Review: The Dark Knight
Everyone I know has been telling me how good The Dark Knight is/should be, so the parents and I finally decided to watch it on the big screen. Basically, it is the latest and greatest Batman movie to be released. And I do mean it when I say "greatest", it is by far the best one I've seen! Where to begin....
Keith Ledger's transformational performance as the Joker really made the whole movie. The Dark Knight's version of the Joker retains a little bit of humor, but in a dark and sadistic way that is very cynical (i.e., magic pencil disappearing trick!). This version actually resembles a sadistic, mad professor who has gone criminally insane (notice how the way he talks is somewhat like one giving a lecture, then there's his "social experiment" with the ferry boats). His devotion is obviously to stir chaos, but not just for the sake of anarchy, but rather to try to teach to the world (and himself) how the only way to gain a sense of purpose is to break free from society's tyrannical rules and regulations... hmm. Completely different realm altogether.
Harvey Dent's role in the story was an interesting concept of the genesis of Two-Face, but I was happy when this character was pronounced dead as I don't feel like putting up with a batman spin off movie focusing just on him as the main villain. I really don't.
Overall, the movie was not only filled with action but it actually had a decent story line! I mean this movie actually made me think about meaningful things like people's different perceptions of good vs. evil, or what even makes a person either the good guy or the bad guy. Also, there is a strong focus on the morality between ends and means; that is if the end is good are any means to that end acceptable, no matter how much they push the boundaries of ethics? Obviously there is much struggle with this not only from the citizens of Gotham but also from Batman himself.
Keith Ledger's transformational performance as the Joker really made the whole movie. The Dark Knight's version of the Joker retains a little bit of humor, but in a dark and sadistic way that is very cynical (i.e., magic pencil disappearing trick!). This version actually resembles a sadistic, mad professor who has gone criminally insane (notice how the way he talks is somewhat like one giving a lecture, then there's his "social experiment" with the ferry boats). His devotion is obviously to stir chaos, but not just for the sake of anarchy, but rather to try to teach to the world (and himself) how the only way to gain a sense of purpose is to break free from society's tyrannical rules and regulations... hmm. Completely different realm altogether.
Harvey Dent's role in the story was an interesting concept of the genesis of Two-Face, but I was happy when this character was pronounced dead as I don't feel like putting up with a batman spin off movie focusing just on him as the main villain. I really don't.
Overall, the movie was not only filled with action but it actually had a decent story line! I mean this movie actually made me think about meaningful things like people's different perceptions of good vs. evil, or what even makes a person either the good guy or the bad guy. Also, there is a strong focus on the morality between ends and means; that is if the end is good are any means to that end acceptable, no matter how much they push the boundaries of ethics? Obviously there is much struggle with this not only from the citizens of Gotham but also from Batman himself.