We went to see "The Dark Knight" yesterday afternoon at our local Odeon cinema, using the 'Orange Wednesdays' offer -- half price tickets -- woohoo! I've been following the amazing box office that the film has generated with interest, so I was really looking forward to it, especially as I enjoyed "Batman Begins" three years ago.The film follows Batman's (and the Gotham police) continuing fight with organised crime. This time though, Batman/Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has to deal with 'The Joker', a mastermind criminal who has a fetish for chaos, played with a aplomb by the late Heath Ledger. The Joker shows insanity on the surface, but is always in complete control over the Mob.
The film features many exciting action scenes, such as the bank raid opener and the truck chase, and has some interesting plot twists. Gary Oldman was his usual dependable self playing Lt. Jim Gordon, and Christian Bale is always good, altough he did chew the furniture a bit with the 'deeeeeep voice' when dressed up as Batman. The dark sombre tone was ok, as it suits the characters.
I had some problems with the film though. I wasn't to happy with the editing in places, and I hated the makeup/CGI effects on Harvey Dent/Two-Face character: it looked too over-the-top, and for me it didn't fit in with the rest of the film's aesthetic as being 'as real as possible'.
Also, the film is too long. I think it could have been tightend and cut by about ten minutes. Some of the end sequence felt drawn out. Maggie Gyllenhall's character was pretty much wasted, and she certainly wasn't as appealing as Gwyneth Paltrow in "Iron Man" (which was a far better film and wow, she looked *great* in those lovely little pencil skirts!!)
Anyway, I enjoyed what was here, particularly Heath Ledger's performance, but it just wasn't the amazing epic I'd hoped for. I think I preferred "Batman Begins" actually. However, I do hope to see a third film, which I'm sure is on the cards from Warner Bros after this film has taken $800,000,000 so far!
Carla's comments can be found here. I love the point about Maggie Gyllenhall's hair!! haha!
