Erm. Yawn? Zzzz.
OK. It is hard to write something knowing that over 90% of the population will disagree with. And if I am to continue my ‘review career’, I have some serious recalibration to do.
Cynthia loves “The Dark Knight”; I had a headache watching it. So what happens? I will get to that in just a bit.
Great casting, no doubt. The acting is rock solid especially from the late Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart. Both I adore and respect a great deal. Jack Nicholson’s Joker as far as I can remember is comical; Heath Ledger’s Joker is pure creepiness and madness. Give Ledger his Oscar. He deserves it. Did Warner Bros. modify the ending to be sensitive to the circumstances? I have no clue. Warner Bros. did change the promotional campaign after Ledger’s death.
Just how much of the success of “The Dark Knight” is contributed by this unfortunate event? I also have no clue. What I do know is that I have done some serious reflection on why this film doesn’t quite work for me.
Maybe I am addicted to computer-generated imagery especially after that jaw dropping non-stop special effect of Hellboy II, “The Dark Knight” looks a bit bland to me. I am not sure how most audience feels about the 153 minutes film. But isn’t it a bit too, lengthy, with too many gaps of how-you-wish-there-was-more-entertainment-per-minute?
Sure I could overlook the above easily. I love the Batman franchise. I really do. Probably one of my favorite superheroes. If I close my eyes and think of Batman, I see a strong association to the flying bats, I see the bat cave, I see Batman sleeping upside down like a bat, I see a bat mobile with absolute sleekness, I see fast moving fights, I see a Gotham City so dark so thugs infested that induces fear, I see my heart leaps when Batman appears from nowhere, and I see myself living in a fantasy world captivated by its creator. As I opened my eyes and watched “The Dark Knight” in a theater, I saw Batman making a rather unglamorous entrance, I saw Batman standing on top of the modern IFC building in my birth town Hong Kong (read: where is the fantasy when I know that the building was officially opened in 2003?) having absolutely no animalistic association to bats or whatsoever throughout the film, my heart sank. If Batman was to stand on top of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, I would have thought of the film “Entrapment”. In fact, I did think of that film briefly while I was watching “The Dark Knight”.
And maybe I am still an old school when it comes to comic book adaptation. I want to see frame-by-frame scenes composition; I want to see a rather simple storyline and I want to feel with and for my hero. Anyways …
Having said all of the above, I can understand why “The Dark Knight” has a mass appeal. Over 90% of the population loves this film, why wouldn’t you? Can the gross revenue of “The Dark Knight” overtake the original “Batman” (1989) by Tim Burton? Only time can tell.
OK. I am done. Back to my recalibration process.
25 replies on “The Dark Knight – Being the Rare One Who Cannot Connect to the New Bat Franchise”
Hahaha you always were the graphical and visual freak. Personally I have not watched this movie, but I plan to. My colleagues told me that it is the greatest Batman movie yet. And judging from what I have read so far (other than your review), I think I will enjoy it.
Batman has always been dark, even as a comic. The guy is actually a nutcase, and he really is just a normal human, unlike others such as Superman or Spidey. I gotta to break it to you, I don’t think he sleeps hanging upside down on his ceiling. Actually if you ask me, Spiderman should be the one who lets his primal instincts take over, spin some web and eat some flies 😉
Darkspore – Look, there are a few scenes that are really put-off for me and I confess that I still enjoy the old film series a lot. If not for Ledger, this movie is not even watchable as far as I am concerned.
But ya, I love the acting of the cast like I said.
The visual image of Batman sleeping upside down is not invented by me … lol. Have you watched any of the previous installments? The thing is … to be honest … Batman does not exist and Batman doesn’t stand on top of IFC building in Hong Kong either. Gotham City certainly. Not Hong Kong.
I just write what I think but ya, I think you should watch it and you will enjoy it – like everyone else. (Why not me?!?! Meh.)
My son and his friends watched and enjoyed it. It’s not a kiddy show…. some parts he can’t understand.
I’m not going to watch it, going for Red Cliff.
I didn’t like the earlier Tim Burton films. While I think highly of Jack Nicholson, I didn’t like his campy protrayal of the Joker, Prince’s Batdance soundtrack, the campy premise despite the dark backdrop and more.
Anyway, regarding this Nolan effort, there is one point that I didn’t like. I suspect that it must have unconsciously influenced you but I may be wrong. I am speculating here. The protrayal of the rather effeminate and weak Chinese villain seems to be a norm amongst Hollywood studios these days. Chinese males are the new villains of Hollywood (Yes, Nolan isn’t exactly Hollywood, he’s Brit) like how Russians were in the nineties, blond neo-Nazi types in the eighties, etc. New enemies or new demonisation of a people for new times. Thus, did it not give you a bad taste in the mouth?
I managed to watch this movie! I have to say that I enjoyed the movie though… Of course some of the scenes were incredible and didn’t made much of sense. Then again, aren’t superhero movies like that? One thing that KP commented that was, superhero movies are more “adult” nowadays. The movies are made more realistic but of course, still incredible to certain extent.
Anyway, Health Ledger was really good. Believe it or not, I was quite “scared” of the Joker! The way he kept licking his tongue when he spoke sent creeps down my spine!
ECL – I heard that Red Cliff is good. It is my favorite literature that I read when I was a small boy. Not sure I have the time for the film though.
CSC – You hit the nail right on its head. I didn’t detail out everything that I don’t like and that is definitely one. My personal take is that they could have reworked that part of the story and possibly compress it and it will still deliver the same message of (1) the mobs need the Joker and (2) the Joker cares less about the money. In fact, they don’t even need to bring in Hong Kong location into the film.
I can be positive and enthusiatic on films. But I realize that I do have certain boundary and ‘deal breakers’.
JT – You are not the first to get scared by the Joker! I have heard others who told me the same thing.
I think one of my issues is that there are not enough over-the-top scenes … ha ha ha.
wahahahahha. i haven’t read your review, and i wrote a review similar as yours! are we long lost family or something? LOL
Sylv – Oh really? Cool thing! I will check out yours later 🙂
Wilfrid, another movie that got me was the highly acclaimed ‘Lost in Translation’. I thought that one was outright racism. And I thought I was alone but upon checking reviews elsewhere, I found that I was not. Some had perceived similarly.
CSC – Ah, that’s why I have started writing movie summaries because I keep forgetting what I’ve watched!
Are you referring to the US / Japanese sentiment within the show? I vaguely remember something like that. I guess since I am not a Japanese, I may not have felt the direct hit.
I do recall that ‘Lost in Translation’ is highly acclaimed. I also recall that I did find the show not living up to the hype. But you know, I do like Scarlett Johansson a lot … ha ha ha.
I LURVE the show.. LURVE LURVE LURVE (and i am not referring to “Lost in Translation” – just to be clear).
The Dark Knight is dark, twisted, sickening, and that’s what makes it great. Maybe because I don’t like the previous versions of Batman – they were too comical for me. So I was hooked onto Chris Nolan / Christian Bale’s version.
Oh, and this Batman can stand anywhere he likes, IMHO. He can stand on top of IFC, on top of Twin Tower, or even Monas, I will still like him. He can even stand outside our apartment building (make it outside level 12 please) so that I can open the window and grab him, hahaha…
Cynthia – Uh-huh. If Batman does appear at our window, I would give him a push and see how good his gear is in order to survive the 12 stories fall.
Muahahaha!
hahaha… Both my bro and sis-in-law are VERY funny…. 😀
Lora – Uh-huh. So, in a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you love Batman?
oh… I haven’t seen the latest one wor… though I love the previous ones… 😛
Lora – Ha ha ha … good answer.
Ya, Lora, good answer, hahaha… very diplomatic 😀
I just caught the movie and I have to say I came out feeling “Zzzz” as well!
Heath Ledger as the joker was flawless – the bf and I agreed that at times the movie was a little scary and dark.
He loved it, I didn’t.
Too long and and messy for me at times!
But yes, give Heath Ledger his Oscar already!
I heard he OD-ed because he could not get out of his Joker role. Not sure if it’s true!
G – Ah ha! I thought I was one of the rare ones who went “zzzz”.
I don’t think the OD was intend. I am more inclined to believe that it was an unfortunate accident. At least according to CNN from all I can remember.
[…] jaw dropping budget of $180 million (equals to the budget of “The Dark Knight” and “The Golden Compass”) has the jaw dropping computer animation to match. The […]
zzz?? Borring??? Have you actually scene the movie? Well, I got to enjoy this movie via IMAX, and just awesome… AHH remember folks , this is a movie.. which job is to entertain.. It isnt true facts, it isnt a documentary.. It is a movie. Bat Man, per the comics, was a veryyyy dark individual. CGI- Sounds like a bunch of youngsters. CGI doesnt make a movie. It enhances it. For the DARK KNIGHT to be 95% pure action/real stunts (gasp), more importantly realistic.. This movie rocks. If you are comparing Hell Boy II to this movie, i think you need to puff puff pass..
Rippleyaliens – Thanks for your comments and yes, I actually did watch the movie. And yes, at an IMAX digital 4k projector setting and watched it in full glory.
Your observations are valid and there is a good reason why this film is a commercial success. It doesn’t work for me for a few areas and of course if you cannot relate to or agree with my deal breakers, this film is definitely for you. I am merely projecting another view.
You are right. CGI doesn’t make an action movie. If I was watching a Bond series or a Bourne series, I can fully understand. But Batman is a comic book character. That is the difference. At least to me.
[…] Man · Juno · Made of Honour · Quantum of Solace · The Dark Knight · Vicky Cristina Barcelona · […]