as with batman begins, this is quite a long film that needs time to unfold, but this isn’t boring or longwinded by any means. the same grim gothic atmosphere of the first movie holds the scenes together, allowing for some cute one liners to move seamlessly into some brutal fights. i was interested to know what the 12a certificate would mean with its warning of ‘violence with a continuing threat’, and what it provides is a film that seems much more violent than it actually is. the implication is always there for the more disturbing moments, though there is no blood and gore on display. it would be nice to have a 15 version when it comes to dvd though.
christian bale offers the same assured performance of the man behind the mask, as do the other actors reprising their roles from the first film. it’s a shame that the character of two-face is dispensed with so quickly though, barely having time to be established before being killed off, which on the one hand makes sense for the script yet in the greater batman universe of dc comics, he is allowed to be just as formidable and long lasting as the joker.
and now the big question; just how good is heath ledger’s joker? i was very impressed by this much more psychotic version of batman’s nemesis than has made it to the big screen in the past; mixing unhinged violence with a pure black sense of humour; perfectly demonstrated in his first appearance when he makes the pencil ‘disappear’. it’s a shame that ledger will never be able to play the role again in future, and hard to think who would be able to reproduce the same intensity. 'why so serious?’ has just become my favourite catch phrase.
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