THE DARK KNIGHT is one of the most hyped movies to date, and a lesser film would be crushed under the weight of all that expectation. Some of the publicity stems from the early death of Ledger, who turns in an excellent performance. He provides moments of humor, but this Joker is terrifying, sharing more with classic villains such as Hannibal Lechter than with his comic book predecessors. Eckhart is equally good as Dent, and Maggie Gyllenhaal deserves praise for taking over the role of Rachel Dawes from Katie Holmes. Though there's more emphasis on plot and character development than in most comic book adaptations, that doesn't mean Nolan has skimped on any of the action sequences. Each set piece is done perfectly, leaving the audience breathless. THE DARK KNIGHT is filmmaking at its best; its subject matter may be dark and depressing, but it's tough not to feel exhilarated by its artistry when the credits begin to roll.Read full review
Not just one of the greatest superhero movies ever but one of the best movies in general
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Heads up: a thunderbolt is about to rip into the blanket of bland we call summer movies. The Dark Knight, director Christopher Nolan's absolute stunner of a follow-up to 2005's Batman Begins, is a potent provocation decked out as a comic-book movie. Feverish action? Check. Dazzling spectacle? Check. Devilish fun? Check. But Nolan is just warming up. There's something raw and elemental at work in this artfully imagined universe. Striking out from his Batman origin story, Nolan cuts through to a deeper dimension. Huh? Wha? How can a conflicted guy in a bat suit and a villain with a cracked, painted-on clown smile speak to the essentials of the human condition? Just hang on for a shock to the system. The Dark Knight creates a place where good and evil — expected to do battle — decide instead to get it on and dance. "I don't want to kill you," Heath Ledger's psycho Joker tells Christian Bale's stalwart Batman. "You complete me." Don't buy the tease. He means it. The trouble is that Batman, a.k.a. playboy Bruce Wayne, has had it up to here with being the white knight. He's pissed that the public sees him as a vigilante. He'll leave the hero stuff to district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) and stop the DA from moving in on Rachel Dawes (feisty Maggie Gyllenhaal, in for sweetie Katie Holmes), the lady love who is Batman's only hope for a normal life. Everything gleams like sin in Gotham City (cinematographer Wally Pfister shot on location in Chicago, bringing a gritty reality to a cartoon fantasy). And the bad guys seem jazzed by their evildoing. Take the Joker, who treats a stunningly staged bank robbery like his private video game with accomplices in Joker masks, blood spurting and only one winner. Nolan shot this sequence, and three others, for the IMAX screen and with a finesse for choreographing action that rivals Michael Mann's Heat. But it's what's going on inside the Bathead that pulls us in. Bale is electrifying as a fallibly human crusader at war with his own conscience. I can only speak superlatives of Ledger, who is mad-crazy-blazing brilliant as the Joker. Miles from Jack Nicholson's broadly funny take on the role in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman, Ledger takes the role to the shadows, where even what's comic is hardly a relief. No plastic mask for Ledger; his face is caked with moldy makeup that highlights the red scar of a grin, the grungy hair and the yellowing teeth of a hound fresh out of hell. To the clown prince of crime, a knife is preferable to a gun, the better to "savor the moment." The deft script, by Nolan and his brother Jonathan, taking note of Bob Kane's original Batman and Frank Miller's bleak rethink, refuses to explain the Joker with pop psychology. Forget Freudian hints about a dad who carved a smile into his son's face with a razor. As the Joker says, "What doesn't kill you makes you stranger." The Joker represents the last completed role for Ledger, who died in January at 28 before finishing work on Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. It's typical of Ledger's total commitment to films as diverse as Brokeback Mountain and I'm Not There that he does nothing out of vanity or the need to be liked. If there's a movement to get him the first posthumous Oscar since Peter Finch won for 1976's Network, sign me up. Ledger's Joker has no gray areas — he's all rampaging id. Watch him crash a party and circle Rachel, a woman torn between Bale's Bruce (she knows he's Batman) and Eckhart's DA, anotherRead full review
Unable to watch you right now I didn't know I had to have a Blu-ray VCR to watch it but I will but I will be watching it with when I get me a Blu-ray thank you I'm satisfied it is what it is my fault
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
this movie is everything it was said to be and more. Even if you are not a superhero movie fan; you will love this movie. in my opinion, it is the best movie that I have ever seen, period! I guarentee you that buying this DVD want be a mstake. you will want to watch this movie over and over again. this movie is more than just some ordinary superhero movie. just take superhereos such as the hulk, spiderman, and superman. there is no chance that there would ever be such a superhereo. but a guy comes along that wants to make a difference because he is witnessing his parents die, and the very city that he loves so dearly crumble right before him. he utilizes his resources, and the fact that he is an billionaire to help him fight crime. there is a mix of drama, action, and even a little bit of humor in this movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end of the movie. for the most part, this is the the most realistic superhero movie with the exception of a few of the gadgets he utilizes. It is a great movie that I recommend to the whole family, except for the really young children.Read full review
This movie is worth owning on blu-ray. It's visually stunning. However, has far as story line and acting go it's no mystery why the award nominations haven't been rolling in. Heath Ledger plays the joker very well and pretty much saves the movie. Christian Bale bring his decent performance back to the roll of Batman. Really for me the only disappointment in the movie is when Harvey Dent gets burned and starts looking like two face. This character looks about as cheesy as when Danny Divito played the Penguin. LAME. The movie really could have done without this character and I wish I could buy a copy of it without him.
It was a good moive, but if you have watched batman since you were a child, this isn't your ideal batman. I've watched batman on cartoons since i can remember and this is as weird and dark as it gets. I just didn't like the idea that the "people" gave raise to batman and had a voice for what he can and can not do. It reminded me of a MARVEL movie like spiderman and instead of a true DC movie. If you seen the first batman, totally two different generation of what batman stands for, i personally like the oldschool generation. But don't get me wrong it was a good movie, it's just not my favorite out of all the batman movies.
Very dark and sinister times facing Gotham, and Batman. Bale is very somber and love Heath Ledger's performance of the Joker. Never before did he seem so real and deadly. Over the top doesn't describe his role. Of course lots of good character actors naming one Gary Oldman he is allways a sceen stealer. Very good action , script, and special effects. Fact : Most action was filmed with 70mm. Imax Cameras . (Only 4 in the world)@ 300 k each and they destroyed one during filming ! Not a lot of digital work , real film here boys. Sound track is awsome makes my Polk high end 6.1 speakers rumble with bass . Note to get HD Master Audio : Some odd reason they hide it in audio settings, doesn't automatically play . Once its enabled get ready for a sonic treat !
The Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy was the last of the GREAT DC comic book movies from Warner Brothers Studio. The Dark Knight being the second movie. If you have not seen WATCH IT, if you have seen it WATCH IT AGAIN !
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Features actors: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman & Morgan Freeman. The battle continues between good and evil in Gotham City!Batman/Bruce Wayne is trying to get rid of the crime for good with the help of the city District Attorney Harvey Dent and police Lt.Jim Gordon.All things go very well for awhile with the crime rate down to nothing... until the mastermind The Joker then pinpoints the 3 of them in a twisted way.Bruce Wayne's girlfriend Rachel Dawes soon finds herself in the tangled web of the joker.Will Alfred give the letter from Rachel to Bruce??You have to watch this to find out.Action packed through the hole movie, will keep you guessing what The Joker's next step is or what he is planning next!Amazing actors, espically that played by the late Heath Ledger he totally transformed himself in this role!A must watch movie of the year!!Would recommend to rent & buy!!Awsome special effect in this one, be prepared to be amazed!Hope this helps you decide.Please click YES at the bottom.Thanks for taking the time to read this! :)Read full review
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