Ryan McNeilSo here we are, $158M later, basking in the glow that was the highly-hyped DARK KNIGHT. This whole experience has been amazing, and even though I plan on seeing it once more in theatres, I’m ready to move on. It’s hard to explain, but my mood since yesterday night is akin to how I feel on Christmas Night.
In my post TDK bliss though, I’ve discovered an interesting hobby – looking for people who post negative reviews of the film and sifting through the hilarious backlash comments people send them.
But here’s the thing – awesome as the film is, it isn’t perfect (No film is – be honest). So before I put a dagger in all of this Bat-Fun, I thought I’d offer up my points of contention. I’ve only contained it to what happens in the film, so “over-hyped” was automatically disqualified. So fair warning – spoilers abound. Sharpen your knives gang…
#5. The Voice… That raspy growl that serves as Batman’s voice felt a bit off to me. For starters, it felt like it came and went as the movie went along…like Wayne/Batman/Christian Bale never quite got settled on the proper sound. For seconds, Bruce is rich as all get-go. Couldn’t he afford a voice disguiser that didn’t make him sound like he needs a lozenge?
#4. Gordon’s Demise… My only point of confusion in the movie was the characters’ reaction to Gordon’s assassination. It seemed as if none of the characters that were supposed to care did care, so the fake out of Gordon actually being alive didn’t come off as the twist it was supposed to be. Comic book rules right? If you didn’t see the kill, it didn’t happen. His reveal was still cool, but the gravity of his “death” felt really rushed.
#3. Villains… This really comes down more to bad luck than a deliberate flaw. In BEGINS, we saw at least one of the two baddies get away…only for him to show up inexplicably twerpy in the opening moments of this installment (which if you know anything about the Scarecrow/Joker relationship in the comics, you’ll be as confused as I was). In KNIGHT, it really feels like they lost them both to capture and killing. (The bad luck of course kicks in with the actor portraying the villain that was captured). 
#2. The Sonar Vision… I was slightly hazy on how this piece of technology worked – kinda felt like Bruce Wayne had rented DAREDEVIL the night before. Regardless, the Circuit City video wall I could handle. The LED-sensor eyes I thought was a bit much. You already have an eagle eye calling out co-ordinates…do you really need the hand-held version of the video game he’s playing built into your suit? Just felt a bit much.
#1. Maggie Gyllenhaal… Generally, I find I like Maggie Gyllenhaal. However, in The Dark Knight, she just seemed to be desperately trying to keep up. I didn’t believe she could interrogate, I didn’t believe she’d have the huevos to punch The Joker, and I found her amazingly forgettable. She inherited the role from Katie Holmes, so one would think that she’d have nowhere to go but up. Unfortunately, she brought about as much weight to the part as Mrs. Cruise did. Sorry Maggie – better luck next time.
The treatment of Two Face was horrible. He’s far more powerful, far more scarred, and far more psychotic than they made him.
Sorry, the movie is still near perfection for me. My only beef is people nit-picking it to death.
🙂
I’m in the minority of people who liked The Dark Knight but didn’t love it.
The Joker’s voice sounded like a mix between Professor Frink and Chief Wiggum.
I agree 100% about Maggie struggling to keep up.
Two-Face looked silly, like some Terminator-scarred robot baddie.
All that being said, I liked it, I just didn’t love it.
Bravo, Hatter.
I’m with elgringo… liked it; didn’t love it.
Interesting thoughts folks…
Once again to be clear, I did LOVE the movie, but just wanted to mention the few things that rubbed me the wrong way.
Jorge, I have the hunch that if TWO-FACE stuck around, he would have fallen even further down the rabbit hole. That was just the beginning – had they kept him alive, I think he would have become much more twisted.
C’mon Michael…think hard…you must have wanted to change *something*.
Elgringo…I’d take Joker’s voice in a heartbeat compared to Batman’s tough-guy growl.
Nayana…when do we get to read your liked-it-didn’t-love-it thoughts?
Too. Long.
I don’t care how great the movie may be – 2 1/2 hours is too long for this kind of movie. 2 hours is a good stopping point. As for what I’d cut? I didn’t have a problem with the trip to Hong Kong, but when looking at things that weren’t necessary, it definitely pops up.
Hmm, maybe I have to see it a fourth time before I can find something to complain about. Honestly, I love what they have done with this fantastical world by setting it in our own. It was so engrossing, there wasn’t anything that could pull me out until the credits rolled.
I could’ve done w/o seeing the kids in the car going *boom* *boom* *boom* – it reminded me of a Mystery Science Theater episode where an annoying kid went around blowing stuff up doing exactly that.
I liked seeing what happened to ‘the one who got away’ – how far he’s fallen – that he’s become that big of a “non-threat” to Batman. It adds a level to the character – and sets him up for a bigger comeback later.
No issue with the voice. Or even Maggie (considering where her character ended up at the end of the film). No issue with Gordon’s demise – it was an on-screen kill – not sure what you meant by that. And Bat-vision – could’ve done without – it was goofy and it seemed to me to be a cheap commentary on the whole wire tapping issue…
But those are all really minor gripes… Still 100% happy with it.
Batman’s voice, a little too raspy for my liking, but I still agree he is the best Batman.
Joker’s voice, however, was phenomenal…talk about being better-suited than Jack Nicholson, or dare I say a better Jack voice than Jack himself? You don’t get to say that often.
Two-Face was too much of a Terminator reference for me. I easily got distracted from his role and kept thinking he’s going to start asking for Sarah Connor.
Maggie was disappointing, but sure like her better than Holmes.
Aargh. THE VOICE!
I actually liked Katie Holmes. I didn’t know that opinion was in the minority until just now.
I agree with you in the points 3 and 2 of the article. C’mon that sonar vision in the end was just lame and unrealistic. In the other points I have to disagree, yes the voice of Batman was strange and almost stupid but I can live with that. I enjoyed the way they “resurrected” Gordon and I really liked Maggie Gyllenhaal, even more if we compare her performance with the performance of Katie Holmes…