The Dark Knight So do you think it is going to be downhill from here for the rest of the summer? The Dark Knight is not based on the Frank Miller Batman comic of similar name, but it is dark. The tone of the move is very serious, and it is not a movie for youngsters. This is not Speed Racer. There is a lot of violence, and the violence is depicted realistically. The Dark Knight was directed by Christopher Nolan who directed Batman Begins, and earlier did The Prestige and more importantly the excellent Memento from 2000. Batman Begins feels just like a warm-up for The Dark Knight. The movie is directed with a sure hand. The script is well thought out for the most part (there are a few problems), and the movie kept my attention till the end. The plot does throw you some monkey wrenches so if you like your movie plots nice and tidy; this is not one of them (not a bad thing at all).
I saw the IMAX version of The Dark Knight which has parts which were actually shot in the IMAX format. When the IMAX footage shows up on the screen, it is as if you suddenly can see clearer. You can see all the small details that were missing before. The difference is impressive. The Dark Knight is worth seeing in IMAX if you have the option to do so, if nothing else for the sound. The sound editors went to town on this movie, and did an excellent job (the score also works well). Whenever someone fires a gun, not only is it a blast, but it is a deep roar. It aims for the gut. The movie is lovingly shot and looks great, from beginning to end The way the movie is framed looks just right. They obviously spent a lot of time and effort on this, and you can see it all on the screen.
Is it the perfect comic book movie? Nah, I think Hell Boy 2: The Golden Army is actually more thrilling to watch overall (you could argue about the action sequences in each though), and Spiderman 2 is also a damn fine movie. But The Dark Knight is no pushover and holds up well, definitely worth checking out, for Heath Ledger alone, in fact you have to see Ledger in this. As Batman, Christian Bale talks in a low gruff voice that distracts whenever he is speaking as Batman. It just sounds weird, and not natural (I am sure there is a point to this, but it interrupted the flow of the movie every time he did this). How would Indiana Jones come across if he had a voice like Carol Channing (okay, a cheap shot, but it just doesn't work all that  well)? I wanted to offer Batman a cough drop. The other thing is that there are just so many plot turns in the movie, and some are not all that clever, that the movie feels too long (152 minutes). The script needed cutting down. It feels like they wrote one movie, and then decided they needed to set up the sequel, and tacked on another thirty minutes as an afterthought. The movie feels too long without any real payoff, and the plot turns actually get a bit old towards the end. What feels like the climax is two-thirds of the way into the movie, and then it just keeps going. They could have trimmed one or two of the subplots and the movie would have been a better for it. If you go see this though, you can't complain about not getting your money's worth. There is a lot to look at on screen. Even thinking about the directors and producers planning this all out makes my head hurt. Heath Ledger is excellent in his last full screen appearance before his death. What a way to go? Every time Heath Ledger says "the Batman", it is as if he is savoring the moment. Gary Oldman as Gordon adds so much to the movie, that he is a joy to watch, understated and regal. Maggie Gyllenhaal as the love interest adds just the right amount of spunk to the part, and comes off well.
I am actually tired of seeing Morgan Freeman in anything, and always in the same kind of roles with the same kind of delivery. I don't want to see him in anything anymore. Morgan Freeman is in every damn movie released recently, well almost every movie (probably laughing all the way to the bank). There are other actors or actresses out there that could use a break. In The Dark Knight Morgan handles his part well, but it is so predictable that it doesn't really add anything to the movie (I loved Morgan in Seven but was his delivery in Seven all that different than The Dark Knight?). Take a look at the parts that Christian Bale has chosen to play over the years (3:10 to Yuma and Rescue Dawn). If Morgan had been cut out of The Dark Knightall together I don't think I would have missed him. I feel the same way about James Cromwell (from The General's Daughter). He is a good actor, but he tends to be used in a lot of the same ways in movie after movie. He, like Morgan Freeman, is a safe bet, though not an inspired choice.
The Dark Knight fills the bill as the summer movie to see, but leave the younger kids at home.
You can write to James Harper at movielover77061@yahoo.com |
