The Dark Knight

[redfirebird2008]

B. Numerous great elements, but plenty of annoying flaws too.

[tommycruise]

Definitely one of the best films i have ever seen( its in my top 15) everything here just seems to work so well, the story, the acting, the dialogue, the pacing, the action and the music. An awesome emotional experience, that transcends all other super hero films.The fairy scene is one of my favorite movie scenes ever.My only hope is that Nolan can keep up the excellent work with TDKR.A"Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded."

[FTF]

...The fairy scene is one of my favorite movie scenes ever...

That's a funny typo ;)Also, I assume you meant the ferry scene, which is interesting as most find that the only main dislike of the film. I personally love the interrogation scene with Batman and The Joker, such an amazing part and prob my favorite scene in the movie.

[snitch]

Best movie of 2008, A +

[baumer]

Written in 2008:

If there is anyone who is an anti-Batman fan, it would be me. While I thought Batman Begins was one of the best of 2005, I did not care all that much for the first four Batman films. I actually despised Batman Returns to the point that it is entrenched firmly on my top 50 worst films of all time. With that in mind, I began hearing all of the accolades this film was getting before it's release. How Heath Ledger had turned in a performance of a lifetime. How this was being called the Godfather of Comic Book films. How this film was being lauded as one of the best films in the last ten years and so on. By now, you've heard them all. And to be honest, I resented that and I believed that it was simply the scope of Heath's death that was causing this love fest with The Dark Knight. Never have I been so glad to be wrong. Not only is this film the best film I have seen since American Beauty, it is one that moved me and reminded me why I fell in love with the art of film in the first place. Christopher Nolan and Heath Ledger and everyone involved should be proud that this film transcends comic book films, and it transcends the summer popcorn genre. It is a larger than life experience and it is one of the best films ever made, in my opinion.

As we all remember, the end of Batman Begins we were shown a new villain named the Joker that had been leaving his card at the scene of his crimes. This takes place shortly after that with the Joker and his henchmen robbing a bank that holds mob money. He steals a cool 68 million dollars in a well executed and highly improbable robbery. Soon he is crashing a mob meeting and introduces himself quite effectively with a disappearing pencil trick that gets everyone's attention. His thought process is that he knows the mob no longer has the respect they once did, and that is because of the Batman. He offers his services, to kill the Batman, but with a hefty price. When his prediction comes true later in the film, that the mobsters are not safe from Batman, they realize they do need him. Meanwhile, a new DA named Harvey Dent is keen on cleaning up the city in any way possible. When he realizes that Batman is actually good for the city, Bruce Wayne takes a liking to him and decides that Harvey will be his white knight. This may actually allow Bruce to live a normal life. But of course nothing goes as planned and when tragedy strikes Harvey and his loved one, all hell breaks loose in Gotham City and the Joker becomes more and more unstoppable. Soon of course we are headed down the inevitable mano a mano confrontation between Batman and The Joker, but in a way that has never been done before.

The Dark Knight explores socio-political issues usually reserved for a Michael Mann film. Take one exchange between the Joker and Batman, on paper it sounds good, but to see it on screen is mesmerizing: "Don't talk like one of them. You're not, even if you'd like to be. They need you right now. But when they don't, they'll cast you out...LIKE A LEPER. See their morals, their code...it's a bad joke...dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show ya, when the chips are down, these civilized people will EAT each other." Batman and The Joker are separated by a fine line. But that line is often crossed in the film and when the Joker puts Batman to the test, I think they switch personalities. The film works because it has iconic characters and wonderful performances no doubt, but it also works brilliantly because it treats the audience like they are smart and perceptive. Spiderman 3 this is not.

It has to be mentioned of course that Heath Ledger gives a performance that has no equal. When I think of some of the great performances in film, I think of Kevin Spacey in American Beauty, Val Kilmer in Tombstone, Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood and Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, just to name a few. They have nothing on Heath. He is The Joker. You won't recognize him, you won't know that it is an actor, you will believe that there is a man named the Joker that is on screen and someone captured him on film. There is not a finer performance I can think of and if anyone wins best supporting actor this year besides him, it is their duty to thank the academy and then decline the award and give it to Heath. He is that good. The Joker is mesmerizing.

The Dark Knight is a film for a generation of film lovers that has been begging for a better comic book film. This is that film. Even if you are not a big fan of these type of movies, it will win you over.

10/10

[baumer]

I just finished watching it again and I think I love even more now, if that is possible. Not only is Heath's performance brilliant but the writing seems to jump off the page. This truly is a top 10 film of all time, imo.

[narniadis]

Amazing film, not much more that can be said...A+

[FTF]

I just finished watching it again and I think I love even more now, if that is possible. Not only is Heath's performance brilliant but the writing seems to jump off the page. This truly is a top 10 film of all time, imo.

I agree, it's just an amazing movie. Seeing the trilogy on liemax that Thursday and I can't wait to see this (and BB) on the big screen again. Also, the buzz about TDKR being better than TDK gives me goosebumps...it's so hard to imagine but if it's true...I don't, I don't even know

[cheesypoofs]

Easily the best Batman film. My 3rd favorite superhero film. I can't see TDKR topping this movie.

[Michael Gary Scott]

My fav comic book movie ever and in my top 5 of all time. Cant wait to see it on big screen again.

[Lordmandeep]

I will likley rewatch this on blue ray before TDKR...

[druv10]

I posted this in TDKR thread.Just finished watching TDK on B/R. Final 10 minutes are absolutely brilliant, the best final 10 minutes in SH movie history. From Joker's quote of white Knight to Dent's final transformation and ending it with Batman being hunted are absolutely stunning.Gordon's quote sums it, he's the hero city deserves but not the one it needs now, so we'll hunt him because he can take it. He's not a hero, he's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. The Dark Knight. :) :)9.3/10, 4 years later and quality's still immaculate.

[MagnetMan]

This is truly a great movie with a great performance from Ledger. The interrogation room scene has always been my favorite moment of this film. And there is one element in it that was apparent to me from the first viewing that I've never seen anyone else comment on: When the Joker gives Harvey's address, it is a palindrome. 250 52nd St. "25052" The fact that this number has a mirror image quality and it is connected to Harvey whose own appearance becomes a reversed mirror image between his two sides... there was always something so profound about that to me. THAT kind of attention to small details adds a depth to this film that other films should strive for.

[Lordmandeep]

I agree I also liked the Theme about The Hero needed to become a villain and such.Great stuff.

[Bluebomb]

Watched this again yesterday. Still a masterpiece.10/10 (A+)

[Heretic]

I can now say, the best of the trilogy.

A+

[Cedarpoint1111]

After watching TDKR, I think TDK is still the best one. TDKR is a close second though.

[acsc1312]

One scene that really jumped out at me during a viewing at the marathon this weekend was the commissioner/judge/dent attack. The editing in that scene was INCREDIBLE. it rivaled the baptism scene of the godfather, IMO. And the interrogation scene is simply one of the best scenes of all time

[MagnetMan]

I agree that the commissioner/judge/dent attack was great. I loved the simultaneous tension building between three different events. But I did think it hindered Dent's conversation with Rachel. When we jump back to Dent talking... it took me a minute to mentally catch up to what they had been talking about.

[Lordmandeep]

Yeah TDK plays like a crime epic...