The Dark Knight has been out for a couple of weeks now and has already grossed over $300,000,000. It’s pulled in more money in 10 days than any other film. It stand a good chance at becoming one of the top grossing domestic blockbusters of all time. There’s no denying that it’s doing good. In fact, yesterday when the wife and I saw it at the IMAX, the showing we were at was sold out. There were several people there that were seeing the film for the 2nd or 3rd or 4th time. Some people and blogs have called The Dark Knight as “the best film ever made”. Is it really that good?
I didn’t think so.
Don’t get me wrong, The Dark Knight is a superb film, and it had a lot to live up to after the success of Batman Begins and even Iron Man. Though for me there was just something about this film that didn’t win me over. I can’t put my finger on what exactly it was that I didn’t like, but I do know when I walked out of the theater as the credits rolled I had no desire to see the film again. With Batman Begins and Iron Man, I left the theater with a since of “wow” and I wanted to see it again. The Dark Knight just didn’t do it for me.
I have to admit, Heath Ledger did a superb job playing a psychotic Joker. His roles is well worth any award they nominate him for. It’s a shame that he’ll not be around to see how well the movie has done, or to claim any kind of reward. The thought of someone else ever playing the Joker saddens me. Whoever picks up the role down the road will have some big shoes to fill.
In fact, Ledger’s performance may very well have made the movie. Christian Bale is the caped crusader, but I felt like he was missing something… and no, not Robin. Or maybe he wasn’t missing anything at all, maybe he was doing the best he could with a plot that was flat.
For a two and half hour long movie, we really spend little time learning about anyone in the film. We end up knowing more about Harvey Dent / Two Face by the time it’s over than we know about the Joker. That’d be fine if Two Face had a bigger role in the film. Alas, the movie ends up trying to cover and do too much all at once. Two Face, in my opinion, would have been better suited for a later film.
As far as the Joker’s line, “Why So Serious?” That’s a question I’d like to ask Batman. You can drop the role playing when you’re around those people who know Bruce is Batman. There really isn’t a need for the dark, raspy voice when you’re not trying to intimidate the bad guys or maintain your secret identity. 
Yes, it’s worth watching once. It is a good film, but I don’t feel that it lives up to the continued hype it recieves. But then, what does?
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Tags: Batman, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Iron Man, movie, review, The Dark Knight