Right Thinking From The Left Coast
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The Obligatory Dark Knight Thread
by Hal_10000

So, I finally saw The Movie.  My long-form review is here.  Spoiler warning for the link, but here’s a spoiler-free money quote:

The thing that surprises me, looking back, is that, for a movie that had enough tension, drama and emotion to match an Oscar winner, The Dark Knight is amazingly action-packed. But whereas most movies will have one long endless action scene, this was broken up into smaller, more visceral incidents. And it’s so wonderful to see a director who knows how to shoot an action scene. Batman Forever was the first time I remember seeing this “shake the camera a lot and edit like you’re having a seizure” style of action-movie shooting that drives me nucking futs. In many action movies, I can’t tell what the hell is going on.

George Lucas is, in my opinion, the best at dancing on the blade — finding the right mix of fast editing and long shots that makes action exciting but coherent. Peter Jackson goes a little bit over to incoherence at times but is very good. Nolan is somewhere in between. The most confusing fight was in the building at the end and I still knew what was going on.

Also this general thought:

Before I get into the specifics (which I’ll put below the fold to avoid spoilers), I must say that this has been the best summer movie season I can recall in some time. WALL-E, Ironman and Dark Knight are all great. Indy 4, for all its silliness, was good. I’m still interested in catching, on DVD, Get Smart, Prince Caspian and Hellboy II.

The thing this summer’s big movies have in common?  They all treat their audience like they’ve got a brain in their head.

While I’m on the subject of movies, here is a very NSFW short version of one of the greatest movies of all time.

Posted by Hal_10000 on 08/07/08 at 10:34 PM (Discuss this in the forums)

Comments


Posted by West Virginia Rebel on 08/08/08 at 12:01 AM from United States

The thing this summer’s big movies have in common?  They all treat their audience like they’ve got a brain in their head.

Heh. JimK has a review of Tomb of the Dragon Emperor at Made Of Awesome that might make you change your mind…

Posted by tenshi_arashi on 08/08/08 at 01:15 AM from United States

It was very good. So were the other movies. Shame you missed Caspian on the big screen.

Movies this summer in order of awesomeness:

Dark Knight, Prince Caspian, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man

I still need to see Hellboy II and WALL*E

Posted by Hal_10000 on 08/08/08 at 03:05 AM from United States

Heh. JimK has a review of Tomb of the Dragon Emperor at Made Of Awesome that might make you change your mind…

Well, I did leave that and X-Files 2 off of the list of decent movies.  I noticed Jim slammed XF2 as well.

Posted by on 08/08/08 at 06:52 AM from United States

Spoiler included:

As much as I loved Ledger as the Joker, I personally give the most kudos to Aaron Eckhart (and to the writers, technically).  Eckhart’s turn as Harvey Dent is the single time where I actually DIDN’T WANT the villain to appear.  I got that hollow pit in my stomach as everything went down, wishing that what I knew was about to happen...wouldn’t.

Posted by thetommonster on 08/08/08 at 08:35 AM from United States

’Spank Inferno’ isn’t the full title, Michael.

Posted by on 08/08/08 at 08:51 AM from United States

Hellboy 2 and Wall e were pretty good.

Still need to see Wanted and Mummy III

Posted by Hal_10000 on 08/08/08 at 11:00 AM from United States

I agree, squirrels.  Eckhart was awesome and really grounded the movie.  His transformation was heart-breaking.

Posted by tenshi_arashi on 08/08/08 at 12:20 PM from United States

I have no desire to see Wanted and now, after DonnaK’s review, The Mummy.

I might take her advice and watch it while tripping out on cough syrup someday.

Now I’m just looking forward to Bolt, Man Of Steel, Captain America and the Wolverine (more than anything else) movie. As well as the rest of the Narnia series (but I should really stop remembering that, it’s unbearable).

Posted by on 08/08/08 at 03:49 PM from United States

Finally!  :)

Thanks, Hal.  My daughter said the same thing as you about Ledger. 

She and her hubby saw it last week, and she said it is a must see, and she doesn’t particularly like this type of movie.

Will have to find time to see it this weekend.

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