First Comic Book Movie Worthy of Oscars

Rating: 10/10 (18 July 2008)

The Dark Knight has been by far the most highly anticipated movie this year and arguably ever. From the trailers highlighting the Joker to the Batpod, to Heath Ledger's unfortunate death this movie has looked spectacular from the beginning. And even with all the hype and anticipation is has still exceeded expectations.
Yes, yes Heath really did steal the show with his brilliant performance, but bravo to Chris Nolan and his team for keeping the plot and footage from leaking onto YouTube. I really wanted to not hear someone tell me Batman does or doesn't die (you can make up your own mind about whether he does or doesn't because I can't spoil anything but you get my point). I had been waiting for this movie for months and months ever since the original teaser and I have to say that despite the greatness it looked to have, the trailers did not take the best footage of the movie and put all into a 2 minute clip like most awful movies need to do to get you to go see it in the first place. No, quite honestly the trailer is so unrevealing that to be honest I thought they could have exploited a few details but Thank God they didn't.
Now I will not tell you what happens with the Joker or how Batman gets the Batpod, all I can say is this movie like countless others have said is not really a comic book movie. To be honest you don't even remember you are even watching a Batman film (considering Arnold has been Mr. Freeze and we all know how that turned out). This movie takes the idea of a superhero to a whole new level. The darkness, the search within the characters, the acting, the believability. Personally the reason I liked Batman Begins so much was because Chris Nolan went to the origin, he explained things that had not been revealed before. It wasn't like all of a sudden Bale slides down a pole and he is BATMAN. No, they make a very realistic plot as to how he got his training and his gadgets. Now obviously some of his gadgets were a little far fetched but nevertheless they explained how they worked and perhaps one day in the real world they could be used effectively. This second installment picks up right where that movie left off only introduced an even more stellar cast with Ledger and Eckhart.
Now, onto the reasons I give this movie should win Oscars besides Heath's amazing performance.
1. Christopher Nolan - Best Director. I don't care if you like Batman, if you have followed Batman, or even care about Batman in any shape or form. Christopher Nolan has single handedly turned around a Batman franchise beyond disaster. We all know a little bit about Batman, but the way in which Nolan has adapted those points of view and made them realistic, dark, and believable. His introduction of IMAX cameras to major motion pictures is going to be groundbreaking. I had the privilege of seeing the movie in IMAX opening night at midnight and I kid you not when the first scene came on the screen everyone said "wow" either to themselves or aloud. Personally, I said it out loud. He has created a masterpiece and should be noted for it.
2. Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, and David Goyer - Best Screenplay. Now besides whether you like Batman or not doesn't really come into play in the film yet again with the screenplay and the story line. Their creativeness from how the Joker took control of Gotham to things I can't reveal was simply breathtaking and perfect. The characters they created and the plot they came up with was nothing but exceptional in every meaning of the term.
3. Heath Ledger - Best Supporting Actor. I don't think I need to explain this. Go see the movie.
I could go on, but I think I have made my point. Perhaps these inventors won't be nominated simply because well I guess it is Batman after all, but it is something to consider. These adaptations of Batman are serious, dark, and look and feel like a Best Picture of the Year (depending on what it is running against of course), but it is clearly not your average Spiderman or Iron Man or The Hulk. Those movies were simply popcorn movies. Nothing to them. Just action and explosions. These movies are the real deal and should be looked at in a more serious way and I believe they are with the attraction of a much older audience. I don't know how everyone's cities are doing but down in Houston the IMAX showings are going on every 3 hours and they are completely sold out through Sunday. I don't know what people are thinking when they are unsure if this will break Spiderman's record at 150+ million. This is going to shatter it and I think it will surpass Titanic for all time Box Office Income.
Movie is Flawless, Top 5 All Time Personally, Exceeded Expectations.
10/10 R.I.P. Heath Ledger