The Dark Knight

[Jared Meyer]

P.S. - And yeah, I don't think anyone should not like it if they do like it because of this stuff. But this is called "Film Discussion," and it's interesting to break down why something did or did not work.

I agree completely.



These are the biggest problems for me:



Superhero in a batsuit suddenly transplanted from Gotham to Chicago

Cheesy forced Batman voice

Ridiculous technology - cell-phone machine (and Fox getting all self-righteous about it)

Touch of Spiderman 3 syndrome - too many characters, too many subplots

I personally could have done without the subplot with the middle class Joes dressed up as Batman. The Scarecrow's 2 seconds of screen time were pointless. And that whole second scene following the bank heist was comparatively weak.

Starts to slow down and meander a bit in the second half, again, too many characters and too many subplots.

Way over the top Two Face design. Really unnecessary, and not at all in keeping with the realistic tone the movie is obviously trying to set.

Distracting transition from Holmes to Gyllenhaal, neither of whom nailed the character.

Overall muddled action scenes - namely Lucius directing Batman with the sonar thingy

Too many climaxes. Way too much time spent on the ferries but it almost felt like it was going to be the setpiece of the film....then the cell-phone sonar fight scene kinda felt like it was the climax but turned out to be muddled and confusing and not that impressive, and then by the time you're ready for the real climax, the kicker, the coolest sequence in the movie, it's just a kid being held hostage, some quick flick the gun away moves and then...Batman falls a couple stories and runs away.

 

[GageFX]

Overall muddled action scenes - namely Lucius directing Batman with the sonar thingy

Exactly. The proof of how bad this whole scene is is how you NEED Fox there to explain what is going on otherwise we would be unable to follow it.

"Look up. There's a SWAT team in the elevator. The terrorists are waiting to ambush them when they step out."

Really? How about action that can stand on it's own without someone narrating it?

 

[Capt Quirk]

Really? How about action that can stand on it's own without someone narrating it?

But Morgan Freeman does great narrations. Didn't he get an Emmy or something for that Penguin movie?

 

[Shawn Philip Nelson]

Exactly. The proof of how bad this whole scene is is how you NEED Fox there to explain what is going on otherwise we would be unable to follow it.

"Look up. There's a SWAT team in the elevator. The terrorists are waiting to ambush them when they step out."

Really? How about action that can stand on it's own without someone narrating it?

But I liked it as something different, I dont recall seeing an action scene where the hero was getting that sort of help.

It's fantasy fulfillment in the video-game era. How cool would it be to have someone seeing everything helping you out? We do it to each other all the time when playing XBox "Look out, there's a guy on the ledge to your right! Three soldiers are on the other side of that door"...

 

[hoz]

But I liked it as something different, I dont recall seeing an action scene where the hero was getting that sort of help.

It's fantasy fulfillment in the video-game era. How cool would it be to have someone seeing everything helping you out? We do it to each other all the time when playing XBox "Look out, there's a guy on the ledge to your right! Three soldiers are on the other side of that door"...

in the last bourne film, bourne tried to help the reporter out with a cell phone. to me, that worked real well there because of what you just said. but here, for me, it was a bit too " muddled" because a good action sequence could've worked too. but i think they put this into the movie to show how far batman will go to save gotham.

the first batman had a cheesy device too though, it had that water evaporater.

 

[Mattykins]

And I didn't like NCFOM at all.

Finally someone that didn't like it. I hated the film. Total waste of my money.

Came back from seeing the dark knight again. Wether you guys think this movie is crap or not. I think numbers speak more. Maybe No country was "film mastery". $74,283,625 Domestic and $160,664,335 worldwide. Dark Knight. $351,086,846 Domestic already $479,386,846 worldwide. Largest opening day ever recorded.

People are still going to see that movie. And it still sells out or fills to near capacity. How crappy can it be if people are seeing it still. I think most of you are taking really small things and making it into a huge deal. Wayne's GF...ugly. Can't tell why he fell for her. THought she was a *****. Batman voice was a joke.

Everything else I think was fantastic. It was a ride. It was entertaining. It hit the points that everyone hopes they can hit. And that is an entertaining film.

 

[Sprocketboy]

The Batman voice is the worst thing in the whole movie, but I'd watch it again. Incredible piece of work for a superhero film. Gritty and bordering on reality. That's the way I like it.

I'm actually going to watch it a 2nd time tomorrow in IMAX. Can't wait...

 

[Batutta]

It was a ride. It was entertaining.

I actually think it's more than just an entertaining ride. I think it's a very thorough meditation on the theme of Justice, and how far a society must go to maintain law and order in the face of madness. There is much more to chew on here then just momentary thrills for anyone who cares to look. If all you can see if Maggie's ugly face, then that's just too bad.

 

[David Jimerson]

So, how far must it go?

 

[Loki]

Superhero in a batsuit suddenly transplanted from Gotham to Chicago

I think this feels more apparent because Batman Begins took place in the gutter.. the ghetto of Gotham. TDK really seems too take place right downtown in the higher class areas of the city. The spots where the mob run things from.

Cheesy forced Batman voice

Bothered me quite a bit in one screening.. and not at all in another screening.. the sound was really quite different in each.. I am kind of split..

Ridiculous technology - cell-phone machine (and Fox getting all self-righteous about it)

I thought this was rather tame, and at least plausible given Wayne's access to R&D.

Touch of Spiderman 3 syndrome - too many characters, too many subplots

I personally could have done without the subplot with the middle class Joes dressed up as Batman. The Scarecrow's 2 seconds of screen time were pointless. And that whole second scene following the bank heist was comparatively weak.

Starts to slow down and meander a bit in the second half, again, too many characters and too many subplots.

Way over the top Two Face design. Really unnecessary, and not at all in keeping with the realistic tone the movie is obviously trying to set.

Distracting transition from Holmes to Gyllenhaal, neither of whom nailed the character.

Overall muddled action scenes - namely Lucius directing Batman with the sonar thingy

Too many climaxes. Way too much time spent on the ferries but it almost felt like it was going to be the setpiece of the film....then the cell-phone sonar fight scene kinda felt like it was the climax but turned out to be muddled and confusing and not that impressive, and then by the time you're ready for the real climax, the kicker, the coolest sequence in the movie, it's just a kid being held hostage, some quick flick the gun away moves and then...Batman falls a couple stories and runs away.

The 'subplots' contributed to the overall plot though. They weren't go nowhere strands like in so many movies. Spiderman 3 did have too many characters.. cause they all had to be setup. We know just about the entire cast already in TDK.. except of course, harvey dent and the joker.

Felt like the entire movie was a big giant climax.. and I liked it.. but.. to each their own.

I agree with Batutta. This film so much more.. A great exploration of moral gray areas.. and the things which society sometimes needs, but doesn't want.

"So We'll chase him.. cause he can take it.. he is silent gaurdian... A Dark Knight"

 

[Batutta]

So, how far must it go?

As far as it can go, before it goes mad itself, as Harvey Dent did.

 

[Daryl Auguste]

Its funny, I saw some republicans op-ed comparing Batman to our current President. The fact that he was villified, something that Bush could deal with because he knew what he was doing was right. He has made many unpopular choices and has at times questionable methods, but he stands firm in his belief. His words, not mine.

I don't agree with this, but it was interesting.

On the other side, I saw a liberal piece accusing Batman of being a true vigilante, someone who pushed the extent of the law to get things done, something the author was firmly against. Even though the Joker plays Batman, he basically attempts to torture the Joker, and this guy clearly thought of Batman as a vigilante, and the wrong side of the justice, where the Republican thought of him as the much needed enforcer, making decisions nobody else could.

Where do you guys stand on this? I thought the exploration of justice and the human moral code to be incredibly interesting throughout the film.

 

[MattinSTL]

Dude you're kidding right?

 

[GageFX]

in the last bourne film, bourne tried to help the reporter out with a cell phone. to me, that worked real well there because of what you just said.

Exactly. I'm all for tactical support well made. TDK and Fox play as muddled action that needs to be explained as opposed to in story tactical support.

Wether you guys think this movie is crap or not. I think numbers speak more.

No. Like or dislike either movie as much as you want, box office does not determine which movie was better as a film. It only says how many people went to see each.

Dude you're kidding right?

Yeah. Really?

 

[bill totolo]

Took a second viewing to get the "Shane" ending and the whole "Avenging Angel" thing.

Anyone else?

 

[Batutta]

Its funny, I saw some republicans op-ed comparing Batman to our current President. The fact that he was villified, something that Bush could deal with because he knew what he was doing was right. He has made many unpopular choices and has at times questionable methods, but he stands firm in his belief. His words, not mine.

I don't agree with this, but it was interesting.

On the other side, I saw a liberal piece accusing Batman of being a true vigilante, someone who pushed the extent of the law to get things done, something the author was firmly against. Even though the Joker plays Batman, he basically attempts to torture the Joker, and this guy clearly thought of Batman as a vigilante, and the wrong side of the justice, where the Republican thought of him as the much needed enforcer, making decisions nobody else could.

Where do you guys stand on this? I thought the exploration of justice and the human moral code to be incredibly interesting throughout the film.

 

[Daryl Auguste]

Huh? I wasn't agreeing with either point. These are not my words.

 

[Batutta]

Huh? I wasn't agreeing with either point. These are not my words.

No discussion of politics.

 

[Daryl Auguste]

No discussion of politics.

Ooo, understood.

 

[dvpixl]

man this movie is doing well.


I have to admit I was pushed into the hype but came out believing.

It was a great movie.

But I have to say that until I saw the movie, none of the trailers got me excited for anything. It felt flat. nothing special. Just joker and batman, boohoo. who cares.

But seriously I was pleasantly surprised.

This is how it should work.

Trailers shouldn't have to be better than the movie.