The Dark Knight

[sincere]

I didn't buy into the hype. I thought Ledger being hailed as a guaranteed Oscar recipient was a reaction to his death, not his acting. And I was especially dubious because Batman Begins was only an okay movie -- it wasn't really impressive and it wasn't really that interesting.

But I went to see it tonight, and I have to admit. The Dark Knight was a wonderful movie.

Non-spoiler edition: I couldn't look at either villain while they were talking because it was just too creepy, the chaos and characterization of the Joker was spot-on, and the Rachel character looked like she was going to sabotage canon but instead she just fit into it beautifully.

Favorite scenes: The 60-minute manhunt instigated by the Joker on TV and pretty much everything thereafter, including A) the hospital scene, and B) the ferry boats.

Comments

[geckophobe.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I loved to watch the Joker licking his lips. It was such a shiver-inducing tic! My aversion was to watching Bale baring his teeth and growling when suited up as the Batman, because it made him so ugly and freakish and destroyed my fangirl illusions of his perfection. D:

My favorite scene was near the beginning, when Batman jumped off a ledge and spread those wings. I love how they snap.

[kay-willow.livejournal.com]

It was horrifying. XD I can't get over the feeling he's chewing on himself dlfkjsldfjks

I'm going to say this right now and mean it profoundly: Christian Bale should never attempt a "Batman" voice again, it's not only painful to listen to but so forced. XD I, I mean, I guess it makes sense, you know, it's less a "voice" he's assuming and more of a "I'm trying to disguise my voice," but it SOUNDS SO TERRIBLE. I can't help it. I'd rather he have a Batman voice than he feign a throat illness every time he's Batman.

[geckophobe.livejournal.com]

Oh, it was terrible! I had to remind myself "he's a character, it's a disguise, it's a comic book" just to make it through.

Overall, the movie was just right with the length and the plot and the villainy goodness and the chase scenes, but needed more playboy Bruce Wayne and his abs.

[continuum.livejournal.com]

Ahahah, the effects for Two-Face was fucking kick ass. I loved it. And Ledger owned his role as the Joker so much. The little tics and everything--it was brilliant. And it wasn't just the acting, either; the pacing of the movie and the script was awesome, too. It didn't feel like two and half hours at all.

Batman Begins was good and I really liked it because it was much better than the older Batman movies I'd seen...but it totally doesn't stand up to this.

I actually liked Batman's creepy disguised voice, though. 8DD It was kinda hot. >.>

[kay-willow.livejournal.com]

I couldn't get into Batman Begins. I didn't care for the villain, I didn't think Bale was doing that great, I didn't like the love interest, and I didn't think it was well-directed. Right now, I can't think of a single thing in the movie that jumped out at me as something I'll remember and think, "That was really cool, when that happened."

But this movie -- this was different. XD I don't know if it's that it was a lot more of an ensemble cast than just a movie about BATMAN!!!1 and his ANGST!!1! or what, but this movie was really good, in pretty much every way. The script was great, the chaos was amazing, the setting up and tearing down of Harvey was perfect, Ledger's Joker was fantastic. The combination of dangerously unpredictable and brilliant wildness... I can't be enthusiastic enough. The only quibble I have about this movie is totally unrelated to any of its stars or anything. XD

[continuum.livejournal.com]

I think what caught me about Batman Begins was the same thing that caught me about Casino Royale: they reinterpreted a series that had so much potential to be greater and darker and rougher, but unfortunately had taken on a really cheesy, unrealistically smooth edge. Neither were especially brilliant in and of themselves, but you just knew that the franchise was starting on a way better path.

But I agree--this movie doesn't even compare. It just blows you away. XDD I'd always figured Ledger to be a great actor because I'd seen him in Brokeback Mountain, but...oh my God. The Joker. You know someone's good when they can pull off a troubled, homosexual lover and a psychotic serial killer with equal brilliance.

[sakusha.livejournal.com]

I think that they should hire the man who voiced Batman in Batman: The Animated Series to do voice overs for Christian Bale when he's being Batman. Other than the fact that BtAS Batman's voice is The Batman Voice for me, it would spare our ears the ridiculous hoarse noise that Christian Bale uses now.

That's an excellent show, btw. It's for kids, ostensibly, but there's a lot of darkness and really fantastic writing. Plus they came up with Ramirez and Harley Quinn (I am sick over the idea that we can never have Heath Ledger's Joker interact with a Harley)!

[yami-chan.livejournal.com]

Wasn't it amazing! The Joker actually scared me! I've never been scared of the Joker. I always understood he that he was scary and that I never wanted to bump into this man but Ledger's Joker was really freakin' scary! I loved it!

I also adored the scene where the Joker and Two-Face talk. So well done.