Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Problems with The Dark Knight


As many of you observant bloggers already know, I've been sick all week. So that mean lots playing (and losing) a lot more Call of Duty and watching a lot movies. Last night I watched The Dark Knight again. There's something strange that happens with me and Christoper Nolan's last two films, because the more times I see Inception and TDK, the less I like them. Wait. Put down the pitchforks and let me explain. Inception and The Dark Knight are both great films. There's no denying that (well, unless you're a h8er). It's just that after repeated viewings, the faults in each film become more and more visible. Since I saw TDK last, that shall be the focus of this rant. And here, we....GO.

oh Hai Scarecrow.
My first gripe revolves around The Scarecrow. Remember him? Cillian Murphy as Dr. Crane/The Scarecrow in Batman Begins, he was awesome. But then all of a sudden he's yesterday's news in The Dark Knight and Batman captures/punks him in all of 5 minutes. Really? He was badass enough to be the villian of the first film, but now he's like, last season's Dragon Ball Z bad guy and a total chump in part 2? What gives? At first I liked the link between the two and continuity of the whole Nolan/Batman universe, but now it's just kind of insulting and IMO, diminishes the weight of the first film.

Next, the dialogue. Nolan and his brother are a dynamic writing duo if there ever was one (hehe) but dear lawd I cringed at some of the wooden lines these A+ actors were forcibly spitting out. Sometimes, their epic choice of word play works well. Joker preaching about a "better class of criminal" was awesome. Gordon waxing philosophical with his 10 year old son/concluding the film for the audience via voice over, well. It's the ending we need, but not the ending me we deserve. Catch my drift?

Perhaps my biggest problem with movie rests with my home boy Christian Bale. Dude is easily my favorite actor yet his performance in The Dark Knight royally pisses me off. Well actually, it's THAT VOICE! Bale channeling Patrick Bateman is an awesome Bruce Wayne and when he dons the bat suit, he's the sickest Batman ever. Unfortunately, his Batman voice in TDK is beyond over the top (think Rocky Balboa gargling nails dipped in acid) and butchers some of his already stiff dialogue.

"You'll be in a padded cell forever."=/

I didn't let this stuff bother me the first dozen times I watched this film but now it stares me right in the face. Still a great movie though. Amazing visuals, action scenes and stellar performances from Araon Eckhart, Heath Ledger and Gary Oldman. Bale is the new De Niro in my book and became a huge megastar thanks to this flick, I just hope he lays off on the tough guy voice a tad in the next one. As for Nolan, dude has yet to make a bad film, but words of advice, you don't always have to go...deeper

22 comments:

  1. I prefer the old Batman movies. Twitter

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  2. Ha that last video was awesome :>

    Can't say I've seen any of the Nolan Batman films though so I don't know what to say ;~;

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  3. I have to agree with you here man. I'm a huge fan of Christian Bale in American Psycho but at the same time I still see your point.

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  4. Scarecrow was in Dark Knight? I don't really remember that. Which says a lot about his appearance considering how many times I've seen that movie.

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  5. Very valid but he's the best of a bad bunch.

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  6. I like Bale as Bruce Wayne, but still think Keaton was a better batman. Some valid points too, it is a good movie but not the end all and be all people make it out to be. Inception is even worse, oh it's so great blah blah blah, when really it's good, but nothing as spectacular as people say. Think they just have a hard on for Nolan or something.

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  7. Well you gotta admit, The Dark Knight was a LOT less cheesy than Batman & Robin.

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  8. Talking ill about batman is like thrashing Oprah in TV. Biggest crime of all. :)
    I loved Bale over anyone who played Batman so far. Even George Clooney wasnt that gr8.
    And that guy's voice I agree. What to say his mouth is like "peas in pod" toy :)
    Inception is masterpiece I can never find any fault with that(maybe I dont want to find the flaw. Look at the plot and brain behind it - Nolan is a boon to cine industry man. 2k Kubrick.

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  9. lol i noticed this too and was like wtf he became an instant pussy over the summer.

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  10. I still like "The Dark Knight" better than "Batman Begins"

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  11. and i like batman begins more than tdk. sick here too, shit sucks

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  12. The voice is definetly weird! I agree with you on all your points too!

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  13. Honestly? I really like that movie. And Inception too. Inception more. Anyway, with TDK at least, I always thought people went over the top about it. I noticed those flaws, The Scarecrow thing? That kinda pissed me off to be honest, but the rest of the movie kinda makes up for it in my eyes. Just.. not an A++ movie like people make it seem.

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  14. HA that is hilarious because it is so true. I definitely enjoyed Inception and The Dark Night but the things you pointed out are so true. Everyone knows it and many won't admit it. I was confused about Cillian Murphy being tossed aside so easily as well along with the RIDICULOUS Batman voice, I mean come on. As for Inception it's a pretty awesome film but I was over it after the first few times. Great Post!

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  15. Love the video. Not sure I see a problem with the dark knight. Maybe Mr. Freeze.

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  16. Hey, about that comment, if my other blogs are down.

    They're not, I just changed my personal blog URL and then realized after that I just lost 600+ followers lmfao...

    if you click my name, it takes you to my profile, with my other blog links.

    I changed my URL because of some issues with an ex, but its www.shonamarijuana.blogspot.com :D

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  17. I have only seen the first Batman ... with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson...I liked it... possibly one of the two movies i likes Keaton in.. Beetlejuice being the 1st. obv.. .anyways getting off topic..sorry :)

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  18. On a dare, I ordered drive thru in that voice, then begged them not to spit in my food when I pulled up. Bale's scratchy voice seems to be a major problem with everyone I know who hated TDK. Inception? I thought it was flawless...except it kinda ripped off Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. =)

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  19. The voice always got me to. Does the batsuit have a voice box? Maybe it's too tight in the throat?

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  20. Completely agree with the Scarecrow thing, I was kinda pissed they just left it where they left it. If anything, after what happened in Begins I would have liked to see a demented Scarecrow partaking in the chaos.

    Oh well, it's still a great movie.

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