Batman: The Dark Knight (2 Discs)

After so many mediocre comic book movies over the past few years, Nolan finally nails it with what is a near perfect realization of a classic hero. It turns out that realism is the key, while the first two Batman films are still classics - this one shows how it should really be done. Nicholson was brilliant as The Jokey, but this time you get a genuinely creepy and believable villain.

Ledger is simply mesmerizing and holds the whole film together, surrounded by a truly great cast. If you've not seen the film, then you'd quite rightly put down this Ledger hype to the fact he snuffed it just before release - but a breathing Ledger would still have garnered almost as much praise.

The look of the film is different to; this is unlike any of the current action hero crop. This time Batman inhabits the neon world of the cop thriller, strange how all of Batman's previous fights seemed to take place at night - then again, he is a bat.

For the most part it's a well balanced… more »

After so many mediocre comic book movies over the past few years, Nolan finally nails it with what is a near perfect realization of a classic hero. It turns out that realism is the key, while the first two Batman films are still classics - this one shows how it should really be done. Nicholson was brilliant as The Jokey, but this time you get a genuinely creepy and believable villain.

Ledger is simply mesmerizing and holds the whole film together, surrounded by a truly great cast. If you've not seen the film, then you'd quite rightly put down this Ledger hype to the fact he snuffed it just before release - but a breathing Ledger would still have garnered almost as much praise.

The look of the film is different to; this is unlike any of the current action hero crop. This time Batman inhabits the neon world of the cop thriller, strange how all of Batman's previous fights seemed to take place at night - then again, he is a bat.

For the most part it's a well balanced movie, with each character getting the right amount of screen time - although the set-up of a love triangle may try the patience a little.

When compared blow-to-blow with a full on action movie it's fair to say that Dark Knight may be found wanting in terms of explosive spectacle - but there's still enough of the old Batman here to please everybody. However, like a lot of current epics it does slightly outstay its welcome at the end - and it's the final ten minutes that are the film's weakest. Having said that, most films seem to fall down at this stage - and considering the fantastic 142 preceding minutes, this is still five star entertainment.

Batman Begins was an outstanding rethink of the adventures of the Dark Knight, that put the series firmly back on the tracks after the Train Wreck that was Batman and Robin. Director Nolan made the film more adult, and did away with the terrible day-glo and neon that distroyed the series in the pathetic camp 1997 movie.
So Successful was Batman Begins at restarting the series from the word go, that it was no surprise that the sequel would be made. But this movie is a very rare example of a sequel being better than the original. Much has been made about the late Heath Ledgers performance of the Joker, that you start to wonder if it is just movie hype. But the fact is that he pulls of a simply perfect turn as the clown from from hell, and manages to wipe the smile from Jack Nicholson's face of his 1989 incarnation. Ledger is both funny, sad and very scary. But a Batman film would not be any good without a good hero, and again Bale turns in another superb brooding turn as the dark… more »

Batman Begins was an outstanding rethink of the adventures of the Dark Knight, that put the series firmly back on the tracks after the Train Wreck that was Batman and Robin. Director Nolan made the film more adult, and did away with the terrible day-glo and neon that distroyed the series in the pathetic camp 1997 movie.
So Successful was Batman Begins at restarting the series from the word go, that it was no surprise that the sequel would be made. But this movie is a very rare example of a sequel being better than the original. Much has been made about the late Heath Ledgers performance of the Joker, that you start to wonder if it is just movie hype. But the fact is that he pulls of a simply perfect turn as the clown from from hell, and manages to wipe the smile from Jack Nicholson's face of his 1989 incarnation. Ledger is both funny, sad and very scary. But a Batman film would not be any good without a good hero, and again Bale turns in another superb brooding turn as the dark avenger, that balaces the manic of the Joker perfectly. The film has an added bonus of intoducing Harvey Dent who becomes the Nemesis two-Face, but don't worry if you think there will be another terrible over the top performance as Tommy Lee Jones did in Batman Forever, this again is a subtle and disturbing journey into madness. All the stars of the film are top class, and the performances are brilliant.Gotham city is also extended, by the viewer seeing it from the streets and not just from the rooftops, and you really do get a feel for what a pitt of crime and corruption it is supposed to be. Director Nolan has managed to make a summer blockbuster with brains, that thrills the eye just as much as it taxes the brain.
This has to be the best film of the year so far, and possibly the best comic book adaption to date.
This is a must see movie that has to be seen on a massive screen.
Superb!