The Dark Knight

[Platinum Pete]

Really awesome. Some critic called Dark Knight the Empire Strikes Back of the Nolan Batmans and I think it is as good or better, plus all the dark elements of Empire and the unsure, harsh ending. Really kick ass movie.
I agree with the poster above who said Ledger is Oscar worthy as the Joker -he blew me away.
I disagree with the call for more Michael Bay type explodo-fun and anyone suggesting it should be more kid friendly - this movie is so on target.

[peterslovo]

Darker than Batman Begins?

Shit, I better take my happy pills beforehand....


Can't wait to see it.

[CG]

Currently 92% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, they usually get it right. I think this is the first movie I've been excited to see in a long time.

[dookeyXXX]

1. I did not like Batman Begins. They totally f@#ked up Batman's origins and had way too many storylines and villains vying for center stage.

2. The Dark Knight again has way too many storylines, but they've been reined in a bit and this time there's really only one villain vying for center stage.

3. I went into the film with low expectations, based on my dislike of BB and the fact that the trailers for this flick made Heath Ledger's Joker look like a half-assed amalgamation of Cesar Romero and Jack Nicholson.

Let's just say that all my fears were shattered. This film is DARK. I mean malevolently dark. Nasty dark. MEAN.

Ledger is off-the-nuts. If he doesn't have you squirming uncomfortably in your seat every time he is on screen then you're a lost cause.

Nolan and all involved work a lot of bugged out psychological magic with this film, specifically in terms of the music creating tension, unease, and paranoia (the Joker theme by Hans Zimmer is nuts).

This film takes nihilism to new heights, especially in the guise of a summer blockbuster.

I honestly don't know how they're going to keep this kind of intensity up for another film. It's draining on the viewer and has got to be taxing on the actors and crew.

Honestly, the only complaints I had were 1. the cape looks soy (it's like a crushed velvet window curtain) 2. Bale's Batman voice (a low rasp) is way beyond melodramatic 3. there were some sequences early on in the film that were never fully developed and seem like they were probably edited down. They should have been removed from the film altogether to streamline it a bit more.

These are minor complaints, however, since Ledger and Eckhart really steal the show and the overall brooding and mean tone of the film is so thick it's almost stifling, which creates a hypnotic wave of tension and unease that's damn near impressive in nature.

[blackhand]

This film takes nihilism to new heights, especially in the guise of a summer blockbuster.

exactly what i wanted to hear


I'm interested to see how Ledger fills Jack's shoes

[TeleHoar]

I love the goddamn Batman.
Can't wait to go see this movie.

[dookeyXXX]

I'm interested to see how Ledger fills Jack's shoes

actually he doesn't fill Jack's shoes so much as he cuts Jack's legs off just below the knee with a rusty saw, then tosses the bloody stumps into a urine drenched dumpster, though not before removing said shoes and nonchalantly handing them over to a homeless person that is speaking in tongues next to the dumpster in question.

[dookeyXXX]

one more thing:

this is the Batman movie that makes you realize that all the previous Batman movies were merely half-assed extensions of the television show (don't get me wrong, I loved the TV show when I was growing up and still appreciate its ribald sense of camp).

having spent the night mulling over what i just witnessed on screen caused me to reach this conclusion: i used to think that Burton's first Batman was the shit, but seeing Ledger's take on the Joker really turns Nicholson's into more of a comedic jaunt.

This film should be re-titled The DARK Knight (as opposed to The Dark Knight).

[Smokey McPole]

You should go see Batman Begins - the first of this Batman interpretation. Great fun film.

Just picked it up from Chief Quacking Duck. Gonna watch it tonight.

actually he doesn't fill Jack's shoes so much as he cuts Jack's legs off just below the knee with a rusty saw, then tosses the bloody stumps into a urine drenched dumpster, though not before removing said shoes and nonchalantly handing them over to a homeless person that is speaking in tongues next to the dumpster in question.

Seriously, Nicholson's last good movie was The Shining. Everything after that was just him doing his "Hey - I'm Jack Nicholson" schtick". He's a big part of the reason I hated the first Batman movie.

[blackhand]

just got back from the midnight showing

fkna.... believe the hype

ledger played the part so perfectly it really makes me appreciate that he's dead

[Jumper Bones]

"Want to see a magic trick? Watch as I make this pencil disappear..."

Wow oh wow oh wow!!!

[blackhand]

^^^ that was the best introduction of a villain ever

[spindrift]

The movie is amazing.

And disturbing. Ledger's Joker is in a movie-villain league by himself.

"Want to see a magic trick? Watch as I make this pencil disappear..."

Yow! I think the whole theater winced at the same time...

[BestofShow]

The downside is that the movie is really dark.

The title is "The Dark Knight", so I'm thinking that's it's the intent of Christopher Nolan to create the movie exactly this way. I caught an interview where Bale said Ledger was so into his character that "it was like he was just released from 10 years inside a turkish prison." No idea what that is like, but it sounds about right....Just bought tickets for tonight and I'm fired up.

I thinks it's perfect timing that as a kid I saw Michael Keaton's Batman (everyone else sucked), which were a bit lighter, and now older I can enjoy Christian Bale's Batman movies for what they are as darker themes. Even with the same comic stories, you can't compare the two movies because they are so different. Especially what I hoping to see with Ledger's take on the Joker.

[kokomas]

man this ruled. it is a freaking tragedy we won't get to see any more heath ledger. while the performance is obviously getting a lot of attention because of his death, it stands totally on its own as one of the creepiest and most enveloping characters I have ever seen. there have been a lot of great performances lately and this one has to rank among the top.

why i liked BB so much was partly because christopher nolan made a huge attempt to make most of the heriocs practically explained (except the radio summoned bats in the elevator shaft which was totally unbelievable and unnecessary). in this film he takes a few more liberties (cell phone stuff, bent gun barrel, numerous superhucks to pavement), which i kind of took issue with but the overall tone and scope of the movie carried me well past all that.

BB was awesome, except for katie holmes embarassing inability to act. she's gone for this one, all the better. you almost forget she was there as maggie gyllenhaal is remarkably similar in appearance and demeanor without all the kitchyness. i question eckhardt's casting here, he seemed a little weak next to ledger who rules and bale who doesn't have to act at all in being this smug. small quarrel though. love all the parallels to the current mess this country is in, it seems to hit things from a lot of different angles although its a little heavy handed sometimes.

man i wish i could keep watching this for the first time. how good is nolan?!

[advres]

[dookeyXXX]

I'd take Fitzy a little more seriously if he actually spilled some of that brew.

Notice how animated he is but his brew hand remains steady as a rock?

Some might call that expertise, the way he is able to isolate his brew hand like that and not waste a drop of the precious amber nectar.

But I feel it detracts from his chaotically funny review style. If he was actually sloshing brew all around in wild abandon then I would truly believe that he really did love the film (clothes line pecker remarks aside).

[AKA]

1. I did not like Batman Begins. They totally f@#ked up Batman's origins and had way too many storylines and villains vying for center stage.

2. The Dark Knight again has way too many storylines, but they've been reined in a bit and this time there's really only one villain vying for center stage.

3. I went into the film with low expectations, based on my dislike of BB and the fact that the trailers for this flick made Heath Ledger's Joker look like a half-assed amalgamation of Cesar Romero and Jack Nicholson.

Let's just say that all my fears were shattered. This film is DARK. I mean malevolently dark. Nasty dark. MEAN.

Ledger is off-the-nuts. If he doesn't have you squirming uncomfortably in your seat every time he is on screen then you're a lost cause.

Nolan and all involved work a lot of bugged out psychological magic with this film, specifically in terms of the music creating tension, unease, and paranoia (the Joker theme by Hans Zimmer is nuts).

This film takes nihilism to new heights, especially in the guise of a summer blockbuster.

I honestly don't know how they're going to keep this kind of intensity up for another film. It's draining on the viewer and has got to be taxing on the actors and crew.

Honestly, the only complaints I had were 1. the cape looks soy (it's like a crushed velvet window curtain) 2. Bale's Batman voice (a low rasp) is way beyond melodramatic 3. there were some sequences early on in the film that were never fully developed and seem like they were probably edited down. They should have been removed from the film altogether to streamline it a bit more.

These are minor complaints, however, since Ledger and Eckhart really steal the show and the overall brooding and mean tone of the film is so thick it's almost stifling, which creates a hypnotic wave of tension and unease that's damn near impressive in nature.

you are a faggot.

[RootSkier]

Can I have my $8.50 back, because that shit was lame.

[The Reverend Floater]

Saw it tonight...great flick. Not to beat a dead horse but Heath Ledger will make your skin crawl...and I'm no Ledger fan, previously.

Bale was good, to, as was the dude who played Two Face (Thank You for Not Smoking guy). Overall, I'd give it a 9 out of 10.

I'll say it, though--it coulda been 45 minutes shorter.

[bennerlur]

great movie, i fucking loved every minute of it. go see it.

[El Chupacabra]

Some critic called Dark Knight the Empire Strikes Back of the Nolan Batmans and I think it is as good or better, plus all the dark elements of Empire and the unsure, harsh ending.

This is exactly what I was thinking, walking out of the theater today.

This movie is absolutely worth seeing. Solid performances throughout, not predictable Hollywood schlock in the slightest.

If I have any criticism of this movie at all, it's that there are a lot of different storylines running through it -- and it's 2.5 hours long as is -- but many are given fairly superficial treatment. For example, there's next-to-no character development for Bruce Wayne, but the movie works fine as it is anyway.

Watch Nolan's "Batman Begins" first, if you haven't seen it already, and "The Dark Knight" flows along nicely from where the first left off.

[tarkman1]

Dark and disturbing but not devoid of hope.

[Dug]

Awesome movie, love how dark it is. I would go even further to say that the movie would have been better if it had more R-rated material. Not a fan of Ledger but he played the Joker so well it seemed a little empty that we never saw him use his knives even just a little as he waved them in people's faces.

Will probably go see it again, and probably at the IMAX this time. Possibly the best movie I've seen this year (though Iron Man was the shit) and definitely the best villain performance in a very long time.

Only thing that ruined it a little for me was Bale's voice as batman. Overdone much?

[connorm117]

By far the best movie i have seen in a long long time. Ledger was simply amazing.