Is there a light at the end of the tunnel for the Dark Knight?
Written: Jul 20 '08 (Updated Aug 24 '08)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Excellent acting, cinematography and production value.
Cons: The overall theme is a bit to heavy for the kiddies.
The Bottom Line: The cinematography was excellent with eye catching visual and stunts that feel authentic and mystifying.
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| cntaur5's Full Review: The Dark Knight |
The Dark Knight follows the traditional DC Comic hero Batman, picking up on the 2005 Batman Begins version where actor Christian Bale suits up again to save Gotham City. Much like the comic book the film features the usual characters which include the Joker played by the late Heath Leger, Commissioner Gordon, District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) and love interest Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal). This is one of those film where knowing the character's is a real advantage. The movie starts with the Joker robbing a bank with a school bus then turns to Batman wannabes going rounds with the Scarecrow and a few mobsters. Before you can ask, "Would the real Batman please stand up?" Batman appears out of no where and attempts to set things right. In the battle he is injured and is in need of a new Batsuit. Batman’s circle of trust is extremely tight as he only talks to Gordon. In the interim Batman a.k.a. Bruce Wayne backs the noble Harry Dent as they both share an interest in assistant DA Rachel Dawes. As if things could not get anymore complicated the Joker meets with the various mob bosses with an offer to kill Batman.
The majority of the film revolves around the mob, the Joker, Harvey Dent and Rachel Dawes, Gordon and a dark city that's looking for a savior. The cops are corrupt, and Dent's coin flipping eventually leads him to a place that places his own humanity on the line. The theme takes on the motif that, "it takes a village" as Batman learns he can't save everyone. There is a proverbial passing of the torch as Dent is referred to the "White Knight" and Batman "The Dark Knight" as both characters plunder into a monstrously tragic world of heartache and pain. The Dark Knight is an eerie tale that goes beyond the paper comic as a large portion of the film feels like a transfixing catastrophe where hope has been extinguished by the powers of darkness. The film goes out of its way to ensure audiences feel the stinging bite of mortality delving into a world full of cruel ironies.
Theatrical presentations were stellar with a heavy hitting cast that worked a gloomy script like magicians at a Vegas show. The cinematography was excellent with eye catching visual and stunts that feel authentic and mystifying. Director Christopher Nolan gets into murky waters largely due to his fascination with the Joker. A large portion of the film is dedicated to the Joker’s anarchy and it is here where he looses the Batman story. While the transition of the Batsuit was permissible whisking Batman through Gotham City in a Batpod was a bit much for a classic fan such as myself. The Dark Knight's PG-13 rating squeaks past it's well deserved R rating by avoiding and removing the scenes where some characters literally take their last breath. In my opinion, this is probably one of the most violent of the Batman series with some of the lead characters actually meeting their demise on screen. The language throughout is fairly mild, but the savage carnage of gunfire, hospitals blowing up and ordinary citizens serving as bait on fishhooks leaves little room for recovery. Director Nolan sends the message home that fighting for what's right is a road chalked with personal sacrifices that you may never recuperate from. My recommendation is to leave the kiddies at home, as some images might leave lasting impressions. One example right off the top of my head is the image of the revised Two-Face whose personality disorder is graphically displaced with his disfigured face.
Regardless of how, when or if you are planning on viewing this movie the idea as to whether you should watch this movie is based upon your personal preference. I made one of the earliest viewings on Saturday morning and although I did not watch it in IMAX, the cinematography was incredibly flamboyant and awe-inspiring; raising the bar that much higher in this particular genre. The acting was superb as the late Heath Leger will truly be missed. Is Warner Bros. The Dark Knight violent, bleak, intense and sometimes horrifying? Absolutely! This installment of DC comic's Batman has taken a real life leap that's extremely serious. This time around I'm not going to purchase any Batman memorabilia largely because this film reflects the side of Batman you choose to forget. In the end I went to the theater looking for a hero however found a perplexing film that was optimistically sad as real life issues touched a part of me that I was not prepared to deal with especially when real cast members can't return for what could be a promising sequel. In parting I'm giving it four stars and highly recommend you pace yourself if you are drinking any liquids, the two hour and 30 minute runtime is a test of endurance especially if you are gulping down a 64 ounce fountain drink.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Action Movie
Viewing Method: Sneak Preview at My Local Theater
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Duration
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