The Dark Knight Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Long awaited

Trailer looks awesome, and critics say film good, cant wait

[Highly rated reviewer]

At last, an action film not just for American teens

Iron Man, Indiana Jones, Spiderman... ok films but all left the same sensation that something was missing.

This film absolutely delivers. It's very very impressive indeed. Some of the action sequences are excellent, really next generation stuff. Bale shows that he's got the skills to handle this role like a trained martial artist as opposed to an actor... (You might want to see Equilibrium, where Bale kills over 300 people, Stallone didn't make it to 100 in the new Rambo)

But never forget that he's also a properly trained actor unlike say, a Cruise (The Machinist for example where he is superb). Alongside Ledger, whose performance you will hear a lot about for some time to come, this film reaches the next level for action films.

It is a shame that Harvey Dent's character is filled by Aaron Eckhart, who isn't really believeable and tends to distract from the Good (or am I ) V Bad (or am I) storyline.

Maggie Gyllenhal, as always, is great and an improvement on Katie Holmes.

If you have any interest in any type of action film, you will watch this film no matter what i say,... i would suggest though... that you watch it at the cinema and make something special of it because these films don't come around very often... an action movie with a soul, with a purpose... with a point.

[Highly rated reviewer]

the wait is nearly over

i have seen all nine trailers of this movie and like the critics are saying it looks like it is going to be the film of 2008

heath ledger is amazing as the new joker.he looks and sounds evil as hell.

on that note i have just one thing to say to you all.....WHY SO SERIOUS.

tdk

i have seen tha first 7mins f this film.and it wil blow ur mind.classic.its up ther with tha matrix.fight club.superman.momento.etc etc.plus ther r sum serious insider hollywood talk f ledger 2 getan oscar 4 best supporting actor!!!

[Highly rated reviewer]

not worth it

i saw this movie and i thought it was boring and slow

the only reason people watched this and it got good review from critics is because the guy died after making the film

otherwise it would not have gotten as good reviews and wouldnt have made as much money as it did

i was really disapointed at this film,all i can say is BRING ON SPIDERMAN 4

Don't believe the hype!

I was really looking forward to seeing this film following all the hype and good reviews in the media, but unfortunately it left me dissapointed and frankly bored.

Heath Ledger as the Joker is the high point of this film and his portrayal of a psychotic anarchist is very good, but i think people have got carried away as its not jaw dropping or even that original. See Jack Nicholson in the shining for a truly memorable performance.

What had really got me excited about this film was the promise of some substance beyond the usual fluffy blockbuster 'plot', but for me it didn't cut it. It tries so hard to make a social commentry on our times, but in doing so it gets lost halfway between a super hero film and a proper political thriller, and ends up being neither. I think the main reason for this is the Dent character which i felt just didn't work and his development at the end is almost laughable.

This coupled with the other irritations - Batmans 40 a day B&H voice, some toe cringingly bad cheesey lines, and the fact it goes on for at least 30 mins too long, meant i was itching to get out of my seat by the time the credits rolled!

So unfortunately a let down. Wait till its on tv at xmas next year!

Not nearly as good as the original...

I'm starting to think that I am a bit of a freak - and the only person on the planet who found The Dark Knight long and dull. I left the cinema thinking 'Well that's 3 hours of my life I'm never going to get back'.

To be fair to the director, the cinematography is fantastic and it's great to see Batman in a 'real world' rather than the imagined Gotham City's of old, but I found the story lazy and predicatable and not worth the money I paid to watch it.

A lot has been said of Heath Ledger's performance. I can only imagine that people are drawing on the River Phoenix comparisons and the whole 'talented actors life cut short - must deserve an oscar'. If they hand out Oscars now to actors who can play Jack Nicholson playing the Joker - then sure, he deserves one. I was under the impression that they were given out for original and thought provoking performances though...

My advice - watch the first Batman (by that I mean the 1st one, not Batman Begins), see some first class performances, and just give this one a miss.

[Highly rated reviewer]

NOLAN BATS AND DELIVERS... BIG TIME

I cannot remember the last time I went to the pictures at 2 in the afternoon and it was so packed, they had to allocate seats! So we are past the opening weekend, but the hype continues. Is it justified? You bat. (Johnny Foreigner attempts pun, again lol)

The Dark Knight simply has everything you could ask for in a 'proper good film'. The stunts and effects are jaw dropping, but it is the biggest credit to Chris Nolan that he has removed Batman from just being a comic book projected onto the big screen. The writing is dark and immersing, the dialogue relevant rather than gimmick and the performances from a cast to die for are absolutely perfect. Noteworthy of course the much talked about Heath Ledger. His delivery of The Joker is just awe inspiring, psychotic yet darkly funny and truly sociopathic- if this Joker took on Javier Bardem's Anton Chigurh, that would be a duel and a half! Maggie Gyllenhaal's Rachel makes Katie Holmes look like an amateur (no offence, Mrs Cruise) and Bale may not be the sexiest Batman, but he is by far the best.

A beefy 2 and then some hours worth of big, top notch serious entertainment.

MUST SEE!

SEE THIS IF YOU LIKED

* BATMAN BEGINS (DURR!)

* NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

* WANTED

[Highly rated reviewer]

The Dark & Humourless Night

It was a trade show - days before the film's release - I had tickets - I was excited - I was going to see The Dark Knight: Chris Nolan's second Batman film after the promising start he had made with Batman Begins...

I had heard oscar mentions about the late Heath Ledger, and I couldn't wait to see what they had done with the reinvention of The Joker - which I hoped went back to the graphic novels - harsh and insane, but tinged with a little sympathy on our part for what is ultimately a tragic character.

Unfortunately, we got none of this. The movie plods along a path of politically thriller which would suit any vigilante film, except this is Batman - and you could live with it - except there's no light here. The only slight humour in the entire film features Michael Caine (as Alfred the Buttler) and then it's all doom and gloom...

I liked seeing the mechanics of how people support Bruce Wayne in his Batman guise; it's interesting. But the pace is never more than pedestrian unless we're thrown headlong into one of the action sequences - which are excellent, of cours. But so what?!! I didn't care about anyone, so I didn't really become emotionally involved with anyone to care if they lived or died. Christian Bale plays Batman with such merciless grimace that it's hard to understand why anyone would speak to him, let alone support him.

All in all the story culminates at around the 2 hour mark with spectacular orchestration and manipulation - and you think 'I can't wait for the sequel' - and then, unfortunately, the film continues for another 30 mintues of action which would be better placed in a whole other movie. By which time you are so numb that you just want to run from the cinema while rubbing the feeling back into your arse cheeks!

The afore mentioned Heath Ledger IS superb. He's the only light in this humourless darkness. I only wish they had gone back to the comic material and given him a proper background. It would have added such depth to what is an extraordinary performance.

It's such a shame that after stunningly inventive and interesting movies like Memento, Insomnia and The Prestige that Chris Nolan has been given enough rope to hang himself with. Batman Begins was too long and warning flags should have been waving. And yet with films costing more than ever, this movie could have cut it's running time and budget by 20%. I could be wrong, but I think the prohibitive length and dour humourless tone it takes could mean it's market cutting shorter than it could otherwise have performed.

Also a word to parents. This is not a kids film. It's violent, a little saddistic, and bares an adult sensibility throughout. Frankly, even if kids were allowed to watch it they would be bored stiff, fidget, talk and possibly fall asleep.

This is not a masterpiece. It's not rubbish. It's a very very long dark night.

Deeply Unpleasant

In general I like Christopher Nolan's films, but this is the exception. It's had a lot of good reviews, but it's difficult to know why. Its far far too long, meandering and very self indulgent. Its also very dark, and deeply unpleasant throughout - torture, murder, a character's family is kidnapped and made to watch while he's tortured. Worst of all is the violence throughout, always portrayed in a way that makes violence seem just one of those things, nothing to worry about. Its violence without consequences. The 12 rating is a disgrace, and I'd urge you not to let children watch it.