Man, this film is awesome from both production value and from entertainment POV. I think with this and Begins, I've started to forget the horror of Joel Schumacher's Batmans (the spandex, the nipples).

I didn't even recognised Heath Ledger in that make up which makes the whole thing even more terrifying.

OMG! Thanks for reviewing this, Garten! I really appreciate it lols

I was fearing that this may be bad or something, since some of my friends were saying that it was crap, while another one said it was simply just too long. Now I think I may enjoy it, actually :D

I was fearing that this may be bad or something, since some of my friends were saying that it was crap, while another one said it was simply just too long. Now I think I may enjoy it, actually :D

I suppose if someone goes in expecting hot/blazing action film, then that person will be disappointed. Because as I said before, the action is minimalist (although there are some cool moments) and sometimes kind of hard to follow (bad camera angles, bad editing). But I went in not expecting anything and ended up getting a really good drama/thriller film that's set in Batman universe.

Love the film too. Don't forget "I'm just a dog chasing the car, I wouldn't know what to do if I got one.".

Note that Joker's backgrounds (he told them about 2-3 times in the movie) never match? Some peeps also note that he's rolling his eyes while telling them, leading to the theory that he was making them up on the fly. To me, this joker never cares about anyone, not even himself. All he wants is chaos.

I loved the magic pencil trick and the nurse+hospital scene... And also Joker did mention that when he dropped Rachel.

>> Batman: "Let her go"
>> Joker: "Okay"* [lets Rachel falls from the balcony] - LOL

>> * in the trailer he says "Ooh, poor choice of words" but IIRC in the final film it was modified into just "Okay"?

Actually, the film that I saw he did say "Ooh, poor choice of words..."

I liked the scene at the hospital... casually walking out, and then stops, and looks back because of a missing explosions...... That was nice!

They should put Poison Ivy in the next one because I think they didn't do justice to Poison Ivy in the previous film (sorry, Uma!)

I'm not sure if I want to see the Riddler again though. I thought he's a rather stupid villain and I'd hate having to see Batman solving a series of riddles throughout a movie.

"* in the trailer he says "Ooh, poor choice of words" but IIRC in the final film it was modified into just "Okay"?"

I saw this in Australia and he said the poor choice of words variant. (Which I prefer.)

When Heath Ledger died there was a big thing about how his last role was a really draining one and how he put a lot into it. Having seen it I agree.

I think Mr Freeze could work, as this Gotham's dark and gloomy, and Mr Freeze isn't a 'bright' villain like the Joker or Riddler. Though the fancy suit and ice-gun might be stretching the "willing suspension of disbelief".

I agree about the Batman voice. Whenever he spoke IC I kept thinking of a chain-smoker on a respirator. Though the chase scene with the Bike flipping the truck then pulling off that weird right-angle/flip/reverse on the wall was very nice. So little sequences like that made up for it.

Actually, the film that I saw he did say "Ooh, poor choice of words..."

I saw this in Australia and he said the poor choice of words variant. (Which I prefer.)

Hmm, my mistake then. I wonder why I didn't hear him speaking such a long sentence though. Oh well, maybe I was busy laughing. :P

Are you sure...? I'm in Canada and I saw it and I could have sworn he said "Poor choice of words"

The movie was DEFINITELY too long - it sort of felt like he just needed an extra 30 minutes of footage and could make 2 movies at once...

*sigh* the best bad guy would be for him to fight the Joker again, but without Heath Ledger, it may be hard to find somebody who can do the role... I guess they could always do like in the first movie and just come up with some loser movie-only badguy. Two-face and Joker were the 2 best badguys in Batman, unfortunately... (I never realized just how few enemies there actually are in the Batman series - maybe they can slowly branch into Justice League stuff, like how Ironman is branching into the Avengers?)

The Joker actually changed his explanation for his scars twice. The audience is left not knowing his real origin, which kinda goes along with the comics since he's been known to lie about his background and has had conflicting origin stories throughout the years that are all somewhat accepted by readers . In the end, his background doesn't matter much though.

The next movie could have Catwoman in it. Remember when Bruce asked if his new suit would stop attacking dogs? And Fox said that it would stop a CAT. Maybe that was Nolan's hint for Catwoman!

I dunno, maybe haha.

I like your choice of Eva Green. She's great. I wouldn't mind Kate Beckinsale either.

Btw K.K. Who are you referring to when you say "loser movie-only badguy"? Because Scarecrow, Ra's al Ghul, and Falcone are all characters from the Batman comic book universe.

I really liked this movie! Even though I'm not really a big fan of Batman, I still thought that it could've done better... Personally, I didn't find the Joker that scary, he was more of a funny character to me.

When I saw the movie I thought that I heard the Joker say "Ooh, poor choice of words." Or maybe I was just not paying enough attention?

Anyways, thanks for the review Garten!

"He was driven insane when his father skinned his lips and ever since then,"

i dont know if thats the true story, because at the party he told a different story of how he got the scars this time involving his wife.

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. I liked both of the villains in this movie. Garten, I agree about Batman voice. I bugged me to. I really enjoyed the Joker. I like the fact that he is so messed up, that he doesn't really know his past. ^_^
I had to explain that to my friends that watch the movie with me. I looked up the Joke online, and found out thats how he was in the comics. So I'm happy that they didn't made up some overly silly background story and name for him.

I would like to see Harley Quinn in the next one.
She hasn't been in the any of the movies, so it would be cool to see her.

*POSSIBLE SPOILER*
I haven't personally seen it but my teacher had said
the next movie will probably be the Riddler since if you look closely at the guy who had the cellphone in his body his scars or stitches make a question mark.His bellybutton was the dot that completes the question mark

I really enjoyed the movie, with the exception of one thing: the Joker had to share this movie. I mean, it's pretty obvious they had planned on using the Joker in the sequels (hence you only get a quick scene of him being captured by the SWAT team, and nothing more for the ending of the movie). IMO, they probably should've just made this movie completely the Joker's, and had a small tease at the end, revealing that scarred Harvey Dent has indeed taken the Joker's bed-side advice (it's a little tease, kinda like what they did in Batman Begins with the Joker card, hinting at the sequel's villain). It would've cut the run-time of the movie (which was a bit too long), given us more Joker, and left the movie feeling more complete (at least to me), especially since the Joker obviously cannot appear in any of Nolan's sequels now (RIP, Heath). If they'd done that -- making the movie the Joker's movie and wrapping it up fairly well (a scene of him getting put back in Arkham or something? or maybe just a scene of him somehow escaping, walking off in the end, like Hannibal) --- , they still could've left it open enough to where, if they wanted (and could), they could bring the Joker back into movie 3.

Then again . . . that might've ruined the whole "Dark Knight vs. White Knight" thing, and the interesting end in which Batman truly does become the Dark Knight; he's not a hero, and allows Gotham to hate him, etc. But if they'd tweaked and changed the screenplay and it's theme, that could've been saved for later. Or something. Who knows.

I really enjoyed the film, though, and Heath's performance was awesome. He left me laughing, but unnerved at the same time --- exactly what a Joker should do, IMO. XD Nolan is definitely one of my favorite directors now.

The thing I love about this Joker is that he has no real background story (as someone mentioned before he told two different versions of his "origin story") and no other purpose but to ensue chaos and put a magnifying glass to the bad in even the best of people. He has no regard for life, even his own. His appearance goes along with this idea, if he were to be too put together it would be a contradiction to the chaos he represents. I really couldn't have been more pleased with Heath Ledger's performance. He nailed the Joker in my mind and his performance was completely committed.

The more I go over the moments in the movie with other people who have seen it the more I realize what a great film it was.

I'd also really like to see Catwoman in the next installment. I agree that she'd fit well into this real world version of Batman and I actually don't think that we've seen the last of Two Face. Maybe something continuing the first movie with Ra's al Ghul and bring in the League of Assassins? Seeing Batman up against Lady Shiva would be interesting. And Talia could work as a love interest since Batman seems to be currently without one.

This Joker really creeps me out.
Really like it.
To be honest, I kinda like the setting from Burton's Batman better.
Gothic & dark.
Really want to see Dr. Death on next installment. He's Batman first supervillian from early days.
Or Black Mask.

Like the movie ,the Joker, Two-face and Batman becoming the hated people list. Kinda wanted to see Batman getting help from Robin because he is getting wounded badly and i wanted to see how Robin is going to look like in Christopher Nolan world.

I've heard that this series still had a 9.7/10 rating after, like, 50,000 votes.

I felt Harvey Dent was the best portrayed character in the movie by far. I loved seeing his whole story unfold and was saddened that the Joker was able to get him in the end. Luckily the concept of heroes and villains are merely labels that can easily be taken and applied to somebody else as it suits the world. They are merely titles to comfort ourselves and give us security in a world that Harvey puts it exactly right is cruel and unfair. In reality all you can trust in is fair unbiased chance.

If anything the Joker's character is more an emodiment of chaos as he himself admits than anything else. He's kind of a social commentary of something that is in all of us, kind of like Johan from Monster. He's right when he says that he and Batman complete each other, and then too Harvey Dent's coin comes into play to show that good and evil, hero and villain, order and chaos are really just two sides of the same coin. He's also the most honest character in the movie and that is his greatest strength over Batman in the beginning. In the end Batman really does have to become a little like him in more than one way in order to better understand his assigned role and to beat him.

Chaos incarnate can never be beaten unless we are willing to accept it's existence as a part of our own and the worlds nature. Only chaos itself can match chaos as Joker ultimately shows by the end. It's not so much he won, it's that he justified his existence for all eternity whether we like it or not. Man the movie was just so multi-layered it's unbelievable. It's got to win best script at the Oscars or there's bias in the academy against "action" movies. Maybe they should flip a coin to decide. Leave it up to chance.

Totally agree with Batman's voice, one of the main reasons i didn't really like the first one, that and Katie Holmes.
The movie as a whole was very entertaining, maybe one of the best Batman/comic movies i have seen.
The movie ending seemed to lead on for a 3rd part with the Joker still being a part of it, not sure how they will wrap this up though, it would also be hard to top this movie with a third one. If he does, Nolan is a genius.

I loved this movie so much that I couldn't stop gushing about it to my sister and friend (but I gave no spoilers). But my experience was ruined by a total ass who laughed when *spoiler* one of the main characters died T_T. She and her group of friends came into the movie late and were very loud and annoying.

I also loved that the Joker had no real backstory because in the comics, he has none! Literally he came out of nowhere to cause mayhem and every time someone would ask him his history it would change everytime. One time someone asked him what his true history was and he said, "I prefer multiple answers!"

The whole motif of the coin and how everything's double sided really showed in Batman and the Joker. I think Batam and the Joker are opposite sides of the same coin. Batman has to be extreme in order to do some real good in Gotham. While the Joker has to be extreme in order to create cruelty in Gotham (because with the Mob and crime in that city, you'd have to be as nuts and homocidal as the Joker to cause a stir.)

I would love for Catwoman to be in the next Batman movie, but I know its impossible because she just doesn't seem to be very grounded in reality. Maybe Talia Al Ghul (the daughter of the villian in the last film) would be better. I just hope that they don't ever bring in the side kicks because they all suck. Yes, even Batgirl/woman sucks. To tell the truth, she's probably the only one of the Batman Rogue's Gallery that would be good. But no one knows because after this movie, all of the Batman villians just look like crap now.

A lot of the villains would be difficult, imo, to adapt into Nolan's "modern world Batman". At best, I can think of Poison Ivy = bioterrorist.

I hear the Riddler is next but seeing as how the Joker more or less gets his kicks out of messing with Batman and the citizens of Gotham, I can't see him [the Riddler] with a different motive [considering his DC comic origins and OCD with riddles].

Only time will tell?

Excellent movie, but I wish there was more (read any) characterization of Batman as a detective. His deductive intellect is Batman's single most prominent trait, even above his martial ability and grey morality.

Wow, I'm really glad you decided to give a review on this film because I just HAVE to comment =)
I've seen the movie twice now (because I love it THAT much haha XP) and I agree with everyone else out there, that it is phenomenal! It's brilliant and I loved every part of it!

I have to be honest that the only reason I actually went to see it... was for Heath Ledger. Everyone HAS to see his last film, and I never expected much out of Batman (since I've never been a fan =P). I'm so glad that I was wrong. Not only was Heath AMAZING, but his performance (along with everyone else's) just blew me away! It was all so well done, the storytelling was SO well done and everything went in this full circle... almost like there's nothing left to say. I agree with you on some points like Batman's voice (oh dear, I HATED his voice o_O) and the philosophy behind Harvey and Batman being "symbols" for the city.

However, I do believe that the Joker was right not to have a history. It just adds more to his mysterious past and since no one really DOES know anything about him, you can't expect the producers to just make it up. In addition, his make-up isn't meant to be perfect to me. He's crazy remember? And people that insane, aren't meant to put on their own make up perfectly =S I thought his best line was when he says "Gotham deserves a better class of criminals. And I'm going to give it to them". That was classic, because I thought it summed up his character pretty well. That and the pencil scene (that was SO good ^^) along with the truck scene where he screams "Hit me!".

On a final note, I loved how this sequel fit so perfectly along with the rest of the trilogy. It wasn't your typical "superhero" story and it was so REAL that it blew me away. It wasn't about placing the world inside a comic book, but bringing the characters into our world. That's why I felt the ending was priceless when Batman took the fall for Harvey. In the first movie, you see him raise and how he became Batman etc. In his movie, you see his fall, and how he fails as a hero and symbol for the city. I'm hoping for his raise again and his return in the third movie =) As for the villain, I'm not too anxious on that (since I know NO ONE can replace Heath's performance XP) but Catwoman would be an interesting spin. But, too bad... I have a feeling the next movie CANNOT top this one =)

Ehh, but that's the thing. Christopher Nolan wasn't signed to do a trilogy. We don't know if he is going to even sign on to do one. Noticing all the other superhero trilogies that kinda just die off. Honestly in my own opinion I think this is as good as it gets. The Dark Knight blew me away. Very very far away. I don't think I have time or want to have the time to get back to sit down and watch what most people would have infected in their minds, "This won't be as good as the last one."

I just wanna add on how I absolutely love Batman being the real Bruce Wayne, and the playboy Bruce Wayne is the mask.

Good review.

Btw, I liked Batman's voice haha.

I definitely agree that Catwoman would be the perfect choice for one of the next villains (all the movies so far have had at least 2...in fact, the only Batman movie with just one would be Burton's first Batman film). I don't know who else I would like to be there, except that I really hope that Two Face is actually dead because I think it would cheapen the ending of Dark Knight a bit if he isn't.

I agree that character-wise, the Joker doesn't have as much as he maybe could have, but I agree with comments that it actually works. I don't think he's supposed to be a sympathetic character; he's supposed to be terrifying. And I think the characterization around Harvey more than makes up for it, because he is such a compelling character that it hurts when everything falls away from him. And I thought he and Rachel had good chemistry.

Definitely the best Batman movie, though Batman Returns will always have a special place in my heart for the reasons you mentioned. Also I don't miss the gothic buildings all that much but I do miss the Batman theme.

Erm, you got one part wrong about the Joker. He isn't some maniac because 'his dad was abusive'. He only made that story up before he killed the mob boss as to instill a sense of how corrupt humanity can be before he ended the guy's life, as evidenced when he tells a different story to Rachel.

He's not somebody driven insane by his father's abuse, he's a sadistic someone who knows how bad society is and merely wants to have some fun with it. The whole movie consistently shines this fact with the various events.

Hope you got the idea. ;D

Actually, I can see Mr. Freeze (or at least Victor Freeze) in the Nolan installments of Batman. He has principles too when it comes to life (trying to cure his wife is a good example of this) and if done right he would be a greatly rememberable character in this series.

I agree with Tanny about Two-Face. I believe that they stated that Harvey died to protect his image and in face, have placed him in a safe and secure place. Batman taking the blame helps the citizens understand that he is in face an outcast, and outsider who can do what others wouldn't even consider doing, that's what makes him a hero that Gotham deserves.

This was indeed worth waiting this long to watch and if you have the chance to, watch it again and buy the special edition when it comes out. :D

Katie.

The movie was watchable, but not great in my opinion. It would have been better if Batman had killed the Joker. Everyone told me the Joker was scary, but I don't think that Ledger was any scarier than the other Jokers. I am not impressed by Christian Bale as Batman either. The next villan should be someone who is a REAL monster. If they can't do any better, then how about Walker Texas Ranger? I bet he could kick Batman's behind easy, plus Walker has jurisdiction throughout the world. Walker can do anything, Batman can beat up ninjas, but can't whip the joker in a fist fight. Batman with Michael Keaton was the best, period.

-"Speaking of Joker, I'm actually rather disappointed by his characterization. I admit that he's the driving force behind all of the chaos that happens in the city and he's a terrifying villain who's always two steps ahead of Batman/Harvey/Gordon. At the end of the day, however, nothing much is known about him."-

To be honest, that's the point of the Joker though. He says himself in The Killing Joke, about his past, "Sometimes I remember it one way, sometimes another. If I have to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!"

And you'll notice in the movie even the "past" Heath's Joker brings up doesn't remain the same. He tells one guy he got the scars from his father, and then he turns around and tells someone else another story entirely.

That's the charm of the Joker...you have some vague idea of what he's all about, but you never really know why he does what he does, which makes him creepy and enchanting at the same time.

As for future villains..I'd also reallyyy like to see Catwoman..ahh that'd bring some real love interest into all this, not some made-for-film heroine à la Katie Holmes/Maggie Gyllenhaal. And then bring in Poison Ivy, who "no man can resist," and see Catwoman show her good side and help Batman untangle himself (literally) from trouble...

Ooh, and Robin..I'd LOVE to see Robin..but I think Nolan already said he's going to keep Bats solo....

I totally agree with the fact that not only the villain is interesting, but Batman as well. I've always thought of Batman as having a rather stupid looking costume and being not very interesting -never read a comic, only based in the movies, my fault- but this movies, and Bale's performance totally bought me over, I love Bruce Wayne's character.

I thought the most touching scene was the choice the people from both boats made. I was surprised the criminal threw the device in such a "isn't it obvious?" way. And the citizen who couldn't do it...wah, I kept wondering what would I do in a situation like that.

I actually really like the idea of Batman's voice.. because it's covering Bruce's identity (since Bruce also a public figure, that's why!)

And really agree with everyone who've said that this movie is more REAL in pretty much every part! ^___^

My friend once showed me an article that says that Johnny Depp is lining up to be the next Riddler.
http://www.itv.com/Entertainment/celebrity/Articles/Johnny-Depps-Riddler-role-988977155.html
I think he's done well as Sweeney Todd, so if he actually gets the role, it'd be great.