Feeling a bit better today. Sleep and self-care indicators have evened out a bit. Some weak late summer sunshine is no doubt helping, but a trip to the cinema with Donald last night was most important. We went to see The Dark Knight, the undoubted box-office-busting smash-hit of this year's summer blockbuster season. As far as I know, the geeks loved it and the 'mainstream' critics were more mixed. I can't be 100% sure because I'm no more interested in reviews of the pale gruel of Hollywood action franchises than I'd be in culinary appreciations of McDonalds' burgers- my expectations of both are similarly low, and they rarely surprise me.
Readers'll've guessed by now that The Dark Knight didn't blow me away as it has so many others. I tried the obvious doublethink, that I'm feeling bitter and twisted because I'm depressed, but that didn't work. I know from experience that really good stuff, stuff like Doctor Who or The Wire, this can always work its magic on me. It's just that, well, The Dark Knight wasn't magic. It was alright really, even if not worth the hype for this cinema-goer. Readers who know me might realise that this is more than just damning by faint praise. Far from the more familiar resentment at Hollywood's time-wasting vapidity I actually enjoyed myself, even if I was ultimately underwhelmed.
No one should be surprised by that I guess. But going back again next week anyway? I'm a bit taken aback, but that's what setting out to blog this movie did to me! More on this another time I suspect. ;)
2 comments:
So, can I ask you to expand upon your comments? I'd be interested to read them.
If anything, I think the mainstream press has liked it more than the geeks, who were expecting a 'Superhero' film. The Dark Knight isn't; it's a crime thriller with the odd latex mask. I'm not sure if it's my favourite film of the year, or even my favourite comic-book film (it might be tied with Iron Man), but it's in the top 5.
Thanks for the heads up about the reviews Andy. The geeks I've read online seem to have raved about it mostly, so I guess enthusiasm has been as nearly unanimous as the noteworthy box-office suggests. This is only to be expected really. The Dark Knight is a quality adaption of one of the best superhero comics ever.
You're also right about it being a crime movie with added latex instead of a superhero movie. I expand a bit on this here. ;)
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