Rate It
|
||||||||||||||||
Rating Averages
My Friends |
Not rated. () |
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
All Flixster |
(417978) |
222544 |
45501 |
Female |
(162547) |
86545 |
17695 |
Male |
(255431) |
135999 |
27806 |
More Like This
If you liked this, then you'll also probably like...
Got another recommendation for someone who liked this movie? Add it to the list!
Got an opinion? Use the buttons to vote on all the suggestions people have added.
If lots of people vote, the best suggestions will rise to the top.
| Batman Begins (95%) |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Batman (85%) |
|
|
| Batman Returns (84%) |
|
|
| Scarface (43%) |
|
|
| The Bourne Supremacy (70%) |
|
|
Plot:
Batman and Gordon find alliance with a newly appointed DA Harvey Dent to stop a vicious killer with a warped sense of humor known only as The Joker, a threat to both the good, and the evil of Gotham C...( read more 
)
Skin art by
SuziieBluenose. Unskin this page.
Meet Other Fans
My Friends Said...
The Dark Knight Recent Reviews
Register or sign-in to see your friends' reviews !
Recent Reviews
-
MCT:November 28, 2008
''You just couldn't let me go could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You truly are incorruptible aren't you? You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness, and I won't kill you, because you're just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever.'' Batman and James Gordon join forces with Gotham's new District Attorney, Harvey Dent, to take on a psychotic bank robber known as The Joker, whilst other forces plot against them, and Joker's crimes grow more and more deadly.
Christian Bale: Bruce Wayne / Batman
Heath Ledger: The Joker
The Dark Knight basically begins from where Batman Begins left us last time. Things have changed and a new maniacal nemesis is at large. Cleverly we are instantly thrown into a ensuing bank robbery with some sharp modern music. The first segments of Dark Knight already firmly establish this is going to be a piece of unrivaled greatness.
When we get onto Batman and his antics we find that he has been imitated by others and his old friend Scarecrow is still up to no good, with shifty dealings. What follows are some brilliant action pieces blended with superb acting, with Actors of class under Nolan's direction being used to perfection.
Christian Bale as the dual identity Bruce & Batman, really shows us he's settled into the role. Giving a deep growling Batman with beast like grating tones and a seemingly unlimited strength and fury. As Bruce Wayne, on the outside to Gotham he's still that rich, complacent playboy who's living the life of luxury and at the same time burdening responsibilities and dark secrets.
Maggie Gyllenhall as Rachel Dawes was for me one of the disappointments of Dark Knight. I'm sorry but she may be a fine actress but she just wasn't attractive enough, her acting isn't question, it was alright, hardly memorable. I reckon they should of stayed with Katie Holmes for this sequel, for then even the people that didn't like her in the role would be happy, considering the outcome at least. I on the one hand wasn't phased when push came to shove and said character was gone from play, in my mind she did start to slow down the film.
Now Heath Ledger playing Joker, what can I say? Partly the huge success and interest has been due to this great Actor's performance being witnessed. After all this is Heath's last film he finished. Going on to his performance as Joker I have to say he is perfection, everytime he's on screen he's mesmerizing, every little thing he does which ranges from the sick depraved to the downright mad. Heath Ledger was a chameleon, a method actor, who had the ability to change, to shape himself into any part he played. Dark Knight is one of the finest examples of this, truly blasting Jack Nicholson's version apart and I guarantee an Oscar for him, or for his memory and in honour of this talent. I loved how immersed Heath had become in the Joker even giving us details to how his face had gotten into it's current state and his abusive childhood and father. Whenever we have a villain there is always a reason to how he got to that point and Nolan uses Heath to get this across effortlessly.
Joker never seized to make me laugh in appreciation despite what could be considered sick antics, I considered genius.
Who else could do a pen trick with someone's head? Dress as a nurse with a silencer in hand and his clownish face glistening? Hide in a body-bag to infiltrate a mob boss's joint? Who else could immortalize Batman's most famous nemesis Joker? Without a doubt Heath Ledger bar none.Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two Face was a really interesting character. He played this politician extremely well, with all his good intentions and honourable ways, Harvey hides a dark side too. References to his coin are used regularly and help us understand the reasons for his later fascination with chance and luck deciding fate. I think Harvey Dent was covered nicely in this, getting across the whole growing hate he supposedly receives from Batman after he saves him and unfortunately Rachel isn't so lucky. Two-face, Harvey's alter-ego to my mind wasn't really that developed which is understandable given the amount of detail here to cram in and what with the Joker unleashed Nolan still does a top notch job. The effects on his face were breath-taking although I was starting to worry that Dark Knight maybe becoming unrealistic and veering towards more cartoony details in it's villains. But same with Batman Begins the Scarecrow was slightly more comic like and I found the whole realism in both Begins and Dark Knight to be a major achievement to me.
Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon really excelled in his role this time. Not only does Gordon have more to do but he's in this awesome trio of Harvey, Bats and himself working together to save and help Gotham. I'm really pleased Gary Oldman & Heath Ledger got to do a scene together too, not to mention Bale too. The chemistry they all share and the talent rocketed through anything and everything. Nolan cleverly keeps the aspect of Gordon's family being important to him and later we remember this, and it helps us relate to his character when things unravel.
Morgan Freeman & Michael Caine seem to have less to do this time round. With Caine taking most of the first half of the movie while Freeman takes the 2nd half to his chest.
The Dark Knight was everything I expected it to be and it's certainly the dark masterpiece I predicted, but I do get the feeling that it's been overly hyped for what it consists of. See it not just for Heath's performance which is a defining and immortalized, but also see it because Dark Knight is the greatest comic book/graphic novel to movie ever. DC comics & Warner Bros. must be beaming right now with this piece of gold.
Dark Knight really does have the last laugh. An astonishing achievement that really does follow up a masterpiece. Let's face it, a sequel is coming, without the need to get Two-Face to call it for us, we know it's coming Nolan.
Perfection.
-
MCT:November 10, 2008#5 BATMAN movie ever!
-
MCT:October 27, 2008
This movie was really, really long - and I don't typically care for comic book-based movies - but it was done very well. Heath Ledger's portrayal of the joker was pretty excellent, and Christian Bale was competent. And, like all movies ever made, Morgan Freeman was in it.
-
MCT:July 22, 2008
A bold example of an actioneering feat crafted with a flowing pen, The Dark Knight is a relentless anarchistic force of intrigue through the intricacies of plot and well developed themes. At its core it remains a sentiment to the ultimate goodness in human-beings, but its resonance through its sub-plots definitions and the impact of the character representations make for a film that can hold a truly invigorating film composition behind exhilarating sequences. The constant foreshadowing of events blends with the folding, mirroring nature of the screenplay - the film is always hinting, always snidely teasing its drapes, as it reverses (or reverts) to prior plot points.
But behind the wonderful shrouds and technical mastery of the screenplay, in front of the ambitiously twisted shots, and amidst the always prevalent atmospheric tension is Ledger's Joker - a wild force of ironic anarchy bred from mystery and delivering chaos. His portrayal is more of an immersion and his scenes aren't only the highlight of the film - they're a highlight of the extremities that the craft of acting can reach. -
MCT:July 21, 2008
Batman Begins was easily the very best DC comic based film ever made. Yes, better than the Keaton Batman, yes better than the Reeve Superman. It was gritty, intense and fun all at the same time. The success of the film made it a virtual no brainer that there would be a follow up movie at some point? and the fact that Gordon shows Batman the Joker card made it even more obvious. But could another Batman flick live up to the expectations generated by the first? Would the film actually end up being as good as the fans WANT it to be? Would Heath Ledger?s performance as The Joker be as good as everyone is going to say it is regardless if he was great or horrible since there is an unwritten rule that everyone is SUPPOSED to say how great he is in it no matter what?
Well? off I went to see The Dark Knight this evening at the IMAX, and I can tell you the film is not perfect? but it is one impressive movie nonetheless.
THE GENERAL IDEA
The synopsis for The Dark Knight looks like this: ?In The Dark Knight, Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker.?
THE GOOD
One of the things I was preparing myself for was how over hyped the performance of Heath Ledger was going to be. Since he passed away, I knew he?d be getting rave reviews out the ying yang no matter what and I?d be frowned upon if I said any different. But holy mother suck puss face? HEATH LEDGER DESERVES AN OSCAR NOMINATION FOR HIS PERFORMANCE AS THE JOKER? no? I?m not even kidding in the least. I was totally, 100% blown away like nothing I?ve ever seen in a comic based movie before. He is at all times completely believable, at all time relentlessly disturbing, at all times nightmarishly frightening and at all times THE JOKER. This is a slightly different vision of The Joker than we?ve ever seen before? but it hits the mark so purely that even Batman himself is made to feel like a secondary character. It really was the performance of a lifetime for Ledger in all its poetic tragedy. I can not stress this enough? Ledger really was that good in this flick, and if he gets an Oscar nomination (which he really should), it won?t be out of sympathy or sentimentality? it will be because it was a performance worth of the honor. Absolute best performance in a comic book movie I?ve ever seen. Yes, he was THAT good.
The script was fantastic. The story moved forward at all times, the dialog was crisp, at times profound and always in character relative to the scenario. The way all the key characters are used in vital ways in the plot? all interconnecting in a very naturally feeling way? never forced? was something to see.
The action in The Dark Knight was vastly superior to Batman Begins in every way, shape and form. And we?re not just talking about fight scenes either. There are a couple of scenes that are more like heist movies than comic book ones and they totally work. The camera work is also much better for the fight and action in this movie than they were in the original which was quite a relief since that was one of my few complains about Begins.
Speaking of cinematography? it was INSANELY good. Visually speaking, the camera did as much work in The Dark Knight communicating elements to the audience as the dialog did. It was never over the top or gimmicky either. Each shot felt purposefully selected to aide in communication the underlaying emotion and experiences of the characters on screen? while at the same time giving us a sense of vastness to the scope of the shots. I could just sit and watch this movie on mute again and I?d probably still like it just as much.
Maggie Gyllenhaal (who took over for Katie Holmes) actually made Rachel Dawes a GOOD character instead of the eye gougingly annoying one that Holmes managed to make her out to be. The Dawes character is an important one? but the way Holmes portrayed her made us all wish she was never there in the first place? Gyllenhaal made her work, and work well.
What can I say? All the cast were solid. Christain Bale, Caine, Gary Oldman (who was especially good with a much bigger and more important role this time around), Eric Roberts? the list goes on and on. When an entire cast does such a good job, you have to look at the director. Christopher Nolan sir?. we salute you!
Holy crap did Two Face look WICKED!!!
THE BAD
My biggest complaint about The Dark Knight is one that no one will agree with at first? but if you think about it after a while I think you?ll change your mind? at over 2.5 hours the movie was too long. Sorry, it just was. At about the 2 hour mark I was ready to call The Dark Knight the best film of the year so far? and maybe one of the top 5 movies of the last 3 or 4 years. Yeah? THAT GOOD. Now, I have to be careful here to not give any spoilers away? so if some of this doesn?t make sense to you? it will after you see the flick. After about the 2 hour mark, a major component of the story gets finished? and it was the PERFECT time to stop the movie and be wide open to the next film. PERFECT. But instead Nolan felt the need to tell ANOTHER part to the story in this same movie? that was a big mistake in my opinion. All that energy, perfect pacing and focus that the movie had for the first 120 minutes got lost. Don?t get me wrong, it?s not that the last 30-40 minutes were bad? they just weren?t right for this movie. Something significant happens near the end (I can?t say what) that I believe was a total waste, and ultimately made the last 30 minutes a waste of time.
Scarecrow was WASTED? and I don?t mean he was on drugs. He?s on screen for about 30 seconds, then gone. Wheee? thanks for coming out. This may sound like a little bit of a spoiler, but it?s so irrelevant to the movie that it really doesn?t matter. Scarecrow isn?t even taken down like a true super villain. No no no? he gets taken down during a routine bust really. There was no need for Scarecrow to be used in that capacity? you could have had the same scene and had it be just another thug and it would have been exactly the same. Such a waste
OVERALL
This is a fantastic movie! Yes it?s too long, yes one or two of the characters are wasted? but aside from that it is a wonderfully told, MAGNIFICENTLY acted and beautifully shot comic book movie that ranks amongst one of the best films (not just comic book films) of the year so far. Not just a great comic movie? it is a great movie period.
Everyone should watch The Dark Knight at least once. It matters little whether you are a fan of the Batman character -- this is a movie that transcends its origins and is recommended viewing for one and all. -
MCT:December 2, 2008
First time I watched this I could not connect. Just saw it again and loved it!
Is that REALLY Ledger? Wow!
Comments
-
aperfectgentlemanposted 9 days ago -
Bow down to the greatest movie of the year.Batman is truly back.:D
posted 11 days ago -
-
-
Mo offense about the movie or anything.It is amazing and truly a masterpiece, but I'm wondering about what happened off the set. When Heath Ledger has the makeup and the suit on for the role as the Joker, I wonder what the cast members and everyone would say or react to him when he's talking to him. Like if he's still in character or he's calm and cool. I mean if you would play the role of one the most terrifying Batman villains ever, and you had to prepare for that role for months, both you and I would go insane. But WOW!!! Heath really outdid himself. He WILL go down in history as "The Best Supporting Actor in The Best Movie Of All Time". Heath Ledger, you are the man.
posted 41 days ago -
i m going to make this pencil dissapear.oh man,i love that scene.truly vintage joker.
posted 45 days ago -
To all of you who think that Heath Ledger surpasses all the other Jokers before him...you are all so very wrong....he does a good joker...a different joker at that...but the best has been and always will be Jack Nicholson....he has twisted and demented down to a tee...
posted 59 days ago -
tis film is one of the main reasons that this has been one of the best years to be a comic fan.i dont like people judging this movie just on heath ledger's performance(which is amazing by the way). there is more to this movie. the story is excellent as it reflects today's society.this goes against a major argument against superhero's "I cant relate to them". this movie makes it very asy to relate. it alos doesn't paint batman as a saint which is good, he is a necessary force in gotham. also interesting to see him try to save the day in daylight as bruce wayne.amazing movie.
posted 62 days ago -
heath ledger just left a legacy which will be hard to break for anyone trying to play the villain. His sadistic and creepy twist to the movie just made it genius...and the whole two face drama is worth every penny. Christian Bale and his fantastic cast really pulled it off. And I really respect the fact that they did not kill off the joker but left him hanging in the air to show that the joker still lives..viva for ever
posted 68 days ago -
OMG!!!! This movie was really good. I'm obsessed with Batman. My other fave batman movie was the one with the riddler (jim carrey). That was soooo funny. Did anyone here that Johnny Depp might be doing the new Riddler??? He won't replace Jim but he will do a good job.
posted 82 days ago
