The Dark Knight SPOILERRIFFIC Squee Post
Time to make a spoilertastic post to share everything I loved about this movie.
First of all, Heath Ledger is FANTASTIC. Seriously. I was impressed with that first trailer when I saw no trace of that teen movie guy I used to know. Now that I've seen his whole performance, I can safely say that I was not let down and Ledger was THE HIGHLIGHT of The Dark Knight. Every time he's on screen you cannot take your eyes off him. The personality he gives the Joker is amazing-- creepy yet funny at the same time.
On Tuesday, after that first scene when Joker talks to the mob bosses, we in the audience applauded 'cause we knew we were in for a treat. I mean, Christ, the "magic pencil?"
*BAM* "Ta-da!" *magic fingers*
LOL. LOL, I say. But every scene he's in is gold. The stories he told about his scars, putting "SLAUGHTER is the best medicine" on the side of the truck (not to mention the whole chase), "I want my phone call," sliding down the money pile, just everything...
And the nurse outfit! Just... waddling away from the hospital as the explosions go off, and then the delayed-explosion gag... I wish he'd been in the movie more. After a second time I see what some reviews meant about the Harvey Dent story seeming kind of intrusive, like it was just padding, but I still think it's an essential part of the story, part of the point Joker was trying to make to Batman. Not to mention excellent drama.
I am bummed that Harvey is dead. I mean, there's a little room in there to bring him back, but given how Bruce decided to take the fall for him, that would be difficult to do if he were still alive and crazy and able to come back. It would screw with the movie thematically. So I think he's gone, unless they could make bringing him back work with the overall theme of a future film, which would be difficult.
I wasn't bummed that Rachel died. I already suspected she would, and Alfred's line about not yet knowing her for her whole life was good foreshadowing. But her character didn't really have anywhere else to go, and to me personally, having Bruce constantly pining after her would be boring. Plus it leaves room for a Catwoman romance. ;) Switching one unrequited love for another isn't much different, I suppose, but I think Catwoman would be more interesting. As for Rachel, though, I did like how she chose Harvey over Bruce. I think it says good things about her character that her life didn't revolve around waiting for Bruce. She was more of her own person. I know it's standard romance to wait for your true love, but eh, doesn't work for me.
Some reviews comment on how Batman is something more of a side-character in this movie, but I think that works. I mean, Begins was all about him, so dwelling on him more would've slowed this movie down.
I was happy seeing Batman in all the action. Flipping the tractor-trailer? AWESOME, especially now that I know that no CGI was used for that. They actually FLIPPED A TRACTOR-TRAILER LONG-WAYS. Seriously. Holy shit. And the batpod shooting out of the tumbler? First time, I realized what was happening when that wheel started spinning, and it was just "No. No way." And then "Goodbye." and WHOOSH and everyone went NUTS. Not to mention when after the truck flips, when everyone was already WOO HOO, then Batman DRIVES UP THAT WALL AND, like, FLIPS OVER? Everyone FREAKED. XD (I really loved that Tuesday audience. These movies are so much more fun with people there to have fun, with people who just, like, have those joyous reactions, not like talking over the movie but... uh... you know what I mean.)
AND THEN WHEN GORDON CAME BACK. I knew he was alive because the scene with the Joker in the cell hadn't happened yet, but I was still wondering what the hell was going on. And then he turns out to be the driver of Harvey's transport. He took off his mask and, again, everyone FREAKED. We screamed so loud that we didn't even hear his line to the Joker. I'm not a big Oldman fan, but I just adore him as Jim Gordon (now Commissioner Gordon, and everyone genuinely applauded with the people on-screen when that happened XD).
Umm... what else... I was expecting to go back to the Joker at the end, which didn't happen and kind of disappointed me. Even the second time, I felt like we weren't finished with him, which leads me to believe they wanted to bring him back in the next movie. I suppose they could still do that if they wanted to find another actor, but it just makes me sad that we can't have Ledger back for that role. Anyway, I think it is a pretty good end of Joker's part in the movie, just laughing at the joke he's played on Batman, while hanging upside-down a million feet in the air, not caring about the SWAT team at all.
Not to mention, that fall he took was breathtaking. Even the second time, I was just like, "WHOA." It reminded me of the '89 Batman, only he didn't die, thank god. lol That's one of the big issues with '89 Batman. The Joker is THE villain for Batman, and to take him out like that after one movie just ruins what they are to each other. I mean, it works in terms of the villain getting his comeuppance and that usual stuff, but meh.
I do actually hope that they have the Joker in the next film. I love his character. I think if they can find the right person, even though I'm sure there'll be respect-for-Heath wank, they can continue to use the character as well as they did in The Dark Knight.
The end really struck me. Earlier, Harvey takes the fall for Bruce because he believes people need Batman. Then Bruce takes the fall for Harvey because he believes people need Harvey Dent. And it just raises that question of who do people really need? Overall, it's obvious that people need hope, and both Harvey and Bruce want to give them that. And I think the movie is right, that while Batman is there to help in times of strife, people have more hope and comfort in someone representing the system created to protect them as opposed to someone working around it. Someone without a mask, who doesn't have to hide. I guess. I've been thinking a lot about this movie and the questions it raises, which is just another mark of an excellent movie.
It asks you:
- Do you believe we can save ourselves? Do you believe that we are inherently good?
- What do you believe a hero is?
- How far will you go to do the right thing?
And... and... I have no more coherence left in me. XD (Not to mention I'm getting all serious business about this movie.)
I'm seeing this again on Tuesday with one friend who hasn't seen it and one who has. Though unfortunately we're probably going to the theater usually packed with annoying teenagers. ~_~
First of all, Heath Ledger is FANTASTIC. Seriously. I was impressed with that first trailer when I saw no trace of that teen movie guy I used to know. Now that I've seen his whole performance, I can safely say that I was not let down and Ledger was THE HIGHLIGHT of The Dark Knight. Every time he's on screen you cannot take your eyes off him. The personality he gives the Joker is amazing-- creepy yet funny at the same time.
On Tuesday, after that first scene when Joker talks to the mob bosses, we in the audience applauded 'cause we knew we were in for a treat. I mean, Christ, the "magic pencil?"
*BAM* "Ta-da!" *magic fingers*
LOL. LOL, I say. But every scene he's in is gold. The stories he told about his scars, putting "SLAUGHTER is the best medicine" on the side of the truck (not to mention the whole chase), "I want my phone call," sliding down the money pile, just everything...
And the nurse outfit! Just... waddling away from the hospital as the explosions go off, and then the delayed-explosion gag... I wish he'd been in the movie more. After a second time I see what some reviews meant about the Harvey Dent story seeming kind of intrusive, like it was just padding, but I still think it's an essential part of the story, part of the point Joker was trying to make to Batman. Not to mention excellent drama.
I am bummed that Harvey is dead. I mean, there's a little room in there to bring him back, but given how Bruce decided to take the fall for him, that would be difficult to do if he were still alive and crazy and able to come back. It would screw with the movie thematically. So I think he's gone, unless they could make bringing him back work with the overall theme of a future film, which would be difficult.
I wasn't bummed that Rachel died. I already suspected she would, and Alfred's line about not yet knowing her for her whole life was good foreshadowing. But her character didn't really have anywhere else to go, and to me personally, having Bruce constantly pining after her would be boring. Plus it leaves room for a Catwoman romance. ;) Switching one unrequited love for another isn't much different, I suppose, but I think Catwoman would be more interesting. As for Rachel, though, I did like how she chose Harvey over Bruce. I think it says good things about her character that her life didn't revolve around waiting for Bruce. She was more of her own person. I know it's standard romance to wait for your true love, but eh, doesn't work for me.
Some reviews comment on how Batman is something more of a side-character in this movie, but I think that works. I mean, Begins was all about him, so dwelling on him more would've slowed this movie down.
I was happy seeing Batman in all the action. Flipping the tractor-trailer? AWESOME, especially now that I know that no CGI was used for that. They actually FLIPPED A TRACTOR-TRAILER LONG-WAYS. Seriously. Holy shit. And the batpod shooting out of the tumbler? First time, I realized what was happening when that wheel started spinning, and it was just "No. No way." And then "Goodbye." and WHOOSH and everyone went NUTS. Not to mention when after the truck flips, when everyone was already WOO HOO, then Batman DRIVES UP THAT WALL AND, like, FLIPS OVER? Everyone FREAKED. XD (I really loved that Tuesday audience. These movies are so much more fun with people there to have fun, with people who just, like, have those joyous reactions, not like talking over the movie but... uh... you know what I mean.)
AND THEN WHEN GORDON CAME BACK. I knew he was alive because the scene with the Joker in the cell hadn't happened yet, but I was still wondering what the hell was going on. And then he turns out to be the driver of Harvey's transport. He took off his mask and, again, everyone FREAKED. We screamed so loud that we didn't even hear his line to the Joker. I'm not a big Oldman fan, but I just adore him as Jim Gordon (now Commissioner Gordon, and everyone genuinely applauded with the people on-screen when that happened XD).
Umm... what else... I was expecting to go back to the Joker at the end, which didn't happen and kind of disappointed me. Even the second time, I felt like we weren't finished with him, which leads me to believe they wanted to bring him back in the next movie. I suppose they could still do that if they wanted to find another actor, but it just makes me sad that we can't have Ledger back for that role. Anyway, I think it is a pretty good end of Joker's part in the movie, just laughing at the joke he's played on Batman, while hanging upside-down a million feet in the air, not caring about the SWAT team at all.
Not to mention, that fall he took was breathtaking. Even the second time, I was just like, "WHOA." It reminded me of the '89 Batman, only he didn't die, thank god. lol That's one of the big issues with '89 Batman. The Joker is THE villain for Batman, and to take him out like that after one movie just ruins what they are to each other. I mean, it works in terms of the villain getting his comeuppance and that usual stuff, but meh.
I do actually hope that they have the Joker in the next film. I love his character. I think if they can find the right person, even though I'm sure there'll be respect-for-Heath wank, they can continue to use the character as well as they did in The Dark Knight.
The end really struck me. Earlier, Harvey takes the fall for Bruce because he believes people need Batman. Then Bruce takes the fall for Harvey because he believes people need Harvey Dent. And it just raises that question of who do people really need? Overall, it's obvious that people need hope, and both Harvey and Bruce want to give them that. And I think the movie is right, that while Batman is there to help in times of strife, people have more hope and comfort in someone representing the system created to protect them as opposed to someone working around it. Someone without a mask, who doesn't have to hide. I guess. I've been thinking a lot about this movie and the questions it raises, which is just another mark of an excellent movie.
It asks you:
- Do you believe we can save ourselves? Do you believe that we are inherently good?
- What do you believe a hero is?
- How far will you go to do the right thing?
And... and... I have no more coherence left in me. XD (Not to mention I'm getting all serious business about this movie.)
I'm seeing this again on Tuesday with one friend who hasn't seen it and one who has. Though unfortunately we're probably going to the theater usually packed with annoying teenagers. ~_~