..................................WWW.ATRIBECALLEDNEXT.COM

THE DARK KNIGHT



It's official: Chris Nolan is the only director that should be allowed to remake comic books. At the very least he should form a committee with Tarantino, Rodriguez, Lynch, Del Toro and Tim Burton to decide who should be allowed to touch(no Zack Synder) or remake graphic novels.

His take on DC's No 1 vigilante exceeds the hype. The Dark Knight is indeed 'dark'. It's a riveting and engaging film on several levels- characters, plot and action sequences that are pure DVD rewind material, edited to scramble your mind.

The script is taut- a very malicious Joker taunts the Batman who's nearly close to hanging up his cape until everything descends into chaos and Gotham becomes less of a city and more like an asylum where everyone's moral code is put to the test. Thus Bruce Wayne has no choice but to engage in battle with a villian who has no scruples or anything to lose.

The acting is so precise you'll forget this was ever a comic book, it's essentially crime noir cranked up for the Redbull generation.
Heath Ledger's role is something extra, it will linger with you long after the last frame. It's an inspired performance: a demented cross between Charlie Chaplin and Hannibal Lecter in an Oswald Boateng suit with with bad makeup and hair that looks like it's styled with crude oil.
Gary Oldman also nails it as the newly commissioned Gordon, disappearing so far into the role you need the credits to remind you that was the 'Gaz' we know and love.

This is not a film for squeamish kids, big or otherwise. The Joker mutilates, maims and murders his way through the film so casually it leaves Jack Nicholson's O.G version. looking like a zany caricature. Christian Bale is composed and cool even until the very twisted ending when his Batman alter ego is nearly destroyed by events beyond his control.

One word of advice- don't risk insomnia and go to a 5.30am viewing like I did. However do try and make your first viewing(unless you hate action films, it's a guaranteed you will need to watch this again) an IMAX experience. Between the director, cinematographer, effects, editors and camerawork, this is a feast for the mind's eye. A big, big movie.

Acyde

11 comments:

clav said...

I'm not so sure bro - personally I think the plot is a little, well, plotless, it feels like one big action scene after another to me - don't get me wrong though, I REALLY LIKE THIS MOVIE!

Also, is it me or does Heath's performance negate the need to see Christian Bale on screen for any longer than we absolutely have to? He steals every scene he's in! I feel Michael Caine's character is a little under-used too...

Still, it's a great (if somewhat long) movie. Did I say I liked it already?

Unknown said...

still aint seen it... even though it only came out yesterday... great post by the way Acyde and welcome to the blog... What a massive addition to have you posting up a sick post as this...

I love Christian Bale (no homo) as batman...

i heard its allll about imax.... i think i might have to do this tonight!!!!

NO-BIZZI said...

IMAX BOOKED TILL 5.30 AM MONDAY MORNING!

TRUE STORIES!!!!

Anonymous said...

Brilliant film!

Ledgers performance was sick! And villains are always more interesting than the heroes. I don't think this was plot-less and I think it's a sure setup for the next one.

Anonymous said...

It is a seriously dope film. Its not the classic that the hype may lead people to believe.

The actors are brilliant but The Joker & Harvey Dent completely overshadow Batman IMO, I don't know whether it was a directorial decision or not but the ending sets up a third film nicely.

I heard Mark Kermode's review yesterday (who is hardly ever wrong IMO) and I would agree that it is a film of ideas and of set pieces. I'm undecided about whether their are to many moral issues in it though.

Can't grumble because its the best blockbuster film I've seen for a long while. Such a shame we won't see Heath in a possibly third movie though.

Luke GK said...

Went to see it this afternoon and it did not dissapoint.

I didn't feel it was plotless, I think if it was plotless I would have sat there for 2 hours and a half and been able to stomach it, let alone think it's the best super-hero movie of all time, and probably the best action film of all time.

Heath was truely amazing.

I think Bale done the job great as he did in the last film, as someone said earlier, the bad-guys are always better than the heroes. It's the way it is. AGAIN ... HEATH ...WOW! What a way to go out, but ...sad to lose a such an amazing talent.

Ms. Understood said...

I would go so far as saying Heath Ledger's interpretation of the Joker may be the best villain ever. Ever.

He is not frightening in the traditional way, his performance is just profoundly unsettling and stays with you long after the credits roll.

Believe the hype.

I'm already planning my second viewing.


cheers,





yeahisaidit

Anonymous said...

Went to c it on thursday and i thought it was great but it did go on for a bit. However I must say Heath as Joker was genius casting! He definitly stole the show in every scene that he was in. His performance was creepy, unsettling and downright disturbing-sometines even shoking- i was lyk i swear this is supposed to be a 12! (pencil stabbing of eye)I think maybe somethings went over my head a bit- don't know if it was plotless ot whether i just didn't get some of it! So i will watch it again just to make sure and maybe second time round it may make some more sense.

So yeah, mixed feelings- maybe it would've been a much better exp in the IMAX- i went to see it in bog standard Odeon Muswell Hill-lol

Anonymous said...

LOL 5.30 monday morning-damn!

Anonymous said...

I think this film contains many good moral issues.

Willful ignorance. I think too many people are willfully ignorant and try to use that as a defense and seek protection within it. Things like blow-back, payback and revenge are explored here. Oh, and take the time to understand what you are f**k with before you f**k with it! Cause you need to be ready for the return hit!

APE said...

IT'S ASHAME THAT THE ACTING TALENT HEATH LEDGER HAD IS GONE. HE WAS VITAL TO HOLDIN THAT FILM TOGETHER,IT CUD HAVE EASILY BEEN SPOILED BY A BAD JOKER PERFORMANCE. AS A LONG TIME BATMAN FAN I WAS IMPRESSED AND CAN DEFINITELY SAY IT WAS THE BEST FILM OF 2000 AND APE.CHRIS NOLAN HAS DEFINITELY REVIVED THE FRANCHISE. I'M STILL CONFUSED AS 2 WHY FRANK MILLER HASNT HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT? SEEIN AS HE KEPT THE COMICS DARK AND BELIEVABLE.MAYBE SOMETHING TO SEE IN THE FUTURE.

WWW.ATRIBECALLEDNEXT.COM