and they come alive. Plus the definition of all the overhead shots are a treat.

I rated this film a 9 on my first viewing...after seeing it in Imax i rate it more like 9.5/10. The sad thing is we can't all have our own Imax cinema at home to watch this film on...because it truly does deserve to be watched in this format to get the total package.

 

[Hello Beautiful]

I travelled halfway across the world to see this in IMAX on opening day at midnight and it was thankfully all I was hoping for!

Heath truly was ledgerndary in the role. Every second on screen you were gripped and it was the subtler moments I enjoyed most. Those even with no dialogue. Case in point: when the Chechan says he wants to hear The Joker's 'proposal' and there is a brief shot of The Joker looking at Gamble, then he licks his lips and points to the Chechan - breathtaking.

Agree with many though that it is almost too much to take in at first and because of this, enjoyed my second IMAX viewing a great deal more.

10/10

 

[Naite22]

The first viewing of this movie was an adrenaline rush of excitement. But after seeing the movie three times now, I can make a proper review as I feel all the details and plot points have sunk in thoroughly now.

Heath Ledger was quite simply stunning as the Joker. Every second he was on screen he just grabbed your attention with an iron grip and he never let go. From that first shot of him removing his clown mask in the bank and revealing his face, to the final shot of him swinging upside down and laughing manically, he was a force of villainy that tops anything we’ve seen with a comic book movie villain.
The magic trick with the pencil, nurse Joker, his coat full of grenades attached to a string, the ‘(S)laughter is the best medicine’ truck, his TV broadcasts etc. I love how they kept his theatrical nature and balanced it with his raw psychotic evil side. This was a Joker who knew how to hit his prey where it hurt. He knew how to push everyone’s buttons. Get under everyone’s skin. He was a genius at what he did. I could go and list great scenes with him in it, but the fact is that every scene he was in was a gem. God help the actor who has to step up and fill the villain role in the third Batman movie, because they’re going to have one HELL of a job filling Ledger’s Joker’s villainous shoes.

Christian Bale as Batman/Bruce Wayne. I’ve read a lot of criticism about his Batman voice this time around. I have to say that it did get a little raspy sometimes, but overall I thought it was an improvement over his voice in Begins. It’s not perfect, but it was an improvement. Bale had some great material to work with, and he delivered. I have to say that his scenes with Harvey Dent were particularly good. As were his scenes with Alfred. He looked more comfortable in the Batman costume. There were some scenes in Begins where he looked awkward. Like the scene in the Narrows where asks Gordon to drive stick. None of that this time around. The playboy aspect of Bruce Wayne was also good. Laughed out loud at the shot of him walking into Dent’s party with the three hot chicks.

Aaron Eckhart was amazing. I just loved the intense scenes he had as Harvey. My favorite one being when he took that Joker thug in the Cop costume hostage, and taunted him with the flip of the coin for whether he’d shoot him or not. You could just see Harvey coming so close to crossing the line. The Long Halloween homages were great. The climax of his story as Two Face played out wonderfully. This is the Two Face we’ve been long overdue. And I don’t believe he’s dead, either

Maggie Gyllenhaal was good with what she had to work with. Rachel was an integral character to the story in terms of her connection to Harvey. And Maggie was a lot more likeable and convincing as a D.A. than Katie Holmes.

Gary Oldman was probably the third best actor in this movie after Ledger and Eckhart. Jim Gordon was a tour de force in this movie. He was brilliant. And as a comic book geek it was great to see his family. And no horrid adultery storyline like in Year One. Wonderful to see Gordon get promoted to Commissoner at last.

Michael Caine as Alfred. Ok, what was all this about his role being cut down a lot? I thought Alfred had plenty of scenes. Certainly not any kind of dramatic decline in screen time. I never noticed much if any difference. Alfred was in fine witty form, being there to sew up Bruce’s injuries, and offer advice and support when Bruce needed it. I think Caine has great chemistry with Bale.

Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox. Again, Morgan delivers a solid performance. It was so good to see him as a big boss man at Wayne Enterprises this time, instead of a low level grunt dwelling in the basement. Lucius played a big role in this movie. The Hong Kong trip, the sonar gadgetry, and his excellent handling of Reece’s attempted blackmail. Hilarious.

The action was so much more exciting this time around. My favorite sequence being the Joker’s attempt to kill Harvey in the armoured truck which climaxed in that awesome showdown in the street with Batman on the Bat-Pod. Batman’s new gadgets were top notch. I was very skeptical of the Bat-Pod, but like the new Batman costume, it came off so much better in the movie. Loved it. All the nods to the comic books had me grinning from ear to ear. When I saw Joker with that crowbar in the final confrontation, I geeked out. I just loved that sequence of him going ballistic on Batman with it.

I think I’ve said everything I want to say. I mean everyone’s said it all before. This movie was just incredible. It’s so rare that I go into a movie with huge expectations, and they are actually exceeded. This was so worth the three year wait. Chris Nolan out done himself.

10/10 all the way.

You are so right my friend! Expectations WAS exceeded by far!... and it was definitely 3 years worth the wait! It's the best movie I have ever seen in my life! If Nolan doesn't make "3", then I dont want to see "3"!

After seeing "The Dark Knight", I can actually understand why Nolan was and is hessitating going back for a third movie! I mean, my God, how in the name of all that is Holy do you top this!!!???... Actually, they dont have to top this, they just "simply" have to make a movie that is just as good as The Dark Knight in it's own way; much like Return of the Jedi was just as good as Empire strikes back in its own way, even though it wasn't as dark at all... It rapped up the trilogy in such a beautiful way... I guess that's the absolute BEST we can hope for with a third movie, IF Nolan decides to do it! If not, then The Dark Knight will have to do! The movie was left open for a third one, but there was NO CLIFF-HANGER, and it could simply end like that! Sad, but also one hell of a gripping ending (the more you think about it).

PS! I dont mind waiting another 3 years for the concluding chapter in a possible trilogy, if Nolan decides to do it!... Just, dear God, make it as beautiful as this movie! And after that, leave batman alone forever!!! Then Nolan can retire from that stage of his life, KNOWING that he not only made the BEST superhero movie of all time, but propably the BEST movie ever made! - Also he would be the first to ever have made a successful UBBER-badass (as well as beautiful) superhero trilogy! All others always falls apart when the third chapter comes around... Nolan gets it; BIG TIME!

 

[bapi]

Yesterday was the day for me and The Dark Knight is the best comic book movie ever! Heath is absolutely perfect! 10/10

 

[sasquatchs]

I liked it alot, very solid. It's a much more confident film than Batman Begins, which was mediocre. They managed to avoid most of that films problems, it's consistenly clever and avoids falling back on lazy cliches. Saw it in IMAX last night, seeing it again tonight on a normal screen, then I might write a proper review.

Two things I really liked though were Batman's increased competence, and the gradual evolution of the Joker. This time Batman wasn't always the last person (including the audience) to be clued in, obviously with it being the Joker's first appearance it's not possible for him to have a handle on him, but in other little ways Batman's no longer just a meathead beating people up efficiently. His little bit with Harvey in the alleyway castigating him for threatening a paranoid schizophrenic was my favorite bit. At the same time it felt like a believable explanation for the kind of people attracted to the Joker's antics. Also, the way Joker starts off ambitious yet nervous then gradually ups the fun felt very natural. Despite him being such a larger-than-life presence, his antics and their consequences felt genuine and not cartoony. A far cry from the mustache-twirler Ra's Al Ghul.

I think most of my appreciation has to go to Jonah Nolan, this is a much more involving and believable film than last time, some well defined and efficiently used characters, a heap of good ideas and strong themes without laboring things too much, and a city that's alive rather than an abstract concept. Batman Begins felt like a string a empty words with nothing to back them up. TDK's the film Begins should've been, the ideas pervade every character and choices have consequence, they're not afraid to take them to their grisly conclusion. For the most part he's made lemonade out of lemons

 

[flash13]

saw it for the second time yesterday and loved it even more!!!

 

[Thot]

After thinking about it for a while I've concluded that just as Batman Returns was "Tim Burton's" movie, The Dark Knight is "Chris Nolan's" movie. Just as Burton was restrained in Batman, Nolan was in Begins. Both directors, in their repspective sequels, had what seemed to be unlimited license to do whatever they wanted. For me the results are similar, superior first and inferior second films, with similar flaws. In both cases the first films show tighter, more constrained and entertaining film-making, while the second becomes a dark, messy, too serious and less entertaining follow-up. Again, I liked TDK and plan on seeing it again, it just doesn't live up to all the hype. It's one of the better comics-to-film movies, but, for me, not among the very best.

 

[Hello Beautiful]

saw it for the second time yesterday and loved it even more!!!

It definitely improves on the second viewing.

 

[SatEL]

I went into this movie extremely excited and was shaking like a 15yr old virgin about to experience the joys of sex for the first time, at this point I knew what to expect I had read reviews from both fans and critics and knew at the very least this was going to be good. Well folks it wasn’t only good this was fantastic it was phenomenal from start to finish I was glued to my seat panting and squirming and on the odd occasion laughing. I personally believe there is a message in this film and it is giving in a not so condescending way, you leave the theatre with mixed emotions on what you just experienced . I found myself. Nolan and his brother really did a fine job with this story fleshing out all the characters and given them enough screen time to make us care for them. As usual all the actors were great and Heath’s performance was sheer genius and brilliance, there is nothing overrated about what this guy did with the role. And he truly does deserve an Oscar not because he is dead and it’s the right thing to do but because he really really deserves it. The action scenes in this film are better, Batman kicks ass and we get to see it all, visually it’s a work of art you feel like Gotham is actually a real city.



I don’t think I have any negative views about this movie save for Batman A.K.A. Bruce Wayne’s reaction to a certain someone dying , I just thought he seemed cold at the thought that she was dead. He didn’t portray the kind of emotion I was expecting none the less its just a minor nitpick. Anyway best comic book film ever bar none and best film I have seen all year without a doubt heck best film I have seen in years. With all the crap Hollywood churns out year after year its good to see solid film making at it’s best which is what the Dark Knight delivers this film deserves a rating of 10/10 and at minimum 9/10 if you want a thrilling and engrossing experience at the cinema.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Last night... I just seen the most amazing movie of my 18 year life!!

Sure it had it's problems... but overall it was emotional, gut-wrenching, disturbing, dynamic, wonderfully written and just... Mind-blowing!!!


In Nolan I trusted...

and By God... did he deliver!!!

 

[El Payaso]

I liked it alot, very solid. It's a much more confident film than Batman Begins, which was mediocre. They managed to avoid most of that films problems, it's consistenly clever and avoids falling back on lazy cliches. Saw it in IMAX last night, seeing it again tonight on a normal screen, then I might write a proper review.

Two things I really liked though were Batman's increased competence, and the gradual evolution of the Joker. This time Batman wasn't always the last person (including the audience) to be clued in, obviously with it being the Joker's first appearance it's not possible for him to have a handle on him, but in other little ways Batman's no longer just a meathead beating people up efficiently. His little bit with Harvey in the alleyway castigating him for threatening a paranoid schizophrenic was my favorite bit. At the same time it felt like a believable explanation for the kind of people attracted to the Joker's antics. Also, the way Joker starts off ambitious yet nervous then gradually ups the fun felt very natural. Despite him being such a larger-than-life presence, his antics and their consequences felt genuine and not cartoony. A far cry from the mustache-twirler Ra's Al Ghul.

I think most of my appreciation has to go to Jonah Nolan, this is a much more involving and believable film than last time, some well defined and efficiently used characters, a heap of good ideas and strong themes without laboring things too much, and a city that's alive rather than an abstract concept. Batman Begins felt like a string a empty words with nothing to back them up. TDK's the film Begins should've been, the ideas pervade every character and choices have consequence, they're not afraid to take them to their grisly conclusion. For the most part he's made lemonade out of lemons

Once again I agree with you ion every word. Thank God for Jonathan.

 

[FaT_tONle]

The thing I absolutely LOVE about Nolan films... seeing the film once is not nearly enough. You have to see it about three times to really understand the brilliance... the first viewing you think something is sort of missing. That there should have been something more... but after that second viewing where everything starts to make sense... then you really get it. That's what I love about his films. I never fully appreciate it the first time... I always come out a bit disappointed or emtpy. But man does the movie grown on you with that second and third viewing. That is makes a great director.

 

[Spidey220987]

Man,I was let down with this film.
Heath Ledger's performance of Joker was good,but Oscar worthy? I think they're pushin that a bit, especially since he died (no disrespect to the fellow,RIP).

It was good,I'm not denyin that,but nowhere near as much as the hype made it out to be, in my opinion.

I was bored quite a lot, loud explosions,gunshots & killings don't necessarily make a good film. The part where Joker tells Batman where Harvey is & where Rachel is,I could see that double cross, that was predictable, it's expected with Joker as he isn't all what he seems.

Solid 7/10 though,I thought Iron Man was much better.
Oh,and if they're still considerin goin with the mob route as they have the past 2 films and introduce new villains,I think they should go with The Ventriloquist & Scarface in the next one.
Depends how realistic he is though - heck,they made Two Face work