So in the midst of my Olympics hangover (I should link to an overload blog, but there are too many) here are my thoughts:
The Dark Knight is a damn good movie, dark and deep, which is what they wanted. The Cast:
• Christian Bale, good again.
• Heath Ledger, deserving of the Oscar nod for sure regardless of the extenuating circumstances.
• Aaron Eckhart, also worthy of consideration.
• Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman all deliver solid supporting performance.
• Maggie Gyllenhaal was better than Katie Holmes. Low praise I know, but she did not really have all that much to do.
• Only other actor I even noticed was the eyeliner-loving Richard from Lost.
Your not-so-basic good guys going to the dark side to fight the bad guys saga, with Batman ultimately taking on a heavier burden, to give the people that paper champion they allegedly deserve.
The action is good, the cinematography fine and dark and moody. I think the plot is more about character motivations and maneuvers though perhaps not fully explained. (What? I do not like to really think that much in a superhero, comic book flick. And this one requires a good bit of thinking and over-thinking.)
As with Batman Begins, my favorite part of The Dark Knight is that Nolan/Bale recognize Batman for what he is and even make fun of it: normal guy, powerless without the toys, susceptible to harm and human frailties and weaknesses.
My least favorite part: the cliché of the good guys who are smart enough to know better, falling for the bad guy’s traps. Bad guys lie and have a plan; good guys know it and fall to weaknesses (which the bad guys count on).
So the whole dramatic twist that kicks off the climactic ending hinges upon a “woulda, coulda, shoulda” known better. And I for one wondered how this “great hero” did not know better. (Do not give me canon. Don't care if it "had to happen" because comic #213 says so.) Anyway guilt and blame all around, lots of regrets and recrimination, blah blah.
Overall it was an excellent movie, and I will be lining up for what is set to be an even darker-cum-redemptive sequel.
Smells like: Heavy duty box office whoop ass, a truly fine bouquet!!