I really dont get it... (Dark Knight)

[Rook of Spades]

I thought that The Dark Knight was an excellent movie. In fact, it was my favorite movie until I saw District 9.

Edit: Slum Dog Millionaire is also on my top favorite movies list. Everyone has different tastes in movies, I suppose.

 

[Bat Vader]

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/REVIEWS/55996637/1023

I am my own critic.

 

[thiosk]

but the main girl dying I found very irrelevant and dumb.

I chalked it up to the fact that she was already being played by a different actress in the second film.

 

[Srkkl]

Dark Knight was probably the best superhero movie ever, and there is so much attention to detail in that movie.

1. Best super hero movie? I enjoyed Spiderman 3 more than this movie, Batman Begins was better.

2. Attention to detail? Please give me examples. Batman is supposed to be "The worlds greatest detective" then why the fuck was he so dumb that he couldn't tell the Joker was telling him the wrong place to find Jane, or Jill, I forgot. Also why the hell did he start attacking the police that were about to shoot the civilians in Joker masks when he had plenty of time to just tell them they were civilians. Attention to detail, I think not

 

[vultureX21]

It's a fucking comic book movie

In no way does the primary medium of telling a story determine the value of that story in film. Most movie critics and cultural analysts have recognized the relevance of comic books as art and literature by now, you can't just toss out the "it's a comic therefore it's automatically inferior and not as valuable" argument anymore.

As for not liking The Dark Knight I mean, that's personal opinion but, as another commenter already alluded to, you went in with negative expectations, which are difficult to overcome. Frankly, yeah you are in the minority, so what? You didn't like it and that's fine, I guess I am a little confused by the aggressive "prove to me why I should have liked it" stance.

To whit, you also never presented what it was that bothered you about it so much other than the hype and merchandising (which happens with most major motion pictures). What specifically about the film's construction/acting/sets/filming/plot did you dislike? Throw out some rationale for being unimpressed and then we've got ourselves a conversation worth having.

 

[TheSunshineHobo]

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/REVIEWS/55996637/1023

I am my own critic.

Good for you, I figured I'd get a professional opinion, from someone who is known for not liking comic book movies. I'm biased for Batman, so I got an unbiased opinion.

 

[captainwillies]

snip

can i ask some movies that you do like? i wanna see what you compare things to.

 

[iggyus]

I liked it but I think that the way Batman was presented in The Animated Series was better

 

[I_LIKE_CAKE]

Wow. Not only do you think Dark Knight is overrated, but also Slum Dog Millionaire. What do you also think The Godfather and Alien are overrated too? Dark Knight was probably the best superhero movie ever, and there is so much attention to detail in that movie. Everything was crafted amazingly from cinematography to sound editing. And it was paced so well unlike a lot of other movies which have disappointed me in recent years.

I actually like the dark knight, but I feel obliged to point out that it is by no means the greatest movie ever (not that you said or even implied that), and that "like" is the strongest adjective that movie will ever get from me. Now as to why I quoted you, "it was paced well?" Did we watch the same movie? The last thirty minutes were spent setting up for the next installment, which won't include the best character because he decided to swallow a bottle of pills. Not good pacing at all. And while I'm on the subject, does the fact that the most enjoyable character in a Batman movie was not Batman bother anyone else?

 

[muckinscavitch]

I totally agree with you that the whole joker "Trend" and Heath Ledger loving trend totally pissed me off and I hate it.

But I have to disagree, the movie was really well done and the acting, especially for the joker, was superb. It did not, nor does anything really, deserve a whole following behind it.

 

[bilkobob]

I finally, about 3 hours ago, saw the Dark Knight for the first time with my girlfriend, and in all honesty I can say this is probably the most overrated movie in recent memory (rivaled only by the likes of Slum Dog Millionaire).

Now I had no intention of ever watching this movie, because the Joker "fan base" pissed me off to no end. I think it's safe to say I can tell what kind of person you are if you have anything that says "Why so serious?" and know we have nothing in common, and can never be friends.

Ranting aside, can anyone please point out why this movie is good? Or better yet, explain why people are so obsessed over it? Sure, the "OMGHEATHLEDGER" trend lasted about 2 months, but it still wasn't deserved.

Just wondering if I'm the only person who didn't enjoy this film?

I thought it was dull and drawn out and never saw what the big fuss was. If I were to rate the Batman movies I'd have put the '89 movie with Michael Keaton and Nicholson above the Dark Knight. I also though Nicholson was a better Joker too.

 

[vultureX21]

2. Attention to detail? Please give me examples. Batman is supposed to be "The worlds greatest detective" then why the fuck was he so dumb that he couldn't tell the Joker was telling him the wrong place to find Jane, or Jill, I forgot. Also why the hell did he start attacking the police that were about to shoot the civilians in Joker masks when he had plenty of time to just tell them they were civilians. Attention to detail, I think not

This is probably the most agreed upon flaw in the film, the rather suspect plot and it's myriad twists and turns that seem to be lacking sense on the part of one or more characters involved. That being said, this is the same for many crime drama films, to which critics pointed out The Dark Knight is most similar to. You could make the same kind of "well why the Hell didn't so-and-so just do this? It was so obvious" criticism for films like Heat too. It just seems to be a common flaw of the genre, but is it a valid argument for disliking the film? Absolutely.

 

[Bat Vader]

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/REVIEWS/55996637/1023

I am my own critic.

Good for you, I figured I'd get a professional opinion, from someone who is known for not liking comic book movies. I'm biased for Batman, so I got an unbiased opinion.

A professional opinion is always good.

 

[brainslurper]

it makes sence, harvey dent randomly shows up into gotham all good and stuff and so does joker and neither of them have even existed before this point and harvey despite being all good and all has some strange grudge against commisioner gordon who somehow has gotten away with working with someone that you are supposed to arrest on sight for what like 5 years and harvey is going out with the girl bruce wayne wants to be going out with and bruce acts all sad and then he LETS HER DIE for harvey who almost immediatley becomes a homicidal maniac and then goes around flipping coins and shooting people and then threatens gordons family then totaly unrelatedly the joker somehow puts enough oil onto 2 boats and wants them to kill eachother and it takes forever and the rest of the movie is monolouging. THE END! batman arkham asylum was good tho =]

 

[Mcface]

To whit, you also never presented what it was that bothered you about it so much other than the hype and merchandising (which happens with most major motion pictures). What specifically about the film's construction/acting/sets/filming/plot did you dislike? Throw out some rationale for being unimpressed and then we've got ourselves a conversation worth having.

I found Christan Bale's acting to be quite hilarious, and not in a good way. It was a very mediocre performance that I would assume a video game knock off to sound like, no the actual character in the movie. Me and my girlfriend laughed at every other word out of his mouth, and all of his cheesy dialogue. Now granted, super hero movies SHOULD have this, but when people start nominating Emmy's for it, its insane.

And the Jokers lip batting and over the top dialogue just got annoying.

Now remember, I didn't have any negative feelings towards the movie, just the entire teenage American population.

Sure, it played a roll in why I may have came into the movie ready to judge it, but if it was a generally good movie, it would not be a problem.

And the entire reason for this thread was for someone to please explain WHY this movie is so hyped, and praised?
No one can seem to give me a logical answer as to why its such a great movie

 

[riskroWe]

First viewing I liked it.
Haven't thought about it since.

 

[Chadling]

Okay, I'll agree with the hatred of the "Why so serious?" trend, but mostly because the quote is taken horribly out of context, from one of the creepiest catch-phrases ever to a simple request to lighten up.

But there is a problem that I'll admit exists in The Dark Knight. It seems like the movie is in a perpetual state of climax. It sometimes seems like The Joker is just too powerful, too knowledgeable, like there is no limits to what damage he can inflict--it's a little bit unbelievable, especially against the moral foundation of the story. There is no letting up, not until the credits roll. It just makes the movie exhausting to watch. However, it was one of the very few movies that I have actually gotten up to cheer at the end, it was so exhilarating.

And while I'm on the subject, does the fact that the most enjoyable character in a Batman movie was not Batman bother anyone else?

Not at all. It might seem a bit lopsided, sure, but the villain is the catalyst of the story, and without a good antagonist, the story just... sags. Honestly, we know that the superhero is going to eventually win the day, but at what cost is he going to get out of this one? In this case, however, the dilemmas set by The Joker (and his persona) dominated the story--for good or for ill.

 

[Mcface]

snip

can i ask some movies that you do like? i wanna see what you compare things to.

Sure,

Defiance is probably my favorite recently made movie, and for sure on my top 10.

Letters From Iwo Jima and Flags of our Fathers are both great movies I really enjoyed.


to move away from the war theme, I watched Identity right after Batman, and was pleasantly surprised at how good it turned out to be.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

God, "why so serious" is so fucken overused. I feel like punching people in the face for it

I agree with you, but when you see this picture:

Spoiler: Yeah, this is the reason that I like the Why So Serious fad.

I laughed quite a lot after seeing this.