Divya Sampath <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
No explicit spoilers, but...
I was disappointed by the film. Of course, I saw it with several
disadvantages; I went to the theater hoping to view "Mama Mia!" with
friends, but it was sold out and "Dark Knight" was the available
alternative -- not exactly an equivalent mood. The friends decided
that ten murders in the first ten minutes was more gratuitous violence
than they could take, and they walked. Against my better judgement, I
soldiered on, hoping to find some shred of redemption in the film.
I did not.
For background, I stopped reading Batman comics about the time the TV
show first aired back in the sixties. I have taken in the various
movies of recent decades with varying degrees of appreciation; none
rising to my list of great films, though most had their moments.
"Dark Knight" has little to recommend it. The nihilism that some here
have ascribed to the Joker is also apparent in Batman's own inner
conflict, and where the demands of drama would have them destroy one
another, the demands of sequels leave both alive at film's end,
leaving the viewer with the unsettled feeling that 2:45 should jolly
well have been enough time to finish the tale.
Unlike some of the earlier films, the art direction lacked style.
Gotham City looked like it was shot in the same urban neighborhoods as
"Streets of San Francisco¨ without the hills. It seemed a city without
substance, and even the seedy docks were neat and tidy. Putting Batman
in temporary quarters may have saved on production costs, but it
certainly didn't benefit the atmosphere any.
The performances, especially Keith Ledger and Gary Oldman, could rise
only a bit above the writing and direction, both of which I thought
could use some serious help. The film was propelled, not by the
psychological twists or mental competition, but by a series of
gruesome murders and special effects that failed to move the story in
any particular direction. The Joker's monologue about the role of
chaos showed some potential, but by failing to write Batman a suitable
response, an opportunity to delineate the issue was allowed to pass.
Indeed, the most important commentary left in the film was perhaps the
debate that took place on the two ferryboats. (And I'll stop here for
the sake of those still to view it.)
This was not a stylish film (for if stylish enough, that's
sufficient). This was not a thought-provoking film (ditto). This was
not, on average. a particularly well-acted, well-written, or
well-directed film. It did not inspire, warn, encourage, or especially
entertain. It was, perhaps, an adequate "B movie" title, but not one
that is deserving of long-term preservation.
Nor of your limited viewing time or money.
But that´s just my opinion; yours may vary.
Bruce in Florida
(who hasn't been gone, just damn busy)
