Needs Great Improvement

Rating: 4/10 (19 July 2008)

As I was driving north to Chicago to visit my sons, I heard rave comments on talk radio about this movie. On opening night people were lined up at theaters to see the show.
So, I decided to treat my son and grandson to this event. We went to the 11:45 p.m. show and had to wait in a line for 1 hour after buying our tickets.
Now, almost right away, I became bored with the movie storyline and the layout of the presentation of the scenes. Why?
#1. The scenes were choppy. Not enough time was spend focused on the actor's faces to develop good audience rapport with the characters.
#2. The actor's dialogue was limited. I felt that there were too many one-liners which do not lend themselves to stretching the talent of the actors.
#3. While I recognize that the storyline was about a dark side of Batman and unlike the more campy versions before it with Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, and Kim Basinger, I felt that I was wishing that the movie story could be more like the prior Batman films. At least the director of the previous Batman story treated us to good images of the characters and allowed adequate face time of the stars so that you could identify with them. The Dark Knight was much lacking in this regard.
#4. For waiting in line for 1 hour until permitted to enter the auditorium and being subjected to at least 30 minutes of movie previews and advertising, I felt that this also tended to tire out the audience in addition to the 2 hour and 45 minute movie on top of the waiting!
#5. And, the romance angle was lacking to say the least!
So, if you liked this movie, fine. My 11 year old grandson liked it because there was lots of noise and explosions. And, seeing the streets of Chicago allowed me to identify with places that I have been to in that city. I, however, would have preferred a much better acted movie. I found myself dozing off in the auditorium seat. I do hope you liked the film. I did not enjoy it all that much. Any Academy Awards for this film would be ill advised.
Larry from Illinois