I saw The Dark Knight for a third time Sunday afternoon. And man.... it gets better every time. Look, I love Citizen Kane, Vertigo, Casablanca, Gone With The Wind, Lawrence of Arabia, and The Godfather, but I'm going to go ahead and say it: this is the best film I've ever seen. Yes, probably all of those films (and many others) will always have a bigger impact on the history and future of filmmaking, but the quality of this film (groundbreaking for the genre) combined with my love of the Batman character and his world leave me completely unable to say otherwise. The Dark Knight also, of course, dethrones the great Batman Begins as my favorite film of all-time. It sure is good to be a Batman fan right now...
Josiah Valin
14 years ago
5 comments:
a well drafted blog
wishes
Well thank you very much!
kudos to the makers Dark Knight for their record breaking opening weekend... it's no wonder there's talk of another one coming out ASAP
While I would hesitate placing the film into any historical rank for the moment, I think we could make fair comparisons for The Joker, right?
Certainly, the "ultimate big screen villain" label that Nolan applied to the character holds true. Let it be Vader, Hannibal or Nicholson, The Joker from Heath Ledger has earned to be mentioned in there, at whatever position.
Of course, the fact that it was his last role will probably make it all that more memorable for a lot of people as well, however uncesarry it might, considering the performance can stand on its own.
Thanks for your thoughts, cielos. And you know, you're absolutely right. It's a little unfair to all the great work that's come before to say that a movie is "the best movie I've ever seen" after only 5 days/four viewings. I realize that it probably makes me look a bit silly and who knows? I could be jumping the gun.
However, it's just tough for me to really think any different at this point. I love Batman and love film and this is the Batman film that I've always been waiting for.... a Batman film that used all of the great source material and made something quite possibly even better. I never thought we'd see a Batman film this excellent.
Does it have flaws? Yes.... just like any other film -- even the great ones -- it has a few. Is it possible that it may not hold up as well as I think over time? Of course.... we've seen stranger things before.
I'll be the first to admit that I really, really liked the new Star Wars films (Episodes I and II) when they first came out. I never thought they were anywhere as good as this, but I still got caught up in the hype and thought more highly of them than I should have. But, with the arrival of Revenge of the Sith and with the passing of a few more years, I've realized that they're really not great. Decent, but not great. They tried to be and maybe they could've been, but we can only judge the finished product.
So yes, there's always that possibility. But, with The Dark Knight, I am choosing to go against my better judgment and just say what I truly feel. And, really.... I'm no film critic, anyway. I have no formal training of any kind in the world of film, so my opinion admittedly doesn't hold a candle to those who have. I'm just a guy who loves movies and one who, at least at this point, adores this film.
As for Heath's Joker: I couldn't agree more. Even at this point, I think this is indisputably a villainous performance for the ages. When discussing the all-time greats, this Joker definitely belongs in that conversation. The tragic circumstances surrounding the performance my prove to elevate it, but you're right, it really doesn't need it. He was just that good.
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