The First One Was Better! Not saying it was bad though!

Rating: 7/10 (27 July 2008)

I attended the movie last night in a crowded screen where everyone was literally hugging each other. Shows what advertising does for the film seen as the first one was such a undercover success. Before I start I'm not showing any disrespect to the late Heath or any other character in this film I am just presenting my opinion on why the hype didn't compare.
In the first film we see Gotham presented as a dark city corrupt under the power of its Mob and this is emphasised where ever we go in the city. Almost the whole movie was shot in a sort of shroud of eeriness to represent the bad and evil around (great piece of cinematography). In DK (Dark Knight) we see the city very bright and almost looks like this bad has been rid of. Which I can believe as a good thing because as we find the city is being cleaned up by Harvey Dent. It just doesn't look like it was meant to be for that though. Oh and where was the proper Wayne Tower from the first one because as far as I can remember it was in tact when we left the first one be.
Now on to characters, first Christian Bale, I think Christian is a very talented actor from seeing him in other undercover success' such as The Prestige, The Machinist and of course Batman Begins. I simply thought that we didn't see enough of him in this film, with him being the protagonist I thought we were not as close to him as in Batman Begins. It was almost as though we were watching from a different perspective all together. Maggie Gyllenhaal I've got to say I was so happy when she died in this film, I decided to give her chance when it first started but she did not suck me in to the character of Rachel Dawes like Katie Holmes did and I was disappointed to hear she had other arrangements when she was asked to appear in this. Aaron Eckhart who played Harvey Dent I thought played the villain two face a lot better than he did Dent, he seemed to make the two face character his own, like the touch Heath gave Joker. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman played their parts greatly just like they always do in any film I've ever seen, there parts fit them so well as well. Both coming out with their useful comments every now and again to help push the Dark Crusader onwards, sort of like the agony aunts of Batman. Finally coming to the late Heath Ledger I suppose seen as I could not believe that it was him under that paint that he must of done a pretty good job...I think though that some people are being (whats the word), well their opinion of the film is being blinded by his performance and his death. Gotta have a huge amount of respect for him seen as he was in Lords Of Dogtown and played his part amazingly. Great actor overall and its been a tragedy to lose him so quickly.
Now to the storyline. To be honest when I heard that it was two and half hours long I was even more pumped to see it seen as I love long films. The opening bank seen I thought was really good because that is what the joker would do so was very capturing for his character, sort of settled the mood to. Then the rest of the way through the film I felt rushed without a chance to get settled down with what was going on. It felt like an episode of Cribs where the cameras just constantly in a new place (I know a bit OTT but I thought it was funny). I did like how Rachel was killed off in the middle though and not only because she was annoying but because it unravelled a good story line of two face and Bruce taking the pain of his loss and putting it on the side line. Some of the story line was very predictable which I did not enjoy and then some of it was very wild like Harvery as two face. I thought that the two face should of been the ending so that it left it in suspense for the next one. I also thought the Mob were presented as a bit of a wuss crowd in this one especially Eric Roberts who played the Falconey representative, he just seemed like a complete joke compared to Falconey in the last one. Did anyone notice the Gambler as well, they should not waste characters like they did with this plus they made him look rubbish I can always remember him as more of doing guy.
Personally it might have been the hype that ruined it for me. Please don't post that missed Heath Ledger as well when you didn't know him. This is why I feel it wasn't great if you agree with some of the ideas I posted, post it as helpful if you think I didn't present anything good vote unhelpful...Thanks For Your Time and as if Anthony Michael Hall was in it I didn't realise it was him!