The Dark Knight

Devin Griffiths: Welcome back to Cineplex 14. I know that I've been going over my Best Picture films, and I promise that I will get back to them next. I'm actually doing an experimental review tonight. I have asked my friend Eric Wood to co-review this film with me, and if you, the reader, enjoy what we have to say, then I may just keep him on. Eric, welcome.

Eric Wood: Thank you Chuck

DG : We decided tonight to do an easy review. We'll be reviewing The Dark Knight, 2008's summer blockbuster hit, sequel to 2005's Batman Begins. And I can honestly say, wow. When this movie was announced and casting was listed, I got worried, wondering if it could possibly live up to the masterpiece that was Batman Begins. What about you?

EW: Well Devin, I never really worried about it, silly twurp that I am. I looked at the commercial and thought, "this is going to rock." So, as far as educated guesses, I can only say that I was worried that what the commercials had shown would not live up to the standards I already had in mind. But was I worried? Not too much. I mean, we did have Batman Begins to go off of.

DG: True, very true. So, we saw it in theaters, together actually, and the film begins and we're given a bank robbery right away and show the madness (and brilliance) of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker. We're then given a feel that this film hasn't forgotten it's roots and what made it special as we get a cameo from Cillian Murphy as The Scarecrow, and even people dressing up as Batman, copying him, much like Frank Miller's comic The Dark Knight Returns. That was the comic, right?

EW: Well, yes, that was a tip of the hat to the comic, Devin. But I feel now that this movie was rather telling the back story behind what happened in the Frank Miller comic. We are pulled into the world from Batman's view because of the tenasity of the Joker. Joker has no rules, Batman does. Heath Leder's acting brought that out real well. I remember the "Let me do a magic trick" part. It really pushed the enveloped on that one.

DG: Yeah, it truly did. Let us talk about the acting for a moment.

EW: Okay

DG: I know that I am in the minority when I say this, but I truly believe that, although Heath Ledger was amazing, I believe that Aaron Eckhart stole the show as Harvey Dent, and, not trying to bash Ledger's wonderful performance, but I think that Eckhart should have recieved the Oscar Nomination.

EW: I'm not going to disagree with you Devin in that Eckhart was good. He was, and so were the other members of the cast. But I still feel really attached to Ledger's performance. However, I have a middle ground idea. They were two power house actors, and the movie seemed to realize that, and gave the first half of the film to Ledger, and the last of it to Eckhart.

DG: Yeah, you're right there. They were equals, and in fact all of the cast was outstanding. I just believe that it was Harvey Dent's movie.

EW: Well, I don't.

DG: The rise and fall of Gotham's White Knight.

EW: I think that was the moral at the end of the movie, but the movie was about the story leading up to that, or rather, consisted of what happened that could destroy someone. Ledger was the meal, Eckhart was the after taste. That's my take anyway, and a short version too.

DG: Alright, well let me ask you this. In the case of 'If Heath Ledger was still alive', would you still feel the same way?

EW: Well, you got me. I can't truthfully say Yes a hundred percent sure. From an entertainment stand point, though, Ledger gave me, personally, more than Eckhart. I think that was the point.

DG: You may be right.

EW: Of course.

DG: Well, we could go on bickering about casting for a while. You know, I can honestly say that when I hear the name Christopher Nolan, I know I'm in for a treat. Ever since Memento. To steal a quote from Dark Knight and change it up a bit, "I Believe in Christopher Nolan".

EW: Hmm, it’s really a shame that more people don't know his name as much as the actors'. That includes me

DG: That's alright, buddy. I could drop names of directors that I'm sure you've never even heard of, but we won't go into that now.

EW: Thank you for sparing me. You're so kind.

DG: This film is definitely a dark psychological thriller. It definitely deserves is PG-13 rating, and could have even been pushed to an R. It's not just simply a Batman film, it's a dark and gritty crime drama.

EW: I think R would have allowed more for the dark tone. I mean, we have had a few R comic book movies before.

DG: I agree. Well, Eric. I think I'm going to give this film 9 out of 10. I would give it a perfect 10, but I think that it dragged a little too much at some parts. It was just a little too long at two hours and forty-five minutes. Not too mention a couple little plot holes that always bug me when I see them, such as getting fingerprints off a shattered bullet when the fingerprint would be on the bullet casing.

EW: And I think perhaps YOU dragged on a little too much.

DG: Maybe a little. What would you give it?

EW: I give it three ratings: 10/10 for entertainment, 9/10 for personal like and dislikes, and 8.5/10 for overall great picture. I give it that because there have been more powerful films that hurt you, uplift you. This film did that, but not as much as others. It took us to the edge, but didn't push us over too much.

DG: Definitely.

EW: Yeah, and I give it three ratings because films are complicated. Especially this one.

DG: Well, thank you Eric for being my co-reviewer tonight, it was an honor having you, and I hope that we can do this again.

EW: I look forward to it. Thank you very much.