The Dark Knight: Review By B. Alan Orange

Jul 1st, 2008 by B. Alan Orange
An outstanding achievement in pulp cinema that will leave every single last audience member soaked in sweat, wishing it would never end. Heath Ledger isn't as good as the hype surrounding his performance, he is above it and better than any single quote that has whor*d his name.
  • OVERALL
    5.0
    SUPERB
  • Story
  • Acting
  • Directing
  • Visuals
Christopher Nolan's second attempt at "Batman" gets everything right. Some have complained about the two and a half hour running time, calling it a bloated DC revival attempt that will only leave you restless. True, if you are a nine year old. But this is a dark, scary movie that a lot of nine year olds aren't going to be able to sit through without crying at least once. Watching its heavy weight press against my accelerating heartbeat like the best deep-fried bacon and cheddar cheese sandwich, I could only marvel at its pitch-black soul. I haven't seen a PG-13 rated film this horrifying in a long time. Its attempts at setting up a realistic pulp atmosphere ultimately achieve a blissful state of being, and in the end we are given a true masterpiece of summer filmmaking. Not since Poltergeist was slapped with a PG rating has a single film realized and fleshed out its ability to horrify that much sought after teen audience with such crooked glee.

About forty minutes in, you will be looking at your watch, dreading the fact that there is only an hour and forty minutes left to go. Nolan uses each and every spare second to build a beautiful superhero template the likes of which we've rarely ever seen. This is a grown-up look at the comic book world of "Batman". The same tired old structure has been used to fence a pitch-perfect script that makes sense in all that right ways. Sure, we've seen the Joker escape from jail before. But never with so much conviction and truthful talent. These outlandish creatures of the night have been given a genuine existence and a certain sense of humanity that hasn't ever quite crept into the "Batman" cannon before. Nolan has seemingly fixed the flaws of his first caped crusader effort "Batman Begins". He's ditched a lot of the drab downtime, and he's actually taken some of the high camp ideas we first saw in the Adam West TV show and turned them into a few frightening character sketches weaved within the fabric of a very authentic Gotham. He's even thrown in a few laughs for good measure. Don't worry, they are perfectly constructed and fit within the context of the story at hand.

First and foremost, I must implore you to visit this film at the IMAX Theater. That is really the only way to see it. Nolan has shot six of "The Dark Knight"'s major action sequences using the IMAX camera, and the vistas it recreates are awe-inspiring. The experience is euphoric; and you almost reach a drug buzz sitting there, trying to take it all in. One might compare it to an out-of-body experience. You feel as though you could step out of your chair and walk right into the actors' mouths. Watching "Batman"'s face at forty stories high, you come to understand how important Bat Chaspstick must be to "The Dark Knight". With every single establishing shot of the city rendered in this sensory heightening format, you truly feel as though you are floating over the proceedings like a lost ghost lingering just on the outskirts of nirvana. I have never really experienced anything quite like it. And to see the movie on a conventional screen isn't really seeing the movie at all.

About Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker, it almost comes on like a horrible Catch-22. When he was first announced at Comic Con, fanboys and casual critics alike scoffed at the idea of him playing this central villain. No one quite understood what Nolan was doing by casting this young, handsome man. Then word slowly leaked out that Ledger was giving one Hell of a true to life performance. "A signature bad guy that will seriously scare your pants off. Nightmare educing!", so said Michael Cain. And thus, the hype began to build. Sadly, and without warning, Heath passed away. You could suddenly sense that certain people were praising this gifted young man's Joker on sympathy alone. To honor his name, of course we're going to say he's great. We are going to say, "Give him a posthumous Oscar." Even if his role as the Joker isn't as excellent as the hype suggests. But this is truly one time when no amount of hype can prepare you for what you will see this man doing on screen. He has crafted and constructed one of the most truly amazing on-screen villains of all time. There is no denying that. It is a bit of flawless character work that will leave your teeth stinging with appreciation. You seriously want to savor every single moment he is on screen, and when he isn't around, you can't wait for him to pop back up again. The most amazing thing about the work is, you are never thinking of Heath Ledger when you are watching the Joker. He has become this wicked, insane lunatic. He truly got lost in that skin. It's a tremendous showcase for the unseen talent this kid was hiding, and it's a spectacular curtain bow, the likes of which most actors don't ever get a chance to leave us with. It's a great gift he has shared, and it makes the movie re-watchable on so many levels. Trust me, you'll want to probably buy two tickets on opening day.

That said, "The Dark Knight" is already tracking as one of the highest grossing films of all time. It is poised to beat Spider-Man 3. And it deserves a tender spot at the top of the box offices charts. This is one of the best films of the summer. And there is no doubt about it, is the best "Batman" film ever made. (Thought, I still have a soft place in my heart for the big screen 60s outing staring Adam West and Burt Ward.)

Should you see "The Dark Knight"? Should you pee when you have to go really bad? The answer to both questions is, "Yes!"

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Comments (35)

  1. THE JOKER

    i agree with the review, the movie was great! loved the pencil magic trick! thats one for the books!

    5 years agoby @mcleve02Flag

  2. The Dark Knight

    Can't believe the ending to the dark knight is on youtube
    just look up good stuff and hot!
    don't want to put a link but hey don't look at it if you don't want to be seeing it I watched 45 seconds its amazing
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jklih-4Jtr8

    5 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag

  3. CBF

    Yes, JUSTJOSH, the reviews for this picture are at the very least spellbinding. Every review seems like its better than the last one, and all are praising this movie beyond recognition. I have to admit, I have followed the news and hype surrounding TDK since it was revealed during the last half-hour of BB. Nolan says that he only returned to reinvent Joker and Two-Face, which is genius, but he isnt privy to the idea of sequels. I am just excited at seeing these 2 iconic villains portrayed in a realistic manner. For one, Two-Face from BF was poorly adapted, played very sh*tty (thats right, I said it Tommy Lee), and didnt kill The Flying Graysons!! WTF ???!! I cant wait to see the adaptation Nolan & Goyer wrote from The Long Halloween, plus his character turns near the end of the movie... sequel, anybody? For two (no pun intended), JOKER. 'Nuff said. I think enough has been elaborated upon Ledger's portrayal, but I for one was one who scoffed at the idea of bringing in a pretty boy to portray Bats' arch rival. Yet when I heard he was the maniacal serial killer from the comics and saw the costume/make up, I immediately became thrilled. Goyer said for the next sequel (Oldman confirmed belief that Nolan will come back for # 3), they plan on using characters from the comics not previously used in cinema. Here's to hoping that Mad Hatter will be given a realistic approach, and the title won't be The Caped Crusader.

    5 years agoby @comicbookfanFlag

  4. justjosh12212

    every freakin review makes this movie look better and better. this is gonna KICK ASS

    5 years agoby @justjosh12212Flag

  5. EDvolvED

    8 days people!!! Drop your c*cks and put on your socks. This sh*t is about to get real, real fast. This movie will not only be the greatest piece of cinema ever, but will cure child obesity! Well, maybe not, but I'm hoping for a Best Picture nod as well with Heath's...god knows the Oscar's need a ratings boost lol

    5 years agoby @edvolvedFlag

  6. slysnide

    Joker is a unique arch enemy to give a spin on cuz he's got no superweapons or supernatural powers. Beating out this performance with any character in Batman 3 will be next to impossible, for being the arch enemy, and dead, then Ledger's Joker will surpass all the rest.

    And if Kevin Smith calls this "The Godfather of the comic book movies" then you can bet that it'll be that much harder to beat.

    5 years agoby @slysnideFlag

  7. TheDarkKnight

    guna be the best super hero movie of all time

    5 years agoby @thedarkknightdkFlag

  8. CARNAGE

    i agree with JOHN:THE NARRATOR, This movie will be a huge event of the decade, until Nolen's third Batman hits[unless ridller's the villian in it].

    5 years agoby @critic500Flag

  9. IMattic

    Great stuff, cant wait to see it in IMAX, long live the joker! :D

    5 years agoby @imatticFlag

  10. SpaceCowboy

    ...i meant "no" and not "know"

    5 years agoby @SpaceCowboyFlag

  11. SpaceCowboy

    I understand the passage about Ledger, when too much hype is built, expectations become overly dramatic. People anticipate the hype's vector is more than decent. They assume as to what it should be rather than what it will be. In a way, it's some what related to peer pressure. I still have know doubt in my mind that this may very well be the movie event of the decade

    5 years agoby @SpaceCowboyFlag

  12. slysnide

    Alan Orange shouldn't reference "Poltergeist" as a horrifying film, seeing as it was a terrible chunk 'a' junk from the realm of '80s wannabe horror that was the result of creative differences between producer Steven Spielberg & director Tobe Hooper.

    Damn you Steven!!! You're totally cool!!!

    BUT...
    ...You should've let Tobe do his stuff just the way he does it!!!!!!

    Look at "TCM" (1974) for example: not scary in the slightest, but still an achievement in pulp cinema.

    You go TOBE HOOPER!!!!!!!!!

    ~sly

    5 years agoby @slysnideFlag

  13. the Narrator

    Hey, Spider-man 2 was good, and 1 was more than decent. # needed help, but they were better than I thought they would be.

    5 years agoby @narratorFlag

  14. Garret

    No Imax in Ireland, lol.... Sucks and please people don't even try to compare the spiderman movies to Batman begins and the dark knight, you'll be laughed at, they where very very childishly comicey,.. These are what we call proper serious decent movies, And one i'm drooling to see, lol come on the 18th

    5 years agoby @garretbyrneFlag

  15. The Dark Knight

    No he saw It at the premier

    5 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag

  16. the Narrator

    I can't wait.
    Dam u B.Alan for making it sound so good!!
    I can't go to Imax here. We don't have 1 nearby. =(

    5 years agoby @narratorFlag

  17. Draktyr

    Wow...that was a great review. The Ledger stuff was kinda moving.

    5 years agoby @draktyrFlag

  18. slysnide

    Has Kevin seen the film yet? Or is he just speculating like all of us here?

    5 years agoby @slysnideFlag

  19. The Dark Knight

    as said by Kevin Smith The Dark Knight is the Godfather of comic book films.

    5 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag

  20. ed_wood

    Good review, I can't wait to see this. I probably will buy two tickets on opening day.

    5 years agoby @ed-woodFlag

  21. ZanyZap

    DEAR GOD...I hope zeas didn't have a f*cking seizure. Should be good, and I'll definately see this, but I won't drool, even if it does make my top 5.

    There's always been a place in my heart for Spidey, but Batman could ___________________________
    [fill in the blank to suit your own opinion]

    5 years agoby @zanyzapFlag

  22. zeus

    DEAR GOD!!!

    5 years agoby @zeusFlag

  23. UNoLazyboy

    This movie will be bad ass. Even though I'm partial to the Spider-man movies, just cuz thats my boy. I'm thinking with the talent in this movie it will be the best Super Hero movie ever made, eventually of all time possibly? Your thoughts people?

    5 years agoby @unolazyboyFlag

  24. jono1018

    no imax in ireland f*ckkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

    5 years agoby @jono1018Flag

  25. Solar XI

    This review pissed me off. Not that its a bad review, it is just making me more anxious

    5 years agoby @solarxiFlag

  26. IndyJones

    unfortunatley i dont have tickets for IMAX, they were all sold out. so im just going to see it on regular then see it again on IMAX.

    5 years agoby @indyjonesFlag

  27. tonystark

    woooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
    comes out in imax in australia on July 16th the day that im seeing it:):):):):):):)
    Already Ebooked Mine

    5 years agoby @tonystarkFlag

  28. slysnide

    I'm seeing it at IMAX, and it doesn't open there until sometime in August as currently slated, but times are said to sporadically change, so I'll wait it out for the IMAX experience, since I've never seen anything except for pure educational films way back in 6th grade on that large screen. And I'll be seeing this film on the same one, and I can't wait!!!!!!! The first paragraph of this review was my favorite!!!!!! It seems to capture the terror that this film SHOULD have, and I once again...(repetitive right)...CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!

    5 years agoby @slysnideFlag

  29. Obducent

    here in sweden it comes 25th July :( f*cking unfair !

    5 years agoby @obducentFlag

  30. Clockworkcookie

    You think that's hard, Dark enV???? The movie only comes out July 24th here!! :/ Oh man I'm so happy it's 2h30min long!! :D

    5 years agoby @clockworkcookieFlag