Year: 2008
Directed By: Christopher Nolan
Written By: David S. Goyer, Jonathon Nolan, and Christopher Nolan
RYAN’S REVIEW
A good sequel should be a bigger and better version of the original. One would think that Batman Begins would present a challenge because it was such a great film in its own right. It seems small in hindsight now, and that’s why The Dark Knight is so great. It’s so overwhelmingly awesome that you forget how great the first film was. Christopher Nolan has been on fire and this movie was just another great movie he’s made along the way. Every movie he has made has been incredible, the only reason this movie was so much more successful was because people love Batman, just as people love Spiderman. The reboot of Spiderman will probably make just as much money as the original trilogy when it is all said and done.
I remember when I heard Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker I could not believe it. I had been hoping for Paul Bettany who had been rumored for the role and had just played a great villain in The Da Vinci Code. Brokeback Mountain dominated jokes and cultural references around the time of the announcement so the choice wasn’t well received all around. Then his death came out of no where only months before release, it was so sudden, it was almost too hard to believe it was true. Then his performance hit the theater screens and he went from the Brokeback Mountain guy to a legend, a martyr for the movie industry just as James Dean was. He received a post-mortem Academy Award that was well deserved but he probably never would have received had he lived. Heath Ledger was one of the greatest bad guys of all time, he actually scared me with his portrayal of the Joker, it was the master stroke of his career. His death is unfortunate for many reasons but especially for this franchise because Nolan could have made this movie another 10 times with Ledger and Bale again and again and it would have continued to be incredible.
Ledger was so good in this movie that his performance tends to make you forget how good everyone else was. Bale is great again as Bruce Wayne and Batman, his Batman voice was again criticized. Maggie Gyllenhaal filled in nicely for Katie Holmes who turned down more money to reprise the role. Aaron Eckhart was great as Harvey Dent and then later as Two-Face. Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman all return to their respective roles. It is easy for actors to shine when they are part of something so great. The Dark Knight is such an all around good film, and as always it starts with a great story. The Nolans and Goyer came up with a great idea and they packed it full of action from beginning to end. Nolan has a great talent for making something look and feel R-rated without it being so. His movies have little profanity and little graphic violence. The consequences in all are great and the violence is there but it isn’t graphic. No doubt that is a skill Warner Brothers has noticed and will continue taking advantage of for as long as possible.
You don’t need me to tell you that this movie was great, no doubt you have already heard that from others. If you haven’t seen it you should see this and its predecessor. They are both great films and I look forward to the closing of the trilogy. The early teaser for next summer’s finale is short but offers a lot to look forward to. Bane is the villain seen in the trailer, played by Tom Hardy. The third installment will also feature Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard in roles that are probably misinformation. Most likely they are playing the son and daughter of the villains in the first film, Carmine Falcone and Rhas Al Ghul. No matter who they are I have no doubt that Nolan will impress us again with his third Batman film. Liam Neeson is rumored to have a cameo return to the franchise which should make my wife happy. Either way Rhas Al Ghul will return, Josh Pence has been cast as a younger version of the character, giving merit to the notion that Marion Cotillard is actually playing Talia Al Ghul. I have added the teaser trailer to this post following Amber’s review, if you haven’t seen it yet then definitely check it out. The Dark Knight Rises will be awesome.
AMBER’S REVIEW
I LOVE this movie. This was a no questions asked, we are going to the theater on opening day to see this movie. The hype was already crazy for the movie because of the death of Heath Ledger. What a sad story. If he could have only seen what an amazing job he did all put together. He was one of the scariest bad guys of all times, hands down. If you didn’t know who he was before the film, I very much doubt you could have guessed it was him during the movie. This role, in my opinion, was his greatest. It was intense and thorough and he played the role with such precision.
The story line is very strong and leaves you wanting more in the end. The makeup was out of control amazing, especially for two-face. I know they probably used some computer animation for that, but still I thought it was believable and by far the craziest two-face I have ever seen.
My one and only problem for this entire film is the Batman voice that Christian Bale uses. I am not picking on him, it is true that I am not his biggest fan, but c’mon…that Batman voice was WAY to over the top, I really hope that he tones it down for the next one.This movie is worth watching over and over, and you can bet your bottom dollar we will be in line opening night for the next installment. I am becoming a Christopher Nolan believer.
NEXT MOVIE: Beetle Juice (1988)
The Movie Snobs 