I made this review as a GCSE piece for English, got an A for it today so I'm pretty proud of myself, so, here we are.
Batman the Dark Knight
This seed of Brilliance was planted in Nolan?s epic first film and has now been sewn with his second in the series, which has fast become a marker of Comic book come film achievement, and the biggest Blockbuster hit since Titanic showing the immense power of this genre this film immerses you, it?s filled with great lighting and a soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. Nolan has brought pride and maturity back to this much used and abused franchise. Looking back to the ?good ol? days? of Adam West?s Batman and Robin comedy capers you wouldn?t believe that it?s from the same origins as Begins and The Dark Knight.
The new Darker side of Batman doesn?t forget the old enemies though, such as cocky Gambit, the torn Two Face, mafia gang lord Sal Maroni, a short appearance from Batman Begins? Scarecrow and last but not least, the unforgettable role played by the late Heath Ledger, who I personally think was cast against type as he?s never played a part as challenging as the Joker (pictured above right). Ledger completely steals the show, filling the film with brutal mind scarring controversial film noir scenes, such as a threat of suicide bombing and also a televised torture, all in an effort to create mass madness in Gotham City. Despite all his lunacy you find yourself falling in love with Ledger?s nightmare humour, some may say the reasons for this lie with the sad fact that he died shortly before the premiere of the Dark Knight, though, I disagree, even if Ledger was still alive the performance would be equally as memorable and he?d have received as much admiration for his role.
Although my obvious thorough unconditional love of the film, I find myself disliking our hero, Batman, as it seems all his causes are forgotten, the film seems more like Batman should carry the title of the Joker as you support him for the most of the film. It?s also strange the way that since Begins, Bale?s Batman has developed a chesty cough which is triggered when he throws on his Bat-suit, which really confuses you as to whom it is controlling the billion dollar costume, at first I personally thought it was a copycat. Another thing that annoys me about Bale in this role is that he tries to do the Equilibrium style, which he?s very good at but it doesn?t go with this film at all. It seems to me that so many other people would play this role much better in their own individual approach, I won?t use examples as the old ones really weren?t good either, I guess maybe that?s the idea, Batman can be the hero who isn?t liked, the Dark Knight, they need a flawed actor to agree with that part of the role.
This film also features a great storyline following Aaron Eckhart?s character, Harvey Dent (above), a simple lawyer who wages constant war on the mob, he pushes them back so far that they make an attempt on his life, but as you follow this sparkling clean lawyer you find out he?s not all he seems. Eckhart plays this role perfectly and I learned to really enjoy watching him as the only thing I?d seen him in before was ?Thank you for Smoking? which he played the lead role a challenging part, as the film was based around a self obsessed man (or at least the part which I watched was) who feels no guilt for his wrong doings. It was far far away from a defence lawyer in a comic book flick but in my opinion, he did his difficult part extremely well.
Maggie Gyllenhaal brings a different look on Begins? Rachel Dawes, played by Katie Holmes, who seems to have Batman to come and save her every time anything goes even slightly wrong. In this Rachel was portrayed as a more independent character, with her own life, which makes me think more of her as an actress, as the last thing I heard of her in was the Secretary, a film where women are portrayed as tools. Despite this I still find her painfully dull, just like I do every comic book female character who just gets on the superhero?s nerves, always being awkwardly in trouble or being the occasional perfect hostage victim, which, and I don?t disrespect Christopher Nolan for this as it?s not his fault it?s just the way it works, happens a lot in all comic books.
The great Gary Oldman has a small part in the film, but although I liked his character I thought he was put into a part too small for him, Gary Oldman deserved a more powerful part. Overall I must say this film is amazing, despite it having some annoyances you can put up with them for this great film, which I think I may be addicted to, it had me go to the cinema 3 times to see it, and then get the special edition DVD (the special features aren?t bad either) and, all in all, I thoroughly look forward to the next Batman film, fingers crossed Nolan may direct it too.
Definitely worth 5 stars.
Batman the Dark Knight
This seed of Brilliance was planted in Nolan?s epic first film and has now been sewn with his second in the series, which has fast become a marker of Comic book come film achievement, and the biggest Blockbuster hit since Titanic showing the immense power of this genre this film immerses you, it?s filled with great lighting and a soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. Nolan has brought pride and maturity back to this much used and abused franchise. Looking back to the ?good ol? days? of Adam West?s Batman and Robin comedy capers you wouldn?t believe that it?s from the same origins as Begins and The Dark Knight.
The new Darker side of Batman doesn?t forget the old enemies though, such as cocky Gambit, the torn Two Face, mafia gang lord Sal Maroni, a short appearance from Batman Begins? Scarecrow and last but not least, the unforgettable role played by the late Heath Ledger, who I personally think was cast against type as he?s never played a part as challenging as the Joker (pictured above right). Ledger completely steals the show, filling the film with brutal mind scarring controversial film noir scenes, such as a threat of suicide bombing and also a televised torture, all in an effort to create mass madness in Gotham City. Despite all his lunacy you find yourself falling in love with Ledger?s nightmare humour, some may say the reasons for this lie with the sad fact that he died shortly before the premiere of the Dark Knight, though, I disagree, even if Ledger was still alive the performance would be equally as memorable and he?d have received as much admiration for his role.
Although my obvious thorough unconditional love of the film, I find myself disliking our hero, Batman, as it seems all his causes are forgotten, the film seems more like Batman should carry the title of the Joker as you support him for the most of the film. It?s also strange the way that since Begins, Bale?s Batman has developed a chesty cough which is triggered when he throws on his Bat-suit, which really confuses you as to whom it is controlling the billion dollar costume, at first I personally thought it was a copycat. Another thing that annoys me about Bale in this role is that he tries to do the Equilibrium style, which he?s very good at but it doesn?t go with this film at all. It seems to me that so many other people would play this role much better in their own individual approach, I won?t use examples as the old ones really weren?t good either, I guess maybe that?s the idea, Batman can be the hero who isn?t liked, the Dark Knight, they need a flawed actor to agree with that part of the role.
This film also features a great storyline following Aaron Eckhart?s character, Harvey Dent (above), a simple lawyer who wages constant war on the mob, he pushes them back so far that they make an attempt on his life, but as you follow this sparkling clean lawyer you find out he?s not all he seems. Eckhart plays this role perfectly and I learned to really enjoy watching him as the only thing I?d seen him in before was ?Thank you for Smoking? which he played the lead role a challenging part, as the film was based around a self obsessed man (or at least the part which I watched was) who feels no guilt for his wrong doings. It was far far away from a defence lawyer in a comic book flick but in my opinion, he did his difficult part extremely well.
Maggie Gyllenhaal brings a different look on Begins? Rachel Dawes, played by Katie Holmes, who seems to have Batman to come and save her every time anything goes even slightly wrong. In this Rachel was portrayed as a more independent character, with her own life, which makes me think more of her as an actress, as the last thing I heard of her in was the Secretary, a film where women are portrayed as tools. Despite this I still find her painfully dull, just like I do every comic book female character who just gets on the superhero?s nerves, always being awkwardly in trouble or being the occasional perfect hostage victim, which, and I don?t disrespect Christopher Nolan for this as it?s not his fault it?s just the way it works, happens a lot in all comic books.
The great Gary Oldman has a small part in the film, but although I liked his character I thought he was put into a part too small for him, Gary Oldman deserved a more powerful part. Overall I must say this film is amazing, despite it having some annoyances you can put up with them for this great film, which I think I may be addicted to, it had me go to the cinema 3 times to see it, and then get the special edition DVD (the special features aren?t bad either) and, all in all, I thoroughly look forward to the next Batman film, fingers crossed Nolan may direct it too.
Definitely worth 5 stars.
