Dark Knight Review

So, it's been a few days since I saw the Dark Knight. In my last post, I gave you my initial thoughts right after the movie but I didn't get into too many details because I was simply overwhelmed by what I had just seen. You know, I was listening to Howard Stern and a listener posed a question: "Where does The Dark Knight rate on the all time superhero movie scale?" I'm not going to get into Howard's answers, you can get Sirius for that, but it made me start thinking about where this movie ranks in my top five and more importantly, why.

So, as I mentioned in my last post, the movie is great. My best recommendation is to go see it. See it on the big screen or on IMAX- it's that good. I am a huge Batman fan. I started collecting comics in the late 80's and into the mid 90's. I stopped actively collecting the weekly series when I felt they were becoming stale. Today I am more of a graphic novel person, or comic series compilation. I don't have the time or inclination to subscribe to a weekly comic, I'd rather get a hard back set of a particular run. I was always a big independent fan purchasing quirky and surreal comics, which were (and still are) my tastes. But in my heyday, I did collect mainstream comics, Batman being one of them. I was around for the re-imagining, if you may, of Batman with releases like The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: Year One, Batman: The Killing Joke, and Batman: A Death in the Family. It was a time when comics were shedding their "kid" skin and being allowed to mature.

When I first heard of the Batman movie from Tim Burton, I was excited. Rumors of a hokey version circulated for a bit with Bill Murray attached which would have mimicked the 60's campy show. But with Burton in place and his reassurances that Batman would be taken seriously- I was stoked. I saw the premier in New York with a friend of mine, and I saw the movie that year 4 times. Tim Burton, Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson gave me a glimmer of the Batman I was used to from the comics. It was a bit overproduced, but it was not the TV version and for that I think, the movie gets a strong pass. On subsequent viewings, it holds up the best out of all of them, but still has many problems.

So after Joel Schumacher killed the Batman franchise, I didn't think any more of it. I was content with leaving the Batman on the printed page as the best version or versions to be enjoyed. So, rumors start flying of reviving both the Caped Crusader and the Big Blue Bird. This time, I was not excited. I had no interest- my focus was on grander tales like The Lord of the Rings. So it was with hesitation and very low expectations that I found myself watching Batman Begins on the second weekend after it opened. Was I surprised! The movie thrilled me- it was the grittier, far more interesting take on our nocturnal friend. I couldn't help recommending the movie to all my friends, who ended up catching it when it released on DVD. They too were blown away. So for me, Christopher Nolan had a pass on the next film. Much like I gave Burton. I couldn't wait to see where his vision, this gritty world of many grays, were going to go.

When I first glimpsed the photo of Heath Ledger as the Joker, you know, the real closeup one. When I saw that picture, it solidified my faith in Nolan. It was unexpected, creepy, scary and just hit the right tone for me. I wasn't sure how Ledger would pull it off, but the look was excellent. So, this past weekend, I got a posse of family and friends to join me in watching The Dark Knight for the first time. I must admit that my expectations were sky-high for this movie. I read some of the online reviews raving about the movie which just fueled my anticipation. I couldn't wait, I got to the theater an hour and a half early to secure the best seats possible (a pet-peeve of mine when going to the movies) and succeeded in being the first in line. While waiting in line, we spent the time geeking out on other movies and re-hyping the one we were about to see. The time came, I got the best seats in the house and for the next 2.5 hours was treated to the most iconic, most mature, and most morally challenging superhero movie I had ever witnessed.

It's not enough to say that this movie is good or great or a must see. It is an experience- an emotional roller coaster where an actor transcends above expectations to give us an instant classic performance that no one will ever forget, a great ensemble cast that didn't feel shoe-horned in, a story that had the balls to ask the viewer to think about what they are watching, and deliver a character study of four main characters. This folks is just not a superhero movie, this is not a summer popcorn flick, nor is it an overwrought story reaching but never attaining- this is a Drama/Action movie. Emphasis on the Drama. Don't get me wrong, there are great set pieces and action scenes that get your heart pumping, but it is the tightly weaved story and the masterful way it unravels itself in the picture that makes this movie such an outstanding achievement. The tight humor, the emotional tugging, the suspense (yes, a superhero movie that is able to give your nerves a workout), the thrills, the soundtrack: it all makes for a movie that can be enjoyed by many tastes. And though the film is not without its flaws, they are too few or minimal to even address. This is what I had always envisioned a Batman movie to be. At this point, I cannot wait for the last movie in this trilogy. But I can view this film a couple of more times while I wait- which I intend to do.

So, where does this movie fall in my top 5 superhero films of all time? Right now, number 1. It is something I have only experienced a few times when watching a movie. Complete awe.

If it matters, here are the rest of my top 5 Superhero Movies:
1. The Dark Knight
2. Iron Man
3. SpiderMan 2
4. The X-Men 2
5. Superman

l8r