Being a Marvel fanboy, I’m not a huge DC Comics or Batman fan. I’ve seen all the films and liked a few of them but didn’t see the last one in the theater… so I’m definitely not a zealot. However, given the opportunity to see a free early screening of The Dark Knight and admittedly intrigued by a young portrayal of the Joker, it was a no-brainer. It’s my hope I can offer this assessment not as a comic book dork, but as an avid movie fan. Heck, I didn’t even like the last movie that much, if at all, so that take for what it’s worth.
The Bad
- The most annoying thing in the entire movie was Bale’s “Batman voice”. It’s so gruff and over the top it’s downright cheesey. I may have had this problem with the last movie but I don’t remember. He’s better than some of the other Batmans we’ve experienced and definitely a better Bruce Wayne… just tone it down a notch.
- I don’t think Aaron Eckhart is a good actor. I just didn’t buy him in the role and I really can’t think of anything I’ve ever bought him in.
- I also don’t buy Maggie Gyllenhaal as the damsel in distress. She doesn’t have to be a smokin’ hot babe but the way she carries herself and her face just don’t sell me.
The Good
- The movie wasn’t nearly as dark as previous ones. Now I realize that Batman is supposed to be dark and Gotham is supposed to be a cesspit of despair, but it was nice to see Gotham as a real city. I liked the Tim Burton versions but the change of pace worked.
- There was a distinct lack of cheese. Bale’s voice for Batman was the most hokey by far and that’s a good, good thing. Spiderman is geared towards a wide audience but this movie really felt a lot more “grown-up” than any of those.
- The writing was pretty good. There were a few twists that you don’t really expect, a nice chunk of witty banter and at no time did I think, “God, when is this going to end?”
- Not a huge amount of action. They didn’t rely on blowing shit up every 36 seconds to entertain us. They did it with the characters, the dialogue and the story.
- Heath Ledger was amazing. You knew it was coming folks but hear me out on this. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not one of those people that obsess over dead celebrities or place merit where it’s not deserved. He was so creepy and funny and strange and scary that you forgot it was Ledger and really saw the Joker. Jack was good, but in that laughing hyena way. Heath was just downright demented and it worked. In a way I’m sad that he died. Not really because he’s dead but because people will obsess over this role as his last. His performance deserves to stand on its own and not be cheapened by everyone playing up his death. I would have liked to see him reprise the role but I’m kinda glad the powers that be can’t whore it by making him do it again.
What’s the verdict? Go see it. Seriously, go see it… and not because there’s a dead guy playing a villian. Everyone I’ve talked to from last night said it was “really good” and I’d tend agree with them. It wasn’t one of those “omg, best movie evaR!” types but it’s a decent two hours of entertainment.
i have a semi that will continue until i see it tonight.
Well, I was a bit underwhelmed. I went in expecting a 10, and got an 8.5. My review will be up shortly if you’d like detail.s
I definitely wouldn’t describe it as a 10 and I hope I didn’t make it seem that way. I’d probably rate it at a 7-8 or 4 stars in Netflix.
The rest of the world had me thinking 10, not you.
The rest of the world is prone to undeserved hype. You should know better than to expect a 10.