Batman: Movie Review

[strangevisitor7]

Went to see Batman:The Dark Knight last night. It was good. Not great but good. The reports are true - Heath Ledger is about as perfect a Joker as one could possibly imagine.

IMHO - Ironman is still the best Superhero movie ever made - Not that it's a contest but if it was, Ironman wins.



Batman was very ambitious. Lots going on in this movie. Sometimes that felt a bit like the movie lost it's focus and it is very long.

Aaron Eckhart's arc from Harvey Deant to Two Face was very well done. And the CGI of two face side - very creepy looking - In fact it was almost hard to look at. He is the hope for Gotham that Batman can never be and then it all goes horribly wrong - a simple game of the Jokers.

Heath Ledger is just as amazing as everyone has said. he captures the Whimsy and menace that is the Joker! I NEVER liked Jack's Joker from the first batman movie - too much of a clown. Heath just got it right. He has that sense of chaos and unpredictability that is needed for the Joker to be Batman's ultimate nemesis.


They play a lot on the idea that batman and the Joker opposite sides of the same coin. The Joker sees making The Bat kill - breaking his one cardinal rule - as being his ultimate challenge. In trying to break the bat he creates a lot of chaos and tension along the way.

Bruce Wayne continues to fool himself into believing that someday Gotham won't need the bat but we all know he would never be able to stop being the Bat.


So over all it was good. It felt like something was missing - maybe because it was too long - maybe because it was so dark - it didn't rise to the level of Batman Begins for me. I still recommend it for Heath's performance alone.

A few Ironman vs. Batman thoughts
Ironman's Tony Stark is all about the joy of being able to help and doing the right thing. This is a character who's playboy persona is the real Tony. But Bruce's Playboy is a necessary evil to protect the bat. Batman is all about the mind and the things we do to cope with the darkness inside ourselves. There are actually three faces of Bruce - the real one, the playboy and the bat. Tony has one - he's a rich guy who flies in a suit. For my money - I'll take Tony every time


So - I'm curious if you have seen both - Which do you prefer.

Comments

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

When walking out of the theatre, two people behind us said that this blows Iron Man away. I don't think you can compare the two. I liked them both very much. The only reason I liked Batman more was because I've been a Batfan for 20 years. But I prize funny dialogue the highest, and IM has way too much of that to make me say it wasn't as good as TDK.

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

I don't think you can compare the two
You have a point they are very different. But i could (and have) seen IM again (I love the snarky TS banter) but I don't think I want to see DK again. I love the snarky TS banter more than I like the dark introspection that is DK

But the Bat is definitely one of my favorite DC characters of all time.

[malfoymercy.livejournal.com]

I didn't really read what you wrote. Cause well, I haven't seen it yet. I'm so excited I'm going to see it tonight!!

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

Best to stay spoiler free then. Enjoy!

[strainconductor.livejournal.com]

I loved the Dark Knight! I still haven't seen Iron Man :[

Yay for Commisioner Gordon T_T He has always been my favorite character in the batman arc, at least when he appears :D

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

i was happy that he made Commissioner - it was a nice moment.

Now go see ironman - you won't be disappointing!

[arathisiewen.livejournal.com]

Someone else said in a comment somewhere that Batman and Dent were both stiff - and I haven't seen the movie yet I only know how to comment on Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne, in EVERYTHING I have ever seen abotu Batman, except maybe the television show, he IS wooden and stiff, even though he has moments of good socialbility. He is NOT Tony Stark, who was social first and then became semi-serious. Bruce was ALWAYS expected to be a little man with his parents loss early in life... that has a life changing effect on someone I am sure.

I also agree with you assessment with Joker even though I haven't seen DK. Why? Nicholson's Joker was good for playing with Michael Keaton's Batman, because his Batman was almost a characature compared to what Batman should be like. Nicholson's Joker was the reason people were afraid of clowns. I don't even have to see this movie and I KNOW Heath's Joker is more of the psychotic villain the Joker SHOULD be.

*looks back at comment*

Wow, um, I like Bale's Batman apparently...

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

Interesting - Jack's joker worked because Keaton played the role looser. I like that idea.

Heath's performance captured all that makes the Joker the perfect villain.

[arathisiewen.livejournal.com]

*nod*

The villains really play against who the person playing Batman is playing Bruce Wayne/Batman AS... despite whomever may have been best, that's what is true. I mean, Catwoman (Michelle Pfieffer that is) played perfectly agains the cool nature of Keaton's Batman in that movie, jsut like Penquin was twisted enough to work.

Although I personally will say that I LOVED Jim Carrey as the Riddler... Val Kilmer just sucked. George Clooney wasn't that bad, but far too playboy for my Bruce.

I cannot WAIT to see this movie.

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

Of all 6 movies I have to go with Batman Begins as my favorite - so that makes Bale my Batman!

And soon John Conner in the terminator movie woo hoo

[arathisiewen.livejournal.com]

I liked Batman Returns, even owned it. THat was my favourite so far. THen I watched Batman begins and even if I need to watch it again... they picked the right guy for the suit.

[prncssflutterby.livejournal.com]

You want me to pick between the only two movies I've seen at the theatre this summer! I like them both. I really really enjoy Dark Knight and Ledger's performance as the Joker. But I also loved the story with Iron Man as how he became Iron Man (especially since I never read the comics or anything...)

My pick has to be for both!

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

As I was informed above the movies really are too different to compared. All i know is that i could see Ironman a dozen more times. i plan to buy it as soon as it's released.

As for DK it was good but i don't think I could sit through it again - very dark

[prncssflutterby.livejournal.com]

Ah... I liked both and I wanna get them both when they come out. I can't afford to see them again at the theatre but I wanna see them both again.

I've not been online very much in the last week so I'm speed reading through my flist, I'm at 150 back right now... So very sorry I missed that As I was informed above the movies really are too different to compared.

As for Dark Knight being soo dark, I liked how they did that, all of the characters are going through pretty dark things and besides it's Batman it would would be that great if it was a happy movie. I donno though it's just my opinion.

As for Iron Man I've only seen the movie once and never saw any other Iron Man things no cartoons, or comics, I hadn't even seen fanfic for Iron Man til recently.. Again I donno. I like both.

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

If you want some Ironman fic rec I am happy to supply. I got flooded with stuff when i asked. You can find the list in the comments of this post.

http://strangevisitor7.livejournal.com/89199.html

[prncssflutterby.livejournal.com]

I'll add it to my list of fics to read. thanks for the recs!

I've been such a bad fanfic reader, I haven't read hardly anything in a few weeks now.

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

Ebb and flow - the nice thing about LJ is they are there waiting for you when you're ready!

[prncssflutterby.livejournal.com]

Bad thing is that I miss out on things I would've odinarily read or commented on thus I'm trying to go back an check days worth in a couple hours...

But yup it's nice that I can always catch you guys when I come back!

*smishes* BTW I like your new icons and header and layout. They're nifty!

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

Thanks! spreading the mag7 love by any and all means necessary!!

[prncssflutterby.livejournal.com]

Well I know nothing about Mag7 just like when you tuned me into HL, but I'm sure at some point I'll get around to at least reading your stuff.

I just know it might be awhile before I get to read much right now...

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

No worries but it was a great show - 22 episodes about 8 years ago. So i keep falling in love with old fandoms but I can't help myself - Ezra Standish is just so pretty

[prncssflutterby.livejournal.com]

Ah no worries. I seem to have a thing for shows that get canceled to early (several with only 8-13 episodes)... If that's him in the icon then yup definately purty!

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

yep Ezra is in the other half of the banner and my default icon too. Plus that one - left

[prncssflutterby.livejournal.com]

Nifty! He's definately pretty, maybe someday soon I'll be all caught up and come back and read the rest of Immortal!Dean and start reading the Mag7 fics...

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

Here's couple of pretty Ezra to encourage you to discover mag7

(http://pics.livejournal.com/strangevisitor7/pic/001fdx4x/)


(http://pics.livejournal.com/strangevisitor7/pic/001y75ec/)

[prncssflutterby.livejournal.com]

*stares at pretty*

Alright alright *adds your Mag7 to the list of things to read*

I'm gonna start working on reading that list tomorrow if I get a chance online. Plus I gotta find fic to print up for vacation fic binder for vacation in two weeks and work on my July writing bit and post a fic rec post that I meant to post a few weeks ago...