So. I have to say that, first off I was very reluctant to go see this movie. I saw some previews and had the feeling of so-so for it. I am a fan of the first movie with Jack Nicholson like others are and was sceptical if Heath Ledger could pull it off as the Joker.
As a side note I really really enjoyed Iron Man. I mean really enjoyed! The Hulk movie was pretty good too and can be seen by anyone who didn't see the first movie, by the way. K as Stan Lee says, 'nuff said.
Back to the Dark Knight movie. Let me tell you. I'm not very good at words(Some of you know me from a few games going around and can attest to that fact). I only have one thing to say about Heath Ledger: Holy Mackerel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO SEE THE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not giving anything away for those who haven't seen it! GO SEE THA MOVIE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sure those who have already seen it will agree with me on that count!
Anyone feel free to add your two cents worth. (It can be more than two cents of course )
I was pretty skeptical of the hype at first, especially given the sudden clamor for Heath Ledger's performance to be given an Oscar (oh blimey, I thought to myself, is this going to be another sacred cow because to poor guy died post production?) I remained skeptical until a certain point in the movie - it wasn't any event, but more the point where the Joker went from "Man, this guy is crazy" to "Man, this guy's #%$%^ CRAZY!!" So I have to say I really loved the new Joker.
I won't call the movie the best ever, though. I know. Heresy.
"No, but evil is still being — Is having reason — Being reasonable! Mousie understands? Is always being reason. Is punishing world for not being... Like in head. Is always reason. World should be different, is reason."
Heath Ledger may actually get the oscar by being dead, but he damn well earned it.
This is also easily the darkest Batman ever - even considering the hundreds of people Nickelson-Joker killed with nerve gas.
Like the bests, Ledger did his own villian. I'm tempted to say that what he did was not the Joker, since it was so much more... subtle. But regardless, it was easily the most frightening villian since Hannible Lector.
I'll also point out how amazing it is that they worked in two villians so seemlessly. Its rare for two antagonists to complement each other in a story, rather than one obliterating the other's presence. They even worked in a quick walk-on by Scarecrow. Evil-rific!
Perhaps, though, the film was too dark. Batman appeals to the youngest movie-goers, and this movie is way too harsh for young children. At least one kid was led out of the screening I attended - sobbing as he left.
Yes I don't think it is for children. SPOILER SPOLIER SPOILER BELOW................................................................................................................................
On another note, the whole hospital scene? Beautiful till the time the Joker runs away!
The movie pulled its punchlines and wasted a lot of potential to truly challenge moviegoers.
I really, really enjoyed it, and they did a great job with everything they just lacked the followthrough to risk offending the paying masses, which is understandable.
Well IMO the Joker by Nicholson was a comical version. Ledger's version didn't pull any punches at all. He was the very Joker we have come to expect in Batman comics/or cartoons portrayed by Mark Hamill. I found him dark enough and I was very satisfied by the Joker overall. The movie was quite good, but won't give anything away for those who've not seen it. GO SEE IT! It was better than Hellboy II ...... The Hulk II ....... but not Iron Man!
the Joker certainly didn't pull any punches, which I was glad for. The problem was the writers weren't with him in that regard. Instead the movie came the the brink and decided to withdraw and reassure us that the Joker was only a 'freak' and essentially deluded. The Joker moved from being a devil's advocate to being a joke.
ScS of the Fraternity wrote:This is also easily the darkest Batman ever - even considering the hundreds of people Nickelson-Joker killed with nerve gas.
Definitely the darkest Batman on film. I wouldn't say it out-classes the Arkham Asylum graphic novel, in grimness or psychological depth ... but then, it's hard to imagine how it could have.
"Who [u]cares[/u] what the Dark Powers are? They're [i]bastards![/i] That's all I need to know of them." -- Crow
AlltheMyriadWays wrote:The Joker moved from being a devil's advocate to being a joke.
I would submit that what you saw there wasn't the Joker being mishandled by the writers but the Joker being defeated by the Batman on the level that matters the most to him. For it wasn't just Batman who defeated the Joker at the end but all the people of Gotham. It then again both Batman and all of Gotham that suffered the defeat when the Joker other scheme came to fruition.
Do us a favor Luv, Stick yer 'ead in a bucket a kick it!
So, gentlemen, that's how it is. Until Grissome.... resurfaces, I'm the acting president, and I say starting with this... anniversary festival, we run this city into the ground! :D
"Let me show you... a little... magic trick."
*pulls out pencil*
I loved it. The make-up was excellent (the burnt face was terrifying and disturbing and soooo much better than the other Batman version of it) and the Joker was very creepy and different.
It was thematically excellent and dark with an ending like a punch to the gut.
I enjoyed it, as well (I've seen it twice, now). I really do think that it was the best film Joker...well, ever. I also believe that it was the first time we've seen just how brilliant the Joker really is (in film, at least). He had backup plans for everything, it seemed (especially considering that he told Harvey that he didn't make plans). And in the end, I'd say he won (whether or and the police force know that or not...Batman and Gordon know it, at least).
Really, I don't know what was more disturbing in that movie: the appearance of Two-Face (ack!) or Joker without the makup taking a shot at the mayor (that look in his eyes was creepy).
I got to see it last (k)night and loved it. I liked how Ledger emulated Ceaser Romero's laugh and also captured alot of the essence Nickolson put into the Burton movie. Very nicely done.
My fave scene was easily the joker leaving the hospital as it's exploding, stops, looks and hammers the detonator to raise the rest of it to the ground since half the explosives didn't go off. Pure genius.
Definately a dark movie, but I wouldn't say it was to dark, it's what Batman should be
Also, Tarlyn, The Incredible Hulk is not The Hulk 2, it's a new starting point since The Hulk lost it's Marvel licence a little while back (since it was so unpopular).
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