The Dark Knight: Best Superhero Movie Ever?
Posted on July 21, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
Warning: Minor Spoilers Ahead!
Is Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight the best superhero film of all time? I’ve mulled it over since seeing the movie on Saturday, and I’m inclined to say “yes.” Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker is just as devilishly brilliant as all the critics have said — if not better. Oh, and Aaron Eckhart is no slouch either, bringing genuine pathos to the role of Harvey Dent. Everything just falls into place in The Dark Knight. Even Maggie Gyllenhaal is a significant upgrade over Katie Holmes in the role of Rachel Dawes; too bad she ends up the latest victim of the Women in Refrigerators Syndrome.
My only gripe? There were a few scenes where Christian Bale’s raspy “I’m Batman!” voice went so far over the top that it became unintentionally hilarious. Could someone please get that man a throat lozenge?
So, I’ve written about my favorite superhero movies before, but here’s my updated list…
My Top Ten Favorite Superhero Movies:
9. X-Men
8. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
7. X2: X-Men United
6. Spider-Man
5. The Incredibles
4. Spider-Man 2
3. Batman Begins
2. Iron Man
1. The Dark Knight
What did you think of The Dark Knight? Does it rank among your favorite superhero flicks?
Posted by Jess | Filed Under Pop Culture |
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Easily best superhero movie made. Iron Man set the bar pretty high but TDK just sailed over it.
Some thoughts:
In terms of sequels, how can they ever possibly top this? It boggles the mind.
The Joker: The magic trick. Best intro to a character EVER.
I firmly believed that everything else was going to suck after I saw this movie - because it was that good. That Watchmen trailer proved me wrong. Better make some room on that list.
I’m on a bit different train… I thought TDK was great, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t think it was better than Spider-Man 2. Maybe not even better than X-Men 2. Definitely better than Batman Begins. But, if we’re going to include The Incredibles on the list of comic book movies, there is simply no better movie than that one… it works on so many different levels, it brought a new sensibility, it proved they could do more than one thing… There’s a lot that The Incredibles has going for it that can never be reached again, simply because they did it first. $0.02
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
batman’s voice bugged me TREMENDOUSLY in the last film, but no one I talked to seemed to be bothered by it. I mean I get that he has to disguise his voice, but I mean, something a little less fake would be appreciated.
I thought the last film was okay. I’m a huge Christian Bale fan. I like him more as Wanye than I did as Batman. I thought the Dark Knight was GREAT.
I don’t know how they’ll top it.
I haven’t even gotten past the title and I have my answer: YES. Holy shit without a doubt. Though it left me all angsty and mad because people are STUPID and I hate their incessant need to blame someone, I LOVED this movie and I’m only sorry we have to wait for the next installment. And I’m wondering who’s gonna be able to do the Joker as well as Ledger. Also, I gotta say, I missed Katie Holmes playing Rachel. Okay. Gonna actually read your entry now. I may be back to continue this comment …
@John: Loved the Joker’s magic trick. It actually received applause from the audience in my theater.
@Michael: The Incredibles was definitely an outstanding movie. It’s too bad that neither of the Fantastic Four movies have managed to portray a superhero family as successfully as The Incredibles did.
@Alaia: Personally, I think Batman should install a helium tank in the Batsuit to disguise his voice — you know, make it high-pitched like a bat’s screech.
@Patricia: As I mentioned in a comment over on your blog, I have a little crush on Maggie Gyllenhaal, so I’m considering the recasting of Rachel Dawes in The Dark Knight a bonus.
What, no love for Captain America (http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0103923/)? Seriously, though, TDK is top 5 easy, but there was just so much to absorb I really need to see it again. I posted a full review on my site (shameless plug, sorry Jess), wherein I expound on my thoughts.
Incredibles=fail IMO. TDK almost isn’t a superhero movie it’s so good.
Good luck in our BotB Battle….Did you see the review I had of The Dark Knight on my blog, along with Mamma Mia!
My Top 10 Superhero Movies:
1. The Incredibles–satisfies in every way, and is freaking hilarious at the same time.
2. Kill Bill Vols. 1 & 2–ok, maybe an anti-superhero and I’m stretching the category a little bit, I’ll grant you that, but Uma Thurman and Black Mamba completely rocked the world, and I’d bet on The Bride over The Dark Knight any day.
3. The Dark Knight
4. Batman Begins
5. Superman II
6. Iron Man
7. Spiderman II
8. Spiderman
9. Superman
10. Van Helsing
Okay, yes awesome movie. Question for those who know the comics: is Rachel Dawes even in there and if so does she die a similarly horrific death?
Oh and yessir, this will be completely awesome:
http://www.amazon.com/Warner-Bros-02070-LEGO-Batman/dp/B000ZK9QC8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1216736075&sr=1-4
@GaelicGopher: Nope, Rachel Dawes is strictly a creation of the Nolan films. And, yes — LEGO Batman looks wonderful.
@Jess - helium tank? That would be hilarious.
I think I missed this Joker joke that people are talking about….? I’m wracking my brain. Are you guys just talking about the bank robbery? Or have I totally forgotten.
Oh well…maybe that just means I have to watch it again!
I wouldn’t rank it as high as Spider-man 2, Iron Man, or especially The Incredibles, but it was still pretty good. The semi chase was definitely one of the best action sequences that I’ve seen in a Batman movie, and Heath Ledger’s performance surprisingly did live up to the hype.
What really bugged the heck out of me was how Joker had all these bombs and booby traps already set up all over town. I dig the popcorn movie absurdity of it all, but there’s way too many “yeeeeaaaah, right” moments to accept this as the super realistic film everyone’s making it out to be.
@ Matt Urdan: Superman II over Superman? Blasphemy!
@ Alaia - I think it’s the “trick” he did with the disappearing pencil when he met with the mobsters.
I think tdk is tied with xmen2 in the second spot.But not better then spidey2 that is still number1.Ps if you havent watched it yet you must it is a fshow classic.Ps bale has been gargaling rocks batmans voice was the moives only flaw.
Finally saw it. TDK is the BEST superhero movie ever made - bar none. Iron Man is a close second, but TDK is a marvel (heh) of film making. How they will make the sequel without Heath is beyond me. Somebody give him a posthumous Oscar stat!