| Overall Grade: |
A- |
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| Story: |
A- |
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| Acting: |
A |
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| Direction: |
A- |
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| Visuals: |
A- |
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Darkest is this Knight! (Parental Guidance Req.)
by Ishan S (movies profile)
Jul 18, 2008
165
of
197 people found this review helpful
Riddle me this, riddle me that . . . will I enjoy the big black Bat? Well, my fellow movie going fans and Bat-fanatics, the answer to this question of expectation is best answered with another . . . Did you enjoy The Empire Strikes Back and Matrix Reloaded the first time you saw them? You will most probably have the same reaction to The Dark Knight.
The above, though vague, is the most honest answer I can provide you with, in terms of setting your expectations, as you will undoubtedly base your opinion of this film on your personal reaction. That said . . . The Dark Knight is truly an extraordinary piece of cinema as it is a radical departure from the "Superhero" movie genre as we know it.
Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins, The Prestige, Memento), has, as the critics have quite rightly pointed out, created more of an ensemble crime action/drama, very much similar to Heat (Michael Mann) and The Departed (Martin Scorsese).
The film is shot primarily in the dark, as this is the domain of the Batman. The hand-to-hand fight sequences are more visible this time around, showcasing more of the Batman's exclusive use of K.F.M. techniques (which looked a little stiff - that's just my personal opinion). The action sequences which have applause initiating moments are nicely balanced with the drama throughout this film, which in essence have you wanting to see more now, as you wait for the finale. Each primary character - The Batman/Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), The Joker (the late Heath Ledger) and Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) - has about equal screen time, which places your focus on the developing story rather than on one specific character unlike in other Superhero films. And it is the story . . . that takes you on a journey, that will leave you somewhat exhausted owed primarily to the superlative performance of one character.
As you all probably have heard or read, over and over again by now, Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker is one for the cinematic archives. Let me assure you my friends, those statements are well deserved. Heath Ledgers' portrayal of the Joker brings us face-to-face with one of the most maniacal psychopaths to grace the big screen - and on top of that, he manages to bring the fear in the midst of a PG-13 rated film. The man essentially is lost behind the mask, as you can hardly recognize Ledger in this role and it is obvious that he had invested his whole being into this performance and it is all deserving of an accolade. It is Ledger's Joker that drives the film as the sociopathic creator of chaos in Gotham and without a doubt brings to the screen a villain who is finally an equal match to the Knight in kevlar armor.
As mentioned I recommend parental guidance, as the director has (in my opinion) pushed the envelope of the PG-13 rating. By that I mean, all you don't see is spurting blood. The Joker is violent, and psychopathic in all his actions and those actions are visible (including several close ups of him rattling off maniacal monologues holding knives to the mouths of his intended victims - which would be scary for the younger viewer). Although these scenes are cut short of blood spurts (which would have pushed the rating to an easy R). I would not recommend parents taking kids under the age of 9 or 10 for the Dark Knight before previewing it for themselves. Besides, the tone, pace and the complexity of the story arc may leave the young ones confused and rather disappointed as this is more of an adult's superhero movie.
So my fellow movie fans and Bat fanatics, I hope I have provided you all with an approximation of where to set your expectations and highlighted the elements of the film which stood out for me, as you set out to stand in line to catch the Dark Knight this weekend. I attended the 12:01am Friday viewing in New York city and the Ghouls had all come out to play and it was an amazing experience waiting in line almost as if Halloween had come early.
The Bat signal is lit my friends and I hope you enjoy this film . . . all 2 1/2 hours of it. But get ready as you will leave with the definite feeling that the Dark Knight is sure to return! |
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