The Dark Knight - Scene Selection
18Jul2008 Filed under: The Webcast Author: MattHey guys,
The Dark Knight is the vision of Chris Nolan, a brilliant director who has brought the dream of many fans to life. The Dark Knight is Nolan’s finest work to date and finally captures the character of Batman the way he should have been seen from the beginning, dark and bleak.
What can I say here? You’ve all read the reviews, you’ve all heard about Heath Ledger’s death, you’ve all seen the trailer. But was the Dark Knight really everything it was cracked up to be? Yes. This movie is quite possibly the film that will define our generation. Every 10 years it seems we come by a movie that is known as a mark for that time period, and so the Dark Knight marks ours. The movie itself is a visual masterpiece. Limited CGI with loads of real-world special effects, not to mention characters that not for one minute bore you. One thing we always find in movies is that there are sad scenes that just for the most part interrupt a films progression and take viewers out, but not this film. Even when there was no action currently taking place (which was rare) there was some type of fast paced feeling that didn’t take away from the story but kept your eyes glued.
Another unsurprising development is that Batman himself isn’t as much of a star as the Joker. We saw what happened in the trailer, but man, this guy is messed up. What will go down as Ledger’s finest performance, the Joker is a dark and twisted character that you can fear but at the same time love and want to watch. Ledger brings him to life with tiny little character flaws like his obsessive ability to lick his lips or how he likes to change the story about his scars every time he tells it. Two-Face or Harvey Dent is another interesting character. A constant character throughout, Harvey keeps you interested as Gotham’s last hope for normality, but makes an interesting an immediate change towards the end, and then actually carries our story out. Basically the character’s make this film, and you immediately understand them.
Going back to visuals, Nolan doesn’t like CGI. That being said this movie has some of the most nerve racking scenes I’ve ever sat through (I jumped a couple times). Things like Two-Face’s well…face, is beautiful (in a sick way). The effect is so perfect that for once I forget I’m watching a computer and actually listen to him speak. Another beautiful scene is the car chase towards the end, which if you listen closely, will notice that there is no music, just the beautiful sounds of metal against concrete. Every action sequence is shot so well that they flow right into the next scene without having to transition. My personal favorite being the 18 wheeler flip which marks the first time an 18 wheeler has ever been flipped forward without the use of CGI (that’s right, they really flipped it).
Unfortunately I cannot go any deeper without giving more of the film away. If you see one movie this year (besides WALL E), you must make it this one. A killer cast, heart-pounding scenes, beautifully shot, and twisted in the most amazing way. The Dark Knight sets the standard for any super hero movie to come.
Enjoy!
-Matt
5 Responses to “The Dark Knight - Scene Selection”
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Name
July 18th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I rather enjoyed “The Dark Knight” but it had a style of its own and really can’t be compared to Nolan’s other work (minus “Batman: Begins”) anymore than apples can be compared to oranges.
“The Prestige” and “Memento” were both very good, thought-provoking films; and were very different in regards to the type of film presented. I wouldn’t call it Nolan’s finest work to date but merely a continuation of his solid track record.
Overall I found the film to be entertaining and, despite its long run time (which was only noticeable in brief instances), most certainly worthy of another in-theater viewing.
I’m not sure what else to say that hasn’t already been brought up. Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker was very well done, the CGI (or lack there-of) was top notch, and the plot wasn’t too filled with your typical superhero movie stereotypes.
I’ll give it an 8 out of 10; only because of the “drug-trip gone wrong” Sonar scenes and “bullet-reconstruction” scene stolen right out of a bad CSI rerun, I can only suspend my disbelief so far, I’m sorry. Despite those very minimal flaws it was a solid film that, to edit your wording slightly, has the potential to define our generation.
anonymous
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:39 am
The Superhero genre has been plagued by erroneous character development and heavy reliance on computer enhanced action sequences to ‘wow’ audiences and provide box-office revenue. What the Dark Knight accomplishes, is create entertainment that suits a higher level of thinking - what are the consequences of one’s vigilantism? or rather, one’s heroism?
What your review fails to address, and fails to even correctly identify, is the duality between the Batman and the Joker, how the two feed of each other and essentially, need the other to survive. Which raises the question of vigilantism versus heroism and its effects.
Batman is seen as the protector of good, and is paralleled by the Joker, portrayed as the protector of chaos. Each thrives on ensuring the continuation of their motives. And both Ledger and Bale try to push the envelope and attempt to force the other to compromise.
The inability of both the Joker and Batman to fundamentally destroy the other half (whether it be through bribery, assault, or trickery) is ultimately personified in the Shakespearean Tragedy of Harvey Dent. His fall from grace follows the same temptations of those faced by Ledger and Bale. Yet, Bale and Ledger are unyielding and uncompromising in their beliefs. Dent’s subsequent transformation follows his loss of love and innocence.
With this loss, Dent cannot bare the responsibility, thus leaving his life, and others, up to chance (symbolized by the two faced coin).
Your review also failed to comprehend the full impact of the movie itself. This movie does not define ‘our’ generation.
Rather, this movie reflects our generations motives, abilities, and concerns. We all have the capacity for evil, and the capacity for good. The Dark Knight shows us both the two extremes and the medium, and ultimately gives us the choice and questions of “how does one decide and know what is right?” and contrasts it with “what are the effects and burden of that ultimate decision.”
A letter to the editor:
You know a review is terrible when it focuses more on a flipping of an eighteen-wheeler than the parallelism, cynicism, and grandeur of Batman and the Joker.
Matt
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Hello anonymous,
While I do appreciate your comment you still must understand. This review was more of an all inclusive “quick look” at the movie as a whole. In which I tried to touch on as many parts as I could with out giving away or describing too much. Now while I do appreciate you’re addition to my review, I do not appreciate the put down’s. No need for that here. You have to remember that when writing for a web site you must not only provide information, but also keep a reader entertained. Now you obviously we’re entertained enough to keep reading so I know that worked. The point being add what you will, but don’t put down, your comment was a well written review in itself, you should be proud of it, just don’t use it as an excuse to claim superiority.
anonymous
July 24th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Critiques are an inevitable reaction of opinion. I will refrain from such ‘put downs’ in the future.
Matt
July 24th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Much appreciated.