He's back...With A Review Of "The Dark Knight"

Just so you all know, this is only a temporary return, but a faithful reader made me realize that I could not shut down the blog (on which I spent so many posts talking about The Dark Knight) without actually reviewing it. So here you go, a SPOILER-FREE review:

It is the afternoon after seeing the midnight showing of The Dark Knight and I am still feeling blown away by it. To start off, the performances all-around were great ones. Maggie Gyllenhaal was a very solid improvement over Katie Holmes in the role of Rachel Dawes and Heath Ledger was absolutely brilliant as everyone's favorite psychopathic clown, the Joker, but it was Aaron Eckhart who sold this movie for me. Harvey Dent may be one of the most tragic characters I’ve ever witnessed on the big screen and I thought he pulled it off impressively. Joker provided all the cool fights and awesome, maniacal dialogue, but I came away from the movie knowing that it was Dent at its heart and soul.

With that being said, The Dark Knight is just that, "dark." Actually, to be more accurate, this movie is pitch black. It dwells in the gray area that is morality and the decisions that surround the subject. There is no black and white in this movie, everyone is forced to make decisions that are uncomfortable and immoral. Some of the characters, such as the Joker, live for these decisions. As Harvey Dent says, "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." This is a movie that I found myself struggling to deal with some of the morality-based decisions long after the credits had finished rolling. For that, I compare it to Gone, Baby, Gone, another solid movie, albeit, much different from The Dark Knight.

The strongest aspect of the entire movie is the fact that from time to time, you forget that you are watching a Batman movie. The movie goes beyond the comic book genre and is a great crime-thriller. The opening bank heist is one for the books, as are all of the Joker's (and the mob's) other plans. The story and dialogue are extremely well written and, for the most part, keep you at the edge of your seat. At the very end of the movie, a character that I will not reveal the name of gives a very powerful and very moving speech at the end of which, the movie cuts to credits. I cannot tell you the last time I was literally unable to move my eyes from the screen due to dialogue in a movie. I sat there transfixed as names flew by, just thinking.

As for the cinematography, all I can say is one word, "Stunning." Seeing it in IMAX (and occasionally feeling as though I was falling off the top of a skyscraper) was worth the extra price and I plead with as many of you as possible to see it in this format. Chicago provided the perfect sweeping landscape of buildings and high rises for Gotham City and I loved it. Nolan has created a beautiful, well-crafted film that deserves its place atop the list of the best comic book movies of all time.

All that being said, there was one thing I was disappointed about. At the IMAX theater I was at, we got a title card of sorts for the new Harry Potter movie in 3-D and we got the Watchmen trailer (which is awesome) but there was no Terminator 4 trailer (which had also been rumored to have been attached).

I can’t wait to see this again tonight at 6:30 with a different group of friends (and yes, we’ll be seeing it in IMAX). Everyone else, you know what to do. Now go.

EDIT: After seeing this movie twice, it's just as fantastic. I still jumped, I still laughed and I still got chills. On a sidenote, the movie is rated at a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes after just under 200 reviews and is on IMDB's Top 250 Movies of all time at #3 after just over 7,000 votes. Everyone has to see this film NOW.

ANOTHER EDIT: The Dark Knight is up to #1 on IMDB's Top 250 Movies after over 23,000 votes. WOW. Also, the comments are open to spoilers, so don't read them unless you've seen the movie.

For Now

So for the past few months, I have been blogging about pop culture as a whole, whether it be reviewing music and movies, embedding interesting videos or posting award show results. It has been a fun entry into the world of blogging and has opened my eyes to the possibility of journalism as a career. Unfortunately, I have recently lost my motivation to keep posting and will thus be retiring this (and my only) blog. I'll still read others' entries as well as comment here and there, but there are far too many sites out there that provide information that is just as good, if not better, than mine.

I wanted to wish you all a fond farewell, because I would certainly hate to leave my faithful readers hanging without a proper goodbye. After 93 posts and over 1500 page hits, you've made it very enjoyable and maybe, someday, I'll return to my old stomping grounds with renewed vigor. Until then, check out sites such as /Film, AICN, Paste Magazine, Pitchfork, and TheYawkeeWay, among many others.

So with that, I am done. For now.

Hey!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

The Dark Knight (again)

I just want you all to know that I got my ticket for The Dark Knight today for the opening midnight showing at the IMAX theater in Harrisburg. You should all rush out to get yours as well seeing as how shows are already selling out (2 1/2 weeks in advance!). More reviews have come in (as well as a new trailer and poster) and they've all been phenominal.






And here's a clip of DMB playing Pink Floyd's Money in Hershey (at the show I went to). Of course, YouTube sound isn't great, but there's actual audio recordings on the net if you want them. I listened to one today, the show really was musically amazing.

Led Zeppelin

No, there's no breaking news to be reported here, I'm just supposed to be doing chemistry homework and got distracted, so I'm going to try and post the full Led Zeppelin reunion concert at the 02 Arena in London, England on 12/10/07 here. My dad and I went, we were on the floor, dead center, about 100 feet from the stage, so this one's for you Dad:

Good Times Bad Times




Ramble On




Black Dog




In My Time Of Dying




For Your Life (Live Debut)




Trampled Under Foot




Nobody's Fault But Mine




No Quarter




Since I've Been Lovin' You




Dazed and Confused
-Part 1 (Due to YouTube time limits)




-Part 2




Stairway to Heaven




The Song Remains the Same




Misty Mountain Hop




Kashmir




Encore:
Whole Lotta Love




2nd Encore:
Rock and Roll




Thanks to bdknocks on YouTube for taking the time to edit the songs into a fan-made concert video. I don't know if we'll ever get a concert CD or DVD.

Dave Matthews Band

I don't know how many of you are Dave Matthews Band fans, but regardless, you should all see them live. I just got back from their show in Hershey where they played for 3 hours (2 1/2 hours, a 5 minute break, and then a 1/2 hour encore) and it was, definitively, the best concert I have ever seen. Here was the set list (off of DMB's website):

Old Dirt Hill
Everyday
You Might Die Trying
Eh Hee
Grey Street
Bartender
Corn Bread
Out Of My Hands *
Dancing Nancies
Typical Situation
Where Are You Going +
Crash Into Me
Jimi Thing
So Damn Lucky
Rhyme And Reason
So Much To Say
Anyone Seen The Bridge
Too Much

__________________

Money +
Two Step
Ants Marching

Show Notes:
* No Horns, Dave on piano
+ Without Rashawn

indicates a segue into next song

I have seen the likes of Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Aerosmith, John Mayer, Ben Folds, Dropkick Murphys, Reel Big Fish, Emerson Drive and Everclear among others, but only a few even held a candle to this show. I am currently sitting in a state of euphoria as I write this. Tim Reynolds played with the band tonight as a rare treat and his guitar playing was out of this world. There was a moment in Two Step where he finished his mind-numbing solo and it was almost undescribable. I say almost because on the car ride home, I thought of a way to describe it, albeit in a bit of a raunchy way. Imagine you are a guy having an orgasm. For a split second, your mind goes completely blank and you feel utter joy and happiness. That was what my mind did at the end of the solo. It orgasmed.

I don't know if any of you have seen one of your favorite bands where you sang and danced to every song and the band happened to play all of your favorites, but if you haven't, I suggest trying it. It's quite satisfying.

Also, I think this is worth mentioning: you know the first song in their encore, Money? Yeah, that was a cover of Pink Floyd's Money, it was mind-blowing.

Stunned

Have you ever been riveted by a movie review? Me either. Or at least not until just now. Let's put it this way, I can hardly type because I'm shaking with excitement. AICN (Ain't It Cool News for those that don't know) just posted an early review of The Dark Knight and it is beyond complimentary. Here's a few (spoiler-free) quotes:

"The film feels more like a crime drama in a grand city scape than a typical comic book movie. It feels like Heat except Batman is Al Pacino and The Joker is Robert De Niro and just like in that film we have a great scene between Heath Ledger and Christian Bale across a table. There is also an element of a Greek Tragedy.. There is a vast sense of morality at play within the film."

"The run time is two and a half hours. It doesn't feel that long as there is so much going on within the film."

“The Joker is almost more of a terrorist than criminal. He is not motivated by money. He wants to see people suffer.”

And lastly:
"Ive always felt Christopher Nolan was able to handle pacing unlike many movies that are over two hours these days. This is also his first entirely linear film and he proves himself to be a gifted storyteller and a master of utilising film as a visual medium. He fills each frame with so much scope and detail. You can tell he is enjoying himself with the amount of money he is being allowed to play with and wants to better himself and the franchise. Although this movie doesn't feel like an instalment in a franchise. The best thing I can think of for comparison is The Godfather Part 2."

Did you hear that?!?!? The Godfather, Part 2 (which, in this viewer's humble opinion, is the best of the three parts)?!?!? This is going to be incredible, I can't believe July 18th is so far away and yet so close!