Entertainment
The Dark Knight Review: Even Gadgets Can't Stop The Joker's Madness
Posted by Jason Chen at 4:06 AM on July 19, 2008
The Dark Knight does not disappoint. Sure, there are gadgets galore in this one--you've seen a few of them in the trailer, like the Batpod and the new Batsuit--but you're going to be focusing your eyes on two things: The Joker and Harvey Dent. This film is dark, it's gritty, it's arguably more realistic than even the first movie. In short, it's everything you'd expect the sequel to be. And more.
AU: Guys, I'm going to leave this unedited - I don't want to read the Giz review before I see the movie in case there are spoilers. Not that there are spoilers here - I wouldn't know, I haven't read it - but I'm being cautious anyway.
(I'm going to try and get through this review without spoilers.)
First off, the gadgets. The Batmobile is back, and so is Batman's upgraded fighting suit. He's not residing in Wayne Manor anymore after the events of the Batman Begins, so he has to make do with hiding his Bat-gear inside Wayne Towers and various locales around the city. Batman makes do. He's a hero in exile, a thread that continues through to the end of the movie and on to the next.
There's a very good minor plot device that centres around mobile phones that would be pretty damn awesome if it we could get our hands on it in real life. Who knows...maybe the government's already using it now. Plus there's are great scenes in the air, both with a plane and "without". He's really earning that "Bat" part of his name.
As good as Christian Bale is as Bats, the real stars of THIS movie are the Joker and Harvey Dent. If there is ever a character that is the complete opposite of the Dark Detective--cold, calculating, and completely logical--it's the Joker. He's simultaneously insane and extremely insane, taking apart bit by bit the fragile peace that Batman has strived to build since the first movie. There is so little logic to the joker that he's probably the one person whose moves Batman can't predict.
What's great about this movie isn't just the writing and the special effects (though they both are still stellar), it's that everything FEELS exactly like you'd imagine Batman and his villains to be in real life. There's even traces of realistic crime flicks like Heat going on throughout, which lends more to making guys as ludicrous on paper as Batman and the Joker believable. How would you portray a man whose sole intent, as Alfred says, is to watch the world burn? This is how. Gone is affable clownish uncle figure that Jack Nicholson played in the 1989 Batman, and in his place is a character that if you saw on the street, you should run away from as fast as you fucking can. Us gadget fans relate more towards with Batman's logic than Joker's lunacy, which is why he's going to be the best villain you'll ever seen in a superhero flick.
See this movie. Go buy this ticket right now and print it out at your office. We didn't get to see it in IMAX, but a good 20 minutes of the film was shot in the format, so we're definitely going to go back and catch it again. In fact, we've been trying to wrap our heads around all the different themes and nuances that Chris Nolan crammed in; ideas that are even more subtle than they were in the first. A second viewing would do us good.
(You'll notice we didn't mention much about Harvey Dent/Two Face in this review. We'll leave that bit of plot for you to discover yourselves.)

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
ronnsprocket
Posted 4:51 AM 19/7/08
@MyPetFly: i was thinking the exact same thing. I cant put my finger on exactly what it was, but it triggered some image in my brain.
ronnsprocket
dale3h
Posted 4:47 AM 19/7/08
@mcdonnr: That was such a badass trick! This movie got so many claps from the audience during the showing I was at.
They played the movie on 15 out of 18 screens at my local theater. All screens were sold out many hours before the show. Another theater was playing it on 3 and all sold out. I really think this film will top the box office of all time.
I was speechless after the movie. It was absolutely astonishing. It was more than 5 times better than I had expected it to be. By far one of the greatest films I've seen in my lifetime. It tops 300 and Wanted combined by afar.
Normally I don't like long movies, but this one was not "drawn out." Every second kept me guessing what would happen next. Not being a huge Batman fan, I was not able to predict anything that would happen.
Go see the movie. Then go see it again. And maybe once or twice more. It's worth every penny.
Seriously, why did he have to pass? He was such an astonishing actor, especially in this film. This was definitely the best acting of his career, hands down. No one could have done it better, not even close...
dale3h
Chester_Copperpot
Posted 4:46 AM 19/7/08
@mcdonnr: Disappearing Pencil gets my vote over iPhone for Gadget of the Year.
Chester_Copperpot
Chester_Copperpot
Posted 4:45 AM 19/7/08
@OddManOut: Yeah, I'm gonna say Terminator 2, Toy Story 2 and Empire Strikes Back were better than their originals.....and yes Empire wasn't a "true" sequel, but you know what I mean.
Chester_Copperpot
MyPetFly
Posted 4:43 AM 19/7/08
I hate to say it, but the burning building image reminds me of a World Trade Center impact point. I'm not saying it's supposed to be that, just that it reminds me of it.
Anyway, I'm not a super hero movie fan, but I am looking forward to this one, based on what I've heard.
MyPetFly
Durid make hibernate
Posted 4:42 AM 19/7/08
That Movie was so awesome. YOU KNOW HOW I GOT THESE SCARS?!!!?!?
Durid make hibernate
Chester_Copperpot
Posted 4:42 AM 19/7/08
@Chester_Copperpot: Oh I forgot to mention. I haven't laughed that hard at a singular joke since Dumb and Dumber ----- "Now watch as I make this pencil disappear."
Chester_Copperpot
Chester_Copperpot
Posted 4:41 AM 19/7/08
Iron Man was on the level of X-Men and Spider-Man. It was escapist drivel for the comic book crowd.
The Christopher Nolan Batman's are on a completely different level. Think ALL-TIME GREATEST ACTION MOVIES.
Think Die Hard, Indiana Jones, Kill Bill and Hero.
Chester_Copperpot
PipeRifle
Posted 4:41 AM 19/7/08
@IKEACAR: The very first scene was packed full of a ton of heavy-hitting stuff basically as a precursor to him wanting a light suit. Seemed like some blades, some "punch enhancers" (Bat-Roll-Of-Quarters?) and some other stuff.
I'd ask what you meant, specifically, but let's keep it spoiler-free where possible.
PipeRifle
hammertime94
Posted 4:40 AM 19/7/08
I saw it at midnight (well, it was really 12:03 since they had it on four screens at 12:01, 12:02, 12:03, and 12:04) and it was amazing. Two-Face always scared me when I was nine and I watched the Batman cartoons. They did an excellent job of bringing up memories of nightmares about Two-Face that I would have. The Joker was always my favorite villain in the series and Heath Ledger (who was never really my favorite actor, but that might have been because of movies like Broke-Back Mountain which I fortunately didn't care to see) portrayed him excellently. I really hope they don't have the Joker in the next movie (because they would have to replace him). All in all it was a great movie. See it. Now!
@powerball: I never compare DC movies to Marvel movies. Even if I did, they are incomparable (however I will say that if you prefer dark movies The Dark Knight is for you, but if you prefer humor, Iron Man is better).
@mcdonnr: I agree 100%.
Wow, this is my longest post ever...
hammertime94
PipeRifle
Posted 4:39 AM 19/7/08
There was more honest and legitimate emotion being expressed in the theater I was in last night than I've seen in a movie in a long time.
There were traditional audience-reaction "Oohs" and "DAMN!"s, but we also cheered and said awwww and applauded the characters on their accomplishments. It was pretty astounding. The whole thing really draws you in.
Also, I was in Chicago, so there's some hometown pride there. One of the guys on the witness stand from a courtroom scene in the movie was there in the theater with us, so he got a round of applause, as well.
PipeRifle
IKEACAR
Posted 4:39 AM 19/7/08
@mcdonnr:
Haha...the disappearing pencil.
I think my jaw dropped for a good 5 minutes after that.
Gadgets galore in this flick. What was that thing he was using in the very first scene?
IKEACAR
blackend
Posted 4:36 AM 19/7/08
@mcdonnr: the pencil trick rules!! xD!!
blackend
blackend
Posted 4:35 AM 19/7/08
@powerball: There's just no point of comparisson. Ironman was great but TDL will become a classic man. Long life to Heath Ledger (amm well figuretly speaking... you know)
I didn't leave my seat until I saw the In loving memory of Heath Ledger (well it said something like that) but, who was the other guy??
resume: MUST SEE
blackend
OGHowie
Posted 4:31 AM 19/7/08
@TJ:
I thought Iron Man was a bit overrated (Don't ban me!), so I wouldn't be surprised if Dark Knight is better.
OGHowie
mcdonnr
Posted 4:28 AM 19/7/08
@TJ: I am definitely inclined to agree with your assessment of The Dark Knight > Iron Man. In fact, I am more than inclined... I am downright compelled.
mcdonnr
jhlavenka
Posted 4:27 AM 19/7/08
MORE realistic than the first one! You mean the one that involved dumping a hallucinogenic chemical into the city's water supply and activating it with some sort of large microwave beam which made everyone look like monsters? Impossible.
jhlavenka
Ariel_Wollinger
Posted 4:27 AM 19/7/08
well, this film is BETTER than the first!
Ariel_Wollinger
TJ
Posted 4:25 AM 19/7/08
Well stated. Would I be too bold in saying (at least in the sense of cinematic value) that this movie bests Iron Man? I know that there is going to be a bias on this website and it's difficult to compare the two based on their respective tones, but I don't think I would be unreasonable in saying yes, it might just be.
TJ
OddManOut
Posted 4:25 AM 19/7/08
"In short, it's everything you'd expect the sequel to be. And more."
I certainly hope not. I've seen enough movies and sequels at this point to expect a sequal to
a) Suck balls compared to the original
b) Suck balls entirely on it's own merit
BUT! I was most pleasently surprised with Batman Begins that if this sequel is even half as good as it's predecessor I'll probably enjoy it well enough. And by all accounts it should be :)
Maybe I'll catch it next week...opening day/weekend is usually none to much fun. Here's hoping I can resist the temptation to download it before then...
OddManOut
Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!
Posted 4:24 AM 19/7/08
Well I for one will frakkin' be at IMAX at high noon, waiting on whatever the hell line is there to get in.
Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!
mcdonnr
Posted 4:24 AM 19/7/08
I feel like I can't really comment on this one without spoiling it for anyone who hasn't seen it... but I think I've got the ultimate gadget in this movie, which won't spoil anything:
The disappearing pencil.
mcdonnr
Ariel_Wollinger
Posted 4:22 AM 19/7/08
+ Watch video
Ariel_Wollinger
LillieDesigns
Posted 4:21 AM 19/7/08
Amazing movie. Saw it at midnight and was not disappointed. Fantastic, fantastic, FANTASTIC.
LillieDesigns
powerball
Posted 4:20 AM 19/7/08
Going this weekend, whats the verdict compared to Iron Man.
powerball
SeattleTed
Posted 4:20 AM 19/7/08
AWE-SOME. I'm PUMPED which says a great deal because my personal hell is the Spiderman crapology.
SeattleTed
Scott
Posted 4:20 AM 19/7/08
Maybe I'm just a tard but you guys read into movies a whole lot more than I do.
Scott
Ariel_Wollinger
Posted 4:20 AM 19/7/08
This movie kicks ass.
Ariel_Wollinger
xCruciaLx
Posted 4:19 AM 19/7/08
Heath Ledger's Joker pretty much owned any other Villain that the Batman franchise had shown. Even Jack Nicholson's Joker looked like Clown compared to this Joker.
He deserves an Oscar or something.
Awesome actors, sound, script, ... movie.
10/10.
xCruciaLx
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
Posted 5:19 AM 19/7/08
@mcdonnr: Interesting.
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
PR-0927
Posted 5:17 AM 19/7/08
I have to say this is the best superhero movie, hands down. No doubt about it.
Iron Man is just one of those comical, flashy superhero movies.
Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are dark, deep, intense movies that play on your psyche.
- PR-0927
PR-0927
IKEACAR
Posted 5:16 AM 19/7/08
I have to say I was also pleasantly surprised to see a LACK of product placement in this film. If it was there I didn't notice it or it did not detract from the movie. For something marketed so heavily, I was happy to see the focus on the film and not the marketable items.
IKEACAR
mcdonnr
Posted 5:15 AM 19/7/08
@dingus: I could have actually pooped a bat-shaped turd and come out with a better movie than Batman & Robin.
mcdonnr
cygnusx8
Posted 5:13 AM 19/7/08
The only problem I have with Ledger in that role is that I'm afraid that everytime I see him in this movie it will bring back the terrible memory of how he was taking it in the ass in Brokeback and I won't take him seriously. Joker is an ass pirate.
cygnusx8
NarPhoto
Posted 5:12 AM 19/7/08
oh god..the disappearing pen...
this movie was amazing.
NarPhoto
dingus
Posted 5:12 AM 19/7/08
@OddManOut: After the crapfest that was Batman & Robin, there's nowhere to go but up.
dingus
awperk
Posted 5:11 AM 19/7/08
went to the midnight showing and it was everything i had anticipated and more. for a full two and a half hours i never once thought of the joker as heath ledger or bruce wayne as christian bale. amazing acting and non-stop thrills. this easily takes the cake as my favorite movie in the last few years.
awperk
dale3h
Posted 5:10 AM 19/7/08
@Anks329: That would have been too cliche! He did very well, his best, I think.
dale3h
dale3h
Posted 5:09 AM 19/7/08
@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: Step Brothers will be good, but if you take the chance to go see The Dark Knight you will not be disappointed. I'm not a comic geek in any sense, but as a movie-goer, I fucking loved it.
10/10
dale3h
BurstAneurysm
Posted 5:08 AM 19/7/08
I'm still trying to wrap my head around Heath Ledger's performance. It was so twisted and brilliant. I need to see it again for sure just to catch the subtleties.
Aaron Eckhart was also fantastic, his portrayal of Dent (especially in the second half) was so tortured... it was highly effective.
I was seriously blown away by this movie. It was better than Batman Begins and I found it to be superior to Iron Man in many ways.
I will agree that whenever I see Bruce Wayne in a suit, I immediately think Patrick Bateman (which might not really be a bad thing).
Either way. A+ must see.
BurstAneurysm
Anks329
Posted 5:06 AM 19/7/08
It was an amazing movie, definitely the best movie this year.
The one thing missing from the movie, and I'm nitpicking here, was the joker saying "Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?"
Anks329
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
Posted 5:05 AM 19/7/08
I don't make a very good geek, I'm looking forward to watch Step Brothers ... not no stinkin Dark Knight.
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
mcdonnr
Posted 5:01 AM 19/7/08
@Chester_Copperpot: As one of the biggest iPhone fanboys on the planet, I have to agree with that statement whole-heartedly, no question.
@dale3h: Same with our theatre! This was the single largest premier I've ever been to... that's including all the Star Wars (Special Editions and Prequels I mean... I'm only 21:), Spider Mans, you name it... this line wrapped entirely AROUND our 18-screen theatre. What a fucking blast!!!
mcdonnr
PipeRifle
Posted 4:59 AM 19/7/08
@clayton620: It's going to look huge and amazing no matter what, but for the bulk of it, you will be saying the same AMOUNT of movie as everyone else. For those 20 minutes, the wide-format will give you wider shots with more background than the standard film-going audiences.
PipeRifle
TJ
Posted 4:59 AM 19/7/08
@clayton620: To put it bluntly, are you mad?!?
TJ
IKEACAR
Posted 4:58 AM 19/7/08
@PipeRifle:
Yeah, I was trying to be vague as not to ruin it, but I'll have to do some research on that.
Such a great movie...
IKEACAR
clayton620
Posted 4:55 AM 19/7/08
AMAZING MOVIE!!! So the review says 20 minutes of the movie was shot in IMAX but is that it? Is it worth going to see the IMAX version or will it be the same as the standard version except for those 20 minutes?
clayton620
Captain Nobody
Posted 4:55 AM 19/7/08
whenever i see christian bale portraying a wealthy businessman, i get reminded of patrick bateman.
is that a raincoat?
yes it is!
Captain Nobody
TJ
Posted 4:54 AM 19/7/08
@Chester_Copperpot: Forget the pencil joke, that scene pretty much set the tone for the rest of the Joker's performance throughout the course of the movie.
I wasn't a big Ledger fan before TDK but frankly if he doesn't receive the Oscar I think I'm going to cause bodily harm to someone in the Academy. Without a shadow of a doubt the most authentic, committed, and honest portrayal of any comic film character, bar none.
TJ
Elliuotatar
Posted 4:51 AM 19/7/08
That burning bat logo... that wasn't in the movie, right? I don't remember it.
Elliuotatar
hesse00
Posted 5:41 AM 19/7/08
dark knight is the iphone of the movie business
hesse00
PipeRifle
Posted 5:39 AM 19/7/08
@zed0: Yeah, the marketing for this has also been pretty amazing. The aftermarket on a lot of these movie theater posters and standees is going to be through the roof.
PipeRifle
Omadon
Posted 5:38 AM 19/7/08
I happened to see it last night, and while I too was leary because of all the hype, i stil foudn it to be quite good. Don't wanna say too much more though, cause really the best way to ruin something is to overhype it. Just go see it and enjoy :)
Omadon
zed0
Posted 5:30 AM 19/7/08
those posters are really cool
zed0
mcdonnr
Posted 5:29 AM 19/7/08
@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: Yeah, that's a refined skill. Also, I couldn't resist making a poop-joke in a post :D
mcdonnr
aperryz
Posted 5:26 AM 19/7/08
@hammertime94: I also so it at 12:03 and lucky I did because coincidentally that was the one that didn't have a line; I just walked right in and sat down while the theater was packed for the other 3.
Was completely blown away, I'd say a good 10% better (and more real) than Begins and a good 35% darker, in terms of the villains and the ideas that were motivating everything and everyone. Heath Ledger was incredible, truly incredible; I was afraid it wouldn't be comic/cartoony enough but it was more! And once he cackled it brought it all back. And Gary Oldman is the perfect Gordon. That is all. (Also, if it had been Katie Holmes and not Maggie Gyllenhaal, this movie would have had a lot of unwatchable scenes.)
aperryz
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
Posted 5:25 AM 19/7/08
@mcdonnr: No, that you have the ability to poop bat-shaped turds.
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
jackfrost132
Posted 5:25 AM 19/7/08
"(You'll notice we didn't mention much about Harvey Dent/Two Face in this review. We'll leave that bit of plot for you to discover yourselves.)"
Erm? mentioning it to say you didn't mention it is rather self-defeating..
jackfrost132
mcdonnr
Posted 5:22 AM 19/7/08
@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: Interesting because it's true?
mcdonnr
Rodime
Posted 6:14 AM 19/7/08
@powerball: won't be hard. Iron man was a good superhero movie, but mediocre overall. It didn't live up to the hype...
Rodime
katatonic1
Posted 6:08 AM 19/7/08
The movie was so freaking amazing, on top of that the Nokia touchscreen tube appeared in the movie. It looked amazing!!
katatonic1
Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!
Posted 6:03 AM 19/7/08
@hesse00: Batman can't send MMS on his Batpod, so maybe you're right. Oh, and I think the movie goes BOOM.
Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!
katatonic1
Posted 6:02 AM 19/7/08
Nokia Touchscreen makes its Movie Debut. Nokia Tube seen in The Dark Knight! Yay!
katatonic1
aznxenocide
Posted 5:59 AM 19/7/08
Line went down 3 flights of stairs and out the door last night. 5 large theatres full of people. It was insanity. But totally worth it.
Heath Ledger totally stole this. He was frickin amazing.
aznxenocide
PipeRifle
Posted 5:55 AM 19/7/08
@hesse00: Loved by fanboys as well as a healthy chunk of the general public and only shit on by people who like being contrary?
PipeRifle
iananthony
Posted 5:35 AM 19/7/08
@blackend: The other tribute was for a guy who was tragically killed on the set during a stunt.
Heath Ledger should definitely get an Oscar... I wonder who would receive it for him?
iananthony
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
Posted 6:43 AM 19/7/08
@cygnusx8: HA HA
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
Eruanno
Posted 6:41 AM 19/7/08
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, BATMAN!
Eruanno
Samifumi
Posted 6:41 AM 19/7/08
It's cliche to say this is the best superhero comic book movie adaptation ever. Everytime a new one is released, someone makes that claim. This is a brilliant movie period, and it's refreshing to finally see interesting characters like Batman and the Joker receive their just due with such a movie.
It really is THAT spectacular.
Samifumi
CincyShannon
Posted 6:39 AM 19/7/08
@cygnusx8: You're an idiot. Brokeback Mountain was acting. It's what actors do.
Heath Ledger's Joker was one of the best movie villains ever. Right up there with Commodus in Gladiator and Hannibal Lecter.
CincyShannon
PipeRifle
Posted 7:06 AM 19/7/08
@Late_Night: I think they handled the violence with a cool sort of deflection that fit the film-making style really well. If some dude gets shot we don't need to see his head come off, and it's almost more visceral when you see the casual way someone just unslings a gun and fires a shot. You KNOW that shot killed someone, cruelly and without remorse. Seeing blood and brains isn't necessary.
PipeRifle
Nelson
Posted 7:04 AM 19/7/08
@IKEACAR: there was some lambo and MV augusta drops in there. And i'm sure if they had zoomed in, a Dixon Ticonderoga #2 Pencil ;)
Nelson
OddManOut
Posted 7:02 AM 19/7/08
@Chester_Copperpot:
Point taken. Not ALL sequels are terrible, and you gave a few good examples (though strangely absent was Alien/Aliens...WTF?). But I'll reposte your touche and say MOST sequels do not live up to their predecessors. Example (of franchises whose sequels did not equal or exceed the original):
- Jaws (x2)
- The Mummy (Brenden Frasier version) (x2+Scorpion King)
- Batman (Micheal Keaton version) (x3)
- Predator (x2)
- Jurassic Park (x2)
- Mission Impossible (x1 - MI:2 was ok)
- Indiana Jones (x2 subjective - Last Crusade was good)
- The Matrix (x2)
- Highlander (x3)
- The Crow (x1)
And that's just the short list from a guy who doesn't actually watch a *lot* of movies. True, this is all based on MY opinion, and even within those franchises some of the sequels were entertaining, but I stand by my main point that most suq...
But...to each their own...
OddManOut
mcdonnr
Posted 6:57 AM 19/7/08
@CincyShannon: Seconded.
mcdonnr
Late_Night
Posted 6:56 AM 19/7/08
latter* darn it.
Late_Night
Late_Night
Posted 6:56 AM 19/7/08
@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: Are you expecting Will Farrell to be funny again? Or do you just accept he's just not going to deliver? If you are expecting the later then I bet you'll be pleased.
What a great movie, I went to the midnight showing too and it was the best midnight audience yet. I usually avoid those things like the plague (packed theater, annoying teens, BO, heavy breathing, fat guys NO THANKS!) but with this one I knew I had to see it as soon as possible and it was so worth it. Ledger was amazingly good, like everyone else I hope they don't try to replace him in a future film.
Was anyone surprised this wasn't R though? Lots-o-killing!
Late_Night
Chester_Copperpot
Posted 7:36 AM 19/7/08
@OddManOut: I'm not going to ruin it for you. I'm just going to say if you liked Batman Begins, you'll enjoy The Dark Knight.
Oh, and The Architect "Choice" conversation makes Matrix 2 on level with Matrix 1.
Chester_Copperpot
allstarecho
Posted 7:32 AM 19/7/08
Damn good movie.. almost 3 hours long so get the large drink because you don't want to miss ANY of it running out to get another drink! Best movie I've seen in a long time.
allstarecho
teexcue
Posted 7:26 AM 19/7/08
I've already forgotten about Iron Man after seeing this movie. Hands down, it's the best movie I've ever seen.
teexcue
Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!
Posted 7:23 AM 19/7/08
@flaxseed: Wow, I was so captivated by the burning bat on the side of the building that I didn't even notice. Now it's driving me crazy.
Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!
PipeRifle
Posted 7:19 AM 19/7/08
@flaxseed: I'd say it was done to use color to fill what would otherwise be black space and create an unappealing image and this way it's all about "style" and "aesthetics" but damn. Now you've pointed it out and it's bugging the piss out of me.
PipeRifle
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
Posted 7:13 AM 19/7/08
@Late_Night: I think butts and farts are funny, so does Will :: shrug ::
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
Nelson
Posted 7:13 AM 19/7/08
damn, mv agusta. totally biffed that one. now owned by harley davidson.
Nelson
ItsaMeLuigi
Posted 7:13 AM 19/7/08
I watched a 6:05 AM showing at an IMAX screen and I must say it was phenomenal.
Those 20 minutes of IMAX format were absolutely beautiful. Also, the sound in the IMAX theater was incredible. I think it's definitely one of, if not the best way to enjoy this awesome film.
Question: Does anyone know what Nokia phone Bruce and Lucius were using? You know, the one that Lucius "accidentally" carries in with him during his business meeting?
ItsaMeLuigi
flaxseed
Posted 7:11 AM 19/7/08
WAS THE SECOND POSTER CREATED IN IRAN?
Whoever did the reflection of the buildings doesn't know anything about perspective... and physics!!!!
Seriously!!!
flaxseed
benjello
Posted 7:57 AM 19/7/08
This was a great flick. I feel the same, I have to see it again.
I saw it in IMAX, and I think when I see it again, I have to see it the same format. The IMAX footage looks gorgeous.
benjello
Chester_Copperpot
Posted 7:39 AM 19/7/08
Can we PLEASE stop comparing this movie to Iron Man???
Iron Man was a Point and Shoot digital camera compared to Dark Knight's Hasselblad H3DII-39MS.
Or tell me in a concise way how Iron Man can even hold Dark Knight's jock strap.
Chester_Copperpot
Gtaste8
Posted 9:01 AM 19/7/08
Ledger may be better than Nicholson, but is he better than Cesar Romero?
Gtaste8
92BuickLeSabre
Posted 9:55 AM 19/7/08
@Gtaste8: This is all the answer you will ever need.
92BuickLeSabre
PenGun
Posted 10:41 AM 19/7/08
I'll have to boost it. I gave Iron Man a 2 BE rating, meaning I think it's about twice as good as Battlefield Earth. Now I kinda liked BB but I think your approaching depression is affecting your judgment. No super hero is coming to save you, quite the contrary. No disrespect you understand ;).
PenGun
Gtaste8
Posted 10:39 AM 19/7/08
Thanks! Romero wins
Gtaste8
ten10
Posted 12:11 PM 19/7/08
★★★★★ (5/5)!!
The Joker Joker Joker Joker Joker. Must SEE.
and..
Why are you guys comparing this movie to Ironman?? They're totally different types of entertainment.
ten10
mordecaidrake
Posted 12:27 PM 19/7/08
hands down best movie i've ever seen
mordecaidrake
Scazza
Posted 12:53 PM 19/7/08
Saw it a few hours ago, and will be going back on Sunday to see it again in Imax. What a movie. Everyone reading this and thinking "wow, probably just some fanboy banter, it can't be that great", you are wrong. It is just an incredible movie. Filled with an amazing plot and amazing story, and possibly the most amazing characters around. They are not only realistic in their portrayal, but they are also very comic-based too. Its an amazing blend.
Scazza
JRo
Posted 1:11 PM 19/7/08
@Ariel_Wollinger: Wow! That lady won't be seeing this movie!
JRo
Purple Dave
Posted 2:04 PM 19/7/08
@OddManOut:
BTW, there were _three_ sequels to The Crow (and a TV series). Which is the one that you ranked below the original?
Purple Dave
Purple Dave
Posted 1:59 PM 19/7/08
@powerball:
Who is this "Iron Man" that you speak of?
@Chester_Copperpot:
I'd also throw The Road Warrior and The Two Towers into that mix.
@PipeRifle:
Er, I think you mean taller format. IMAX is closer to the aspect ratio a standard TV screen, while the rest of the film is even more horizontal than a widescreen TV.
@Anks329:
There was _one_ scene that had me thinking back to the Burton Batman movie, but Bale one-upped Keaton in his version of that scene.
@IKEACAR:
Well, they did have a Lamborghini...but I'm not sure they really expect to get a lot of additional sales out of that.
@Chester_Copperpot:
I dunno, Ironman might actually make a decent coatrack. Put some thread-locking compound in all the joints, put him in a funny pose...
Purple Dave
pcypert
Posted 3:38 PM 19/7/08
I think Two-Face needs to get more attention...I know Ledger died, but Aaron or whatever his name is did a fantastic job with Two Face. I wish they had shortened the movie a bit and left him as more of a mystery that only fans picked up on...like the phoenix in the water at the end of XMen 2. Could have focused more on Heath and let Two Face really shine in the next one...oh well. Still a great movie though. Far from best ever, but could be best Superhero movie I've seen...this and Spiderman 2 (just because Spiderman is kind of about fun and escape and that movie really captured that)...
pcypert
Kittenparade
Posted 4:47 PM 19/7/08
The IMAX isn't at all worth the wait. Being that only 20 minutes is shot in the IMAX format, most of the movie is letterboxed. Granted the IMAX scenes are pretty nice. It becomes distracting though when the movie keeps going in and out of letterbox. It's cool for novelty, but not at all worth the hour wait in line just so you can get a tolerable seat.
Kittenparade
khamer
Posted 3:39 AM 20/7/08
Whomever they cast as Joker has the biggest clown shoes to fill imaginable. I'm not sure if I'll make it the week until it comes out in IMAX to see it again.
khamer
pevans34
Posted 4:03 AM 20/7/08
Just caught this one last night. WOW. I hate comic book adaptations usually, as they tend to be halfassed and cartoony (example: spiderman sucked ass).
But this is just a great film in its own right, even if your not into the whole comics to movies thing (which by the way should have run its course by now). Gary Oldman was perfectly cast, in fact everyone in the movie was perfectly cast. Five thumbs up.
Also, I have to say even though i dont like comic adaptations, The Watchmen trailor looked interesting
pevans34
SmDFrylock
Posted 5:18 AM 20/7/08
@powerball: Overall, TDK blows away Iron Man hands down.
That being said, when it comes down to the academy award it's going to be hard to ignore Robert Downey Jr. when it comes to nomination. For all intents and purposes, he could change his name to Tony Stark and no one would have a problem with it, but He pretty much carried Iron Man through the whole Movie.
TDK on the other hand never had a feeling of being carried by any one actor. Just about everyone on the front of the poster played their roles exactly as they should be played. Joker was not quite the off the top Joker you would expect but is much more realistic, which makes the character that much more scary and awesome with Ledger playing the role perfectly. Two-Face was dead on, and hopefully they keep him around for the next movie. Batman, Alfred, Gordon and Lucius was also solid in their roles and played just as good if not better as they did in Batman Begins.
Academy wise, If Ledger and Eckhart don't get in the nomination process, there's going to be some trouble.
Big shouts in my Theater was for the pencil and the Blackmailer, keep an eye out for those.
SmDFrylock
DJTripleRRR
Posted 5:48 AM 20/7/08
MUUUUCH better than the last review? Oh I'm not going to get band for saying that am I?
DJTripleRRR
Useless1998
Posted 1:17 PM 20/7/08
About the only thing I saw was the giant Canon logo, but that was attached to a building.
Useless1998
kylo4
Posted 3:51 AM 21/7/08
Not only was this the best Batman movie ever made, it's also the best superhero film ever made. I still can't get over how good it is (I saw it at a midnight showing too, it was packed.) What I liked so much about it was that it was so realistic and mature. It really is a work of it's own and will greatly surprise people who walk in and just think it's another summer action movie. I can only liken the movie to the maturity of a film such as Michael Mann's "Heat". It truly is a 2 hour and 32 minute crime epic that I can't see being topped. At this point I don't even know how they could make a third one.
Another interesting point is that seeing as how the characters are so realistic, it would be hard to see someone like Mr. Freeze working. Would they make him use Liquid Nitrogen in a small gun or something?
kylo4
mack3rz
Posted 7:40 AM 21/7/08
This movie could have been just as great w/o christian bale in it. Im not much of a comics person but I was so into the joker..!!!
mack3rz
tokiwartooth
Posted 12:12 PM 21/7/08
@Scott: For a comic book film... there is SO much to read into.
The Harvey Dent characterisation (including Twoface) and the utterly sublime ways Nolan brings these larger than reality characters into a very real world.
Everyone is talking up Ledger as a potential Oscar winner, I think Nolan and Eckhart are the absolute winners in this film. Pure awesome.
As for the ending... at first I thought "cop out", but as it's settled I've absolutely been sold on it. Sublime is the word i'll keep coming back to.
tokiwartooth
charlespribz
Posted 1:30 PM 21/7/08
The Joker's pencil trick was pretty killer...Ledger was undeniably brilliant...
charlespribz
michaelleung
Posted 4:07 PM 21/7/08
I don't like Batman and DC Comics as a whole, since it's all based in a unrealistic, fake city called Gotham. However, I will watch it, just I won't expect to like it.
michaelleung
QimatPower
Posted 8:55 AM 19/7/08
We all need to pump the brakes a little bit. This movie was good and I liked it. But anyone who thinks this is one of the best movies ever made and/or Oscar-worthy in any way needs to see more movies. --justin
QimatPower
The Magnificen7
Posted 2:52 AM 22/7/08
@michaelleung: Why no fake city love? They're based on real cities, but they also have the freedom to invent a locale, and do whatever they want to the citizens and the way the city behaves. You can't do that in New York, because there is always a shadow of doubt if a citizen reacts a certain way.
The Magnificen7
The Magnificen7
Posted 2:49 AM 22/7/08
@Kittenparade: The movie is letterboxed, but still bigger than your standard theatre. If anything, you should go to IMAX to be immersed, it's hard to take your eyes off the screen, and the sound system is AMAZING. The music and sound really draw you in to the movie.
The Magnificen7
Nemesisesq
Posted 3:36 AM 22/7/08
This movie owns and is still selling out it will sell out for weekends to come.
Ironman was a Great Movie but it wasn't supposed to be dark TDK was supposed to be Dark and was also a great movie fantastic they were bother terribly well executed so well excuted it hurts. Joker Fantastic, Two-Face SO DAMN RAW, Patrick Bateman moment when Bruce drags Harvey Dent into the closet that was a little American Psycho Homage.
Nemesisesq
michaelleung
Posted 12:53 PM 22/7/08
@The Magnificen7: It's fun to see destuction happen to a place you live in or you've been in. But since I live in Hong Kong, it's cool to see some breaking of stuff in the IFC.
michaelleung
tiffanyrules
Posted 6:17 AM 23/7/08
I'm really excited about this... I even (believe it or not) listened to an old Batman audio book. I can't wait to see the IMAX version...
tiffanyrules
Babysnatcher22
Posted 6:02 AM 19/7/08
Awesome movie... i agree with the rest of you. Heath Ledger as the Joker is the Best Villain in a Movie so far. I'm kinda disappointed with Maggie Gyllenhaal as the leading lady here... i wish someone new was casted instead. oh well. I'll watch it again in IMAX.
Babysnatcher22