The Dark Knight
I think it’s a little exaggerated, after a certain amount of consideration. While I truly think this is about the best blockbuster I have seen in years, putting it #6 best film by our dear Imdb voters is a little over the top. I am sure those people who gave it a 1 have done so in reaction to the good reviews “The Dark Knight” received. Understandable, if you ask me.
Apart from that, I only have praise for the film (spoilers ahead!): I loved how this story had a rather bittersweet end, at which the film closes with a few words that give you the feeling that everything in the film fits together. Indeed, the whole film is about how it’s sometimes better to let people believe what they want to believe. Furthermore, I am astonished at the depth they were characterizing Joker. He indeed is somebody who ‘just’ likes violence, but apart from that, there are so many details about him that made him so unique and special. Of course it helped that Heath Ledgers played this part with extreme intensity, making me shiver and feel creeped out every time I saw him.
So, my very favorite scene of all is this little game Joker set up. It comes off a little clichéd (very Hollywood movie-ish in fact) how there was one boat with civilians and another one with evil, evil criminals. But the grim-looking criminals were the ones who had enough courage to throw away the detonator, while the civilians were afraid more than anything else.
Before I started seeing the movie, I didn’t know Maggie Gyllenhaal would be playing the ‘main girl’. Actually I didn’t even know there would be one in the film. And somehow, I was surprised. Maggie Gyllenhaal is just not really pretty, she’s not a bond girl and I can’t see her with heavy, glamorous make-up. She’s more a natural beauty-type character who can meet up with men eye-to-eye and say smart things, like Rachel does in the film. Also, they did a good job beautifying her into a sophisticated and strong woman. I approve.
Although this film is miles better than, say, the Spider-Man movie, I am not that inclined to see any of the other Batman movies or delve deeper into any superhero universe. That is mostly because I have the impression that this movie is an exceptionally good one, and seeing anything else might disappoint me.
Yes on all counts. I don’t trust IMDB’s community too much (the forums are a cesspit for trolls and idiots) so in this case I’d say it’s so popular because it’s new.
Apart from the hyperbolic reaction because of that, I’d say it’s a fantastic movie: a perfect continuation from Batman Begins which, in my opinion, was the superhero film I was finally able to take seriously! Sure, it’s long, but it’s a film that succeeds in everything it sets out to do.
Ledger’s performance is indeed superb but it’s an excellent performance among many excellent performances: Sir Michael Caine, Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman…a roll-call of my favourite actors really.
Maggie Gyllenhaal is interesting…apart from perhaps Scarlett Johanssen she’s one of the few actresses since Lauren Bacall who I have a real fanboy enthusiasm for: definitely more than just a pretty face in this film. That reminds me, I ought to watch Secretary at some point, as racy as the premise sounds…
Michael Caine! Indeed, I was so shocked when I saw him, because his eyes felt so familiar and when I looked through the myriads of films he has made, I realized that I have only seen “The Muppet’s Christmas Carol”, heh. But it was one of the most important movies from my childhood…
I agree that Imdb’s forums are horrible, but the database itself is quite nice, it’s too bad there is no comparable other website, unlike Google, Imdb is probably never going to improve, sadly.
So yeah, about the movie: I didn’t find it to be long at all. In fact, I had to pause the movie 20 minutes before the end, and died of suspense. It really was good, and if I had seen any other superhero film, I probably would have come to the same conclusion as you, heh.
I find it interesting that you like Maggie Gyllenhaal so much, I think she is a great actress, but she never struck me as extremely outstanding and nobody ever mentioned her to me before. By the way, I blame the DVD cover of “Secretary” – I’ve seen the cover about 1000 times in the stores, but never paid more attention to it. XD Now that I know more about the film, I believe it might be rather enjoyable, heh.
My theory on this movie:
Either the producers or the director are anti-Scientology so Katie Holmes had to go and Christian Bales was only casted because he looks like Tom Cruise and for obvious reasons Tom without silly Scientologists is not possible. :3
Apart from that it was the most enjoyable big loud blockbuster I’ve seen in a long time, so deliciously dark and Heath Ledger really deserved that Oscar, wow…
Also, Maggie is hot.