The Dark Knight

I am not a real fan of movies like The Dark Knight. But when Jeff actually decides going to the movie is what he wants to do, who am I to argue? He generally doesn't have an opinion about how he wants to spend a Saturday night - he just goes with the flow. Since I'm a homebody for the most part, I'm OK with staying at home. I agreed as long as we went early enough to get a good seat since the movie just opened last night. Jeff doesn't usually go anywhere until the very last possible minute.

We got to the theater 20 minutes before the 7:20 movie started, with 10 people in front of us, management announced that the next showing is sold out. We decided to buy tickets for the 8:10 showing then come back a little later. When we got to the front of the line the sales clerk informed us that we bought two of the last 25 tickets available. In that case, instead of leaving we figured we should just get in line.

When we got in we headed to the back of the theater for our version of the best seats in the house. The movie started and I wondered how I would stay awake since these kind of movies are really not my thing. Not to worry in this case, it was gripping from the very beginning. The plot was complicated so paying close attention was important, like when watching one of the Bourne movies. I was hooked. Nothing like intrigue, a complicated plot, and an incredible performance by Heath Ledger. This movie had a very talented cast but Ledger truly stood above them all. Every time he was on the screen, I felt like this was a disgustingly real character who could psychologically manipulate us all to believe that this kind of evil could possibly rule the world. His manaical ideas on chaos, order, anarchy, and morality as well as his ruthlessness towards his villain counterparts makes for a criminal who can haunt one's dreams.

The special effects were incredible. The motorcycle riding up the side of a building and the helicopter scenes had me believing these moves were really possible. I love Chicago so the city backdrop's familiarity was an awesome addition. I don't want to mention how things end up but the writers are truly genius. The complexity was compelling and the dark side of the comic book series was apparent. Living 'happily ever after' certainly was not the final word. It's not often a movie is this good. I would be surprized if there were no Oscars for this film.

Jeff was so enticed by the movie that on the ride home, he was already planning on getting Matt to go with him to see it (again). I am glad I agreed to see this, it was worth it.