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All Movie Info
Starring:
Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, William Fichtner, Anthony Michael Hall, Aaron Eckhart, Eric Roberts, Michael Jai White, Nestor Carbonell, Melinda McGraw, Monique Curnen, Nathan Gamble, Chucky Venice, Danny Goldring, Vincenzo Nicoli, Sarah Jayne Dunn, Chin Han, Vincenzo Nicoli, Nydia Melroy
Directed By:
Christopher Nolan
Written By:
Bob Kane, Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer, Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan
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The Dark Knight (2008)
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Movie Review by Zara 
July 23rd, 2008
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I think people are afraid to give this movie a poor rating, for fear of the wrath of the American public and their obsession with celebrities who die "too young."
Here's a basic outline of my opinion on the movie. Christopher Nolan once again brings to the screen a resonant darkness that aptly conveys the underlying moral theme of it being a punishment to be amongst the righteous who fight for social justice. The film is dark and brooding and looks it.
Bale is still an interesting Batman who can pull off Bruce Wayne as well, but there's something to his performance that feels... I don't know... hollow. Bale is a great actor who seems to pull off the Dark Knight like it was reading a Chinese take-out menu. Squint and look confused from time to time, but ultimately know what you're going to order and how to pronounce the name.
Ledger is really the star of the movie anyhow, an anarchistic menace who enjoys creating chaos just for kicks. Ledger modeled his version of The Joker a great deal after Alex from A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and it shows. The main difference being that The Joker doesn't even have the redeeming escapism of classical music. He is simply sociopathic and moralistically void. Because people want to like him so much, they will. Goth and emo kids will wear the smudged make-up and mock scars for years to come, all without understanding the character AT ALL.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, bless her heart, is empty in the role she took over from Katie Holmes. And as much of a fan of Maggie as I am, I actually think Katie was better suited to it. Rachel Dawes is a snore of a character who didn't deserve as much screen time as she got and who fails to inspire the undying devotion that Harvey "Two Face" Dent develops for her. Why the hell does that man love her so deeply? The audience will never know.
Onto Eckhart as Dent. He can be such a stunningly great actor that he has made loathsome characters captivating (IN THE COMPANY OF MEN) and caused scores of audiences to lust after a guy they would cross the street to get away from in real life (ERIN BROCKOVICH). But it is a thankless position to be put in the role of the super-ego character. (If you don't understand what I'm talking about, research some Freud.) Dent is unlikeable as a nice guy and unrelateable as the bad guy. I didn't understand his love for Rachel, nor his insane need to seek vengeance for her death. There is nothing along the 2 1/2 hours that Nolan gives us that made me sympathize or understand Dent in any fashion.
Morgan Freeman is given too little screen time. Michael Caine is given too little screen time. Cillian Murphy is given too little screen time (they damn well better make that Scarecrow movie they said they were going to make). Hell, even Anthony Michael Hall was given so little screen time. I was amazed that I sat through 2 1/2 hours of a movie and still craved so much more from it. The time flew past effortlessly (much to Nolan and his editor's credit) and yet... Gah. I really wanted to know so much more. And even though there's a third installment on its way, I somehow doubt that I'll be granted my wish for more.
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 | Bobby B
Jul 24, 2008 3:23 PM
also wrote a review of The Dark Knight
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I agree. It's a strange thing. I loved the movie I really did. I didn't think it was perfect or a masterpiece. But I feel like I understand the movie much more than a lot of people who are hyperventilating over it. I had one friend admit to me that she definitely felt like she paid more attention to Ledger because she was aware of his death. I mean, you probably can't get around that but it almost feels too bad because his work definitely stands on its own.
I can't ever see picking Katie Holmes over Maggie Gyllenhaal for anything but I think people might feel this role was better for Holmes just because it was written so poorly. If all you REALLY have to do is stand there and look cute...
Four stars is still a good rating. Nice work, Z. |
 | Lisa
Aug 13, 2008 12:32 PM
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I finally saw this movie last night, and I agree with you. I was disappointed that the Rachel Dawes character was so weak, and Eckhart got right on my t*ts, I cringe at the court room scene when grabs the gun from the witness ...urrgh.
However watching Ledger as the Joker was a treat, it's a shame his performance will forever be marred by his death, and not looked upon for its own merits. |
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