After receiving a free pass to see a Tuesday night screening of The Dark Knight at the IMAX theater, I nearly vomited and fell into a jubilee-induced coma. Let that set the stage for how excited I have been, for the past year, to see this film.
I'm a big Christopher Nolan fan. Memento is one of the best, most original films, I have ever seen. I even rented a movie called "Following" from Netflix just to support the Nolan cause. And Batman Begins far exceeded any expectation I could ever have had regarding a batman film, after the onslaught of over-the-top acting, leather, and batsuit nipples I had endured throughout the previous 5 or 6 batman films...
Most reviews say that this movie is terrific. They are correct. A few say that this film is: too dark; too long; too action-packed (seriously?); and too out-of-the-ordinary for a "superhero" film.
I say they're morons.
This was the best movie I have ever seen. Every element was outstanding. The acting was brilliant on all parts (not to mention how believably creepy and real Ledger portrayed the Joker), the music was dramatic but not too noticeable, the cinematography was perfectly dark, and the story was flawless.
And I'm not just saying this - go see it for yourself.
Every scene Ledger is in is transcended to a new level of intensity and is blessed with a poignant creepiness. It is impossible to ignore the Joker's lines; he is mezmerizingly insane and yet arousingly sympathetic as a character. He is mysterious at times, and perfectly justified at others. Needless to say, Ledger has given the performance of a lifetime here. And, on a side note, some reviewers have said that if Ledger receives an oscar for his performance, that it would be based on sentiment rather than on merit. I say prove it. Tell me who outdid Ledger. And tell me that you will not have a hard time forgetting those piercing images of his smeared makeup and maniacal smile out of your head.
The film is 152 minutes long (2.5 hours), but when it ends you will be left neither hungry nor replete. The plot development is perfectly appropriate, and at no point in the film do you stop to wonder when it will be over, as I do in so many films, even films I really enjoy.
The beauty of The Dark Knight is the realism of the characters - Bale plays a flawed man struggling with the needs of a dying city. That's who batman is. That's why this film works. None of the characters are superhuman. Batman tries new things, fails, and fixes his errors. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are perfectly cast and give outstanding performances (yet again), providing the perfect comic relief during a seemingly gloomy film.
Sure, this film is dark, but that's the whole point. Batman is not about being faster than a speeding bullet, nor does he turn into a 40-foot tall green CGI beast when he gets upset.
Yes, I'm a nerd.
Go see this film.
I've seen it twice already.
And I'm glad it will beat Spiderman 3's record; that movie was an embarrassment.
