2008 Woodie Awards
The Bat is back...but is he better than ever?
Batman goes deep in 'Dark Knight'
Jeremy Johnson
Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: After Hours
If you're looking for a fun romp with Batman and friends, start looking elsewhere, because "The Dark Knight" isn't it. It is, however, a serious look at the implications of being a hero, and what happens when opposing forces come crashing into one another. As the title suggests, its subject is dark and should not be dismissed as "kids' stuff."
A lot of the like and dislike for director Christopher Nolan's Batman series centers on how seriously it takes itself compared to other comic book movies. Many people insist that comic book movies should be more fun and cartoony, and be something that they can take their 5-year-old to see. However, such realism should be applauded because a movie that takes itself seriously essentially asks the audience to do the same. When a movie does this, it goes above and beyond its form to become art, rather than a gimmick, which most comic book movies are satisfied with being.
Right from the get-go, we are to understand that this movie should not be taken lightly merely because it is based on a comic book. The opening scene gives us a good look at how the Joker operates, and we see that he's pretty twisted. Heath Ledger isn't playing a cartoon villain; he is the embodiment of all things evil and demented, and he does a pretty convincing job with it. Every time the Joker came on screen, I got excited to see what crazy stuff he would do next. I was not disappointed.
Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne/Batman is also well-portrayed, and the shadows of doubt and despair at work within the character are conveyed nicely through good acting on Bale's part. Most of his character's development takes place while he is Batman, not Bruce Wayne, which makes it more subtle, but well done. The interplay between Batman and the Joker was superbly executed, and did a lot to show the relationship between the two characters.
The stuff in the middle is where my problems with the movie arose. Whereas both Batman and the Joker are well fleshed-out and we have a pretty good idea of their characters by the time the movie finishes, I felt that Harvey Dent's character was skimped on significantly. While it was important for the movie to cover his rise and fall, some crucial points were left out between points A and B. His initial buildup is good, but the problems come when the plot twists and his character changes. There could have been more development of his transformation, rather than a focus on Harvey being good, then Harvey being bad.
Overall, the movie worked well. The supporting performances were solid; the plot, though mildly convoluted, serves its purpose of conveying the characters and their struggles with one another; and the look and feel of the movie enhance the action and make it enjoyable to watch. If you like your comic book movies a bit more serious and with some depth, they don't come any better than "The Dark Knight."
A lot of the like and dislike for director Christopher Nolan's Batman series centers on how seriously it takes itself compared to other comic book movies. Many people insist that comic book movies should be more fun and cartoony, and be something that they can take their 5-year-old to see. However, such realism should be applauded because a movie that takes itself seriously essentially asks the audience to do the same. When a movie does this, it goes above and beyond its form to become art, rather than a gimmick, which most comic book movies are satisfied with being.
Right from the get-go, we are to understand that this movie should not be taken lightly merely because it is based on a comic book. The opening scene gives us a good look at how the Joker operates, and we see that he's pretty twisted. Heath Ledger isn't playing a cartoon villain; he is the embodiment of all things evil and demented, and he does a pretty convincing job with it. Every time the Joker came on screen, I got excited to see what crazy stuff he would do next. I was not disappointed.
Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne/Batman is also well-portrayed, and the shadows of doubt and despair at work within the character are conveyed nicely through good acting on Bale's part. Most of his character's development takes place while he is Batman, not Bruce Wayne, which makes it more subtle, but well done. The interplay between Batman and the Joker was superbly executed, and did a lot to show the relationship between the two characters.
The stuff in the middle is where my problems with the movie arose. Whereas both Batman and the Joker are well fleshed-out and we have a pretty good idea of their characters by the time the movie finishes, I felt that Harvey Dent's character was skimped on significantly. While it was important for the movie to cover his rise and fall, some crucial points were left out between points A and B. His initial buildup is good, but the problems come when the plot twists and his character changes. There could have been more development of his transformation, rather than a focus on Harvey being good, then Harvey being bad.
Overall, the movie worked well. The supporting performances were solid; the plot, though mildly convoluted, serves its purpose of conveying the characters and their struggles with one another; and the look and feel of the movie enhance the action and make it enjoyable to watch. If you like your comic book movies a bit more serious and with some depth, they don't come any better than "The Dark Knight."
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