The Dark Knight (+ Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray]

This movie is great and very much worth the money. The only thing my husband and I didn't really like is the total length of the film. And honestly, we thought Iron Man was more all-around entertaining. The Dark Knight is exactly that - dark. The Joker is fantastic - almost (dare I say) Shakespearean in his madness and smarmy-ness. He's the most fun to watch. It's not at all a kids' movie (young kids anyway). I say buy it; each time you watch it you find something more and the entertainment is well worth the cash.

The Dark Knight was truly a wonderful movie! My husband and I have become very selective on which DVDs we purchase for our library--this movie was an obvious winner! I, and I know many others, are sad about the fact that we won't be able to experience Heath Ledger's involvement in future movies.

Having just seen this movie on DVD, I'm glad I didn't pay full price at the theater. It is one of the worst major motion pictures ever made.

Does that sound like hyperbole, particularly given its rave reviews by all and sundry? Not a bit of it. Here's why.

The story is nonexistent. I had no idea what it was about. Apparently, it has something to do with the Joker's plot to take over Gotham City via bank robberies, the murder of top officials, and blowing up buildings. Such a plan is absurd on the face of it, and entirely inconceivable, but, in any event, it is never made clear. I was continually at sea. The first sequence involving the bank heist is so full of improbabilities as to be laughable, and that tone is maintained throughout the film.

And, speaking of the Joker, Ledger's performance is so crazed, manic and obviously drug-fueled, that the character is unbelievable even in the context of a blatant fantasy. He is somewhat interesting on screen, granted, but only in a clinical way. He never seems to realistically connect with the events around him, fantastic as they are. (The constant tongue-thrusting Ledger shows is often seen in individuals under the influence of drugs, by the way.) I see his performance as nothing but a bad caricature of a misquided attempt to define the Joker's persona in terms of burlesque. I was embarrassed for him.

The pseudo-philosophizing between Batman and the Joker ("You complete me," the Joker says) borders on the ludicrous. I suppose these exchanges were meant to show they are two sides of the same coin (note the coin analogy throughout), but they come across as heavy-handed and unconvincing. I imagine the screenwriters thought they were into something really deep here, but it would be laughed out of a sophomore philosophy class in nothing flat.

On a more technical level, I found much of the dialogue to be unintelligible, what with the mumbling and whispering by the actors and the constant drone of the musical score in the background. Gary Oldman's speech was particularly impenetrable. I couldn't even read his lips due to his mustache. I was especially distraught that I was unable to understand a word of his final paean to the Batman at the end of the film. Maybe that would have defined the whole enterprise for me, at last. Maybe then I could have looked back and appreciated what the filmmakers were trying to do. Not. Just kidding.

Well, there's a lot more (the constant explosions, the disconnect from scene to scene, the improbable behavior, et al., ad nauseam), but you get the idea. It's a train wreck of a movie and, quite literally, a crashing bore. What did the public see in this mess?

This movie loses nothing after being transferred from the big screen to the small. Heath Ledger's Joker is just as poisonous as in the theater and his talent stands out throughout the movie. I really hope he gets the Oscar.

Christian Bale's Batman is not only the dark crusader with a mission, but he is also portrayed as very vulnerable, very human, even to the point of wishing to pass the "mantle" to another potential crime fighter. Bravo!

The Dark Knight(2-Disc Special Edition) is a gr8 addition to anyone's DVD collection.....
The Dics quality is good....Sound quality is good though it can be bettered....
& Special Bonus features are up to the mark in keepin with the special edition tag.

Definitely A good collector's Item.