Comments for The Official Blog of Author D. H. Schleicher

Comment on A Review of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” by bApHoMEt

bApHoMEt — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:16:03 +0000

Brilliant Review. I agree with you on the subliminal imagery that Nolan builds into the film. Notable, as you mentioned - 9/11 and Oklahama Bombing. Although I cannot completely agree with your classification of The Dark Knight as “B-level genre flick.” Perhaps I was misunderstood. But could you clarify?

Thanks for reading! What I meant was that filmmakers typically treat superhero/comic book movies as B-level genre flicks in that they display a similar formula, style, and thematic content. Nolan clearly did not follow all of those generic rules with The Dark Knight. I felt the brilliance and groundbreaking nature of the film is that he still allowed it to be recognizable as a superhero/comic book movie while going deeper and shattering more rules than any director has before in this context. Just like the Joker thought “Gotham deserves a better class of criminal”, Nolan and his team thought audiences deserved a better class of film. –DHS

Comment on A Review of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” by Jess

Jess — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:59:40 +0000

Bravo - once again…=)

Jess, I’m kinda jealous you saw this in IMAX, though I am still not completely sold on the whole IMAX experience per se. –DHS

Comment on A Review of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” by Christopher Tait

Christopher Tait — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:29:22 +0000

Man, this movie has seriously gotten under my skin. It’s weird, too, because when I left the theater, I felt strangely disappointed. However, I’ve come to realize just how complex the movie really is. I’ll try and be discreet here, but that sequence involving what the Joker did to the boats…I keep thinking about that sequence and how perfect it was for that moment. Ledger and Oldman stole the show, I thought. And the cameos (William Fichter and Tony Lister, to name a few) didn’t take away, but added to it. And you used the perfect word for the climax: harrowing.

A third Nolan “Batman” movie is a certainty, I’m sure. I can only wonder what he has left up his sleeve.

Chris, I wan unnerved more than anything after watching it. It really has stuck with me more than I initially thought it would. The scene you mention was so out of the blue, too. Who would’ve thought they would stack on another terrifying situation like that after all that had happened already? It was brilliant how Nolan was able to up the ante in such unexpected ways. –DHS

Comment on A Review of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” by Boz

Boz — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:20:58 +0000

Dave,
Excellent assessment my friend! I especially liked your Nolan/Hitchcock parallels. Great job.

Boz, thanks. I don’t recall reading any other reviews that mentioned these parallels (though I am sure other critics and viewers noticed them), especially the obvious opening shot nod to Psycho. –DHS

Comment on A Review of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” by Horse Apples

Horse Apples — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:30:59 +0000

I personally think Eric Roberts deserves an Oscar nod for funniest face made during a Joker scene………….and the most beat up gangster boss in one movie.

Horsie, yes, Roberts was fantastic, and his facial expressions were hilarious. Sadly, he escaped my review, which goes to show just how many great elements Nolan’s film contained.

Also a great piece of minor stunt casting was Nathan Gamble as Gordon’s son. Anyone who recalls the poor boy’s fate in The Mist would certainly have been on edge during The Dark Knight’s grand finale. –DHS

Comment on A Review of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” by Candace

Candace — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:28:59 +0000

Daf,
I loved your thoughts on the Movie as much as I loved the movie! Thanks for using the SAT words in your writing… I learn something new everytime. Zeitgeist…. great word!! Keep up with the great reviews!

- Candace

Candace, zeitgeist might be my favorite word in the whole wide world. –DHS

Comment on A Review of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” by Rebecca Lerwill

Rebecca Lerwill — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:15:36 +0000

Dave,

you did it again. Awsome review, just as entertaining as the flick itself. Hope everything is going well with you. My new book is going to the publisher this week. Do I dare send it to you for a review?
Best wishes,
Rebecca
http://www.rebeccalerwill.com

Rebecca, thanks as always. And, oh, yes, you should dare –DHS

Comment on A Tribute to Ingmar Bergman by Pere

Pere — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:38:49 +0000

For further viewing:

Recommended Dreyer
Day of Wrath
Ordet

Recommended Bergman:
Cries & Whispers
The Virgin Spring

Oh, that’s strange, I just watched Day of Wrath today–a very creepy and stark melodrama. I enjoyed very much the simple framing and directorial choices, and all those great tracking shots. Ordet doesn’t seem to be on DVD yet…though I hope a release is planned soon–I can’t wait to see it. Dreyer was a master craftsman.

Cries & Whispers is in my Netflix queue as many claim it to be among Bergman’s best. –DHS

Comment on A Review of Tarsem’s “The Fall” by genevieve

genevieve — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:08:57 +0000

Nice review!

I just saw the movie last night and was totally stunned. The costuming was so beautiful it made me cry (being a fashion designer, I dream of working on a project so incredibly realized as this one). I think that I also had reservations with the storytelling, but I think that maybe there is a connection there with the flatness of the adults and the lushness of the dream-life to Pan’s Labyrinth, a comparison I’m sure has been made many times. Lee Pace was very believable for me, even as a somewhat wooden storyteller, after all, his character was simply a patient trying to get a little girl to do something with him. I think that that human side really revealed itself when he lost it with the doctors after trying to die. It was a moment that sort of broke the spell for me, of him caring for Alexandria. I think that it was kind of a nice wabi-sabi element of the storytelling for me! I will most likely watch this again and again, just to be transported by the lushness of color and style. (And that incredibly adorable little girl, this coming from a person who generally finds child actors precocious and irritating!)

I’ll be back to your blog to read more reviews. Thanks again!

Genevieve, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. –DHS

Comment on Wanted: A Better Movie by Mark Liebrecht

Mark Liebrecht — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:30:44 +0000

That’s disappointing to hear about Be Kind, Rewind. I had such high hopes for that one. I guess I’ll pass on it now.

Still, Wanted is one I keep wanting to see, but I find myself being distracted by other movies that are out at the moment…