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Movie Title: The Dark Knight (2008)
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Casting: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Release date: July 18 2008
I deliberately waited to see this film because I wanted to know if it was worth all the hype surrounding it. My verdict? When there is someone as brilliant as Heath Ledger in the film, everything is going to look just that little bit better...no matter how dodgy it is.
For starters, in the history of Batman movies, there has never been a well-written, well-developed female lead. Their dialogue has always been glib and lacking in-depth...So with such crappy material to work with, is anyone shocked that even a quirky and charismatic Maggie Gyllenhaal falls flat?
When you also consider the amateurish makeup (and the rule of thumb in the film makeup is, that if anyone comments on it, you've done a genuinely feral job), and also the equally flashy lighting, and also a director who has NO IDEA how to direct female actors, is it any wonder that critics have panned Maggie Gyllenhaal? Anyway, even at her worst, Maggie is 100 times better than unsymmetrical whinging Katie Holmes.
Bruce Wayne in this film has not got the same cheeky spark and charisma that was present in Batman Begins. If this was a choice to attempt to show that Bruce has become jaded by his heroic activities, it was not executed well. Bruce appeared bored and unmotivated. And I am confused as to why he suddenly has a "Bruce Wayne" voice and a "Batman" voice. I am equally confused as to why said voice has a prominent lisp. Was Bruce Wayne an avid fan of Elmer Fudd? I know not.
What can I say about the incredible Heath Ledger that has not already been said? He makes something as simple as using hand sanitizer give you goosebumps. Enough said.