Comments on: The Dark Knight http://hollylisle.com/the-dark-knight/ read with hunger, write with joy, live with passion Thu, 24 May 2012 02:55:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: learn chinese http://hollylisle.com/the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8321 learn chinese Sat, 18 Sep 2010 11:57:36 +0000 http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/?p=4336#comment-8321 This is the superb topic to talk about. Appreciate setting up this site. I know there are many looking for these kinds of discussion. This is the superb topic to talk about. Appreciate setting up this site. I know there are many looking for these kinds of discussion.

]]> By: DaltonLynne http://hollylisle.com/the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8320 DaltonLynne Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:30:54 +0000 http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/?p=4336#comment-8320 I agree with your comments about TDK . . . it was so true to the Batman comic, no wonder it's awesome. Definitely worth watching on the big screen. In fact, if you don't, it's almost like doing the film a disservice. Yeah. That's how good it is. I agree with your comments about TDK . . . it was so true to the Batman comic, no wonder it’s awesome.

Definitely worth watching on the big screen. In fact, if you don’t, it’s almost like doing the film a disservice. Yeah. That’s how good it is.

]]> By: kcramer http://hollylisle.com/the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8319 kcramer Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:47:12 +0000 http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/?p=4336#comment-8319 The darkness is one of the things I loved about The Dark Knight. That's part of what made it feel so much more real than the campy superhero movies we usually encounter. It was dark and gritty and didn't shy away from anything, yet at the same time the filmmakers managed to balance the subtlety of the underlying themes. Christopher Nolan definitely has a knack for this sort of storytelling. Even "Batman Begins" was vastly superior to the previous Batman movies and to most of the other superhero movies of the past two decades, and I think it's because Nolan isn't afraid to put the darker side of things on display. I enjoyed Iron Man as well but, as Holly mentioned, that film had a message that was hammered home instead of layered into each scene in a less blatant way. Iron Man was a fun movie but it didn't impact me the same way The Dark Knight did. The Dark Knight really made me *feel* the story, feel the characters, and it kept me thinking long after I'd left the theater. The darkness is one of the things I loved about The Dark Knight. That’s part of what made it feel so much more real than the campy superhero movies we usually encounter. It was dark and gritty and didn’t shy away from anything, yet at the same time the filmmakers managed to balance the subtlety of the underlying themes.

Christopher Nolan definitely has a knack for this sort of storytelling. Even “Batman Begins” was vastly superior to the previous Batman movies and to most of the other superhero movies of the past two decades, and I think it’s because Nolan isn’t afraid to put the darker side of things on display.

I enjoyed Iron Man as well but, as Holly mentioned, that film had a message that was hammered home instead of layered into each scene in a less blatant way. Iron Man was a fun movie but it didn’t impact me the same way The Dark Knight did. The Dark Knight really made me *feel* the story, feel the characters, and it kept me thinking long after I’d left the theater.

]]> By: Rick http://hollylisle.com/the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8318 Rick Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:55:33 +0000 http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/?p=4336#comment-8318 Saw it the day after I read this, and I was not disappointed. The first Batman left me a little disinterested, but this one was absolutely fantastic. Everything you say, Holly, is spot on. And... damn. It's probably the darkest movie I've seen in about ten years. It was great, but SERIOUSLY twisted. Saw it the day after I read this, and I was not disappointed. The first Batman left me a little disinterested, but this one was absolutely fantastic. Everything you say, Holly, is spot on.

And… damn. It’s probably the darkest movie I’ve seen in about ten years. It was great, but SERIOUSLY twisted.

]]> By: Jess http://hollylisle.com/the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8317 Jess Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:50:15 +0000 http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/?p=4336#comment-8317 re: the asylum patron: I've heard so many conflicting accounts on if that was supposed to be Scarecrow or not! I've finally decided no - doesn't Batman give the guy's name, which is clearly not Jonathan Crane? But anyway, I loved the pencil thing too. I just had hoped it wasn't the first thing quoted at me all the time. (The original tagline, "Why so serious?" is better, I think.) Also *cringes* at the "Don't want to offend the Americans" bit. Uhm, got no words for that. I can see the Icon thing but really, I don't care who makes my movie as long as they make it well. re: the asylum patron: I’ve heard so many conflicting accounts on if that was supposed to be Scarecrow or not! I’ve finally decided no – doesn’t Batman give the guy’s name, which is clearly not Jonathan Crane? But anyway,

I loved the pencil thing too. I just had hoped it wasn’t the first thing quoted at me all the time. (The original tagline, “Why so serious?” is better, I think.)

Also *cringes* at the “Don’t want to offend the Americans” bit. Uhm, got no words for that. I can see the Icon thing but really, I don’t care who makes my movie as long as they make it well.

]]> By: vanity http://hollylisle.com/the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8316 vanity Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:19:44 +0000 http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/?p=4336#comment-8316 Regarding the pencil: I was shocked and amused at the same time, so it was a very memorable moment. The other stuff that the joker did was interesting as well, but that first bit came a little bit out of the blue and that's why it stuck with me. Scarecrow - what wide eyed asylum patron look? The scarecrow only appeared in the beginning, the wide eyed asylum patron near the end was just a random guy from Arkham. Oh and I found this youtube comment accurate (and funny) as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faPb6nRlpFk Regarding the pencil: I was shocked and amused at the same time, so it was a very memorable moment. The other stuff that the joker did was interesting as well, but that first bit came a little bit out of the blue and that’s why it stuck with me.

Scarecrow – what wide eyed asylum patron look? The scarecrow only appeared in the beginning, the wide eyed asylum patron near the end was just a random guy from Arkham.

Oh and I found this youtube comment accurate (and funny) as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faPb6nRlpFk

]]> By: Mr Roberts http://hollylisle.com/the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8315 Mr Roberts Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:59:19 +0000 http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/?p=4336#comment-8315 If you check out the main people behind the movie you'll see that there is a very strong British connection including Chris Nolan who is half British. hhyates got it with right with the comment "not a product of Hollywood" which can be said not just about the director but by a handful of people involved in the films making. I was watching a report on the movie here in the UK where the large Brit connection was obviously celebrated. Apparently though this is information that is practically skipped over by Warner Bros in the states because, and I quote " we don't want to offend the Americans". I don't get this and wonder why/if this would be the case. Is it because Batman is an American icon and only Americans should be able to do it Justice or am I way off par and it's a load of rubbish. Just curious. If you check out the main people behind the movie you’ll see that there is a very strong British connection including Chris Nolan who is half British.

hhyates got it with right with the comment “not a product of Hollywood” which can be said not just about the director but by a handful of people involved in the films making.

I was watching a report on the movie here in the UK where the large Brit connection was obviously celebrated. Apparently though this is information that is practically skipped over by Warner Bros in the states because, and I quote ” we don’t want to offend the Americans”. I don’t get this and wonder why/if this would be the case. Is it because Batman is an American icon and only Americans should be able to do it Justice or am I way off par and it’s a load of rubbish.

Just curious.

]]> By: Irtanu http://hollylisle.com/the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8314 Irtanu Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:30:40 +0000 http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/?p=4336#comment-8314 I saw it again last night. Better the second time, I was able to truly revel in Mr. Ledger's acting, and the storyline and dialogue itself. Brilliant film. Perhaps my favorite film of all time. And don't diss the pencil joke scene. That was fucking nuts and so original (so far as I know). I also love Joker when he mutters to himself: "No, I'm not . . . "I'm not crazy." But the highlight of the acting, for me, had to be in the hospital scene. Simply amazing. And very disturbing. I saw it again last night. Better the second time, I was able to truly revel in Mr. Ledger’s acting, and the storyline and dialogue itself. Brilliant film. Perhaps my favorite film of all time.

And don’t diss the pencil joke scene. That was fucking nuts and so original (so far as I know).

I also love Joker when he mutters to himself:

“No, I’m not . . .

“I’m not crazy.”

But the highlight of the acting, for me, had to be in the hospital scene. Simply amazing. And very disturbing.

]]> By: hhyates http://hollylisle.com/the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8313 hhyates Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:18:26 +0000 http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/?p=4336#comment-8313 I haven't seen the movie yet, but I did look up how it went over the weekend. I loved the first movie. Check out "Batman director takes Hollywood by storm." (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2136753620080721) Director Christopher Nolan might have been able to skip the typical Hollywood production because "he's not a product of Hollywood." It looks like this "auter" really succeeded with TDK. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I did look up how it went over the weekend. I loved the first movie.
Check out “Batman director takes Hollywood by storm.” (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2136753620080721)
Director Christopher Nolan might have been able to skip the typical Hollywood production because “he’s not a product of Hollywood.”
It looks like this “auter” really succeeded with TDK.

]]> By: hollylisle http://hollylisle.com/the-dark-knight/comment-page-1/#comment-8312 hollylisle Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:48:24 +0000 http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/?p=4336#comment-8312 <b>Iron Man</b> vs. <b>Dark Knight</b>. I liked Iron Man. Enough to see it a few times (unlike anything else prior to <b>Dark Night</b> except for <b>Kung Fu Panda</b>). But <b>Iron Man</b> did not transcend its genre. It was a very good superhero movie. <b>Dark Knight</b> transcended its genre. And it transcended its medium. Films generally suffer in terms of being meaningful without being "message-y", simply because of space limitations. Asking a movie to be as deep and rich an experience as a book is like asking a dog to play the piano like a classical pianist. He has no thumbs, man. <b>Dark Knight</b>, which stands toe to toe with Viktor Frankl's Man's <i>Search For Meaning</i> and does not blink, proves that not only can some dogs play the piano---they can perform Beethoven and never miss a note. And yes, I know I'm going to take some heat for daring to suggest that a superhero movie could have anything as deep or important in it as <i>Man's Search For Meaning</i>. Before you lambaste me, watch the movie a second time, ignore the stupid pencil joke (yeah, it was cute, yeah, I laughed, but if that was what you took away, you missed the movie), and actually look at the movie's theme. What are the characters saying? What are they doing? How are they changed? And WHY? Iron Man vs. Dark Knight. I liked Iron Man. Enough to see it a few times (unlike anything else prior to Dark Night except for Kung Fu Panda). But Iron Man did not transcend its genre. It was a very good superhero movie.

Dark Knight transcended its genre. And it transcended its medium. Films generally suffer in terms of being meaningful without being “message-y”, simply because of space limitations. Asking a movie to be as deep and rich an experience as a book is like asking a dog to play the piano like a classical pianist. He has no thumbs, man.

Dark Knight, which stands toe to toe with Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search For Meaning and does not blink, proves that not only can some dogs play the piano—they can perform Beethoven and never miss a note.

And yes, I know I’m going to take some heat for daring to suggest that a superhero movie could have anything as deep or important in it as Man’s Search For Meaning.

Before you lambaste me, watch the movie a second time, ignore the stupid pencil joke (yeah, it was cute, yeah, I laughed, but if that was what you took away, you missed the movie), and actually look at the movie’s theme. What are the characters saying? What are they doing? How are they changed? And WHY?

]]>