Comments on: Fun With The Dark Knight http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/07/21/fun-with-the-dark-knight/ Analysis and reviews of films from around the world. Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:42:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rick http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/07/21/fun-with-the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8718 Rick Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:19:00 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=574#comment-8718 Pat, you're always welcome around here. And I agree -- it probably was a bit too long, but I didn't notice it as much as other things. I actually thought the story was one of the film's better elements: complex and interlocking, it continued on from <i>Batman Begins</i> and advanced several of Nolan's themes through the plot machinations (albeit rather heavy-handedly). The dialog, where he wasn't being preachy was smart and the humor -- though black -- was pretty funny. Pat, you’re always welcome around here. And I agree — it probably was a bit too long, but I didn’t notice it as much as other things. I actually thought the story was one of the film’s better elements: complex and interlocking, it continued on from Batman Begins and advanced several of Nolan’s themes through the plot machinations (albeit rather heavy-handedly). The dialog, where he wasn’t being preachy was smart and the humor — though black — was pretty funny.

]]> By: Pat http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/07/21/fun-with-the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8706 Pat Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:19:48 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=574#comment-8706 Rick - I'm way late to this party, but then I held off seeing "The Dark Knight" till last night (Gasp! Imagine such a thing - a cinephile waiting to see a blockbuster until half a week after the opening!) Anyway, I think you and Joe very aptlly describe my own frustration with the all-over-the-place action sequences. I also thought it was a good 30 minutes too long, and didn't so much have a developed story as one-damned-thing-after-another series of explosions and murders. Even so, there were some flashes of brilliance and near-brilliance (particularly in Leger's performance) and overall, I thought it was a pretty good movie. Rick – I’m way late to this party, but then I held off seeing “The Dark Knight” till last night (Gasp! Imagine such a thing – a cinephile waiting to see a blockbuster until half a week after the opening!)

Anyway, I think you and Joe very aptlly describe my own frustration with the all-over-the-place action sequences. I also thought it was a good 30 minutes too long, and didn’t so much have a developed story as one-damned-thing-after-another series of explosions and murders.

Even so, there were some flashes of brilliance and near-brilliance (particularly in Leger’s performance) and overall, I thought it was a pretty good movie.

]]> By: Rick http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/07/21/fun-with-the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8625 Rick Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:02:29 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=574#comment-8625 One of his big problems in the action department is difficulty grounding the scene spatially. He cannot seem to keep us cued as to where everybody is in the scene. In an action sequence, that is absolutely critical. Paul Greengrass' action scenes, as shaky as they are, are still (usually) very clear about the spatial relationships of the various parties. This deficiency of Nolan's was evident in the first sequence with the multiple batmen (I liked Cillian Murphy's cameo), in the chase sequence, and (especially) in the penultimate sequence in the glass building. As I said, I couldn't figure out what was what in that scene to save my life. Maybe it's an editing problem; if so, he oughta fire the editor. Maybe it's a coverage problem, not getting enough shots from enough angles so the editor can put together a coherent sequence. That said, I like the film, as will be clear if I ever get my full review written. One of his big problems in the action department is difficulty grounding the scene spatially. He cannot seem to keep us cued as to where everybody is in the scene. In an action sequence, that is absolutely critical. Paul Greengrass’ action scenes, as shaky as they are, are still (usually) very clear about the spatial relationships of the various parties.

This deficiency of Nolan’s was evident in the first sequence with the multiple batmen (I liked Cillian Murphy’s cameo), in the chase sequence, and (especially) in the penultimate sequence in the glass building. As I said, I couldn’t figure out what was what in that scene to save my life.

Maybe it’s an editing problem; if so, he oughta fire the editor. Maybe it’s a coverage problem, not getting enough shots from enough angles so the editor can put together a coherent sequence.

That said, I like the film, as will be clear if I ever get my full review written.

]]> By: Joe Campanella http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/07/21/fun-with-the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8588 Joe Campanella Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:57:56 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=574#comment-8588 Rick- While he's no Peckinpah or Speilberg, the action has greatly improved since BEGINS. I understand what you mean about the last scene. It is a bit sloppy. But, the car chase, and the hand to hand combat scenes were certainly worth their visceral thrill. His action does fall in line with the Greengrass style a bit more than I prefer, but he's not as bad. The problem with both of those directors is they have no sense of geography within the action set-piece. Quick cuts alone don't create tension. It's making the audience understand the danger involved within the sequence. Still, I feel this movie was great. Mostly because the action was a back-seat to the performances, writing and structure. I love this picture! Rick-

While he’s no Peckinpah or Speilberg, the action has greatly improved since BEGINS.

I understand what you mean about the last scene. It is a bit sloppy. But, the car chase, and the hand to hand combat scenes were certainly worth their visceral thrill.

His action does fall in line with the Greengrass style a bit more than I prefer, but he’s not as bad.

The problem with both of those directors is they have no sense of geography within the action set-piece. Quick cuts alone don’t create tension. It’s making the audience understand the danger involved within the sequence.

Still, I feel this movie was great. Mostly because the action was a back-seat to the performances, writing and structure.

I love this picture!

]]> By: Rick http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/07/21/fun-with-the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8507 Rick Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:25:29 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=574#comment-8507 I think he was trying to get that balance of summer movie-ness, which values moving along, and a yet leave some space for pondering. I think he was trying to get that balance of summer movie-ness, which values moving along, and a yet leave some space for pondering.

]]> By: Pam http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/07/21/fun-with-the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8502 Pam Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:35:50 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=574#comment-8502 Ron Silliman's blog carries a less than amorous review. He has problems with the pace of the movie always being the same. There are no lingering moments at all. Now that he pointed it out, I agree. There were certainly some scenes that could have used the space for a deeper exploration. Ron Silliman’s blog carries a less than amorous review. He has problems with the pace of the movie always being the same. There are no lingering moments at all. Now that he pointed it out, I agree. There were certainly some scenes that could have used the space for a deeper exploration.

]]> By: Rick http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/07/21/fun-with-the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8499 Rick Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:34:40 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=574#comment-8499 Yeah, great minds DO think alike! Yeah, great minds DO think alike!

]]> By: Marilyn http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/07/21/fun-with-the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8480 Marilyn Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:44:39 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=574#comment-8480 Rick - That's exactly what Rod, my blog partner, said in his review. Rick – That’s exactly what Rod, my blog partner, said in his review.

]]> By: Rick http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/07/21/fun-with-the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8454 Rick Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:26:12 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=574#comment-8454 Hey, Joe -- It is a fine film, although I don't think it's a masterpiece. What I love are the brooding, dark atmosphere, Heath Ledger & Gary Oldman's performances and the warped humor. I think, on the other hand, the action set pieces are incoherent. Take the finale ... please! You can't tell WHAT'S going on, even with Lucius' gizmo. Nolan hasn't learned how to stage an action scene since his <em>last</em> Batman. He oughta just hire a great second-unit director and be done with it. Hey, Joe –

It is a fine film, although I don’t think it’s a masterpiece. What I love are the brooding, dark atmosphere, Heath Ledger & Gary Oldman’s performances and the warped humor.

I think, on the other hand, the action set pieces are incoherent. Take the finale … please! You can’t tell WHAT’S going on, even with Lucius’ gizmo. Nolan hasn’t learned how to stage an action scene since his last Batman. He oughta just hire a great second-unit director and be done with it.

]]> By: campanella.joseph http://coosacreek.org/mambo/2008/07/21/fun-with-the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8424 campanella.joseph Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:10:14 +0000 http://coosacreek.org/mambo/?p=574#comment-8424 THE DARK KNIGHT is a great, great picture. I haven't read a comic since I was 10-years-old, but I still think this movie is the best I've seen in a theatre all year. I'm thinking a BEST SCREENPLAY would be appropriate. Possibly supporting actor too. Not only for Ledger, but for Oldman as well. PS. I live in Chicago, so of course it was extra nice to see my city on display for all the world to see. THE DARK KNIGHT is a great, great picture. I haven’t read a comic since I was 10-years-old, but I still think this movie is the best I’ve seen in a theatre all year.

I’m thinking a BEST SCREENPLAY would be appropriate. Possibly supporting actor too. Not only for Ledger, but for Oldman as well.

PS. I live in Chicago, so of course it was extra nice to see my city on display for all the world to see.

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