Product Description

Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman, Eric RobertsDirector: Christopher Nolan

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #236 in DVD
• Brand: Blu-ray Action & Adventure
• Released on: 2008-12-08
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Chinese, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian
• Dubbed in: French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .26 pounds
• Running time: 146 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Dark Knight arrives with tremendous hype (best superhero movie ever? posthumous Oscar for Heath Ledger?), and incredibly, it lives up to all of it. But calling it the best superhero movie ever seems like faint praise, since part of what makes the movie great--in addition to pitch-perfect casting, outstanding writing, and a compelling vision--is that it bypasses the normal fantasy element of the superhero genre and makes it all terrifyingly real. Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is Gotham City's new district attorney, charged with cleaning up the crime rings that have paralysed the city. He enters an uneasy alliance with the young police lieutenant, Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), and Batman (Christian Bale), the caped vigilante who seems to trust only Gordon--and whom only Gordon seems to trust. They make progress until a psychotic and deadly new player enters the game: the Joker (Heath Ledger), who offers the crime bosses a solution--kill the Batman. Further complicating matters is that Dent is now dating Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal, after Katie Holmes turned down the chance to reprise her role), the longtime love of Batman's alter ego, Bruce Wayne.

In his last completed role before his tragic death, Ledger is fantastic as the Joker, a volcanic, truly frightening force of evil. And he sets the tone of the movie: the world is a dark, dangerous place where there are no easy choices. Eckhart and Oldman also shine, but as good as Bale is, his character turns out rather bland in comparison (not uncommon for heroes facing more colorful villains). Director/co-writer Christopher Nolan (Memento) follows his critically acclaimed Batman Begins with an even better sequel that sets itself apart from notable superhero movies like Spider-Man 2 and Iron Man because of its sheer emotional impact and striking sense of realism--there are no suspension-of-disbelief superpowers here. At 152 minutes, it's a shade too long, and it's much too intense for kids. But for most movie fans--and not just superhero fans--The Dark Knight is a film for the ages. --David Horiuchi

DVD Description
Director Christopher Nolan (The Prestige) returns to Gotham City with this sequel to the critically-acclaimed fan favourite, Batman Begins. In The Dark Knight, Batman (Christian Bale, – American Psycho) squares off against a new, completely psychotic foe: the Joker (Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain). However, the Dark Knight finds himself fighting a battle on two fronts when he learns that a prominent political figure named Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart, Thank You For Smoking) is concealing a dastardly alter-ego known as Two Face.

Stills from The Dark Knight

Special Features
Disc 1 – Movie with Focus Points

• Gotham Uncovered - Creation of a scene: director Christopher Nolan and creative collaborators unmask the incredible detail and planning behind the film, including stunt staging, filming in IMAX®, and the new Bat-suit and Bat-pod.

  Disc 2 – Special Features

• Batman Tech: the incredible gadgets and tools (in HD)
• Batman Unmasked - The Psychology of The Dark Knight: delve into the psyche of Bruce Wayne and the world of Batman through real-world psychotherapy (in HD)
• Gotham Tonight: 6 episodes of Gotham Cable’s premier news program
• The Galleries – The Joker cards, concept art, poster art, production stills, trailers and TV spots
  

Customer Reviews

Audio and Subtittles
Audio: Dolby True HD: English5.1, Dolby Digital: Brazilian Portugese 5.1, Castilian Spanish 5.1, French 5.1 , German 5.1, Italian 5.1,

.Subtittles English, Brazilian Portuguese , Castalian Spanish , Complex CHinese, Danish, Dutch,French, German, Italian ,Korean , Norwegian , Portuguese Spanish and Swedish

variable aspect ratio just works!
The film's great, blah blah, nothing new.

This is really to comment on the Blu-Ray variable aspect ratio that is featured on this BD. As a film purist, I was VERY sceptical about the idea of moving from letterbox to full-screen aspect ratios during such a brilliant film. I was so worried that it would look cheap and gimmicky that I rented the BD before buying to make up my mind. At the worst, I would get the DVD and get the whole thing in letterbox format, I thought.

Looking back, I am glad I checked, because it really could have been awful, but honestly? I'm not sure how I could imagine that such a landmark film would be the object of cheap gimmicks...

The switching from letterbox to full screen is so subtly integrated that my wife didn't even notice it(and she's just as film savvy as I am - I knew about the VAR so I was looking out for the switches)

Here's the verdict: I found that it actually added to the film.

The opening bank heist and the lorry vs bike scene (don't pretend you don't know the one...) both get the full screen treatment. Obviously, they are two amazing set pieces that really benefit from the involving appeal of the full-screen experience. They are also two scenes that must have been intentionally shot with no important info on the sides, so you really do lose nothing you would have wanted to keep and you gain immersion and pixel-perfect definition. This is not Channel 5 cutting of the sides of your favourite movies just to get rid of the black stripes. When the black stripes go, it's because it really is best that way. And then when they come back, it's integrated into dark scenes so that you don't even realise it.

Other full-screen moments include wide-angle pans over the city giving you a completely immersive experience. The switch to full-screen on these scenes give you the impression of flying over Gotham at night. Incredible.

I will now never accept to see the film in any other format. This truly seems to be the director's vision. And if it isn't, then it should be. Who would have thought that The Dark Knight could be improved on? I feel humbled.

EDIT: Yes, obviously, when I say full screen, I mean the full 16:9 (1.78:1) of an HD TV, as opposed to letter-box 2.4:1 which presents black lines at the top and bottom of the screen. (For those commentators who appear to be watching their blu-ray films on a 4:3 cathode-ray tube... I do suggest sticking to DVD or even VHS: it's much cheaper! Another tip would be to buy two speakers so you can upgrade to stereo sound! I hope this clarifies things for you.)
Though it is interesting to learn that the sequences that I was so impressed with were originally shot with that 16:9 IMAX ratio, staying therefore 100% true to the director's vision. So in the end it's the DVD version that cuts material off, not this blu-ray version. Thanks for the info!

Dark, brooding, and thats just Bales Hairdo.......
I have to say, everyone is entitled to their opinions and views, and I'm cool with that but I have to say I massively disagree with some of the lesser points made by some raters. Whether or not you are a massive die hard Batman fan (as my husband is# or a relative newcommer to the Comic book world #myself) it should not be hard to see how awesome this movie is.
I think the problem is people see "comic book movie" and asume its going to be OTT, camp, unrealistic and, to put it blunt crap. I myself used to be one of those people until I met my husband and started reading bits and pieces and started to see beyond the first impressions.

As for some of you saying its violent, I believe you have missed the point. Batman is a lone vigilante who spends his nights beating bad guys to a pulp with his bare hands. I dont think it would have the same affect if he tickled them in to submission. Besides, if you want to see real gruesome violence, try reading Watchmen. That I think might just blow your head off if this sort of thing offends you, but this isnt the point.

I do agree with some posts about how it managed to get a 12 rating (Jokers pencil trick anyone) but thats up to the Film Classification Board to argue out.

The action sequences are quite literally mind blowing edge of seat stuff (a phrase I think is vastly overrated for most films) and the interplay between characters is brilliant.

The Joker, well what can I say that would bring a new spin on the already glittering performance review. The truth is nothing. Heath Ledger gave, quite literally the performance of his life. His mannerisms, voice, his walk, everything down to the flicker of an eyelid when he gets angry is nothing short of a masterpiece. After this film, his already shining star would have gone stratospheric and it is a great shame that he never got to fufil the potential he showed.

Bale is dark brooding and psychotic as usual! I must say, his voice did begin to get on my nerves ever so slightly towards the end. It sounded like his voice when Batman had been digitally altered somehow, as it sounded different to Begins, but thats no big deal. If thats the only thing that annoyed me, then it cant be too bad!

Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman, showed yet again why they are two of the best actors in the world.

Arron Eckheart should have been the main villian in the Third installment, and I'm sure he will somehow. I cant imagine Nolan bringing back Catwoman or the Penguin as the main villians. He was brilliant throughout and I thought his performanc complemented the other actors well.

Maggie Gyllenhall was good as Rachel. At first, I wasnt sure if I prefered Katie Holmes, but after watching it a couple of times, Decided I prefer Maggie. She seems to bring a more adult feel to the character that Katie didnt. Probably because Katie looks so young. Maggie actually looked like she belonged in a court room, and could have two men all over her, not perhaps because of her looks, but because of her confidence and pizzaz.

Gotham looked real, not like Burtons (or heavens forbid Schumachers) Gotham but a real living breathing city, one that I wouldnt want to live in!

From the first aerial shot across the rooftops, to the smoke and darkness of the docks this film had me rivited. Never has that time flown by so easily, and I am fully converted to the Graphic Novel world.

Nolan has brought to us a version of Batman that the world should have seen a long time ago. His command of the camera is brilliant, and really knows how to bring a story to life. I am very much looking forward to the Third Film, whenever that hits the screens!

Now I know I have posted this in the Blu-Ray section, but truthfully I havent actually seen it in Blu-Ray yet, although once its delivered I will have! :) I'm sure it will be brillaint though, if the normal format is anything to go by.

Enjoy the film, you definitely wont regret buying it!