The Cinema-Mad Sibling saw "The Dark Knight" last night at a midnight showing (he didn't finish until nearly 3 AM), and he has just now emailed me his review. I'm seeing the film tonight, so my own review will be online in the next few days. For now, though, you can enjoy the latest Cine-Sib review:
Bona fide spectacle of @$$-kickery.
Can a sequel be as good or even better than what it sprang from? Does it live up to the hype? Can Batman Begins even be topped? The answer is yes to all of the above. Chris Nolan has definitely outdone himself, crafting a movie worthy of being called a sequel. The Dark Knight raises the bar - it's not just bigger, badder with more explosions a la Michael Bay, but a solid, action-packed non-stop gritty crime thriller set in the Batman mythos, an all-around spectacular visceral experience.
The world is careening upside down. Police corruption is at the highest it's ever been. Crime is at an all time high. The mob controlling finances and owning people everywhere. Copycat Batman wannabe vigilantes appear, inspired by the original to try to make a difference. A new twisted villain in town wanting to bring a new type of criminal to the table and tired of the just petty thieves. He wants the identity of the Batman. Or people will die. Bruce wanting to have a normal life and not having to put on a mask in order to do good. The new D.A., Gotham's newest hope for cleanup, hitting the criminals hard and taking names. He's a new hope for Batman. Someone who could replace him and do everything on the right side of the law.
These are just some tidbits of the goings-on, but of course it is all more complex than this. The 2 hour 32 minute run-time zips past like half an hour, and not once did I doze off as I saw this movie at a 12:45 showing last night. No, the Icee really didn't do much for me. Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman all are back, bringing the Caped Crusader back for his next adventure, after we saw Bruce Wayne become Batman in Batman Begins. This time, the challenges are definitely tougher, rougher, and he must endure it with his wit, skill, and tactics. With almost no one in the police force to trust, can you even make a small difference in this evil world? This grim potboiler is forged in the mold of your gritty crime thrillers of yesteryear and is uncompromising as it is unforgettable.
Whatever talks of nominating Heath Ledger for a posthumous Oscar, do it. He deserves it. The Joker is not your father's Joker. He makes Cesar Romero and Jack Nicholson look like circus clowns. This Joker is definitely twisted but way more sinister than previous movie incarnations. And he has a really sick sense of humor. The other supporting character, Aaron Eckhart as DA Harvery Dent, lends believability to this character who we know is a villain, but is portrayed much differently as a man trying to do go in a den of evil, finally taking matters into his own hands. Rachel Dawes much more fits Maggie Gyllenhaal than Katie Holmes. Gary Oldman is always impressive as Gordon.
The action is ramped up several notches as we see Joker's onslaught on the city throughout the movie. Cinematography is excellent, dark and grim to match the tone. Hans Zimmer's score impresses as always, lending a brooding orchestral accompaniment. The around-the-world location shoots add to the grandeur of the movie. The Batpod? Way cool. The Lamborghini? Not subtle at all. Overall, a bravura directorial effort from Chris Nolan and team, creating an intense thriller that never ceases to let go of your attention, grabbing you for 2 and a half hours. The Dark Knight, easily the best sequel movie this summer. Why so serious?
PS: Here is an addendum. Over the phone, the Cine-Sib said that this is really Heath Ledger's movie, that he steals it from Christian Bale and turns in an excellent performance. Well, I can't wait to see this flick for myself tonight.
PS 2: Alessandra's comment on the Cine-Sib review: "So basically he's a gibbering fanboy?" Pretty much, yeah. :-)
1 comment:
i still wish Katie Holmes had stayed on board as Rachel Dawes for the Dark Knight; it was like the time spent getting familiar with her character in Batman Begins was wasted...
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