Comic Related - Life in Four Colors

Life In Four Colors: Movie Review
Dark Knight

Is the Dark Knight better than all the Comic Related films that came before it this year? Is this one film….actually the best of what has been an incredible comic book movie love fest this summer? We’re talking Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Wanted, Hellboy 2….can this one film be better than all those others?

In one simple word. Yes. In all honesty…although I didn’t think I’d be making a comment like this just a few weeks ago. It was better than all of those combined. And I’m not knocking the other films. Liked them all, very much.

There have been other people that have claimed that this film is the best comic book movie ….ever. A comment once attached to Iron Man and a few people had mentioned it regarding Incredible Hulk and even Wanted. Comic Related columnist and Brother in Arms here at the site, Eric Ratcliffe started his review of Dark Knight with that very same…brave and bold statement. How true can that statement be? Best comic book movie ever? Can Dark Knight live up to that type of accolades?

Different question…same simple answer. Yes.

To quote yet another Comic Related amigo, this film will leave you “speechless” and “leave you wanting more, lots more.” Very true statements as well. As a matter of fact, if I had the cash or a credit card on me as I was leaving the theatre…I would have bought another ticket right then and there and turned around and watched it for a second time…before the credits of the showing I just caught was done rolling across the screen.

It was that good.

Why? Comic book themed movies are sprouting up all over and you’re liable to get on any given weekend a movie like Catwoman or one like 300 or as is often the case a film that falls in between those two extremes.

But the Chris Nolan Batman films seem to stand tall over all the rest. Almost in a league of their own. And Chris himself is to be credited for this. He’s obviously a detail oriented film maker with a sense of drive and focus that is hard to find in Hollywoodland these days. An enthusiasm not quite seen since the early Spielberg or Lucas days. Chris also knows his source material VERY well and respects it. More than most writers working in the comic industry and at D.C in particular. And this film wears it’s homage to some of that material…..The Killing Joke, Long Halloween, like medals of honor. Nolan is a director that appreciates the comic history of the film and does a remarkable job of making that history come to alive on the big screen in believable fashion. His Batman films dictate events that are not extremely that far removed from crimes that already fill the headlines….and features technology also once again ground in reality. A person with the wealth that Bruce Wayne has at his disposal….could possibly own or have created for him all these “wonderful toys”.

Another thing that makes Dark Knight such a strong film, as was its predecessor 2005’s Batman Begins, is that Nolan knows he has to surround himself with cast and crew with the same passion, fire, and talent that he has. He has done that in spades. Returning from the previous film is the Batman to beat all others…Christian Bale. The only actor to portray the “Caped Crusader” and Bruce Wayne equally. Joining him in reprising their roles from the first film and adding their own strengths are Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, and Michael Caine. And joining this already “stacked deck” of talented actors…Batman movie franchise newcomers…..Aaron Eckhart….and even Eric Roberts and Michael Jai White…whose roles who somewhat smaller than some of the others….but none the less impressive.

Maggie Gyllenhall replaces Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes and does a very good job. So well in fact I’m sure that there were some movie spectators out there that didn’t even notice the casting change. Cillian Murphy also briefly returns as Jonathon Crane/Scarecrow…tying up one of the dangling loose ends from the first film.

But the role everybody is talking about and will be talking about for a very long time was of course….Heath Ledger as the Joker.

Like Jack Nicholson’s version of the Clown Prince of Crime from Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman film, the Joker almost steals the show. (and would have in any film not fortunate enough to have such a strong all around cast.) That’s where the comparisons are going to end. Because unlike the Joker from Burton’s film….this Joker is hauntingly…real. Ledger brings this comic villain to life. His demented logic, twisted mind games and the insane notion that both he and the Batman are two sides of the same coin…amazing.

As mentioned elsewhere…there’s been a lot of internet buzz about Ledger receiving an Oscar for this film. Comics and Oscars are usually two words that just don’t make sense in the same sentence. Outside of the technical aspects of film making I don’t think they have ever been connected. That may change.

Does Heath Ledger DESERVE an Oscar for his interpretation of the Joker?

Yes. Not on the standards of Hollywood martyr either. I feel you will be hard pressed to find any actor…this year at least…that has done a better job of mastering the role given to them than Ledger. Will he get even a nomination?

Let’s hope my gut feeling is wrong…..and we’ll find out in a few short months.

Was Dark Knight perfect? No. What is? I did hear a few complaints about the twists and turns the film took being confusing and hard to follow, some of the fight sequences looking a little soft and unrealistic, and that the film was just too long. And everybody is entitled to their own personal opinion.

I can only speak for myself. I loved the film. Thought it was a natural progression from the first and also thought it was a better film than the first installment. These two films when watched back to back in a few months are going to be unbelievable.

There were a few unanswered questions at the end of the film….most dealing with the final fate of both the Joker and Two Face……but Nolan did a great job of wrapping up loose ends left by the first one….let’s hope he is given the chance to do the same with a third.

Dark Knight…..making history at a theatre near you.

Until the next time….see you in the funny papers!