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Movie Review - The Dark Knight (2008) by Jason

Started by Mike Olbinski · 11 months ago

With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the ... Continue reading »

49 comments

  • rodaniel

    11 months ago

    An incredible movie! I'm still blown away by Heath Ledger's performance. And because you never see him without the makeup, it's still difficult to believe that it really is him under there - his acting in this role goes so far beyond what he'd done in any previous film. He's just captivating. Maniacal and evil, but you can't tear you eyes off of him.

    I would've liked for there to have been more of Morgan Freeman in the film - 'cuz I'm a huge fan of nearly anything the man does - but that's not really a criticism...

    The makeup/effects when Harvey Dent's new look is revealed in the hospital is simply incredible. When he turns to the camera and you see pillow where face should be, that was astounding. I know it was some deft CGI trickery, but jeez, it was so flawless that you don't think "how'd they do that" at the time. That's the mark of great CGI. In fact, there's not a single scene that comes to mind where the CGI was apparent in a take-you-out-of-the-movie kinda way.

    I liked your comparison to "Heat" and it really does have a similar feel.
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    I agree that the CGI on Harvey Dent was incredible. It was almost too good as it was hard to look at. I wish they would have spent more time showing his "conversion" to Two Face, though. It seemed a little rushed. It wasn't bad, but it could have been a little better.
    reply
  • Mike Olbinski

    11 months ago

    Great review Jason, you made some good points, loved the comparisons to the Departed and Heat, like rodaniel said.

    Glad you don't think I'm crazy anymore :)
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    Well, I don't think you're crazy for that... :)
    reply
  • Cap'n Schwartz

    11 months ago

    Wow.... SUPER (no pun intended) review Jason. What a terrific write-up. I always like to see the comparisons between yours and Mike take on the same footage I saw.

    You make a great point that movies can be overhyped. I fall into that category of almost not liking movies based on everyone saying "oh yeah this is the best ever.... oscar winning... you wont believe your eyes movie". I was even afraid I was doing that myself with Ironman. Im so glad you liked this and it lived up to if not past the hype its creating.

    Additionally, 2 things. I know you say Mike isnt crazy anymore, but I'll still think that for everyone (I mean the dude went to a 3:15 a.m. showing and forgot his wallet... hellooooo).

    and secondly... I learned a new word I had to look it up - 'triumvirate'. I dont know where you learned that magnanamous monstrosity, but thanks for increasing my voacabulary on your review!! =)
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    Thanks Cap'n. I'm glad I was able to make you a more fully developed homo sapien by my loquacious and somewhat garrulous review.

    See what you've turned me into. Now I'm just showing off.
    reply
  • The Kid and I

    11 months ago

    Bravo! This is a superb review, Jason! I love the length of your language. ; )
    reply
  • The Trousered Ape

    11 months ago

    the 'length of your language"...? And I thought the Joker scared me.
    reply
  • Cap'n Schwartz

    11 months ago

    Yeah, its this long...............
    reply
  • The Kid and I

    11 months ago

    ROTFL!
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    Um, thanks...?
    reply
  • Christie

    11 months ago

    Your review is detailed and thoughtful. That said, I will not be seeing Dark Knight.

    I really enjoyed the last Batman movie – Batman Begins. But even before Heath Ledger's death I was contemplating skipping Dark Knight. When I heard the shocking news of Ledger's overdose, I knew I'd never see this film. Some have said that Heath's immersion in the role of Joker unsettled him, may have contributed to the medications he was taking. I feel like if I were to attend this Batman film, I'd somehow be an accomplice to his tragic death.

    If we demand movies that are so dark that actors playing in them must seek psychiatric help, what does that say about our society? There is enough darkness, violence and evil in the real world. I'm not going to watch it as entertainment.
    reply
  • Mike Olbinski

    11 months ago

    I like that you are sharing your opinion Christie, but it's not society's fault that Heath put so much effort into his work.

    That's was we as HUMANS do...sometimes we do too much, and that's fine.

    But I think it's a shame and almost an insult to Ledger if people don't see the masterpiece he created.
    reply
  • Cap'n Schwartz

    11 months ago

    "I really enjoyed the last Batman movie – Batman Begins.... That said, I will not be seeing Dark Knight."....
    Speaking of 'psychiatric help', why would you think there is any relation to you, and Heahts death because you simply went and saw a movie. Things in the universe happen. If Heath died with your name tatooed on his palm, I'd call that wierd or coincidence, but still couldnt figure out why you think you are contributing to actors deaths by supporting this moive? You mean you dont see this in anyway shape or form as a tribute to his work?
    Thats highly confusing, and hope you dont miss out on enjoyable moments in life if you tie them all into some overall meaning...as life is too short
    reply
  • The Trousered Ape

    11 months ago

    Excellent review Jason - very nicely done. Also glad you enjoyed the film and that it lived up to the hype for you. Wish you guys lived in Phoenix, we would of loved to have had you with us at the 3:15 AM showing - it was a lot of fun!
    reply
  • Cap'n Schwartz

    11 months ago

    Next time we'll have to get them to fly out from Austin.. we all know Phx has the better theaters anyways.... =) and we wont let Scotty tell us no...
    reply
  • The Kid and I

    11 months ago

    Thanks. :) I'm glad you said "them." It's nice to be included in y'all's little group.
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    Woa! We're bringing chicks now?

    Just kidding. :)
    reply
  • The Kid and I

    11 months ago

    Har har har...
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    I don't know Cap'n. We have the world famous Alamo Drafthouse (http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/03/18/cool-stuff-...). I think we win the theater battle.
    reply
  • Cap'n Schwartz

    11 months ago

    Hmmm, I was going to say there is no way you can compare to the Cini Capri... and include a link, but, I cant find squat reference on the web about what had to be the most prestigious theatre in sight and sound, but I cant find a link... and it doesnt have a full service restaurant like the one you list, so I do believe i have to concede here... =(
    reply
  • Mike Olbinski

    11 months ago

    I would venture to say the ORIGINAL Cina Capri would be comparable, but the new ones...egh,they are just big screens with curtains now :)

    Still, we saw TDK on it Saturday and it was awesome :)
    reply
  • Cap'n Schwartz

    11 months ago

    It has the best sound system ever, even beats out IMAX in sound, and of course its in digital so its easily better than the original one, but it doesnt appear like it can beat Jasons link
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    So....everyone's moving to Austin, right?

    Pop Critics World Headquarters, Austin, TX - sounds pretty good.
    reply
  • Mike Olbinski

    11 months ago

    I thought the IMAX sound was pretty great though.
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    Thanks, Ape. I would have loved to have gone with you guys, but I'm not sure it's worth living in Phoenix. I'm just saying... :)
    reply
  • JC John (ᜑᜓᜏᜈ᜔/謝施洗)

    11 months ago

    I have a simple, short, one-sentence review: "Batman: The Dark Knight made all the other Batman shows look cheap".
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    Well, crap. Makes mine seem a bit wordy.
    reply
  • JC John (ᜑᜓᜏᜈ᜔/謝施洗)

    11 months ago

    hehe :p
    reply
  • robertb

    11 months ago

    This is the first movie in kind of a while that we've seen and thought, "Wow, that was great!" where most of them have been merely ok. It was a bit overlong, but I don't think that it really dragged though -- it was well-filled time. Heath's Joker was an outstanding performance, Eckhart's Dent was great. It's surprising to see Gary Oldman in a role that is so under-the-top for him. He didn't really get to display his talent. I was distracted slightly by Clint Eastwood as Batman's voice. Maggie Gylenhaal was disappointing, because (sorry) she's just not very good looking, and her faces just droops in a strangely distracting way, though she is a better actress than Katie Holmes by a good margin. All in all, it was a great movie with few real negatives.
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    See, I wasn't going to talk about Gylenhaal's face, but it was oddly distracting wasn't it?
    reply
  • robertb

    11 months ago

    She'd make a great mother figure, and grandmother character actor later, with those cheeks. But love interest? Nah. She looks like she has double Bell's Palsy or something.
    reply
  • R.A. Porter

    11 months ago

    I'm not with you guys at all. I think she's quite hot.
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    Yeah, but do you (will you) seriously think she did a good job of acting in this film?
    reply
  • R.A. Porter

    11 months ago

    Better than Katie Holmes...

    Of course, that's like saying "taller than Verne Troyer."
    reply
  • Mike Olbinski

    11 months ago

    She did as well as she could with her limited time on the screen...I thought she was fine.
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    The next time you watch it, and I know there's going to be a next time, pay close attention to her character throughout the movie. She has like one basic expression on her face and her emotional responses seem oddly inappropriate at various times.
    reply
  • Mike Olbinski

    11 months ago

    Already watched it twice :)

    I guess I can see what you mean, but I just didn't think it was all that bad. Maybe I just like Maggie as an actress, cause I've seen her in some pretty great stuff, like Sherry Baby. I know she can act...she's good.
    reply
  • Cap'n Schwartz

    11 months ago

    she blows up nicely....
    reply
  • daddyjason

    11 months ago

    Like a plastic doll....
    reply
  • Mike Olbinski

    11 months ago

    Oh, I think she's pretty...maybe not Katie Holmes pretty, but she's attractive and fit the part much better than Holmes did.
    reply
  • Mike Olbinski

    11 months ago

    Oh, I think she's pretty...maybe not Katie Holmes pretty, but she's
    attractive and fit the part much better than Holmes did.
    reply
  • JC John (ᜑᜓᜏᜈ᜔/謝施洗)

    11 months ago

    Yah, been a while since the last movie where we "aweeeeeeeeesome!!"

    Here in the Philippines, it is rare to hear people clapping or see people giving standing ovation to a movie. Batman: The Dark Knight is that.

    Yeah it is long, but have anyone noticed how many "oh, it's going to end" scenes there were? I remember 4 scenes, with the 5th scene I was already thinking "oh there should be another long sub-story" but there wasn't, it finally has ended.

    It was just great, superb, and awesome. And yeah, Heath's acting as Joker is the BEST. I could have called this movie "Batman: The Rise of Joker". Too bad he went ahead of us somewhere out there. The next Joker should be able to surpass Heath's Joker acting, if he fails to, then it just wouldn't be right.

    Finally, wow, I thought I'm the only one who noticed Maggie's not-so-good acting and facial expressions. lawlz. I get distracted from the movie when I see her like that.

    Can't wait for the 3rd part, and the 4th, the 5th..... :p hehehehehe.

    Two-face died tho, sigh.

    So, is this universe the one that will be linked with the "Batman & Superman" movie, if it ever it's for real? (The one shown in the background in the movie "I Am Legend".)
    reply
  • Mike Olbinski

    11 months ago

    If you can edit this (I can't) you might want to remove that spoiler towards the end about Two-Face :)
    reply
  • JC John (ᜑᜓᜏᜈ᜔/謝施洗)

    11 months ago

    oops. sorry, got carried away... :(

    Can't edit it anymore (after there's a reply on the post).
    Please feel free to remove/disapprove my comment. ^_^ I'll repost after.
    reply
  • Mike Olbinski

    11 months ago

    I also just posted a spoiler review, so feel free to comment as you want over there :)
    reply
  • The Kid and I

    11 months ago

    I don't think anyone will be able to play the Joker after Ledger's amazing performance. That sucks though, since he lived at the end of the movie.
    reply
  • JC John (ᜑᜓᜏᜈ᜔/謝施洗)

    11 months ago

    Yep. I'd rather have the sequel be for him "Rise of The Joker" for his superb performance.
    The next guy should be able to outperform him for it to be 'right', if you know what I mean.
    reply
  • moviesrus

    11 months ago

    Saw the movie on Friday and was very suspicious with all the hype, but the movie was beyond excellent, and in my opinion Heath Ledger's Joker did steal the show. He is one of the most brilliant actors of our time but there has to be a balance I guess something this good comes with a price.
    reply

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