AmericanPapist Comments
It is really complex indeed. And I am also going to watch it tonight again. Need to absorb it all. A lot of psychology and personality in this film even from the city itself.
If you can, hit up some websites to see what people are saying about it.... there are quite a few things that I didn't notice that alot of other folks did. The movie has so many things going on with it, you almost have to watch it twice. Definitely sets a new bar for comic book movie plot....
And Ledger was brilliant. I can see why he had nightmares.
I'm not into Batman and the only reason I went is because I was at a party and a whole bunch of people were going, so I went too. The only Batman flick I have seen was the Jack Nichalson one and I had heard so much about Heath Ledger, that I was curious.
I loved it. I'll rent it when it comes out just to watch the Ledger dialogs. The rest was just eye candy.
I watched it 3 times, each time listening for certain parts and keeping my eyes open. The first time was like a rollarcoaster. Definitely worth the ride, but the second time you want to do with your eyes open!
Heath Ledger is by far the BEST actor in that movie!
"I can say with confidence that it's the best movie I've seen this year."
Amen, Thomas!
I planned my return from my trip so I could make a midnight showing. Unreal. I look forward to seeing it another two times--at the least. Ledger was superb. Easily the best actor from my age group. It's a shame he's gone. Everyone in the movie is great, though--Bale, Oldman, Caine, and Eckhart. And let's not forget Christopher Nolan. He knows how to make (writing and directing) a damn fine movie.
For those interested in a parents guide to the movie it can be seen at imdb.com under parents guide. Here is some info:
Sex & Nudity
Bruce walks into a room where we see a man and a woman buttoning their clothes up. It is implied that they were having sex.
Violence & Gore
The Joker has paint over his face and around his mouth he has two razor cut scars that are swollen.(we don't see him get them, it happened before the movie)
fake Batman is hung. When the fake hits the window after being hung, we see a bloody smear on the glass from the blood on his face from where the joker cuts it open.
a man is dropped from a building and we see his legs almost crunch, but he doesn't die.
a man takes 3 or 4 people by the throat and holds a knife to them harshly. a man rips through the side of the man's mouth, but we do not see anything, you just hear it
a man's head is slammed into a pencil sitting vertically on a desk. (more for humor than violence)
There is an intense bank robbery scene. Very violent. (People shoot each other every which way, a man sticks a bomb in a man's mouth.)
A man is seen stitching his arm after being bitten by dogs.
A man is found to have a bomb surgically implanted into his body; scar is graphic, and you see the bomb's light inside of him.
Profanity
At least 5 hells, 2 asses, 2 damns, 1 S.O.B., 2 uses of "Jesus" and 1 use each of God's name in vain "God Da..," "God," "God-awful," "Oh Jesus," "Oh my God," "Sweet Jesus" and "Swear to God." One "save my ass".
The rest can be found at the Internet Movie Database. Just click on the review and then the link "View content advisory for parents". It's a good site for parents who are concerned about the contents in movies that their children watch.
I have seen it twice now. I agree with one of the other comments that the first time is like a roller coaster ride. The second time loses that a bit, but that's ok, it is, in some strange way, still equally enjoyable.
There is so much to think about from this movie. The depths of humanity, the fragility of man, the nature of sacrifice, the nature of evil.
TRYING NOT TO SPOIL, BUT JUST IN CASE, DON'T READ FURTHER
I found one thing of interest in this movie too. The Joker is bent on showing people that plans are pointless and that they debilitate man from his true purpose, which is no purpose. At the end of the movie, the Joker is shocked that the ferries are not exploding. He thought that someone would crack and blow up the other ship. But he was proven wrong, and there is a brief moment there where a subtle look on his face shows that he everything has gone wrong and he doesn't know what to do. I think that is a great point because, no matter how much we try to rid ourselves of rules, truth, and purpose (the 3 things the Joker was attempting to destroy), they are still rearing their head. No matter how much we try to run away, it is part of who we are. The Joker's plan was simple "introduce chaos". But he was unable to. His plan didn't come out the way he expected. It is because of this that he fails in the end. The very thing that he was trying to show doesn't exist was being used in his plans and was the main cause in his downfall.
Brilliant movie, I am hoping to see it for a third and maybe fourth time. Thanks be to God for people like Christopher Nolan who has proven that people can actually enjoy movies that make you think!
-Harrison
The Joker was perfect, but he wouldn't have worked without a good hero against him. I really liked how Nolan built Bruce/Batman as a character.
Spoiler Warning!!!
I especially liked the Christ-like moment when Batman takes on the sins of another man, making him the outcast. Powerful and Shocking, The Dark Knight is the movie we need, not the movie we thought we wanted. :-)
I don't think I was prepared for how good The Dark Knight actually was. Ledger absolutely plays the best Joker of all the movies, hands down. He is just brilliant in the role. The cinematography is great. The moral dilemmas presented are very deep ones, and even given the dark theme of the movie, a good and positive message runs throughout... basically that there are many good people in the world who care about their fellow men, even sometimes at the risk of their own lives.
With all that said, I was sad to see so many small children in the theater. The movie, in my opinion, is too violent and dark for most younger children.
I also suggest that parents, when viewing the movie with their children, point out the positive theme, which can sometimes get lost in a whirl of gunfire and death.
Well, it's nice to see that people have time to burn making laundry lists of nanny-nanny-poo-poos in movies that could rival Leviticus 22.
TDK was f-ing brilliant. Heath Ledger was completely invisible -- that's what made his performance, honestly, the best screen acting I've ever seen, and I've seen a couple of movies.
Slamming the mobster's face into the pencil was fantastic, btw.
Hi Thomas, I posted a review over at Musings from a Catholic Bookstore. One of the best movies I've seen in years.
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