This review is for you, if you have watched it, and are wondering if the movie was brilliant and flawless. Watching three hours of non stop sensory overload, can often leave you unable to make an unbiased judgment, making you wonder if it really was that amazing.
Or was there a tiny little "hard to point your finger at” thing that was wrong with it?
I am an avid Batman fan, who has been devouring the Frank Miller graphic novels that depict the grim and gritty side of the dark Knight. I have followed the tidbits and stories on Dark Knight for over a year. Batman Begins marked the beginning of one of the most amazing "ordinary superhero movie" ever witnessed. Four years later, as I stepped into the hall, and awaited the beginning of this new movie, the excitement was almost palpable.
I was not disappointed. The movie had enough chills and sadistic pleasures to keep me hooked and unable to look away from the screen for the most parts. And yet, when the credits rolled, I had a queer feeling, as though something wasn't entirely right.
For one, the movie was too long. There was too much happening at every given instant, which almost made it difficult to grasp. But later, when I thought about what the movie could have avoided, I realized that one of its drawbacks was dwelling into too many story plots simultaneously. We follow the joker through a long, and sometimes cumbersome car chase, which except for that final brilliant (and much publicized) truck sequence, was nothing great. We have been lead to believe that the joker is a man who attacks psychologically, and is not physically strong. This is portrayed eloquently in the interrogation scene. The joker is clumsy and weak. Which made the car chase sequence look like the sort of thing they were forced to put in. It was an action movie. It was a cliché they could not avoid. Henceforth, it become one of the most boring sequences in an otherwise splendid movie. I remember because, I caught myself yawning.
Also considering how Joker is the arch nemesis of Batman - the yang to the Dark Ying, the absolute bad guy, Two Face pales by comparison. No doubt, the make up and graphics are grotesque and excellently done. But we just are not able to believe that he is capable of the menace that Joker manages to exude. Similarly, I just could not believe that Two Face was that bad. The directors have somehow failed to bring the transition between his characters. If i remember the comic books, the disaster drove Two Face insane, making him dependent on the coin even for small decisions.
The real trouble if you ask me, was bringing in a new villain in the last half hour of the movie. One that made the joker's final confrontation with Batman seem a little unsatisfying. I kept expecting them to show Joker one last time. He didn't die, did he? Yes, I do understand how Joker is the arch nemesis, and its Batman's great burden that he can never kill Joker, and they are back at it time and again...but Ledger is dead. We know he won't return. So we, as audience wanted an ultimatum. Not a dangling loose end and definitely not a dangling loose joker from a building top.
Enough with the criticism. I am Batman fan. A son of batman, if you wanna call me (ref: Frank Miller). I loved the style. I loved the bat pod, the first robbery sequence, Joker's pencil disappearing trick, the flick of his tongue, the little line about Joker completing Batman, the other line about joker being the dog that chases the car and not knowing what to do if it catches the car...
Dark Knight was about Heath Ledger. Sadly, we wanted more of him. It JUST WASN'T ENOUGH! Batman as always was his sporting best, the flight sequences were brilliant, Caine and Freeman had the best lines apart from Ledger. Aaron Eckhart did a great job as Harvey Dent, though I did feel that Two-Face lacked character. I expected the sort of chill Javier Bardem inspired in No country for old men, when he tosses the coin. Instead, Two-Face's tosses were merely just passably interesting. Oh, I must really commend the Nolan brothers for doing away with the only female lead, and in such a sudden and scary way. I almost couldn't believe it.
Enough has been spoken about Ledger. I do not want to be repetitive. Clearly, his lines were the best. But more important was his body language and sequences, which were to say the least, eccentric. Kudos to Nolan for a good script, something that could give Ledger an opportunity for such a mind blowing performance. He sparkles in every scene, and we only wish there was much more of him.
A word on Bale. As Batman, he is the best ever. As Bruce Wayne, he does excel in a few scenes. But were those scenes requiring Bruce Wayne driving around in his Lamborghini necessary at all? In the quest to make The Joker the most remarkable villain ever, some of the dilemmas that made Batman the Dark Knight are never questioned. Batman Begins did such a good job of bringing in the character. Why leave him like hanging like a prop actor in this one?
Some of these sequences could no doubt be shortened. Batman could have been given some character and Two Face could've been the surprise element, AFTER a somewhat more definite end to JOKER, and the movie would have been a tad more awesome.Background score was brilliant. The scenes involving Joker, just before he mutilates someone, or pops a psychological question, are well, horrifying. I was almost squirming in my seat.
Over all a brilliant movie. A landmark Batman film, that ends on the right note, ready to jump headlong into the next phase of Batman's life. I only hope it doesn't take four more years! Long Live the Batman franchise. Long live Nolan fraternity. RIP ledger.
4 comments:
Wonderful review! Here are some points:
1. About the dangling Joker ending, I am sure that the Nolans wanted to make him live to die another day. The eeriness of his character deserves that unfinished climax. One of the highlights of the movie was the shifty look in every main character of the movie in the closing sequence, as though they are almost waiting for the Joker to laugh at what he has done - reduced Batman to his puppet. That, in great measure, adds to the darkness of The Dark Knight, and that's the frame with which you walk out of the theater. The Joker needed such an "undecided" but masterfully planned ending.
2. Heath Ledger is dead. Perhaps that's what makes his character more scary? I don't know, but I think it does in a corny sort of way. The very fact that this character will never be reprised scares me. This is a one time thing. I almost get the feeling that Heath was made to play the Joker and then die. Bizarre, very bizarre! But I would have loved a whole movie on the Joker.
3. They made Rachel Dawes dispensable! One poof and she's gone! But probably that's what is the strong background to Two-Face. And I think this is the first time such grossness is shown openly in a superhero movie. Am talking about his burnt face.
4. Just think what will happen when the Scarecrow unites with these people in the next lot. Shudders already? But who will replace Ledger?
- Neil
Good review, although I principally disagree with some of your thoughts. About two face, I think Nolan wanted to show him as a guy who wants revenge more than a super villain kind of figure just as yet. All the way till the end two face went after guys who he thought were responsible for Rachel's death - including himself - and still gave them fair chance. He was after bad guys all along only transition was that he went from Dent's method to Batman method to achieve it. Also, in the end they wanted to portray him as hero go Gotham's citizens, so he couldnt have been all that bad. May be in the next movie we will see more of two face turning darker and darker. As for Joker, I think you feel he should have died because Ledger is dead and it will be difficult to accept anyone else in his place no matter how far it is in future. All along Batman has been known for not using fire arms aimed at any person and not killing anyone. I think Nolan wanted to keep it that way with Joker as well. With such a legendary performance from Ledger, it no wonder that Nolan would have hoped for him to reprieve his role in the next movie.
Only thing that has been missing from all Batman movies is to show more of Batman's detective skills. So far it has always been limited to interpret data on his computer. I wish they put more light onto it in the next movie.
- @sh
the reason why they dint want to be done with the joker is , i believe, is because the good and the bad will always exist. even though a fine line exists between them. lets say 10 years from now, i wouldnt want to believe that the arch enemy is no more.
agree with most of ur views though.
also eckharts coin tossing manouvre was done too often. too the realism out of the movie.. a tad erratic..
Great review there. ;)
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