The Dark Knight... - Page 2

Pumpkinstew · 24-07-2008, 13:22

My initial thoughts on the Dark Knight below. I've put the whole lot in spoiler text as it may contain very minor spoilers (or really huge ones if you have no idea who harvey Dent is)

Spoiler Alert! - Highlight below to read!

I don't think you'll be disappointed by the Dark Knight. It's as dark and involving and complex and morally confused as Memento but has great big action set pieces every 15 minutes. Challenging for a blockbuster but also hugely rewarding. Ledger actually eclipses Nicholson as the Joker, but the Oscar talk is just talk. Daniel Day Lewis shouldn't be worried.
This incarnation of the Joker is obsessed with pushing the limits of individuals and society as a whole to see at what point order tips into chaos and where a 'good' person will trade principal over personal emotion or practicality/survival instinct. The Joker himself is morally bankrupt but shrewd and calculating, with few of his seemingly manic acts done without purpose.
Aaron Eckhart breezes through it until Harvey Dents transformation into Two Face (which is fifty times more convincing than Anakin Skywalker's) at which point with the assistance of some incredible make up effects, plays a convincing and hideous vengeance fuelled monster.
My only gripe is the number of concessions made to earn the 12A certificate. I really hope some bits can be rescued from the cutting room to release a 15 or 18 rated Directors cut DVD. Also the sound mixing was crap but that might just be Odeons crappy speakers. Odeon also has crappy seating which you really notice after 152 minutes of Batman.
So short review : It improves on Batman Begins in almost every way.

End Spoiler Alert!

Del Lardo · 25-07-2008, 00:33

Just got back having watched it with Portugese subs which was a bit weird and my simple two word review is:

KICK ASS

Enjoyed it much more than I thought I would and I thought I'd really enjoy it.

Belmit · 25-07-2008, 23:44

Film of the year. Didn't feel like two and a half hours. The writing for this is amazing - it really feels like there's a revolution happening in Gotham, brewing in the background the whole time. Love the Joker's magic trick.

I saw Anthony Michael Hall's name in the credits (of Breakfast Club and Weird Science fame), but have no idea who his character 'Engel' is/was. Off to search now...

Edit: Christ! Didn't even recognise him, and wouldn't if I'd passed him in the street.

BBx · 27-07-2008, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belmit

Love the Joker's magic trick.

What an entrance huh?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belmit

I saw Anthony Michael Hall's name in the credits (of Breakfast Club and Weird Science fame), but have no idea who his character 'Engel' is/was. Off to search now...

Edit: Christ! Didn't even recognise him, and wouldn't if I'd passed him in the street.

Please explain?! What are you talking about?!

Spoiler Alert! - Highlight below to read!

The Scarecrow man and 2Face scared the ****s out of me, and I can't remember Batman speaking in a gruff voice in Batman Begins.

Eckhart and Christian Bale are GORRRGEOUS!!! Bale wins though

Brilliant film though, apart from I didn't come out the cinema saying 'OMG I have to see that again it was amazing!!!' like I did after Transformers :/

End Spoiler Alert!

I <3 Christian Bale

BB x

Belmit · 27-07-2008, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBelle

Please explain?! What are you talking about?!

Anthony Michael Hall was the geek in Breakfast Club, and I saw his name in the credits at the end of The Dark Knight. Turns out he was a reporter in it, but I didn't recognise him at all - he looks completely different now.

Then:

Now:

BBx · 27-07-2008, 19:44

Oh.. I don't recognise him from the film... but I DID recognise....

Spoiler Alert! - Highlight below to read!

The Mayor being Richard from The Others in Lost, and The Bank Manager who was the FBI (?) bloke in Prison Break

End Spoiler Alert!

BB x

Belmit · 27-07-2008, 19:58

Yep I recognised him, and the bank manager has been in loads of other stuff too but I couldn't say what!

Pebs · 28-07-2008, 02:32

I cant wait to see this! I was going the other night, and got sidetracked by alcomahol instead

BBx · 28-07-2008, 09:09

You chose Alcohol over Christian?!

How could you?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BB x

Pumpkinstew · 28-07-2008, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBelle

You chose Alcohol over Christian?!

You wanted to watch Transformers a second time?!

Mandy from Hollyoaks also has a blink and you'll miss it cameo. The odd looking northerner from the WKD adverts actually has a line of dialogue though.

24-07-2008, 13:22	#11
Pumpkinstew Absinthe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mostly Oxford, Sometimes Bristol Posts: 1,156	My initial thoughts on the Dark Knight below. I've put the whole lot in spoiler text as it may contain very minor spoilers (or really huge ones if you have no idea who harvey Dent is) Spoiler Alert! - Highlight below to read! I don't think you'll be disappointed by the Dark Knight. It's as dark and involving and complex and morally confused as Memento but has great big action set pieces every 15 minutes. Challenging for a blockbuster but also hugely rewarding. Ledger actually eclipses Nicholson as the Joker, but the Oscar talk is just talk. Daniel Day Lewis shouldn't be worried. This incarnation of the Joker is obsessed with pushing the limits of individuals and society as a whole to see at what point order tips into chaos and where a 'good' person will trade principal over personal emotion or practicality/survival instinct. The Joker himself is morally bankrupt but shrewd and calculating, with few of his seemingly manic acts done without purpose. Aaron Eckhart breezes through it until Harvey Dents transformation into Two Face (which is fifty times more convincing than Anakin Skywalker's) at which point with the assistance of some incredible make up effects, plays a convincing and hideous vengeance fuelled monster. My only gripe is the number of concessions made to earn the 12A certificate. I really hope some bits can be rescued from the cutting room to release a 15 or 18 rated Directors cut DVD. Also the sound mixing was crap but that might just be Odeons crappy speakers. Odeon also has crappy seating which you really notice after 152 minutes of Batman. So short review : It improves on Batman Begins in almost every way. End Spoiler Alert! __________________ Get old, or die tryin' PSTEWREVIEWS - Chunks of Meaty Reviews, Mixed with Your Five a Day of News, Comment and Opinion, Floating in a Broth of Suspect Grammar and Seasoned Liberally with Mixed Metaphor. Tasty.

25-07-2008, 23:44	#13
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	Film of the year. Didn't feel like two and a half hours. The writing for this is amazing - it really feels like there's a revolution happening in Gotham, brewing in the background the whole time. Love the Joker's magic trick. I saw Anthony Michael Hall's name in the credits (of Breakfast Club and Weird Science fame), but have no idea who his character 'Engel' is/was. Off to search now... Edit: Christ! Didn't even recognise him, and wouldn't if I'd passed him in the street. __________________ Last edited by Belmit; 25-07-2008 at 23:47.

27-07-2008, 19:58	#17
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	Yep I recognised him, and the bank manager has been in loads of other stuff too but I couldn't say what! __________________

28-07-2008, 02:32	#18
Pebs Easymouth Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,716	I cant wait to see this! I was going the other night, and got sidetracked by alcomahol instead __________________ ...faster you naughty little monkey! Running through hell, heaven can wait!

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25-07-2008, 00:33	#12
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	Just got back having watched it with Portugese subs which was a bit weird and my simple two word review is: KICK ASS Enjoyed it much more than I thought I would and I thought I'd really enjoy it.

27-07-2008, 19:44	#16
BBx Reverse SuBo Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 8,673	Oh.. I don't recognise him from the film... but I DID recognise.... Spoiler Alert! - Highlight below to read! The Mayor being Richard from The Others in Lost, and The Bank Manager who was the FBI (?) bloke in Prison Break End Spoiler Alert! BB x

28-07-2008, 09:09	#19
BBx Reverse SuBo Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 8,673	You chose Alcohol over Christian?! How could you?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BB x