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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 248
Released: December 9, 2008 |
| Our Price: $4.74 |
| Used Price: $1.98 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 12/09/2008 Run time: 151 minutes Rating: Pg13
Description of The Dark Knight (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition):
The Dark Knight arrives with tremendous hype (best superhero movie ever? posthumous Oscar for Heath Ledger?), and incredibly, it lives up to all of it. But calling it the best superhero movie ever seems like faint praise, since part of what makes the movie great--in addition to pitch-perfect casting, outstanding writing, and a compelling vision--is that it bypasses the normal fantasy element of the superhero genre and makes it all terrifyingly real. Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is Gotham City's new district attorney, charged with cleaning up the crime rings that have paralyzed the city. He enters an uneasy alliance with the young police lieutenant, Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), and Batman (Christian Bale), the caped vigilante who seems to trust only Gordon--and whom only Gordon seems to trust. They make progress until a psychotic and deadly new player enters the game: the Joker (Heath Ledger), who offers the crime bosses a solution--kill the Batman. Further complicating matters is that Dent is now dating Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal, after Katie Holmes turned down the chance to reprise her role), the longtime love of Batman's alter ego, Bruce Wayne.
In his last completed role before his tragic death, Ledger is fantastic as the Joker, a volcanic, truly frightening force of evil. And he sets the tone of the movie: the world is a dark, dangerous place where there are no easy choices. Eckhart and Oldman also shine, but as good as Bale is, his character turns out rather bland in comparison (not uncommon for heroes facing more colorful villains). Director-cowriter Christopher Nolan (Memento) follows his critically acclaimed Batman Begins with an even better sequel that sets itself apart from notable superhero movies like Spider-Man 2 and Iron Man because of its sheer emotional impact and striking sense of realism--there are no suspension-of-disbelief superpowers here. At 152 minutes, it's a shade too long, and it's much too intense for kids. But for most movie fans--and not just superhero fans--The Dark Knight is a film for the ages. --David Horiuchi
On the DVD
Unlike the Blu-ray disc, The Dark Knight on DVD is completely in 2.40:1 aspect ratio. You can, however, watch the six IMAX scenes separately. Also on disc 2 are "Gotham Uncovered: The Creation of a Scene," which is behind-the-scenes footage about the Bat suit, the Bat pod, and the music; eight-minute segments of Gotham Central, a faux-news program that gives some background to events in the movie; plus a variety of trailers, poster art, and more. Last, there's a digital copy of the film compatible with iTunes and Windows Media (download code expires 12/9/09). --David Horiuchi
The Dark Knight (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition) Reviews:
A Performance That Inspired Me... 
2009-11-08 - All I have to say is this; after seeing Heath Ledger's portrayl of The Joker, I left the theatre realising that is the kind of character I'm going to be...
Batman grows up 
2009-11-07 - Batman of the comics was the hero with the "wow!"-factor, the hero who took care of "everyman". A hero has to grow up and move along with time, adapt to a culture in which drive-by shootings are not something of Bonnie and Clyde but "that neighborhood", in which the sports-hero shows miraculous muscle growth over time, in which every certainty starts having a question-mark.
We deserve this Batman; the man in the hero has his doubts and question marks, he struggles and comes through. He has become us. Go see the movie and let your mind do the wandering over the various levels at which this movie speaks to you, from the gut to the brain to the emotions. Live it and let your inner self grow.
The Dark Knight 
2009-11-04 - Now, like a lot of people, I was really hyped up to see "The Dark Knight" when it came out a year and half ago. First day, middle of the theatre, waiting patiently and anxiously.
And if I am being totally honest with you, I was bored to tears.
I didn't really think anymore about the movie, if I'm being honest with you, until, while bored one day, sitting alone in my apartment, I noticed my roommates copy of "The Dark Knight" sitting on the top of the Blu-Ray player. I thought to myself, "well, maybe I was wrong and I was just letting the hype get in the way." So I put it in and started it and watched the entire thing again.
And was once again bored to tears.
Now I know that many people view this film as some modern version of "The Godfather" or "Casablanca", but I just can't buy into it. What I see is a mediocre version of "Heat" with a great performance from the late Heath Ledger, but a movie where everyone else flounders with one dimensional roles and broad characterizations.
Of the main cast only Ledger really brings anything interesting to his role, an astonishing thing seeing as the role he has is one note throughout. Christian Bale as Batman is a dull as Val Kilmer, while Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman both appear to be cashing checks. Aaron Eckhart plays his part as Harvey Dent surprisingly well, seeing as it is a different sort of role than what I have seen him in before (Neil LaBute movies mostly), but can't do much with his transformation as Two Face. Some of that may have to do with Maggie Gyleenhaal, usually a reliable actor, who looks bored and unsure of how to play her part in this movie.
Storywise, I just wasn't engrossed with the story of "The Dark Knight". For the most part I wondered how much nonsense the Nolan brothers were trying to shove into one movie. The story continues on and on and seems like it's trying to say something major, but never does. To add to that, to me, it seems like anytime the narrative seems to be gaining steam, the movie throws in another action scene and it loses all narrative movement.
To add to that, Nolan still has yet to find out how to shoot action scenes effectively and coherantly, and problem that also plagued the superior "Batman Begins".
I wanted to like "The Dark Knight", I did. I just couldn't. I guess nothing is for everyone. I guess this one just isn't for me.
Well Done! Not worth 22 dollars...
2009-11-01 - I really love this movie. But I felt 22 dollars for the double disc was a waste of money. They didn't really show anything on Heath Ledger or the making of the movie. What a waste of a dvd. What was the point of having 2 discs if your not going to put anything on it? They didn't even put any deleted scences on the disc, I'm sure they had some. To the people who haven't bought this movie yet, I wouldn't get the double disc, I'd get the single disc movie. Save your money.
The Darkest of the Batman movies
2009-11-01 - 5 of 5 stars for the comic book based Batman movie, The Dark Knight. By far, the darkest of the Batman movies and by far the longest of the movies. At 2hr 35min, frankly it is way too long and could be tightened-up. This movie focuses on the Joker and presents a sad, horrible and sick person rather than the odd funny joker of other Batman movies. This Joker is really evil.
The movie is richly made and grandly photographed with really great action scenes and special effects. I highly recommend this movie, just be prepared for a long experience. Oh, the Blu-Ray is packed with interesting behind the scenes materials.
