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- Review count1
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- First reviewJuly 18, 2008
- Last reviewJuly 18, 2008
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4
Boozeman73's Reviews
Overall rating
4
/
5
WHY SO SERIOUS????
PostedJuly 18, 2008
Boozeman73
from Pittsburgh,PA
This movie is much better than a superhero movie has any right to be. DC Comics,Christopher Nolan, and Christian Bale have found a magic combination with Batman. I'm a die hard comic book fanboy and have a history of being overly critical of this genre of cinema , and usually rightfully so. Somehow these people have discovered the secret recipe to make Batman movies work. There's just enough comic book and just enough reality to allow nerds and casual movie goers alike to fully immerse themselves in Gotham City's seedy back allies and towering skyscrapers. I'm going to keep this review short and spoiler free to protect those who haven't had the pleasure of experiencing this film first hand yet. The movie picks up a short while after the events of Batman Begins and takes the Caped Crusader and his crew off in a very dark direction. If this were the Star Wars universe, this is DEFINITELY the Empire Strikes Back of the series. The introduction of the newly re-imagined Joker brings a terrifying new element to the franchise. Where Jack Nicholson hammed it up as the Clown Prince of Crime, Heath Ledger dredges up Hannibal Lector like insanity. His vicious acts are completely random and completely without remorse. He isn't interested in money, power, or even recognition. He, as Alfred so succinctly put it, "Just wants to watch the world burn". The film makers handled the relationship between Batman and the Joker the way that I always thought the two would really act towards one another. I don't think the Joker really wants to BEAT Batman. I don't think he even wants to fight Batman. The Joker wants to prove to Batman that they are essentially the same. They're both costume wearing, psychologically damaged, freaks. The only thing that separates them is Batman's strict moral code...and THAT is what really drives the Joker insane. He keeps going after Batman not because he's trying to kill him or somehow defeat him. He wants to put him in a situation where he has to abandon his code and sink to the Joker's level. From Batman's perspective, I believe he is actually afraid that the Joker may actually do it some day. Batman/Bruce Wayne has always walked a thin line between dark avenger and brutal thug. It wouldn't take that much of a push to shove Batman into the darkness for good. And THAT is what drives this movie. It's all about choices and the repercussions of those choices be they good or bad. That's the core of this movie. Even though there's a whole mob war going on. Even though Harvey Dent and James Gordon have some great moments and really make you care about their crusade against crime. Even though Rachel Dawes and Bruce Wayne seem like they might be able to finally put the whole Batman identity aside and make things work. Even though about a million other cool things happen in this movie. It all boils down to how Batman can fight somebody who doesn't care about anything. Not even his own life. There is a reason why the Joker is the most popular Batman rogue and quite possibly the greatest comic book villain of all time and this movie reminds you of that from beginning to end. Go see this movie and I dare you to disagree with that. It also reminds you why Batman is the hero that we all want to be. He doesn't need mutant powers or super strength or magic to wage his war on evil. He just needs the determination and iron will to do what others can't or won't do...and being a billionaire with access to lots of cool high tech gadgets doesn't hurt either. To sum up...this movie shows you how heroic Batman can be and how hilariously frightening the Joker can be. You have to see the movie to find out about the other million cool things that I was talking about earlier. Enjoy...
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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