Re: Two-Face's appearance

I was initially disappointed with the over-the-top look, but then I thought about how it's pretty difficult to settle on a realistic look for a guy whose got half of his face completely mutilated. Yeah, I guess you could just have really bad scarring or something, but that's never been what any of the Two-Face incarnations have looked like.

I have to agree. The Rachel character just seems to be there for no reason at first glance.

At least in this one she had a purpose. She was the anchor for Bruce and Harvey at the same time. I found it heart breaking when Bruce finds out her fate and he tells Alfred that "she was waiting for me...Harvey can never know". She was the reason he kept wanting to come back to a normal life.. On the other hand, she was what kept Harvey sane. Kept him in touch with the real world. Maggie done a respectable job with the character, but I think honestly, she was just a plot device in both and her fate was the best way to deal with the character.

Just got back from seeing this on the IMax screen at the King of Prussia theater. This movie absorbed me more then any movie in recent memory. I wanted this movie to be bigger, darker, and more hard then Begins, and it delivered on every count. I am going again tomorrow, and this movie will be double-dipped by myself for years to come

This will be my first movie at an IMAX. The show I want to go at only has minimal seats to choose from. Is it the same experience at an IMAX from every seat in the place?

not that i mind, but why did the poll go from public to private?

Just saw it.

Friday night on opening week. 10 of us. And we got tickets early thanks to Sue L. She bought them early in the day and also thanks to some work we sat in the back row together. Not the best place for sound, as commented, on by Adam C., but still a fine piece of work. Actually got speeched on twice before the film started. Felt like being brought up to speed by a stewardess. One of the plebes explained to us the Exit doors location, the need to have tickets should we go out of the theatre, and the definite need to not have a cell phone/camera on during the film. Way to fight illegal downloading local theatre of mine.

It is largely a simple film review. Christopher Nolan has now directed 2 Batman films. He has saved the series from the inanity and stupidity of where it was left off. He has infused the franchise with life and purpose. Taking it from an almost childish exercise into an adult world. And now it is time he stops. The film has all the manner and styling that so many like, while sadly failing in almost all the definable categories that make a good piece of work. The story itself is convoluted and interrupts any real pacing. The film grinds to a halt so often that it seems to be the consistent theme more than anything else. The use of Harvey Dent as the focal point of human morality and mankinds future is a noble idea that fails repeatedly. The Batman himself seems to be in the film itself for so much less than one would expect.

Because this movie is all about the Joker. And sadly anything that takes away from that mars the project. Heath Ledger shows us the talent he brings to bear. I have very little good to say about this piece of work other than Ledger. Everytime the movie gains some momentum it is destroyed by useless scenes, characters that do not belong, things that go bump in the night. And in the bad way. I cannot even comprehend how anyone could enjoy this film. Heavy does not make worthy. Doom does not spell good writing, scriptwriting is not proven in the amount of catharis the characters are supposed to go through. A film is simply a film. Chris Nolan is not an action director and all the things he got wrong in that wein with the first film, he got wrong with this one also. You can chortle about the talents of Michael Bay but at least when he wants to make things roll he knows how. Chris Nolan has no real idea. And I wonder how much that self knowledge effects his choices during the film.

It fails as an Action film. Fails as a Graphic novel turned to the screen (can anyone look at this work and really admire the final result?). Fails as a statement on the humanity of man to man. Fails as a study of the descent into crime and madness. At least for Dent. Fails as a simple story, well told, of the Batman himself. Psychologically it attempts so many different explanations that they all fall on their swords. Lost in this attempt.

Except for Heath Ledger's "Joker".

In my life of watching film I am stunned by the work he does here. Having always enjoyed his work it was not so surprising that he earned the role. But there were still doubts. The film will prove to be his ascension. Marked as an actor of our time who is truly deserving of our admiration and awe. He owns this movie. It is all about him. Almost anything that does not include him is subpar. There is no concretely decent reason that this film could not have gone forward with Batman versus the Joker. Is this somehow not enough for a whole movie? Fuck right off. There was no need for Harvey Dent. Whatever Chris Nolan was trying to do it was immolated by the talent that Mr. Ledger brought to bare.

It was all about the Joker. Smarter. Faster. Stronger.

Even the Batman could not really deal with the game he was trying to play. The film made it obvious that what the Joker was bringing to the table he could not really deal with. And the bitch of the film is that this idea was only examined in a cursory manner. It explains the whole lack of focus we have to deal with. By exploring other storylines it only showed the lack of soul and heart that was endemic throughout the film. We had a 12 year old boy with a gun to his head, a hospital filled with defenceless invalids and a courtroom scene that would make any afficianado scream. Any Director that manipulates the story in such a fashion should be culled. He builds a scene where anyone familiar with the story assumes he will have acid thrown in his face. But then it does not happen. The Director knows what he is doing and it is frightful. Just playing with our knowledge. All these examples show the simple ways in which he manipulates all of us. Fucking bullshit.

I thank him for where he has taken us. And look forward to where we might go. It is time for someone else to run the machine.

Thank you Mr. Ledger.

So...I take it you didn't like it?

Preacher, why so serious?

Seems like Preacher just wanted to hate this movie.

That was quite the long winded review.

= J

Yeah, easily. Memento hasn't aged particularly well for me. I'd rather see any of his last three than that one. To be fair, I've only seen Following once, and it's been a few years, so his rookie outing might be the weakest.

But when Insomnia, Following, or the Prestige is your worst movie, you're not doing too bad for yourself.

Agreed. He's easily in the top echelon of Hollywood directors.

Then bring in Hugh Jackman as Deadshot or Bane and we're all set...

Insomnia is definitely his weakest film. Stylish, but nowhere near the level of the brilliant original film. The Prestige is a brilliant piece of work that really benefits from repeat viewings.

Okay question for you guys:

I'm a weird one, Memento is his worst film, in my opinion. It relies way too much on the gimmick.

To answer Popcorn's question.

Spoilerizing in review threads is annoying.

It's the same address switching that led me to believe that the ferries were actually wired to themselves, not each other. If they chose to "save" themselves by blowing up the other boat, they'd actually do themselves in.

Of course, there's no way to know that for sure, but it's fun to think about

I thought about that. I can see that being part of the "plan". Even if it wasn't, it was still a damn nifty plan. Turn people against people.

Then again, I still say the best part is...

"Wanna see a magic trick!?"

And I have to say, I just read Preachers review and if you don't like it - that is fine. But man, that was a long winded pretentious review .

Wow...I guess I ought to be more careful when I turn my brain off during the summer.

Your comments remind me of an old joke that goes like this:

Q: How many guitarists does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Ten. One to screw it in, and nine to stand around and say, "That's easy. I could do that."

*Its a review thread so I am not using spoilers*

I really loved the movie. The one thing that popped into my mind was that the Joker was all about anarchy. But when you come to think of it. Everything he did was carefully planned out. He is an evil Genius. I mean the bank scene was perfectly planned out. Even the Magic Trick was planned out. There is also the interrogation scene where he knew he was going to get caught.

I just loved the fact that he had he had no real motivation for what he did except to sit back and see the results. He played on his belief that everyone has a price. Thats why Batman was his perfect counterpart.

I just cant wait to see this movie again..I think Nolan is one of a few top directors in Hollywood right now. As for a third. Whit the way this movie was I almost hope there wont be a third to end the franchise on such a prefect note.

Re: the Rachel/Dent dilemma,

I don't think the Joker gave a shit who Batman wanted to save. He just wanted to fuck with him.

Oh, and

Then have the thread retitled to indicate that there are spoilers. A little more clicking probably won't inflame your RSI, and it might save someone's moviegoing experience.

I liked it. Even at 2.5 hours it dropped around in points that made me ffel it was missing 20 minutes of intended fooage. Ledger is amazing as the Joker. I don't think it is great though, and not sure I would want to see it again.