Coming Soon: Spider-Man 2 vs. The Dark Knight

On a forum I regularly visit, someone created a topic asking which is better: 'Spider-Man 2' or 'The Dark Knight.' I seemed to be the only one defending Spidey. I mean, it's not people saying Batman is a better hero or that one movie is simply better, but it's people completely bashing all of the Spider-man movies, the Spider-man character, and saying Batman is just infinitely more cool.

This is untrue. From a technical perspective, sure, 'The Dark Knight' may be a better film, but I'm willing to argue that the second Spidey film is superior to The Dark Knight. Yeah. I said it. Watch me.

In order to prepare I'm going to watch each of them again over the next few days. Though I've seen Spidey 2 at least four times and The Dark Knight twice in theaters, I feel to judge accurately I need to refresh my memory.

Stay tuned.

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A Thing About The Dark Knight (and superhero movies in general)

The Dark Knight is an excellent film. Everything about it is so well-crafted that it really does set a new benchmark for 'superhero' films. I don't think anyone with film sense can deny that one.

However, I saw the film for a second time a couple days ago. What I've noticed (even before TDK) is that -- for me -- superhero movies have very little re-watch value (superheroes of all shapes and sizes, and directors). The film is very good, but on a second viewing it has some lulls that, while important to the film, just seem to drag and drag until we get to the next scene with Heath Ledger (who was easily the best part of the film -- and not just from nostalgia). For instance, Batman's visit to Asia to capture the crime lord because Batman has no jurisdiction. Cool, and effective, but not near as exciting as the rest of the film.

In my original review I gave the film a 9.5/10. This was for two reasons: The first is that I try to reserve 10s for films that are undeniably perfect (classics, mostly). We'll say that The Godfather is a 10. A recent example of a 10 would be No Country for Old Men. The Departed while close, is a 9.5. But the second reason was that something just felt 'off.' I've thought this over for a long time, and the best I can come up with is, 'There is too much trying to be done in too short of a time.'

Chris Nolan (the director and co-writer) explained the two 'bad guy' situation the best. He explained how we have one antagonist, The Joker, who has no reason and no empathy for human life, and symbolizes complete chaos. And then we have Two-face/Harvey Dent, who symbolizes the rise and fall of one of Gotham's own heroes. And Batman must deal with all of those, as well as his personal issues. It's a great setup, and it works. But I feel the ~2.5 hour runtime is not sufficient to fulfill all of that. Harvey Dent needs more time. But more than that, Batman needs more time.

We know The Joker. We know how he plays, we know how he kills. We know Harvey Dent's story. What we're missing in this film is any feeling for Bruce Wayne himself. What Batman Begins did was give us a new, improved, human Batman that was not so much like the ridiculous cartoon that recent films have made him. He was a mortal with a past and an uncertain future. Here, in The Dark Knight, it feels like Bruce Wayne's story is pushed to the background to focus on Harvey Dent and The Joker. That is the primary flaw of the film.

And that is why I think the film should have either been longer, with more Bruce Wayne internal struggle, or shorter, without Two-face (though it would have been a completely different film, no doubt). But still, this is a great film, and one that will certainly be studied, if anything, for it's enormous box office success.

In conclusion, here is what I have to say: I asked my friend David which he liked better -- WALL-E or The Dark Knight. He said The Dark Knight. I commented on the re-watch value, and said I liked WALL-E more. But I needed to see each again to get a real opinion. Now that I've seen both of them twice, I can safely say I like WALL-E a lot more. Is it a better movie? Maybe, maybe not.

And for the record, last year David thought There Will Be Blood was a better film that No Country for Old Men (and liked TWBB more). I liked NCfOM and thought it was a better film. Neither of us are right or wrong, but if that helps you form an opinion, so be it. I'm finished.

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The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight is an epic movie. It is intense, all-encompassing, long, action-packed, and emotionally drenching. It is honestly, without a doubt the greatest comic book adaptation to date. The only problem it has is that, at a 2:30 runtime, there's still too much to fit in.

The film aims to work on three levels, each with its own character.

The first is with the Batman himself. He has his problems. Bruce Wayne is conflicted, fatigued, and overwhelmed, yet he continues pursuing the Batman of Gotham City out of obligation. He would almost (almost is a key word) rather give up the superhero life and spend his days quietly with Rachel Dawes. But Alfred knows him just as well as the audience does -- and sees what the audience sees. The Batman must be here to stay, no matter how hard the times become, and how hard the darkness will try to prevail.

Beyond the Batman we have Harvey Dent. Harvey Dent is, as many critics have pointed out, the curve of the story. He starts as a D.A. who focuses on stopping crime lords. He rises in political power, and once he is the citizen of Gotham's ideals, he suffers an accident that turns him to Two-Face. While the make-up is still a bit retro-cheesy, it works. We believe in Harvey Dent.

All of this is completely shut out by The Joker.

Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker is -- without a doubt -- the best performance of the year. This is not nostalgia, or repayment for Brokeback Mountain, but a genuine praise. Forget Jack Nicholson. Honestly, no one loves Jack Nicholson more than me. But Heath Ledger (along with the Nolan's screen writing) takes The Jokes to unanticipated levels. He has no morals. No empathy. No rules, no ideals, no plans. He is the embodiment of Chaos, and he knows it. Yet everything he does seems planned to the T. Without Heath Ledger there would be no movie, and with him, this movie is his show to run.

I would be lying if I said the movie was not about The Joker. Sure, countless people describe this film about Harvey Dent's rise and fall, but please, name me one scene where Harvey Dent seems stronger, or even equal in power, than The Joker.

The film is filled with great scenes -- even the opening bank robbery is one to make 'Heat' jealous. Yet there is one -- perhaps one and a half -- fundamental flaws to the movie: We do not care about Batman, or Rachel Dawes.

Rachel Dawes, well, she was replaced by a better actress. I have nothing against Maggie Gyllenhaal. But her character seemed in excess, and all her scenes on the screen were filler at best.

But also, more importantly, what was up with Batman?

We know his cause. We know his means. We know his sacrifice (we get all of this in Batman Begins -- a great, but not quite equal film). What do we get from Batman this time around that makes him different from before? A few new gadgets? His girlfriend interested in the new, hip D.A.? So what? And I mean, his conflict was there. It was. But it was not fresh, and I found myself caring a lot more about the villains than the protagonist of the movie -- which I don't think should happen.

There is a scene in the film that shows the true power of The Joker. He is caught. The Joker is in a solitary room, unarmed, alone with a furious Batman. They are in a police station. Batman has his strength, his gadgets, the police, and free reign, yet still The Joker has the other hand. The Joker has no attachments to reality, no care for his own well-being. The only thing he has is information that Batman needs, but no matter how much beatings The Joker takes, Batman cannot force it out of him. Batman has to play the game.

This scene goes hand-in-hand with a scene just before it on the streets of Gotham (very minor spoiler here). The Joker stands in the street with his gun, facing Batman, who is on his motorcycle. Batman is charging The Joker, full speed, and instead of running like all other criminals, The Joker screams, "HIT ME!" But Batman cannot. He is bound by rules. Instead he spins out of controls and falls from his bike. The Joker, with no rules or sympathy or fear, controls all of Gotham City.

As I said, this is the best 'comic book movie' to date. It is not a perfect movie, but The Dark Knight is certainly one of the best movies of the year. Most everyone has probably seen it already, but if not... go!

Rating: 9.5/10

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The Dark Knight

I cannot wait for The Dark Knight. This movie looks so good. It needs to come out now.

That is all.

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