Film: The Dark Knight

[His Name Is Frank]

23,000 IMDB fans can't be wrong. Although I suspect many people gave it a 10 rating before even seeing it. I know I did.

 

[d-phex]

I wasn't expecting it to be good. I saw the first 5 minutes leaked and I wasn't impressed.

So when I saw it, I was floored.

 

[alasdairm]

RE Rated E, really love how worked up someone can get over a comic book film, heaven forbid someone not worship its every facet.

everyone is entitled to their opinion, same as you. let's focus on the subject matter.

welcome to f&t - let's not degrade the signal to noise ratio, please?

alasdair

 

[tambourine-man]

23,000 IMDB fans can't be wrong. Although I suspect many people gave it a 10 rating before even seeing it. I know I did.

Well... 40,000 apparently feel that WALL-E is a better film than Dr Strangelove.

 

[axl blaze]

I thought it was the opposite.

He was about anarchy and chaos. Not money.[/quote=rated e]

yeah, I agree with you, I just worded my slang term wrong or confusing like.

and Dark Knight is about 50 times better than Batman Begins. Batman Begins faulted for me because I never particularly liked Raj-Al Ghul, the Scarecrow, and Katie Holmes. also, the first movie was just too moody for me. still very good, but nowhere near Dark Knight (which is better than Empire or Godfather II).

 

[AmorRoark]

I was a bit disappointed too but there are SEVERAL aspects that could have tainted my experience.

1. The movie started significantly late: Everyone was getting ansy and since the relatively small-ish theater was packed I was a bit agitated before it started (luckily stine and I were able to create our own comic relief).

2. The people around us: were really freaking lame. The entire row in front of us consisted of high schoolers who thought it necessary for the entire theater to know their every thought. Granted they almost completely simmered down once the movie started but, again, another thing that got me slightly annoyed.

3. I was expecting too much: To give a bit of background I didn't enjoy Spiderman or any of the other recent releases of superhero movies as much as most people I come into contact with. However I really enjoyed Batman Begins and also the original Batman. That coupled with the fact that every single review I've read seemed basically like they had a constant orgasm throughout the entire film, made me think that perhaps this would be different than my other superhero experiences.

So, though I think those factors could attribute in-part to why I was disappointed, I don't think it completes the picture.


Things I liked about the movie:

NSFW:

1. Set in Chicago: It was pretty fucking awesome to be able to relate and know exactly where all those shots were being filmed. You know, to think "ouhh! they're on Lower Wacker!" or "Sweet, the 77 Wacker building!" or "I wonder if they're suppose to be in Trump Tower mid-construction?"

2. Heath Ledger: I thought his performance was spot-fucking-on. I was genuinely afraid of him. Absolutely perfect portrayal. I don't know if he'll win the Best Actor Oscar for this but I wouldn't be surprised if he did. Best performance of his life.

3. Special Effects: The chase scenes in 'Gotham' were SO AWESOME. I was blown away and wrapped up by the whole thing. At the end of the scene I started clapping along with everyone else because it was that good. I thought a lot of the scenes were shot pretty beautifully.

4. Story Line: Pretty interesting. Someone who had just seen the previous showing in the theater told me while I was waiting in line that "there's a lot to it", which, in retrospect, I don't really see... nevertheless I was entertained and thought they remained pretty damn true to the feeling of the comic books. After seeing this portrayal I think the initial Batman interpretation pales to this one.

Things I disliked about the movie:

NSFW:

1. Length: It was just too long for me. I wish they would have cut it off with the Joker getting caught. Perhaps we could see glimpses of Two-Face and that would be a good cliffhanger for the next Batman. I'm not one of those who's against seeing a movie over two hours, not in the least. But when I feel as if the movie is dragging and I've been in my seat for 4 hours, then its too long for my personal taste. I'm not sure but I think maybe action movies exhaust me and when they're long my excitement starts to die and I get bored with the dialogue more easily.

2.Sonar Technology: I'm usually ok with all the kooky gadgets in action hero movies but this was just too much for me. It's like one of those things that people think we'll actually be able to do in the future. I'm not suggesting that we can't track people based on cell phones but to be able to reconstruct their faces, sitting position, expressions? Really? It was just too ridiculous for me and I was rolling my eyes. It was such an intricate part of the later plot that it wasn't just a goofy, cool aspect anymore. I understand its commentary on 9/11 but what's the message? That its ok to use if we need to save the city? Really? That's the argument for the FISA bill. Ok so they destroy it once its 'safe' but they do use it to save the day. I guess I just missed the message other than 'its complicated'. Thanks, I already knew that.

3.Batman's Voice: Like stine said I was sort of laughing at the technology used to make a lower/rattled voice for Bale. It sounded bizarre to me. I felt they could have tuned it better but what do I know... I'm just a customer expecting too much.

4. The 'Social Experiment': It was so predictable and a general waste of film. I didn't really enjoy that part and was bored.

I think my critique comes off harsher than I really intended. I enjoyed the movie but I didn't think it was the "best movie of the year". It will probably make it on the Oscar list but I'd be shocked if it won. Generally the films which are considered the 'best' come out at the end of the year, not for a summer blockbuster. I could be wrong but we'll see. Regardless I had a lot of fun. I want to take my boyfriend to see it on IMAX. I would gladly give this film more of my time and money. 4/5 for me.

ps. Steinanwine is a female. That's James McAvoy as her avatar, not herself.

 

[L2R]

my bad, ames, steinawine.

oh and i wouldn't rely on imdb rating as a telling factor. all films with an inherent fanbase start their first few months high up on that scale. it only levels out after about a year or so.

yes, guido you'll like it. even the critics in this thread say it's good. i think it was just as good (no better than) as batman begins, but then i LOVE batman begins.

 

[MynameisnotDeja]

Is it really long? I don't like long.

 

[d-phex]

From beginning of previews to end it was about 2:45

 

[His Name Is Frank]

Is it really long? I don't like long.

That's not what you were saying last night.

I mean, yes. It's over 2 1/2 hrs. But, come on. Make this the exception. It's pretty much the event movie of the century and your last time to see Heath Ledger on the big screen. (not counting his partially completed role in the upcoming Terry Gilliam movie, if they use the footage)

 

[FreeAgentMan]

thiz movie was amazing it wasnt quite as good as batman returns and heath ledger lookd funni, but it was cool

 

[His Name Is Frank]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=StWZDqqBfJo
The Dark Knight trailer in Lego blocks

 

[Unglued]

thiz movie was amazing it wasnt quite as good as batman returns and heath ledger lookd funni, but it was cool

Of course Heath Ledger looked funny. His character was a homicidal clown! What do you expect him to look like?? Peter Pan??

 

[randycaver]

Is it really long? I don't like long.

as a general rule? that's rather limiting.

 

[tambourine-man]

That's not what you were saying last night.

**rimshot**

 

[vegan]

about the sonar technology

very minor spoiler

NSFW:

to be able to reconstruct their faces, sitting position, expressions? Really? It was just too ridiculous for me and I was rolling my eyes

NSFW:

it doesn't sound ridiculous at all... with an advanced enough technology
did you forget the lessons that daredevil taught you?
sound is waves that bump back on (and through) every surface
so with the right technology, you could use a sound receptor to positionate objects in the noisy area

actually... that's in part how bats fly!!! find preys. by using a sonar that sends back to them an echoe that allow them to locate objects


random comment :
i really liked "what the policeman should have done 10 minutes ago" on the boat

 

[AmorRoark]

^ But are the bats reconstructing their prey's face? I'd be really astonished at that. As I said previously I could imagine sonar based off pure location but not as enhanced as Dark Knight suggested.

I find it sort of silly that everyone says 'with the right technology' to basically anything. Yeah, technically, with the right technology, we can do AMAZING things. With the right technology we can transcend time and space (literally, not just in the mind). But that hasn't happened. Maybe my mind is limited but so be it. It was a personal annoyance. ::

See, I think personally I'm all about crazy non-realistic technology if it's in a fantasy setting. For instance in Dune they are able to time travel but it isn't a modern-day setting. Applying crazy technology to right now is what bugs me. It seems all the more ridiculous then. Again, ::

Also, for the record, I never did and almost positively never will see Daredevil.

 

[MynameisnotDeja]

as a general rule? that's rather limiting.

Yeah. I'm awful. I'm like the most restless person on the planet. I have the hardest time ever sitting through a movie because I always feel like I should be doing something else. I have major ADD issues. They went away the entire time I was a stoner and now that I'm sober again I've noticed they are back in a big way. Guess its time to start toking again.

And I'll see it. I just swore never to see a long movie again after I was stuck in the theater for what felt like forever years ago at REturn of the King.. but this looks like it will interest me more.

That's not what you were saying last night.

Shhhh.. don't tell.

 

[axl blaze]

with all the unknown technology that GPS could possibly hand over to the U. S. Government, and all with the stamp of "Homeland Security" over it - I don't think sonar-like GPS technology through cell phones is that far fetched. who knows if we have that technology availible? I think the government does, but I always fall very far left and very on the paranoid side.

 

[vibr8tor]

Although I suspect many people gave it a 10 rating before even seeing it. I know I did.

what possible reason would you have for doing that?