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JamesInChicago
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- Review count2
- Helpfulness votes1
- First reviewJuly 21, 2008
- Last reviewJune 9, 2011
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating5
JamesInChicago's Reviews
Overall rating
5
/
5
A reboot that's also a decent homage
PostedJune 9, 2011
JamesInChicago
from Chicago, IL
Being a big fan of the comics I wasn't initially enthralled by the news that the actual X-Men first class wasn't all in this film. Once I discovered the talent they were throwing into this film with their actors and the director however, my hopes were raised a bit.
I'd call this movie the "thinking-man's X-Men film" in that the intention was obviously to get the audience far more involved in the character than has ever happened before in an X-film. Michael Fassbender's performance as the man who would be Magneto is brilliant. I know he's gotten a lot of hype but honestly none of it is exaggerated. He gives a pulp villain an amount of emotional gravity that isn't expected in a summer action film. The rest of the cast (with the exception of January Jones, who doesn't do a terrible job, but doesn't seem particularly "in" her character) acquits themselves equally well, although Fassbender really has the meatiest role. It's a delight to see Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique after her incredible turn in Winter's Bone.
The film used what was right about the first 2 X-Men films and ditched the rest. Those who have seen the original X-films will be excited for some excellent references in this film. There were a few audible cheers in the audience during the screening I went to when these showed up, I haven't heard/felt this sort of enthusiasm for an X-Men film since the surprise ending scene of Alkalai lake in X-Men 2, it's really fun!
Going back to the action I mentioned earlier- I felt like all of the set pieces were both spectacle and well-considered. Unlike the travesty that was X-Men 3, this film while full of thought is also full of action in good measure and the animation work and CGI worked well in tandem with the stories and actors. All of the action feels very satisfying and the powers of the mutants feel like they should, instead of feeling limited in scope because of a budget.
Can't wait to pick this up on Blu-ray!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Superb
PostedJuly 21, 2008
JamesInChicago
from Chicago, IL
This film is everything you've heard and more. Notice I used the word "film" to describe the Dark Knight, that's because this film transcends the simple label of "movie" and like Christian Bale's Batman, becomes something more.
Expertly directed and written by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight picks up right where Batman Begins left off and seals up the time gap logically and sufficiently to help viewers move on from their "what happened in between" questions and propels them immediately into the new tale. While it seems Batman's crime fighting has helped Gotham and the police force, don't expect the attempted lightly comedic "good time sunshine" atmosphere a la Spiderman 3. No, Nolan brings us a Gotham that while somewhat cleaner than before, is still a harsh and cruel landscape where crime is rampant but the people now have hope.
Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is the city's new District Attorney and is the daytime equivalent to Batman's nighttime crime fighting. Dent is the person Gotham and Batman "can believe in!" to put a real human face onto the hope that Batman has started in the citizens of the city. A new threat comes in the form of the Joker, a psychotic murderer who seems interested only in the glory of chaos and despair.
The story clips along at a good pace despite its longer running time and all of the characters you love return with more heft and intelligence than ever before. The acting is absolutely incredible in this film, none of Heath Ledgers praise has been exaggerated in the slightest, the only way to describe him is brilliant, and even that doesn't properly do his performance justice. Bale, Eckhart, Oldman, and Caine are incredible as you'd might expect and suit their roles as any top-notch actor would, and Gyllenhal was an inspired choice to give life to the otherwise dull Rachel Dawes of the first film. Nolan really has packed an oscar's cast of actors into this film and it shows.
The story, Ledger's Joker especially, is NOT for the faint of heart. In fact if you're considering bringing your children to see this, ask yourself first if you'd take them to see the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, because this film is incredibly dark and gruesome. The difference is that this film is so much more visceral than any silly horror romp, it has a real lasting impression on the horrors of humanity and the frightening things people are capable of doing to one another for survival. The Dark Knight questions society's morality and points out how quickly the "good citizens" of the world (America specifically) are willing to kill others for their own convenience. It's really a terrifying portrait of the darkest depths of humanity.
In summary(because this review is sufficiently too long, lol), if you love film, if you love good acting, if you love Chicago or Heath Ledger, even if you love watching things explode and action films, SEE THIS MOVIE. I guarantee you, none of the hype has been exaggerated, it's spot on. This movie has made itself the new standard not only for superhero films, but for action/dramas period.
Expertly directed and written by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight picks up right where Batman Begins left off and seals up the time gap logically and sufficiently to help viewers move on from their "what happened in between" questions and propels them immediately into the new tale. While it seems Batman's crime fighting has helped Gotham and the police force, don't expect the attempted lightly comedic "good time sunshine" atmosphere a la Spiderman 3. No, Nolan brings us a Gotham that while somewhat cleaner than before, is still a harsh and cruel landscape where crime is rampant but the people now have hope.
Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is the city's new District Attorney and is the daytime equivalent to Batman's nighttime crime fighting. Dent is the person Gotham and Batman "can believe in!" to put a real human face onto the hope that Batman has started in the citizens of the city. A new threat comes in the form of the Joker, a psychotic murderer who seems interested only in the glory of chaos and despair.
The story clips along at a good pace despite its longer running time and all of the characters you love return with more heft and intelligence than ever before. The acting is absolutely incredible in this film, none of Heath Ledgers praise has been exaggerated in the slightest, the only way to describe him is brilliant, and even that doesn't properly do his performance justice. Bale, Eckhart, Oldman, and Caine are incredible as you'd might expect and suit their roles as any top-notch actor would, and Gyllenhal was an inspired choice to give life to the otherwise dull Rachel Dawes of the first film. Nolan really has packed an oscar's cast of actors into this film and it shows.
The story, Ledger's Joker especially, is NOT for the faint of heart. In fact if you're considering bringing your children to see this, ask yourself first if you'd take them to see the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, because this film is incredibly dark and gruesome. The difference is that this film is so much more visceral than any silly horror romp, it has a real lasting impression on the horrors of humanity and the frightening things people are capable of doing to one another for survival. The Dark Knight questions society's morality and points out how quickly the "good citizens" of the world (America specifically) are willing to kill others for their own convenience. It's really a terrifying portrait of the darkest depths of humanity.
In summary(because this review is sufficiently too long, lol), if you love film, if you love good acting, if you love Chicago or Heath Ledger, even if you love watching things explode and action films, SEE THIS MOVIE. I guarantee you, none of the hype has been exaggerated, it's spot on. This movie has made itself the new standard not only for superhero films, but for action/dramas period.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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