My 'The Dark Knight' Review SPOILERS

[BatmAngelus]

Ah, the review I was waiting for, though I was not expecting that D+ rating, hahaha.

Personally, I'd rate it a B+ at best (for perspective, I'd say I'd give Begins nothing higher than a B-).  With it as #1 on IMDB, I was not expecting it to live up to the ridiculous hype, so I went in with lower expectations than other people.  But I did come out genuinely happy.
Regardless, I do agree with you on a lot of points, like the weakness of the Rachel Dawes character and the disappointing downplaying of Alfred's role

What I find is that Nolan's Batman films work on a number of levels... but one of them is not "serious filmmaking" on the order of what we saw in the Burton films.  Like it or not, the Nolan stuff veers more towards popcorn entertainment with a lot of serious scenes thrown in for a little depth.  Therefore, the plot and characters work only as well as they need to and then sputter to a hault after that.

Agreed for the most part.  I felt that some of the character actions in this film were tailor-made for Nolan's plot ideas, rather than from their own goals or desires.
Frankly, it's refreshing to be on a forum that doesn't think Chris Nolan is the be-all, end-all of the Batman franchise.

[Gotham Knight]

verdict D+

LOL 

Why so serious indeed. That score is just....HAHAHAHHAHAHAH.... (breathes) slowly looks up at the screen.....HAHAHAAHAHA.

Did I not clearly explain myself? You wanna discuss, then discuss. You wanna make an argument or a point, do so, and we?ll talk about it. Meanwhile I don?t need this kind of nonsense.

[thecolorsblend]

Frankly, it's refreshing to be on a forum that doesn't think Chris Nolan is the be-all, end-all of the Batman franchise.

You kidding?  Not thinking that can get you banned from some Batman movie forums.

Or so I hear.

Did I not clearly explain myself?

This has nothing to do with your post but I seriously dig your avatar.

[Gotham Knight]

Frankly, it's refreshing to be on a forum that doesn't think Chris Nolan is the be-all, end-all of the Batman franchise.

You kidding?  Not thinking that can get you banned from some Batman movie forums.

Or so I hear.

Did I not clearly explain myself?

This has nothing to do with your post but I seriously dig your avatar.

thanks. 

In your earlier post I think you made an excellent argument. I think I do in fact dig too deep and maybe get too personal with the film. I have a tendency to do that. I think I would be better off taking a film for what its worth. It is what it is. Very insightful. Hard to do when your wrappd up in a fandom, but very you're right.

[Azrael]

Let's leave the Star Wars/Star Trek guys get too personal with "their" films. It's not as if we are going to pocket any of the box office revenue

I also agree with many of the points you raise. The movie indeed feels like it has an all too convenient plot, as many have said, everything happens exactly when and where the script needs it to happen, with no explanations given. Some of these problems could be solved with 2 lines of dialogue but then, others complain that Nolan's Batman films have too much expository dialogue, and that the film was already overloaded and felt as a series of climaxes instead of a 3-act story.

The sonar sequence was indeed very unreal, and in the context of what these films are supposed to be (Batman in a realistic setting), it feels very pseudo sci-fi. TDK isn't sci-fi, it's not Minority Report.

Yeah, it's a big fault that the setting was too real with too many daylight scenes and a Gotham City that looks more like an advanced modern Metropolis than a rotten city ready to collapse due to its corruption and the mafia. However, this was part of the film's appeal and its transcendence of the genre boundaries. Double edged sword.

I'd give the film an A or A- for being the closest you can get of the modern Batman comic books on screen, as well as a comic film that is very entertaining, at the same time being a selling point for Batman to casual viewers due to its serious tone and non-comicbook look. It's like Batman getting the "Singer's X-Men" treatment. Films like Batman Returns feel like fragile creations one has to protect from unwanted eyes (as a reviewer 16 years ago put it), this one feels like a mammoth you can endorse.

[thecolorsblend]

This is my basic issue with realism.  It works okay for certain Batman villains and (arguably) Batman himself but there's really no "realistic" way to tackle the full scope of the comics.  Characters like Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Clayface and, arguably, the Riddler can't be easily fit into Nolan's universe.

On the other hand, with, at worst, minor adjustments, they could be made to fit into the Burtonverse.  You could probably go with something vaguely BF'ish (that style, not necessarily that goofy tone) and get away with it there too.

The more realistic you try to make the Batman universe, the more you reveal how sci-fi/fantasy-based it really is.

[Sandman]

This is my basic issue with realism.  It works okay for certain Batman villains and (arguably) Batman himself but there's really no "realistic" way to tackle the full scope of the comics.  Characters like Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Clayface and, arguably, the Riddler can't be easily fit into Nolan's universe.

I completely argee that's one of the problems i have with Nolan and his everything must be grounded and realistic movies. There is only a small number of villians like you said that fit into his movie's and other that just don't and the only way he could use them would be to bend and twist so they fit with his realistic movies and they end up being completely different to the character they are.

[Paul (ral)]

verdict D+

LOL  

Why so serious indeed. That score is just....HAHAHAHHAHAHAH.... (breathes) slowly looks up at the screen.....HAHAHAAHAHA.

Please show a little respect for Gotham Knight's opinion.

[Azrael]

Yeah, I agree with this. This realism in style and tone limits the potential of what villains and story devices one can use. However, when it comes to style (production design), I think B89 got it best, it's fantasy and gothic, but still looks like a dirty urban environment with crime on the streets. If Returns felt like a Burton dream city (like an extension of Edward's castle), Forever's city (without the goofy neons) looked like an Imperial city.

[The Dark Knight]

I've only made up my mind with this film in the sense that it worked for me on my first two viewings. I'm open to new things brought to my attention.

There are plenty of highly discerning folk who loved The Dark Knight as well. The Dark Knight has left numerous people less than ecstatic. And that's how it goes, and was to be expected. No film is to everyone's loving. I have to say, though, there seems to be very few folks who outright dislike the film. That's more than can be said for a lot of critically-acclaimed blockbusters.

I don't think the run time is an issue, or the film sagged off.  And even if I did think the ferries thing didn't work all that well, I think the other elements of that sequence (the hostage situation and SWAT team material and Batman's confrontation of the Joker) would more than keep it afloat for me. 'Cause I think they're absolutely excellent. And even once that's overwith, I have the crackling Dent confrontation to look forward to. I'll take me all this stuff over any third act material in any pre-existing superhero film. Including that lazy finale for Begins, which I dislike more and more with each viewing. Yes, I do hate on certain Nolan elements.

I thought The Dark Knight was more than hard enough. It could have gone into R territory if it wanted to, and it would have felt appropriate (especially with the Joker character), but I wasn't longing for any more extreme violence. I was sufficiently shocked and emotionally wiped by the content inside The Dark Knight to do without it.

The Dark Knight is certainly more real-world feel than ever before because of how the whole affair is shot, but not so real-world that it doesn't feel like a fantasy. Comic-book land is all throughout the film, especially in the persona of the Joker. Ledger does not put Bale in the shadows. The Joker always steals the show from Batman. How could he not?

Well, I do think The Dark Knight has changed the face of the superhero genre, and 2009's Watchmen should also bring something of a shock to the system, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see a push towards more dramatic stories.