Masterpiece...Heath is the best comic book movie villian of all time....

phew! finally finished reading all those comments! took me ages but I didn't want to read them until 'd seen it.
fuck me was that movie incredible! amazing, just amazing. I've seen it 3 times already and only want to see it again. I won't elaborate since everybody's pretty much said everything that needs to be said about it, but I just have to say that I was completely blown away by Heath Ledger. he was just....there are no words. Rest In Peace buddy, you did good!

I went to an IMAX tonight to see it but I was afraid I would be disappointed over all the hype. My main fear was movie reviewers/journalists were using Ledger's death as a leaping point into tabloid-like sensationalist reporting.

I was wrong, his acting is amazing. It is mind blowing to think this is the same guy from Brokeback Mountain or Knights Tale. People laughed and gasped at his actions/dialogue and it seemed to evoke much more of a response than other actors. I found myself wanting more of him and waiting for his next scene.

Its just sad we won't get to see a repeat performance from Ledger and also I am not sure how anyone can come close to a Joker character again.

i thought the movie was awesome but the joker sucked in acting.

Once again, I must say that I loved this film, and I didn't even love Batman Begins. I mean, upon its initial release, it was certainly the best Batman film to date, but it wasn't mind-boggingly great for me. The Dark Knight, however, took things to another level.

It isn't the greatest film ever made, but it is the best superhero film ever made. There are tiny flaws, but not many at all. The hype surrounding Heath Ledger's performance turned out to be true; he was slimy, creepy, funny (in a very scary way), and overall pure evil. I love how Batman stopped the Joker's fall near the end, too. That was such a good ending, as it wasn't the generic superhero movie villain death, when you look at films like the Spiderman films (good movies, save for the 3rd, but it must've been written in the contract for just about every villain to die).

Aaron Eckhart was brilliant as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. While there might not have been much to support the transformation (though I didn't have a problem with it), it was nothing at all like the treatment Venom got in Spiderman 3. Also, Gary Oldman is fantastic as James Gordon, and Michael Caine is a brilliant Alfred.

As for Christian Bale, he was great. Even with great performances from Heath and the rest, this was still very much his movie. I may be in the minority, but I LOVED his Batman voice this time around. It was much deeper and smoother than it was in Batman Begins, and was much more intimidating. It wasn't hard to see why so many criminals feared Batman. Also, I'm glad they fleshed him out as a detective as well.

I can't get my head around this film.
I wanted to see it in IMAX, but in the end only could see it in a regular theater (in which it was still mind-blowing).
This movie was so dark, and so expansively epic that it has risen to a new class of crime thrillers let alone comic book movies.

I'd just like to say I don't think it will be possible for Nolan to top this. What the public expects in a sequel of this kind of franchise is for it to be a whole lot bigger and better than its predecessor. I'd love to see another, but I can only hope Nolan continues his great work to make an even more expansive sequel.

Even without all the praise here, the obvious best actor performance was from Ledger. It makes me so sad to think of his death. He would have had a wonderful career, because he was an amazingly gifted actor. I don't believe anyone could have played a better Joker.

Now it's time to go see it again.

btw, the ending of this film was incredibly satisfying, showing Batman on the run from the cops. The dialogue was powerful, the music was great. This movie definitely lived up to the hype, and it proves that Spiderman 3, even having 3 villains, had no excuse for being as crappy as it was. Heck, Batman Begins had at least 3 villains, and it worked out fine. It works out very well in TDK.

btw, I find that the new Batsuit looks MUCH better in the actual film than it does in stills or even in the trailers. I was very happy with it.

I just saw it today, and boy did it live up to the hype. Every single performance was great. Bale's Batman voice was MUCH better this time around. I mean, I liked his voice before, but it wasn't very consistent, which I feel was appropriate, and Bruce had just become Batman. However, in this film, the voice was seamless, and even more intimidating. I mean, honestly, Christian Bale makes it clear why so many criminals are afraid of Batman.

Heath Ledger was fantastic! His screen presence was overwhelming. He did so great that I even forgot that he had died for a while. It's a shame he didn't live to see his great performance. He was very unpredictable, and my heart skipped a beat every time he appeared on screen.

While his performance is being overshadowed by Heath's, Aaron Eckhart was a brilliant Harvey Dent. And when he became Two-Face, boy was that some great acting. While Two-Face is probably my 2nd favorite Batman villain (after Joker), I can understand how he died. I mean, Harvey/Two-Face was always a really tragic character. Some scenes of Two-Face in this film really reminded me of Batman: the animated series.

Gary Oldman, once again, is just wonderful as James Gordon. I mean, he looks the part, sounds the part, and acts the part. I was really happy when it turned out he was still alive. He also reminds me of Commissioner Gordon from the 90s cartoon.

Maggie Gyllenhaal did a far better job as Rachel Dawes than Katie Holmes did. She had better chemistry with the rest of the actors, and it was actually pretty heartbreaking when she died.

One other thing I have to say is that Nolan did much better with the fight scenes this time around. The camera wasn't zooming all over the place, and I could actually see what was happening. Even then, Batman seemed like a phantom or something.

Overall, by far the best movie I've seen so far this year (Wall-E comes second), best superhero movie ever made (and I didn't even think Batman Begins was the best), and best film I've seen in a while. This should definitely be nominated for Best Picture next year.

I loved it Ledger is amazing- it is such a shame such an amazing actor was lost, but he did die for the role of Joker (if you don't know the pills he ODed on were to make him insane enough to be the Joker. And I also love Michael Caine as Alfred, perfect! As for Dent and the Bat equally amazing job. Saying that I was dissapointed in one thing and that was the end. Harvey wasn't supposed to die, and while I understand the contrast between the other movies where Batman is loved at the end, they still could have people hate Batman without killing Dent. Because Two-Face and The Joker are... they just don't die! And so while I love the rest of the movie, the ending bummed me. Heath Ledger=Joker, he will be missed.

the riddler isnt crazy he is a sane villian so there should be no confusing him with the joker because the joker is fucking bananas :)

@ fabescore

It did strike me fummy that they'd use such a well known actor for such as small roll. Unless he (like sam jackson in star wars) requested a roll in the movie.

or perhaps someone on the production staff of TDK said, "hey do you know who i could imagine in this roll? william fichtner. He looks like the kinda guy that'd bring a bazooka to work."

or maybe you're right..

THe bank manager, william fichtner, will play the riddler. my prediction. don't hate. E.Nygma bitch. what doesn't kill you makes you stranger... smoke grenade....green smoke....i'm just saying.... and to everyone that is hating on this movie, shut your silly george cloony lovin' mouths.

The Dark Night is a delicious film. It took the bad taste of Indiana Jones 4 right out of my mouth.

Well, given that Ghost World, Road to Perdition, History of Violence, 30 Days of Night... are all `comic book movies' and NOTHING alike, since, y'know comicbooks are a medium, not a genre, so using the phrase `comicbook movie' as if its a genre is completely ridiculous, I think its impossible to call any movie `the greatest comicbook movie'.

That said, damn if the Dark Knight wasn't the greatest comicbook movie.

Also, some one commented that they didn't get how the Joker new which street the armoured cars were going to take to have his men on it. He new where the armoured cars were going, he set up a road block on the safe street (a burning firetruck- what agreat joke! Actually, there were alot of great visual gags I think soem viewers have missed) and then its pretty easy to guess what alternative route a convoy is going to take.

Also they said they didn't get how Bats had access to everyone's phones... remeber the forensic accoutnant discovered someone had diverted R&D money to a telecomunications contract, and Fox asked Bruce about it, but Bruce din't want to tell him what it was about? That was what he did with the money. So many little hints and payoffs... everyone I know always accuses me of talking to fast and being easiyl distracted... and this was finally a movie that had enough in it to keep me interested the whole way through!

The only seats available in the entire Imax theatre were wooden chairs setup at the back of the room. About 10 minutes into the film, I forgot I was in one. It took my breath away.

+

I give this movie a full-on-erection. Oh wait, is this the Hustler Magazine Movie Blog?

+

I have great faith that the next villain in the Nolan saga will be the Riddler. I have great faith because Edward Nashton the real alias of the Riddler wrote a letter to the Gotham Times newspaper. He's letter is titled "Dent cannot be trusted". You see the gift the Riddler has is seeing or seeking the truth. He is a genius of deductive reasoning, with esoteric knowledge. When you read the letter the tone is very rebellious, conspiracy theorist. I might see him being a slightly bantering, but very sick anti-hero. Not just a straight up villain. I also see every action, and every clue he leaves having tremendous purpose if Nolan makes the third. Seeking the truth; Is Harvey Dent truly dead? or Can Harvey Dent be trusted? We'll just have to wait and see. Go to thegothamtimes.com on the second page in the second volume.

Best movie of the decade by far.
Well, will you look at this, this is comment #500!

I would like to see a Nolan-esque take on Catwoman, however the Riddler sounds like a nice choice. Although it could be too similar to Joker if portrayed as a psycho of sorts.

@Captain Awesome

While I think Cateoman would be an interesting villain, I do not think Lucious' cat comment is anything more than one of his many witty retorts.
I believe it was here on /film that the writers were quoted as disliking catwoman and penguin as the future villains. This could very well be to mislead us but I suspect that's not the case.

That said I think the next story will inclde Mr Reese if not as a potential riddler then as a target. The entire city of Gotham knows that Mr Reese knows Batman's identity. He is now the most wanted man in the city short of Batman himself.

SULLMAN,

I thought I was making things up when I heard that Catwoman reference. Maybe Nolan is dropping a hint there?

:D

After a 3 years of waiting for this movie it is finally here and I must admit it was well worth the wait. The following post is a review of the themes explored by the movie and some novice commentary on the actual craft of the film itself.



Themes Explored

The themes explored in The Dark Knight are what sets this film apart from a summer, big budget blockbuster a la Transformers (although it is that) and into, in my opinion, the quality of film on par with recent classics like "There Will Be Blood" and "No Country for Old Men". If you want a big budget action film then The Dark Knight will suffice but be prepared to be taken beyond that realm whether you want to or not. Christopher Nolan's vision transcends standard Super-hero black and white hues of good vs. evil represented in a main hero and a main villain and puts you right in the middle making you question your own sense of what is good and what is evil. Very rarely will a movie make you question your own sense of morality. Nolan's The Dark Knight takes you to that point and then pushes you over the edge.

Good vs Evil, this is too broad a theme for this movie as you will see the lines of an absolute good vs an absolute evil quickly gets erased from the opening scene, a bank robbery that has thieves stealing from thieves and leaves one character lamenting the reality that there is no honor among thieves anymore even the moral code of criminals has broken down. This scene is almost Shakespearean in that in one simple scene it sets the question for the next 2.5 hours, that is we all have rules that guide us but given the right circumstances how far will you allow yourself to be pushed before you allow the situation to corrupt you? In the words of the Joker, "Tonight...you will have to break your one rule." If you allow it, The Dark Knight will push you to the limits of your own morality and force you to ask the question of what will it take for you to break your own rules.

Every major character is faced with this choice. The White Knight of Gotham, D.A. Harvey Dent, is the public face of justice who "makes his own luck" and has been able to work through a corrupt justice system to put away half the criminals in Gotham. When the criminals he works so hard to bring to justice hit him a little to close to home we see a man that in one swoop loses his sense of the balance of justice. In his character we really see the difference between what it means for someone that murders and simply breaks the law and what it means for someone that murders and breaks a person. It is one thing to prosecute criminals when you have no attachment to the victim, but when you actually become the victim it's very easy to break your own rules and seek your own sort of Justice.

The Dark Knight of course is Batman/Bruce Wayne who as established in Batman Begins will not kill as a form of justice. This is his one rule. He will not take life for life. But as Alfred explains even Batman must know his limits. And when Batman is faced with knowing what he must become in order to stop the Joker he too must decide whether or not to break his rule. Is it sensible to do one bad thing for the good of countless others? This is the penultimate question for Batman. If he does, he becomes the very thing that he has been fighting against and if he does not he is rendered powerless in the fight.

Lucious Fox, the man responsible for all of Batman's "wonderful toys", in the first film doesn't want to know too much about what Bruce Wayne is up to. His reasoning is so that he doesn't have to lie if the time were to ever come. He also comes face to face with a moral dilemma of his own. His question has to do with what can happen when one man has too much power. Can Batman become too powerful for his own good and how will it sit on his conscience knowing that he helped give him that power. In a dinner conversation scene Dent makes the case that just as the Romans used to grant unlimited power to a protector of the city, the people of Gotham are willing and proud to do the same for the Batman. It is quickly pointed out how that was the very process that turned Rome from a republic to an empire led by an Empreor with absolute power.

Even the criminal element in the movie, the mob, are conflicted by their own sense of morality. As they turn to the Joker, "a man they didn't fully understand", to kill the Batman the unwittingly unleash a "mad dog" that as they soon find out has no loyalty to its masters. The Joker uses their greed against them and soon they realize that even this guy that doesn't play by any rules needs to be stopped. Even the mob realizes that a certain sense of order is good not just for business but for civilization. They don't want to watch the world burn, they along with everyone else have a plan for controlling and manipulating the world to use it for their own advantage.

Jim Gordon, the only good cop, is forced to compromise and work with criminal cops in order to catch criminals. This decision could end up costing him his family. He does everything he can do to not endanger his family but when you play with fire things end up getting burned. When this reality comes to a head then what do you do? Jim Gordon is faced with the dilemma of making heroes out of villains and villains out of heroes. His character is the human element that blurs all the lines of the other characters. He is the front line trooper that has to decipher instantly every situation and it nearly costs him in the end when gives the order to shoot hostages that he believes to be the Joker's henchmen.

Which brings us to the Joker, who ironically is the only ethically consistent character in the film. His ethic is without rules, a self-described "agent of chaos" who "just does things" to show those with a plan how useless plans are. He is not motivated by any material thing. He steals $68 Million just to send a message and casual sets ablaze millions more. He can send the world into chaos with "a little bit of gasoline and just a few bullets" which come very cheaply he adds. He is the linchpin of the film, a jester that goes around giving people that one little push that will cause the descent into madness. He wants to show the world that everyone will break their own rules given the right situation. Harvey Dent, Bruce Wayne, Commissioner Gordon and the mob, they are the main players, but who the Joker is really after is you and me. And that's the beauty of the film. Would you kill one man if it meant saving a whole hospital. Would you blow up a boat load of convicts if it meant your boat of innocent people would live. Every one is given the choice. Do one bad thing for the sake of good all the while knowing that if you do it you become the villain. As the Joker knows and points out to Batman, break your one rule, they will love you for it at first but then they will hate you for it.
The Film Elements in One Word (or two)

Director: Chris Nolan is the next great filmmaker.

Screenplay: Absolutely Brilliant Story and Character Development

Cinematography: Imax! Live action and very little CGI. A lesson in how to shoot a film.

Score: The Joker's theme, a one-note swirl of intensity is the new Jaws theme.
Cast & Characters:

Batman/Bruce Wayne - Christian Bale: For a movie that wasn't really about Batman, per se, he uses the dual identity of his role as a microcosm for all of the movie's major themes.

Harvey Dent/Two-Face - Aaron Eckhart: the antithesis to Bruce Wayne/Batman. He does a fantastic job at showing what Batman could have become in the first movie. Both Characters have similar story arcs, public figures with very public tragedies and the result of those experiences on the psyche of a person.

Alfred - Michael Caine: As Alfred he shows himself as the only real source of intimacy and relationship for Bruce Wayne. You really feel the bond between the two characters. For Alfred its not a loyalty Bruce's father anymore but a real indepth relationship with Bruce.

Rachel Dawes - Maggie Gellynhall: For not much screen time she was a central character and in my opinion an upgrade from Batman Begins.

Jim Gordan - Gary Oldman: If there is room for two supporting actor Oscar nods from one movie, I think Gary Oldman deserves it. The heart of this character and inner conflict resonates without even saying any words

The Joker - Heath Ledger: I must admit I had my doubts...This is the best performance of a villain sense Hannibal Lector and even better in my opinion. All you see on screen is the Joker and he never calls himself that by word only by card it is the performance that defined the character. Every scene featuring the Joker escalated to another level of character, you never got the same character twice. Its like he saved something for every next moment that kept you anticipating and wondering how far could he really go with it. Heath Ledger was a force as the Joker and it never disappointed. My wife wondered why there was no dedication of the film to him, my only response is that the film itself belonged to him.

Hate to say it but seeing this in imax was terrible. I will have to see the movie again where I don't have to keep looking straight up for 2 plus hours. I don't know how the people in the ten rows below me could see make anything out. I'm sure it was amazing for people with the top center seats. I can only guess. Half the action was a blur of explosion, someone getting punched in the face, gunshots, repeat. Everything was so warped it was like looking at a fun house mirror. I find it difficult to evaluate a film and take it in when you can only see about a third of the screen at any one time. Overall, it was a good movie, though I think some people are getting a little carried away with the praise. Maybe, I will feel different after I see it properly.

Instant classic.

im gonna say this is a masterpiece, cuz im excited. it was very good, i couldnt get enough of the joker.

IMAX was so much better then 35mm

Great film! Ledger was stunning but I think Eckhart was GREAT as Dent and his performance has been over shadowed by Ledger's untimely death. The film was IMO the best super hero movie ever put on the big screen and one of the best movies released in a LONG time!

Anyone notice the little throw out to "Catwoman"? When Wayne goes to Fox about a new bat suit and asks Fox if it will protect against dogs Fox says " It will even stop cat claws"... Nice touch. Also they did NOT kill off Two-Face. It was a cover up, they even check his pulse and say he can't get away with what he did and Batman takes the blame.... Havey Dent dies, Two-Face is born. They have a tribute service for Dent, not a funeral.... I think we will see him again in....

Eric,

I gotta disagree. Dent was very well done. Especially when you think about how the film was split up. They still managed to really start the fire well and it didn't feel rushed to me. He had enough breathing room to exert himself both pre-Two Face and afterward. I just know all that work, doesn't mean he's dead to me.

He will have to be the lead-in for the third film. I know people are going nuts over Ledger, as I am. But I really loved Dent's storyline. Along with his relationship with Rachel. It has this subtle Greek Tragedy effect that I really liked. And of course you can't have two major powerful forces within a film like this.

So I'm really happy with how he was handled in this. I especially loved the way Bruce took the hit to give Dent a good view to the citizens of the city. This could easily be used against Bruce/Batman as a plot device for the next film.

"The scene in the bar when the man said “Dent! Jesus, I thought you were dead!” and Dent grittily responded “Half” let me know that Two-Face was here and he was for real as well."





Good god, are for real?

LOTR trilogy was way better than BB + TDK...remember?
story...themes...emotional resonance....FX....music.... I'm saying this as someone who F#$%#$% loves BB + TDK. I'm just saying, everyone spazzing out needs to remember there are other films that should be #1 on IMDB!!
I'm shocked at the over the top responses to this film. People are giving a 4 star movie, 6 stars.... unnecessary people!

(unrelated): I wonder what Nolan thinks of all this and if he and his team are freaking out about #3.

The Dark Knight should also be nominated for best picture and win. Just like LOTR won it shows that blockbusters can be good too. And actually are.

A work of Art. Christopher Nolan should get best director. Heath should be nominated.

For that those of you who are saying that this film is a masterpiece, but then taking it back and saying "maybe not, but close.." I have one question. Why? You're being waaaay too modest. This film was nothing short of a breathtaking cinematic experience.

This was no movie, no no... movies are those lame things that come out every week and follow the same storylines with different actors and and different titles, but are all the SAME BLOODY THING.

The Dark Knight triumphed in many ways, but i'm gonna say my top five for ya.

1. The use of IMAX cameras made a very, VERY significant difference. It changed the way I looked at the film. Everything, including the action sequences that were filmed in IMAX, was very very stunning to look at. Plus, at the IMAX in San Fran, the sound was mind-blowing. Every explosion, gunshot, and Joker laff made me teary eyed. I saw it again the next night at a regular cineplex, and it couldn't compare to seeing it on that six story screen with the best sound theaters can offer. I agree with /Film in saying that if you didn't see this movie in IMAX, you're not getting the whole picture.

2. Source material was actually used. Look at Spiderman 3. That was probably the worst move I've ever EVER seen. Maybe if they actually used source material from the comics, it would've been better. TDK took soooo many good things from the graphic novels. I had read about 10 books before seeing this, and ALOT of what I just read came alive on the screen for the better. THAT is how I always imagined the Joker would be like. Two-Face was perfectly represented as well. Batman's badassedness came alive in so many ways. God, it was great.

3. The whole cast did their jobs, and did them exceptionally well. But seeing Heath Ledger do what he did gave me chills, nightmares, and even tears of joy. The scene with the pencil (which was effing AWESOME) just made me know that this guy was for real. Ledger put his all into this role, he made it his. I don't think there was anyone better than him for this role. Heath Ledger; may he rest in peace, and let the people know what he has done so the world may know of his greatness. (P.S. I just fell in love with his role, it was so damn perfectly done on all levels... agh, no one better.)

4. One of my most favorite scenes was the scene when the Joker was walking out of the hospital (hilarious outfit and all). The windows all blowing out, looks bad. Then it ends, and he's standing the the middle of the street. Throwing his hands up in a ?wtf? kind of manner, he checks the detonator, clicks it a couple times and taps it again. BAWOOOM. The REAL bomb goes off. Okay... They blew that building up for real, and they had the real actor standing right there when it was commencing. I know that if they CGI'd that scene, it would've looked like any old Tom Cruise movie, but it was REAL and it was INCREDIBLE. PLUS!!! They flipped that freakin' semi upside down FOR REAL!!!! God, Christopher Nolan, you really know how to appeal to film nerds like me who crave realism and quality.

5. This was a story about Harvey Dent. Read the old comix and graphic novels, you'll see how the young, enthusiastic new District Attorney and his split personality (in the Batman Animated series from the 90's, they called him 'Big Bad Harv') came to be. In this movie, seeing Dent's transformation from Gotham's "White Knight," the symbol of hope that the city needed to rid the streets of corruption and chaos, into the ruthless gangster Two-Face was very well paced and told in a way for many to understand. Everything that Eckhart did was perfect to the character. He played a charming young political icon, and then a marred on-the-rise criminal with a gruesome character flaw of a half-burned face (the film version looked so good, very disturbing and raw, and i loved it). The scene in the bar when the man said "Dent! Jesus, I thought you were dead!" and Dent grittily responded "Half" let me know that Two-Face was here and he was for real as well. Just hearing him say "I don't know what's going to happen to you either" when he flipped the coin to determine the man's fate made me go nuts. So great. Plus, the scene in the hospital when the Joker and Two-Face were in the same room was amazing. Two of the best villains EVER in th same room together. One corrupting the other to "introduce a little anarchy." This film is so incredible.

Those are just a few of the reasons why i loved this film (others being like the Batpod, Maggie vs. Katie, Alfred, etc etc etc).

Anyone who doesn't like Batman will like this film. It is not a comic book movie. It's no superhero movie. It sure as hell isn't a kids movie. It's an unparalleled crime drama that will forever live on as the film that reinvented the way we look at Batman.

Ahh, now i go to bed and have more great dreams.

I loved the movie !

I just saw it a third time and this was my favorite viewing. I was able to digest the intricacies of the story much more clearly...I know this point is obvious but how the joker wanted so badly for Batman ("hit me...c'mon, I wantcha to I wantcha to") or Harvey Dent ("introduce a little anarchy") to kill him added a huge layer. He knew that his death by the rage of the agents of good would send Gotham into chaos, his death by their hands would have been a pandora's box opening of sorts. Did you notice his laughing as he was falling? It was the laugh of satisfaction that he had won. Leaving Joker alive was the only way to keep him from winning.

on a side note, someone said there was a cameo during the boat scene...i didn't catch it. It looked like Thomas Shief was on the boat, the guy that Harvey was interrogating, To mischief maybe? Riddler? It can't be Mr. Reese, he and Bruce wayne had a moment when he saved him. The only oddly placed criminal on the boat was the old white guy, I don't know.

@ Evan
They sort of made a joke about it if i recall when Fox was explaining how it worked.

Bruce: Sonar, you mean like a...
Fox: submarine.

I tried not to let the hype get to me over the last couple of weeks,
but of course some of it did and I had no doubt I was walking into
a movie that would be good. This movie met more than my expectations, I was completely blown away, it is nothing short of
an amazing film. The Joker was exactly the way I have wanted to
see him portrayed for ages - sadistic and non-apologetic - perfectly
comfortable with his madness. There is not a single thing I didn't
like about this movie. It was so much more than a comic book flick and I can't imagine Nolan topping himself, but I look forward if he makes a 3rd, to see him try. I can't wait to watch it again.

@Tal
Totally agree

@Captain

Ok, at least, there's two of us now.

evan,

Yes, that's why I liked it :)

I have never seen a film in a theatre more than once. I saw TDK three times this weekend. do i really need to say how i felt about the film? ok fine. IT ROCKED!!

Decent movie- not a masterpiece.

They screwed the 2-face character up so bad that the whole movie experience left a salty taste in my mouth. It could all have been done better...

-except for Heath. he was amazing.

Am I the only one who got the connection between the cell phone/SONAR technology and Batman? It makes perfect sense that he would have it - bats use sonar for navigation.

StarFox,

I didn't mind the cellphone tech plot. It seemed very "batman-like" to me and didn't bother me at all. It wasn't too far-fetched either. I don't know why some people had a problem with it. I also loved all his new gadgets in this movie. I loved the skyhook scene (that fucking ruled) Along with the leaner, more mobile batsuit.

How much do you think one of those bad boys cost?

Dark Knight is the amazingly conceived cops and gangsters movie that you've heard, so I won't dwell on all that's great (esp. Ledger). What I will say is that the what didn't end up working shook me up and left me unsettled in the end. The conception of Two Face was kind of one dimensional and felt rushed, like it should have been a cliffhanger for the next movie. Also, after all the amazing battles of wills between Batman, the Joker and the cops, the final demise of the Joker felt anti-climactic, as if his story is not yet finished (though it must be since Ledger is dead). Lastly the sonar-cell phone thing was contrived and kind of dumb, considering how smart this film is. It's very good, very dark, and certainly unsettling but these three third-act caveats kept it from being the masterpiece I've heard it referred to as.

Peter,

The third film wouldn't be about "topping" the villians in TDK. It would be about Batman and putting him back on the "hero" pedestal he was workign towards. You have to look at the context of the two films thus far.

1. Establishes Batman's origin and his introduction to Gotham
2. He finally takes on his most famed nemesis and deals with the fact that he can't save everyone in Gotham. Batman has fallen and is now the "misguided vigilante".
3. Woulld or should be Batman's triumphant return to being a "savior" again.

It makes sense when you look at how the first two films have been planned. It's not to say the third film "can't" have villians or someone who challenges him. But people should stop looking at the third film as a way of "topping" The Dark Knight by way of a character like The Joker. Because it's now about Batman himself and settling into his role as the city's only hope.

Nolan could easily do this, and would be the only person to do it justice.

Best comic book movie made to date.

Had everything a great movie.. nay... everything and more that a great epic film has to have.

jj gonzo,

Don't forget Nolan's brother who executed the final script with him. It's why The Prestige was so good. They were the main force behind TDK moreso than Goyer.

This is a riveting movie. I am mean for the first time it made me feel for a superhero and not be him. Spiderman, Iron Man, and others all good and all had flaws in their character that made them realistic but not once did it make me question whether I wanted to be a superhero if I had a choice. The Dark Knight changes that. After seeing what Bruce Wayne had to go through and the terror brought upon him I can say being a superhero has a new meaning. The Dark Knight is really the pinnacle of superhero movies. Just loved it.

This IS the superhero movie to beat
nolan,goyer and ledger deserve an OSCAR!!!
from the first minute to the last TDK is the shit,
It was also very cool to include the SCARECROW
in the flick...sorry IRON MAN but TDK just knocked
you on your ass!!! BRING ON THE ... RIDDLER!!!!
(START GETTING READY HUGO WEAVING)

The script is amazing.

A great movie. The" Hea"t and "Casablanca" of comic book movie.

Awesome