[Batman Beyond]

So, what did you all think of that film? Lets review it here!

(Deeply sorry if there's a thread about it already that I don't know of).

[Batman Beyond]

Anyway, here I go:

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD


First off, let me explain myself. I’ve been a Batman fan all my life – longer than I’ve been a Trek fan, a HL fan, a Halloween fan, a Bond fan, a what-ever fan, or even a movie fan. B89 is the film that introduced me to film as an art, and not just as mere entertainment. Up until today, B89 was the best live-action Batman film, and MASK OF THE PHANTASM, TAS’s feature film, was the best animated Batman, and also the best Batman film, period. BATMAN BEGINS is very close behind those two, and BATMAN RETURNS is also a strong entry (sadly, BATMAN FOREVER lost in style what it gained in story, and the less said about B&R, the better).

However, THE DARK KNIGHT topped them all. For TDK is truly, the best Batman film of all time. And perhaps the best superhero movie of all time.

The script is a marked improvement over BATMAN BEGINS, which was filled with speeches for a lot of the time rather than real and believeable dialogue. TDK's dialogue is genuinely effective, character-driven stuff that really honor Batman's best comic-book tradition, while also elevating it to a new level of storytelling. Bringing his brother Jonathan in, Christopher Nolan made an excellent decision.

Of course, Christopher Nolan himself has made an excellent work at both writing and directing, particularly the latter. The film's much darker than BATMAN BEGINS, even darker than the darkest Batman before it, BATMAN RETURNS. And it works so well, it gives the film a sense of moodiness and awfullness that was, for my part, surely missing in BATMAN BEGINS. The action is, also, significantly improved over the muddled BATMAN BEGINS action scenes, and the pacing and overall editing job behind this film is expertly done. The abrupt and sudden jumps from scene to scene are all gone, allowing a steady feel and a fast script guide the way. Nolan has truly surpassed himself here. Bravo, Mr. Nolan!

This is, the most human Batman film of all time. Up until today, I have held up, that BATMAN RETURNS had the most human moments than in any Batman film, before or since. While that still holds up to an extent (the Bruce-Selina revelation scene at Max Schreck’s ball room is still mermerizing in its vulnerability and, of course, humanity), this film exceeds it by presenting the heroes (or anti-heroes) in a vulnerable and difficult position that challenges their authority and capability to act. And if the boat scenes near the end of the film don’t make your heart soar and all (particularly the moment where the black dude throws that boat’s detonator away), you’re inhuman. These stuff is good!

The performances are all great. Hell, they're not great. They're PHENOMENAL! Maggie Gyllenhaal is, for my part, a vast improvement over Katie Holmes. For one, she can act the part quite appropriately, and second, she's on equal foot with the rest of the cast. And thats important for her death has to carry that weight of sadness that only she could evoke. Overall, an improvement over Holmes.

Caine and Freeman as the regulars were quite good. I rather liked Caine better this time around, implying a cure spy backstroy that is also a fond in-joke to Caine's own Harry Palmer character. Freeman also has his own arc, as he clashes with Bruce's real business, and its interesting to see a conflict between them. I liked both more this time around.

Gary Oldman gets more screentime, and thats very fortunate, as he’s convincing as Gordon all the way through. My nitpick is, I didn’t buy that Gordon died, when they said he did. I dunno, I wasn’t sold on it a lot. Besides that, he shows care for his family and concern for their safety, and thats a nice, extra layer for Gordon.

Christan Bale's amazing as Batman, simply put. He was quite good in BATMAN BEGINS, but here he’s like Sean Connery as Bond – he OWNS the role. He IS Bruce Wayne, and he IS Batman. And he portrays them both at a point where the character faces a great dillema - should he go on, or not? Great stuff.

Of course, the two performances that surprised me, for different reasons, were Heath Ledger's Joker and Aaron Eckhardt's Harvey Dent.

It was a real surprise to see Two-Face as the second villain of the piece. I thought he'd be the central villain of the third film, after being scarred by Joker, but the Nolan knew better. In what could've turned out as a rushed, incomplete and fairly unjustified appearence late in the film, the Nolans put their influences from THE LONG HALLOWEEN to good use, transforming Harvey Dent into the common man who can go insane if his life gets ####ed up. Eckhardt gives the film most unexpected human performance, and its definitely equal to Bale's turn as Batman. And given Two-Face is my second favorite Bat-villain, I love the work thats been done to him.

Of course, the best performance of the film, comes from the late, untimely demised Heath Ledger, whose Joker is, truly, the greatest movie villain of this decade. Doe he top Nicholson? Maybe, maybe not, though I have a soft spot for both of their portrayals. Whats for sure, is that he tops ALL other superhero villains, with extreme ease. Ledger's a different Joker - he's definitely the most murderous bastard of them all. Also, he's the most rutheless. Like everyone said, he steals every scene he's in, and not surprisingly so - he's electrifying. Mesmerizing. Captivating. Its such a joy to watch the greatest comic-book villain of all time be represented in this amazing portrayal of a man with no morals, no codes, no nothing, set on a quest not for justice, but for chaos. And I just love how he tells a different origin tale to each different victim of his - certifying that no origin is really needed for him. He is what he is, and thats how its gonna be. Where he came from doesn't matter really, as he's still twisted, scary, terrifying, and evil. He has to be dealt with, pure and simple.

But nothing can stop him - not Batman's punches, not Harvey Dent's growls, not the police's threats - nothing! He's the ultimate evil.

Overall, I can safely say this film is a complete and absolute MASTERPIECE. Best film of the year, without a doubt. And if Ledger doesn't an Oscar nomination, I'll kill the President of the Academy Awards.

There's no words to describe the utter elegance, beauty and even poetry hidden behind the frames of THE DARK KNIGHT. But its a film that longs to be seen again and again, as it is action-filled and exciting as it is continuously re-inventive and exploding. Add to all that wonderful characters, and you have a good film.

But If I have to have ONE nitpick, one complaint.... It would be the score. While also, like everything else, a significant improvement, with many memorable and poignant, and even lyrical pieces, the score stills feels flat and uninspiring for the most part. I'm sorry to say this, and forgive me for this, but Danny Elfman's Batman scores have yet to be topped.

But who cares? Let the Burton films have the score. This film is great for different reasons - and those reasons will keep me coming again and again to this film.

So is it really the best Batman film? Or was I simply exaggerating up there?

No, I wasn't. I mean, a film with Batman, Joker AND Two-Face? Already my favorite. Its better than every single Batman film, including MASK OF THE PHANTASM, still the best Animated Batman film of all time.

[xBrendanx]

When the movie came out in my town I didnt have much time to go see it (with work and everything) but i thought it was great! Not as good as all my friends made it out to be but still probably one of the best movies ive seen in years!

[stephane110]

hmmm thanks for all the reviews guys,im going to rent it tomorrow