Dark Knight

What exactly more could I say about a movie that has grossed over 300 million dollars in ten days and had the largest single opening day of any movie ever. At this point there probably isn't anyone who hasn't seen it and if you haven't you probably don't intend to do so. Its got a statistically meaningless rotten tomatoes record of 94% and is generally being hailed as one of the best super hero films of all time. So what can I saw of this movie a full week after being truly relevant? Its not nearly as great as you, the critics or itself thinks it is.

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the movie. I had a lot of fun watching Batman kick ass, take names and struggle with his choice. And the Joker well, yeah no question that is one of the great performances of super hero villainy. And I was able to let go all the things that were bothering me and just enjoy the film. Still before I nitpick a little and open myself up to a lot of criticism from friends and haters alike I do want to acknowledge some things about the film.

First and foremost. Heath Ledger. His portrayal of the sociopath Joker is really extraordinary. Everything from his movement to the little facial tick is just really effective. Part of the praise has to go to the writing to be sure. But Ledger just brings it out and makes you really uneasy. The uttering of the line "you complete me" by the Joker works on so many levels not the least of which is that the line is heavily associated with another well turned out performance by Ledger in Brokeback Mountain.

The action sequences were spectacular and many of them old school stunts. No cgi in excess here. Trucks really flip over, cars crash etc. CGI is getting better but there is still quite a bit that still reeks of being cgi when it is seen. But it isn't just that they are real stunts, its that they are really well played sequences. A sequence at the end that included hostages, swat teams and henchmen was just masterful and I was grinning eagerly as it unfolded.

The film gets props for being dark. Lots of good stuff about how far the good guys can go before they are essentially the bad guys. There are nice themes about the need for everyday heroes to stand up and fight instead of letting the evil in the world takeover. Of course this is also a flaw. Dying a good guy or becoming a villain is so foreshadowed and heavy handed that at times it was painful. The humanity of criminals at times just obnoxious. The entire Harvey Dent/Two Face story line was pretty much just like being hit over the head with a tack hammer. I didn't buy it and it was too much.

Rachel Dawes is awful. And I that fully aware that Maggie Gyllenhaal is an extraordinary actress. I like her quite a bit in many of the films she has done. But Rachel Dawes is such a poorly written character and is so unbelievably boring that no actress can save her. She is such a mishmash of different character traits that make absolutely no sense. She's part damsel in distress, part take no prisoners Lois Lane and there is no rhyme or reason as to why she is one at one time and another at a second time.

I saw Thank You For Smoking and thought Aaron Eckhart was pretty good. Then I saw some other films with Eckhart and realized wow, he's really just the same guy in every movie. A fast talking salesman. At times it works and you think, he's really good and at times it doesn't and you think wow this is pretty bad. In truth in this movie casting has done more than Eckhart's talent. Although his Dent is a bit too squeaky clean at first. They should have really played up his Internal Affairs roots. As Two Face, Eckhart is just boring (to be fair this may be unjust given that he is matching up against a brilliant Joker performance by Ledger.

In the end its a serviceable action flick that will get you through the lean summer months of cinematic quality. It gets a sizeable bonus from Ledger's performance but on its own merits it doesn't stand head and shoulders above any other decently done super hero film.