lauralh | third row

The Dark Knight was pretty packed tonight, so we had to sit pretty close. I had to almost lay down in order to see the entire screen. The previews were hard to follow, even the ones I'd seen before, and I was worried the movie would be likewise. I had forgotten a couple things but that was the only bit that got me confused. In general, this was a completely awesome movie. I read another review that said it was the Yang to Iron Man's Yin, like bookends of summer comic book movies.

Anyway it's pretty fantastic. I don't actually know people who don't love the Batman, but if I did, I'd tell them to see this film. This is the only portrayal of the Joker that actually hits the mark, I think. You could easily picture Heath Ledger's Joker gleefully beating the shit out of Gordon with a lead pipe. (A pity he won't get to.) And yet he still connects with the audience on that charming psychopath level that made Hannibal Lector an icon; you wouldn't let either of them alone with your family.

While the movie is far from realism, it was nice to see that the Joker's homemade bombs and such actually looked goddamned homemade. Ditto on his makeup. Even when fresh it was far from perfect. And oh man, his constant retelling of how he got those scars. Awesome. And of course, all of the Joker's henchmen are former Arkham inmates. Who the hell finds this guy charismatic and worth following, despite a chance of quick death? Other paranoid schizophrenics.