Briggaman I told you its better second time round.
Buts no way near as good as The Dark Knight. I saw it in the double bill Tuesday and was reminded how terrific a film it is. The lagging I saw previously had gone, Ledgers Jack Lemmon indpired Joker is sublime, Gordan gets great screen time. But wow, Eckharts Dent is simply the best performance in the trilogy for me. A white knight to fallen idol. Superb. The rhythm of the film, the pacing, the breathimg of each scene, frankly, shits on TDKR from on high.
I think TDKR is the product of Nolans decision to do no more and thus realise its Waynes film. Fine, no problem and Bale gives his best performance yet. But it really is to the detriment of nigh on every other character. Scenes are cut in too midscene or cut short. Very little is explained, or built up. Its big and brash but we never get to see the true danger from Gothams perspective. It feels they wrote then went 'oh shit, we need talia al guhl." I felt zero connection to her at all.
It is a messy flawed film. Lacking in so many ways yet brilliant in others. It feels like a series of set pieces with bad editing to link these scenes together. Despite being 2hr 45min long, it feels heavily and badly cut. It actually needs Nolans original 4hour cut to allow scenes to breathe, have a beat about them.
Only character I warmed to was Kyle. Hathaway nailed it.
Sounds like I didnt like the film. I did like it. But it could have, should have been oh so so much more.