DevilsShoes
War Child
For me its between The Dark Knight and Tim Burtons Batman in 89.
Although I don't think the new film is the masterpeice some are claiming it to be, I do think its a brilliant peice of cinema, and will probably be the best movie of the year. Despite running for around 2 and a half hours it is almost consistently riveting. Nolan keeps the thread taut throughout, only allowing the audience to relax temporarily before building to his next set peice.
The highlights are numerous:
The opening back robbery has a real sense of drama and plunges the audience right into the thick of things.
Batman's first appearance.
Christian Bale seemed much more comfortable this time around, I really bought him as Bruce Wayne
The Scarecrow cameo.
Michael Caine in general.
The Tokyo subplot.
Morgan Freeman in general.
Batman saving the falling Rachel.
Gary Oldman in general.
Commissioner Gordons apparent assasination
The Harvey Dent/Two Face development
Batman taking the blame and telling Gordon to hunt him.
Heath Ledger in general. It goes without saying that he lifts this film to another level entirely, without him TDK would still be a good film but it wouldn't be a great film. He's funny, maniacal, eccentric and often chilling and when he's on the screen he's compulsive. I don't know about you but in my cinema everytime he appeared the audience were completely silent, all fidgeting and rustling of popcorn stopped. He had so much quotable dialogue too and all the stuff in reference to him and Batman needing each other was great. I love that moment when Gordon gets his promotion and The Jokers applauding along too. Ledger's performance paper's over the cracks and distracts you from the flaws, at least until you leave the cinema anyway.
How Nolan is going to top this next time (if there's a next time) I don't know.
I still have a special place in my heart for Batman 89. Michael Keaton's great as Wayne, Kim Basinger was a much more credible love interest than Rachel Dawes and once again The Joker steals the show. Nicholson's performance is much more lightweight than Ledger's but still compelling and one way or another Burton set the tone for much of what was to follow. As great as Nolan's films are, Burton's fingerprints are all over them, everything from the darkness of Gotham, Wayne dealing with his demons, Batman flitting from the shadows and the sweeping orchestral music are all here. It has that spark of magic which is so rare.
So TDK just pips it, but Batman's not far behind. Which do you think is the best?
I could never really get into Batman Begins though.
Although I don't think the new film is the masterpeice some are claiming it to be, I do think its a brilliant peice of cinema, and will probably be the best movie of the year. Despite running for around 2 and a half hours it is almost consistently riveting. Nolan keeps the thread taut throughout, only allowing the audience to relax temporarily before building to his next set peice.
The highlights are numerous:
The opening back robbery has a real sense of drama and plunges the audience right into the thick of things.
Batman's first appearance.
Christian Bale seemed much more comfortable this time around, I really bought him as Bruce Wayne
The Scarecrow cameo.
Michael Caine in general.
The Tokyo subplot.
Morgan Freeman in general.
Batman saving the falling Rachel.
Gary Oldman in general.
Commissioner Gordons apparent assasination
The Harvey Dent/Two Face development
Batman taking the blame and telling Gordon to hunt him.
Heath Ledger in general. It goes without saying that he lifts this film to another level entirely, without him TDK would still be a good film but it wouldn't be a great film. He's funny, maniacal, eccentric and often chilling and when he's on the screen he's compulsive. I don't know about you but in my cinema everytime he appeared the audience were completely silent, all fidgeting and rustling of popcorn stopped. He had so much quotable dialogue too and all the stuff in reference to him and Batman needing each other was great. I love that moment when Gordon gets his promotion and The Jokers applauding along too. Ledger's performance paper's over the cracks and distracts you from the flaws, at least until you leave the cinema anyway.
How Nolan is going to top this next time (if there's a next time) I don't know.
I still have a special place in my heart for Batman 89. Michael Keaton's great as Wayne, Kim Basinger was a much more credible love interest than Rachel Dawes and once again The Joker steals the show. Nicholson's performance is much more lightweight than Ledger's but still compelling and one way or another Burton set the tone for much of what was to follow. As great as Nolan's films are, Burton's fingerprints are all over them, everything from the darkness of Gotham, Wayne dealing with his demons, Batman flitting from the shadows and the sweeping orchestral music are all here. It has that spark of magic which is so rare.
So TDK just pips it, but Batman's not far behind. Which do you think is the best?
I could never really get into Batman Begins though.
I don't understand the comparison. Batman Forever didn't do anything we hadn't seen before from the franchise.
Oh yes they did. Let's stick to Batman though.
