Dark Knight Review

Anyone who doesn’t like “The Dark Knight” is an idiot. If you can’t get on board with this film then go see “Mama Mia” and stay away from me. You probably liked “Episode 1” and thought Jar Jar was funny and cute. Go away. You’re not welcome here. I was shaking when I left the theater. There are moments so intense that I said to myself, “This isn’t a comic book movie.” Dark Knight is much more than that. Like when graphic novels where put in the hands of adults in the 80’s. Everything changed. I remember reading the Dark Knight graphic novels as a teenager and they blew my mind. No longer the stuff to be folded up and put in the back of a kid’s pocket to read after little league. This movie was by and for the adult fans of a medium that had grown up with them. And should be put in a collector’s case. “And inside a creature wreaths and snarls and tells me what I need,” said a middle aged Batman in the graphic novel that changed my life. This film is not the actual story of the 4-part Dark Knight novel but the sequel to the already great “Batman Begins”. How do you make a film better than “Batman Begins”? You add the one villain that has always haunted Batman. And you have a brilliant actor add uncomfortable creepiness that kept me uneasy every time he was on screen. Heath Ledger is great in this film. I can only imagine what roles he would have amazed us with had he not died. I know this is a comedy website with sarcastic reviews and comedy films for sale, but I hope people realize that just because a doctor gave it to you doesn’t mean it’s safe. Or should be mixed with Alcohol. I’m sorry for getting soap boxy but I like watching talented people do their thing and it makes me sad. This film captures the torment and saga of the Batman mythology. Drawing from great storylines in the comic, we see how all of the characters, from Jim Gordon to Two-face, came to be. The vague explanation of Joker’s origin is a perfect view into the fog of his madness. We also see Batman’s crazy logic as somewhat reasonable after all is revealed. How his choices are always for the greater good, despite the blowback that he incurs. Haunting, intense, visually breathtaking and great supporting actors like the always interesting Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine make “The Dark Knight” one of the best sequels I’ve seen and the best film of the summer so far. I’m going to see this again on IMAX in the same outfit I had on today. Batman t-shirt, glow-in-the-dark Batman watch and Charter Member of the Batman & Robin Society ring. “The rain on my chest is a baptism.” Graham Elwood, comedy film nerd. PALM STRIKE!