Thursday, January 8, 2009

The Dark Knight

The Kitten and I do not like many of the same kinds of movies. She likes light romantic comedies and anything derivative of a Jane Austen novel, and my tastes sort of roam all over the map. Suffice it to say that the latest movie in the Batman series was not on her list of movies to see. One of the benefits of my little urban cubby hole in Arlington is that for one or two nights a week, I get to prowl Comcast On-Demand to find movies that I like to watch, and this week it was "The Dark Knight". I did not see it at the movies, partially due to my sense of distaste for all the kvetching that followed the untimely death of Heath Ledger, and the concomitant hagiography that followed in the media.

Enough time has passed where I felt it was time to take on what many movie reviewers were calling a great movie, and to finally see the performance that earned Heath Leger all that buzz. You know what? They were right. Heath Ledger played the most convincing psychopath I've seen in the movies since Jack Nicholson in The Shining ("all work and no play.....", and the movie is clearly the best in a series that just seems to keep getting better. Aaron Eckhart plays a great role as Harvey Dent, the star District Attorney who Ledger's Joker turns to the dark side.

Not a light-hearted romp, this movie is pretty dark--but definitely not without a redeeming social message. I doubt the Kitten will ever see this one, but most of the rest of you should.

8 comments:

Goldwater's Ghost said...

It thought it was good, but 45 minutes too long. And I agree that Aaron Eckhart was great, but ultimately wasted (two villians per movie is a bad formula).

But I thought Iron Man was better. Gwyneth Paltrow is definitely easier on the eyes than Maggie Gyllenhaal.

The Conservative Wahoo said...

Good points....though I actually didn't see Eckhart as much of a villain in the movie...more of just an unfortunate pawn of the true bad guy.

As for Iron Man--loved it. Absolutely loved it, and I loved Robert Downey Jr. (quoted recently as saying something like "any man who has spent time in prison comes to know the failure of liberal politics").

And Gwyneth Paltrow is definitely over the top hot.

Mudge said...

GG and CW - I'll be sure to pass your kind words to "Gwyn" this evening. Very kind words indeed.

Goldwater's Ghost said...

Mudge - you can have Gwen, just keep your mitts off of Kate Beckinsdale.

Doc Milnamo said...

I didn't see this film at the theatre for the same reasons as CW and agree with GG on the choice of eye candy and the length of movie. But...loved the film. I was thoroughly entertained.

During Christmas, the Cougar and I (ya see CW, kittens grow to cougars!) watched quite a few DVDs one of which was Lost In Translation. I like Bill Murray, and what's not to like about Miss Scarlet? But I kept waiting for this thing to begin and then it was over. Oh well, I guess I should just let art flow over me huh?

Anonymous said...

Did you see Valkyrie yet? Ignore the bad reviews-I thought it was great. We followed Valkyrie up immediately with a trip to the theater next door to see Marley and Me.

We should have just gone home.

And don't you think Gwyneth Paltrow is a little...bland?

Mudge said...

I just hate it when women fight over me. Sally, worry not, I'm just having dinner with an old friend. Nothing more than that. And since you asked, to you bland; to me natural, subtle and elegant.

Goldwater's Ghost said...

Sally, normally I'd agree with you, but in a toe-to-toe matchup, Maggie has nothing on Gwyneth. Heck, I'd even choose Jake Gyllenhaal over Maggie (Heath did too).

And besides, Gwen did look screaming hot in Iron Man.

Newer Post Older Post Home