Dark Knight, and also my first post

I was planning to start a blog (after all everyone and their uncle already has!) but didn't know how to start. Why start with a lame topic that no one will read? In any case, I doubt anyone will read this, but hey! this is at least interesting to me.

So, what do I think of Dark Knight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/)?

[WARNING: Spoliers Ahead!]

Let me let you on a secret here. I am a HUGE Batman fan. Have been ever since school. I religiously watched every episode of the animated series that used to come up on DD every Sunday evening. And I have always loved the darkness of the series.

Therefore, it is not surprising that I never saw a Batman film because they each treated the material like a comic book. Which of course I hated. The movies were full of droll humor and unnecessary characters (the gay Robin comes to mind).

Christopher Nolan (The Prestige, Memento, Batman Begins) brought a whiff of seriousness to the series with Batman Begins. With solid actors such as Michael Cane, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Christian Bale, Cillian Murphy and of course Gary Oldman and rock solid direction, Batman was serious movie material.

That whiff of seriousness now continues without going stale. Batman is back and he is kicking ass.

In the new version, Batman has to contend with wannabe vigilantes (40 something men, with paunches. I admit, I would be one of them if I could), The Joker (brilliantly played by Heath Ledger) and a new arch enemy, Two Face (Aaron Eckhart, who was quite charming in Thank You For Smoking).

Amazing chases, hi-tech gadgetry, Bruce Wayne schmoozing around with arm candy, a sinister villain. All this and more in the movie.

But what do I say? We have all seen Bourne Ultimatum. We have all seen The Matrix. We have seen Casino Royale. And some of us have seen Banlieue 13 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414852/).

Is the action remarkable? I have to point out two instances where it is. The kidnap of Lau in Hong Kong (wonderful!), and the scene where Batman 'trips' a 100 foot long trailer are good, but not great.

Is the acting remarkable? Heath Ledger is disturbing in the first half. Especially in his entry to the den of crime bosses. But he does loose some sting in the second half. Michael Cane has nothing to do at all. I hated Maggie Whatever-Her-Name is. Bring back Katie Holmes!

Morgan Freeman also doesn't have too much to do. Although his 1 minute talk with the guy who is planning to blow the whistle on Bruce Wayne's alter ego almost had me standing up and clapping.

Christian Bale continues to be good. Intense as Batman and bored and arrogant as Bruce Wayne.

So much for the acting :)

Now for the gadgetry. Batman trumps Iron Man. I mean come on. It's like comparing a Lexus to a Ferrari. Iron Man might have an aluminum suit, but does he have the Batpod? Boo to Iron Man.

So in the business where standards for an action movie are Bourne Ultimatum and standards for a gadgety super hero movie are Casino Royale or The Matrix what do you turn to, to make a film remarkable?

May I suggest that, that something is a plot and some good acting and dialogues. We've seen too many movies laden with effects, packed with gadgets that don't work.

But Dark Knight does. There's something going on, beyond Batman just showing off his goods. (Eh, maybe I should reword that, ye reader with a dirty mind?) Editing is wonderful. Batman steps out of shadows, and the scene with the kids playing in the car when the Batpod rips through a car was an example of this in my opinion.

I thought that this movie was 15 minutes too long in the end. With the Joker dangling from a sky scraper, it was time to down the shutters. Instead we are burdened with another scene where Two Face shows off what he can do. Mostly to setup the third installment of this series.

Overall, here's my summary:

Great

Editing, and Heath Ledger's first half performance as The Joker. But say what you want, Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal and Xavier Bardem's Suga' are far far more sinister.

The Sky Hook gadget stunt!

The kids in the car playing when Batpod rips through edit.

Morgan Freeman dialogue with whistle blower accountant prick.

Two Face's makeup. Kamal Hassan, please send your MaidaWaala makeup artist to see this. This is the standard of makeup audiences are getting.

Good

Stunts. The trailer trip. Acting - Christian Bale again shows off why he's the best Batman ever!
Dialogue in patches.

Bad

Maggie-Whatshername. Thank god she died! The psenti scene with the two steamers. Very bollywoodish. Shame on you Christopher Nolan. The ending scene with Gordon's family. Come on, finish the movie please!

Horrible

Nothing really. This is quite a good movie. Go see it now, if you haven't!