Reviews: The Dark Knight (+ Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray]

starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine






Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: Blu-ray
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 0085391176572
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Widescreen
Item Dimensions: 100
Label: Warner Home Video
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageDolby Digital 2.0 StereoEnglishSubtitledFrenchSubtitledSpanishSubtitled
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer Minimum Age: 120 months
MPN: 1000026387
Number Of Items: 3
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Release Date: December 09, 2008
Running Time: 152 minutes
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 2008


Rating: - Drab (This review contains plot spoilers)
As a man of intellect who greatly values logic and reason , I enjoy complex films like Mulholland drive that foster long conversations after viewing. But I also enjoy indulging in mindless action films. Like Kevin Smith (in his latest talk, now out on DVD titled "Sold Out, A threevening with Kevin Smith"), when I too was first faced with John McLain riding on the wing of a Harrier Jet in the lastest Die Hard film I also thought, why not, it's John McLain! The Dark Knight attempts to be both an action film and a thought provoking film and it is it's failure at the later that prevents me from indulging in the former. But how can I enjoy indulging in films like Die Hard, with their over the top violence and action scenes set up by ridiculous situations, and not enjoy a film like The Dark Knight? Die Hard With A Vengeance is far from an outright comedy, with fairly dark themes concerning a terrorist trying to take over the world, but it follows the typical good guy versus bad guy plot which, as outrageous as it may be, at least makes some logical sense once you buy into the premise and just as importantly does not take itself too seriously.
The Dark Knight on the other hand has quite an outrageous plot with holes that you could drive the Joker's school bus through. Worst of all, the majority of the plot hurdles that the writers arrived at are, rather than gracefully jumped, crudely chopped apart with... you guessed it, a simple cell phone. Perhaps examples are in order.
Batman's capture of the Asian money launderer is entirely over the top. Batman flies from a building, uses a cell phone to shut down an entire buiding's security system, parachutes out of a window and is caught by a passing airplane. It makes John McLain surfing on an airplane seem like mere child's play. The fighting is silly and overly choreographed, as if the individual actors are going through their motions without even recognizing the presence of their combatants. All the while, batman's comical baritone voice utters silly phrases.
The Joker uses his cell phone to set off his bombs, escape from police, while Batman somehow uses a tracking device in the cellphone of everyone in the entire city and then somehow manages to track everyone and intercept phone conversations.
At one point, someone dies, only to have faked their death, a feat which would require more orchestration than The Game Michael Douglas' character plays in that aptly named film. Need I mention that this ruse is entirely unnecessary for the plot?
The joker manages to discretely enter, presumably with the help of a neverending supply of mental minions, buildings, including a hospital, and boats, to plant vast amounts of explosive barrels.
Two Face is somehow turned from the most virtuous character in the film into an evil villain after only a five minute conversation with the Joker.
The Joker cannot hit an armored car from 10 feet away with several shots from a rocket launcher, yet he riddles passing cars full of bullet holes with a machine gun as he stomps down the middle of the street in the middle of Gotham City.
I could go on and on about the illogical silly aspects of this film, but you get the idea. However, I will focus on one last bit of sillyness. The end. Batman is forced to go on the run to take the blame for something that the Joker, two face, or perhaps a member of the million man mental patient march, could have easily taken the blame for. It's supposed to be some great climax in the film, as it ends immediately after this scene, but for the life of me I can't figure out what I'm supposed to be feeling. Clearly I'm supposed to be feeling something emotionally powerful about this character at this point, but I'm not sure what. I'm simply glad that this two hour long bore fest is over and I no longer have to listen to Batman's deep computer processed voice.
The acting in this film is great, and the Imax shots are amazing, and the prologue is perfect, but these are the only good things about the film.
Perhaps the Nolans should stick to intelligent films like The Prestige (I thought Memento was absolutely awful and pretentious) and not attempt to make intelligent action films. This films biggest folly is it's failed attempt to be intelligent and logical, which thereby prevents one from indulging in it's ridiculous action scenes, which in any other film that did not take itself so seriously, perhaps would be far more entertaining. Or perhaps it's simply impossible for me to enjoy a film that is inferior in plot to the masterpiece The Prestige, but still manages to invoke that same amazing feeling that I find in all of Nolan's films. I expected more great films from Nolan, but The Dark Knight is certainly not one of them.

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Rating: - Come on
Its Batman and there's no neon (the Schumacher Batman), or baby stealing parades (Batman Returns). Gritty realism make this movie.

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Rating: - This movie is an experience
A tight script gives Christian Bale and Heath Ledger a nifty platform to strut their stuff. This is a wonderfully fresh, yet faithful, interpretation of the batman saga.

Many people have related the plotline, so I'll mention a few things the movie made me think about.

The Batman and James Bond franchises had grown stale and both series revived their appeal by becoming gritty without losing their moral compass. (Batman Begins (Widescreen Edition)and Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)) The Dark Knight is a better sequel than Quantum of Solace. The second "new and improved" Bond flick relied too much on relentless action and rapid cuts, while the Dark Knight kept storytelling in the forefront.

Both Chigurh in NO Country for Old Men and Two Face in The Dark Knight flip a coin to determine if they will kill. I guess this is suppose to absolve them of responsibility--it's not their fault; Chance made them evil. I don't think a jury will buy that excuse.

Is it necessary to don a uniform to be heroic? Soldiers, first responders, and super heroes all have uniforms. Even athletes have uniforms. Maybe I'll pick up a cowboy outfit.

How can Warner Brothers make such an interesting movie and such boring Special Features? The psycho analysis and CNN spoof probably sounded clever, but I'd have preferred a commentary. Special Edition buyers are film enthusiasts that want a peek inside the industry. Five stars for the movie, three stars for the special features.

The Shopkeeper
The Shut Mouth Society
Leadville

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Rating: - The Greatest BATMAN movie ever made (buy single disc)
I heard the hype but I still refused to get too excited. Then I saw it! WOW! The film is amazing on every level. Heath Ledger took a well known and often played character and made it his own. This is not your dad's Joker...this is the Joker that terrorized us in The Dark Knight Returns and the Killing Joke (2 of the finest Batman graphic novels) and he elevated it. The hero is only as good as his villain and this movie delivered. See it! All of you! Even if you don't like comic books or superhero movies!

This is not for kids under 16 (13 if you are a liberal). Save your money the 2 disc special edition is not special at all!

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Rating: - The Dark Knight
I bought the movie for my son who is 17. He loves this movie. I watched it Christmas night with him and I felt the City of Gotham rather depressing but the acting and the movie was well made.

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