Lay it on me Boy Wonder!
Published July 20th, 2008 in .No Plugs Tonight
Dark Knight
Ok, I have been reading the reviews of the Dark Knight, discuss it with a few people I know, and I want to expand more on the movie. First, I want to stress it was not a bad movie. I fact, if you had never heard of Batman, I think your would be very impressed. Also after watching Tim Burton’s Batman, and for the first time pieces of the worst movie ever made, Batman and Robin, it gave me more context.
Ok, it was a good movie, it kept me entranced for the almost three hours. Ledger was awesome, so was Eckhardt, the the comic book geek in me was screaming something was wrong. And after watching Batman, I figured it out. Dark Knight’s fatal flaw is it’s attempts at realism.
Some points, Gotham City. Gotham City is this dark, forbodeing Gothic style place, this version of Gotham ain’t, it is much to recognizable as Chicago. Take Burton’s or even the other films Gothams. That is Gotham, that looks like Gotham not matter how bad the movies were. Even the 60’s version of Batman looked the part of Gotham. So, they make the city look realistic. Now, they get a ton of great actors to play realistic characters, and even Ledger version of the Joker, is pretty realistic. And then Batman comes around. They try to make him realistic, so they bulk him up in armor, limit what his utility belt can carry, but then do things like his kidnapping of the Chinese Guy in Hong Kong, and fall from 20 stories that no only he survives but the chick he saves (where Batman would have a grappling on his belt that would save them), I found the sonar generating device and computer pretty bothersome, and again, the costume . . I don’t find this versions Batman costume at all intimidating . . . where is the menacing cape? I mean use CGI or something. To compare, look at Spiderman, they made his costume cool with out being bulky and armored, why not Batman? I mean this is a superhero movie, make a cool costume and just announce how it is cooly armored. Another issue I have is the actors they get to play Bruce Wayne/Batman. They are too short.
In addition they then added Two Face, pretty unrealistic, but really cool. He was more believable than Batman.
Maybe it is too much of a geekery complaint? IDK, watching Batman today, while that had some real comic moments to it, it is still not a bad movie, beyond Micheal Keaton and Bruce Wayne. Again don’t get me wrong Dark Knight was a great movie . . but . . and still to this day, Batman the Animated Series, et al, still does it the best.
I also think seeing this movie, give you and idea why I say if you are ever to become of a costumed vigilante, lose the cape.
So, who is the best P4P fighter is the World?
So who is ready to see Fedor Emlianenko fight Anderson Silva? I am.
Malach’s Video of the Day
I am Malach, and have a laugh
Hey, i wanna see this new Batman movie so bad. Aslo, if they make a new one, it would mean no Robin and no Batgirl. Every Batman movies today have to be really dark, but no campy stuff. Also, i’m in the process of writing a Kid Intense movie. Hopefully a movie studio will accept me. I even have a question for you, who will be a cool choice to play Kid Intense?
Somehow me and my family got on the subject of the Batman movies yesterday and we concluded that the very best was that old animated series. They somehow “got it.” Maybe it is because Batman is a cartoon character.
I mean I just couldn’t imagine Woody Woodpecker as a real-life character.
Mal you need a really cool UFC name
If you want everything to look like the comic book, then you should just film yourself turning pages of the comic book and play it back on TV. I understand that there needs to be some similarity for the comic book based on audience expectations, but it doesn’t need to follow the comic book to the letter. It was a great movie and I think the realism made it more intriguing. After all, Batman isn’t like Spiderman, Superman, or the Hulk. He’s a real human being trying to do good in the world. This is what makes Nolan’s films work.
But, I agree, the Animated Series was awesome. Especially the Two-Face origin story. Also, the “Almost Got ‘Im” episode where all the criminals sat around and talked about how they almost got the Bat. Classic.
Haven’t seen it, but the comic book geeks seem to agree with you, I heard today:
It doesn’t live up to the Hype, Eckhardt stole the show as 2 Face, B+
VM: Robin or Bat Girl would not work in this version. Who should play Kid Intense? One of my mentally retarded clients.
Mike: I agree, those 1/2 cartoons really stand up.
Eve: What is wrong with Malach the Merciless?
Angry: That is the exact problem I have. They made it realistic, so how the hell does Batman survive a 20+ story fall, never mind the chick with him? Also, Two Face is pretty unrealistic.
Dr. John: It is still a must see, but Iron Man was better.
Malach:
It’s a movie, so if you want everything to be 100% realistic, then I think you’re asking too much. There are going to be some points that require some suspension of disbelief. But that’s true of most any movie, and not just a superhero movie. But just b/c you’re doing a superhero movie doesn’t mean that you totally have to end up in make-believe land.
This is the point I was making on your WoW review in which you can try to be realistic, but you will be hemmed in by the fact that you’re dealing w/a superhero. There are going to be some elements that are not realistic, some that are. This is particularly true when it comes to choosing villains as you choose villains from a superhero world where realism has little bounds. I thought that the way that they ended up w/Two-Face wasn’t anything worth playing the “that’s not real” card. The fall is another thing, but I guess it had something to do w/the suit. I don’t know, I wondered about that, too. But if that’s the only complaint, then it shows that the director kept the suspension of disbelief to a minimum and probably did a good job.
I think that this approach is better than the barrage of utility belt gadgets and Michael Keaton sleeping upside-down.
heh, i actually watched MMA saturday too. nothing like a bunch of half naked sweaty men rolling around to make you feel the intensity of your latent homosexuality!
Man,I cannot believe I am going to say this, but I have to side with AngryMan…and that is kinda disturbing to me.
Every director, artist, actor etc is going to bring to each movie their own set of characteristics and visions to their version of a story/character. It’s their artistic license to create it the way they see it, or would like to see it. You are never going to get any two that are alike (be in comics, cartoons or full length feature movies) and things change, morph, evolve over time. (Well except the president, he has not evolved, he has regressed….to a 5 year-old on massive amounts of Red Dye #40.)
Just enjoy the movie for what it is, comparing is just kinda silly and shows your super geek powers peeking out.
(I know, we are all geeks. We blog.)
I’ve said it before I like that it was comic booky or hookie. It was more of an action movie crime drama with depths to the characters.
Think of how many action movies regular people survive accidents, fires, fights, etc. with just some scratches.
The sonar thing is something that the CIA could be doing.
WOW MI doesn’t like AngryMan! We should hang out.
“Man,I cannot believe I am going to say this, but I have to side with AngryMan…and that is kinda disturbing to me.”
WTF?
Ugh, Angry Man have no humor. Must resolve this issue. Ideas?
Angry: I guess I wanted Batman to be more like Frank Millers
TM: Convert? Less gay than Pro Wrasslin
MI: I did enjoy the movie, mayhap Batman is too close to my heart
Rag: The Angryman Hate Club?
Angry and MI: Get a room