Disheveled hair, pale face, dark circles under the eyes, bright red lips and scars, a terrifying gaze, eerie laughter, and the occasional flickering of a venomous snake's tongue when speaking chilling to the bone, utterly evil from head to toe.
This is the Joker!
Kyle had only one feeling: no villain from past movies had ever been this captivating.
From the brief glimpse during the bank heist to the later mad fights against the gangs, every moment displayed a unique charm.
If this wasn't a Batman movie, the spotlight would have completely been stolen by him.
This film was truly outstanding. He had already been impressive in Batman:Begins, but this The Dark Knight exuded a dark aura everywhere, serious to the point of suffocation, yet strangely charming.
Duke Rosenberg brought an entirely different Batman, unlike any previous superhero movie.
Bank robbery, the fake Batman, Joker fighting the gangs, the Moscow chase, Joker's assassination attempt the film never allowed the audience a moment to breathe. The pace was tight like rapid drumbeats, constantly driving emotions higher and higher.
On the big screen, Joker began his hunt for Harvey Dent, the fake Batman, and it seemed the climax was about to start.
In Chicago's IMAX theater, Taylor Swift noticed something different during the chase scene; amid the deafening sound effects, the visuals became even more impactful, as if she were standing at a vantage point, seeing the entire scene in panoramic view.
She was a careful girl and quickly realized the difference: compared to previous films, here the image filled every inch of the huge screen…
This was the IMAX effect!
Sitting in the front row, James Cameron watched the screen intently, nodding subconsciously. When IMAX combined with a top director and a commercial blockbuster, the result was simply… stunning!
In 125 IMAX theaters across the U.S., many eyes were glued tightly to the big screen.
Though it wasn't a 3D effect like Polar Express where things happen right before your eyes, the visual impact of this action scene made many widen their eyes, unwilling to look away for even a second.
"The plot and Joker's performance are certainly brilliant, but such visual effects are equally amazing!"
At an IMAX theater in Nokia Plaza, Kenneth Turan, a film critic from Los Angeles Times, whispered, "The anxiety of humanity and thrilling commercial appeal can be combined so perfectly—Is this still Duke Rosenberg's movie?"
Suddenly, scattered shouts of "cool" arose around. Kenneth Turan's attention returned to the screen; a brand-new Batpod had appeared.
Joker remained insane, willing to use himself as a tool to push Batman's limits, but Batman steadfastly held his own line. He'd rather be hurt than break his principles.
Just as Joker crouched beside the unconscious Batman, trying to remove his mask, Gordon appeared. Joker was captured…
Is it over now?
Kyle glanced down at his watch; the film had already run for over ninety minutes. Joker was caught, so the movie should be ending.
But he felt something was missing from this ending.
The story quickly explained: Joker was deliberately captured, cleverly using Batman and Gordon's plan. Not only did he successfully escape prison, taking the Russian accountant with him, he also gave Batman a huge dilemma.
A choice between two: save Harvey Dent, Gotham's bright future, or save Rachel?
In the end, Harvey Dent was saved, while Rachel was engulfed by flames.
Gotham's Dark Knight, mentally and physically on the brink, his faith shaken, was manipulated by Joker. Like his own face, he became a Two-Face.
"I don't want to watch anymore."
Hearing this, Kyle turned to his sister Ella, who had been fully focused earlier but now seemed distracted, saying, "This is so different from what I expected. Since when did Duke like making such heavy films? Too dark, too crazy, I can't take it."
Kyle was helpless; he couldn't force her. "Then you go out first and wait for me in the lobby, okay?"
"Okay…"
Ella nodded lightly and left the theater without hesitation.
Stepping into the theater lobby, Ella found she wasn't the only one leaving early; others had exited before her.
After chatting briefly with a few people, she found their reasons were similar: the film was too dark, violent, and heavy—not the kind they liked before.
Across the U.S., some audiences left early, especially parents who brought children.
To them, exposing minors to such a film was too cruel.
"This film should be rated R," Ella overheard some parents saying, "Not PG-13 like now."
Although the film was still showing, this feedback reached Duke immediately.
Duke wasn't too worried. He had chosen this series knowing that compared to traditional superhero films, The Dark Knight was indeed too heavy a genre film among superhero movies. Those who preferred lighter movies couldn't watch it; that was perfectly normal.
In fact, the film might split its audience into two extremes—there would be a small portion of people who would extremely dislike the movie.
Not many people left the theater, and those who stayed were undergoing another kind of baptism.
Two ferries were rigged with bombs, and the people on each ferry held the remote detonators for the other ferry's bomb. If they didn't blow up the other ferry before midnight, the Joker would press the detonator.
This scene immediately hit the sweet spot for Kenneth Turan it was basically a severe test of human nature.
Based on the earlier plot developments, he predicted that someone on the ferry would press the detonator. After all, the first half of the film almost entirely revealed the darker side of human nature.
The Joker was unstoppable, always managing to use some method to draw out the lowest aspects of the human soul.
Taylor Swift didn't like the film either, but because of her identity, she couldn't leave. Although she disliked it, she nervously held her hands. As a young girl, no matter how complicated her thoughts, even if it was just a movie, she didn't want to see the people on the ferry make inappropriate choices.
Kyle also didn't want to see that. People around were discussing it, and some of the words were full of despair.
"Isn't there any justice and nobility in people?"
"Gotham shouldn't be filled only with crazies like the Joker and Batman!"
Some even resolved that if the ferry really exploded, they would leave.
Indeed, they liked the style of the film and enjoyed the fresh stimulation it brought, but entering the theater wasn't to be tortured by the film.
A fierce-looking black man picked up the detonator. Gotham faced its most serious judgment of humanity.
Kyle closed his eyes; many around him couldn't accept the scene and closed their eyes in despair.
Do people only expose their ugly and low sides in despair?
Even in the real world, many examples negate that.
Duke clearly knew that if the ferry really exploded, critics would praise it unanimously, but the audience would be shattered.
Unable to resist curiosity, Kyle opened his eyes and what he saw lifted his spirits. His heart, oppressed by darkness, felt hope. Humanity was ultimately a noble existence!
That seemingly ferocious black man, after picking up the detonator, immediately threw it into the water outside the ferry.
A sigh of relief echoed around.
On the other ferry, at the critical moment, no one pressed the detonator either. The Joker's judgment failed.
In the IMAX theater in Chicago, sparse applause started from the back, then grew louder. Because the film was still playing, the applause rose and fell quickly, but Duke understood—this was the result the audience wanted to see.
At the Nokia Plaza theater, Kenneth Turan felt somewhat disappointed. Duke Rosenberg ultimately chose a clichéd ending.
But thinking about the director's producing style, he could only sigh with understanding.
Even though this was somewhat contrary to the earlier plot direction, the flaws did not overshadow the overall excellence. The Dark Knight was outstanding enough.
The film's characterization was deeply detailed. The line between good and evil became very blurred. The Dark Knight Batman, representing justice, was so helpless under the Joker's relentless pressure that he eventually had to consider surrendering himself. Meanwhile, the other symbol of justice—the White Knight, District Attorney Harvey—was Bruce Wayne's greatest hope, the bright star fighting evil forces, but after hatred and a fire incident, he turned into a Two-Face who decided life and death by flipping a coin.
The few remaining comic elements from Batman Begins were completely abandoned by Duke Rosenberg. The Dark Knight was a fully realistic crime movie—extremely serious, dark, and even tragic.
This time, Kenneth Turan could hardly smell any comic atmosphere.
This was probably Duke Rosenberg's most profound film to date.
Even though the ending hadn't come yet, Kenneth Turan could easily make such a judgment.
Seeing this, he had a question in his mind: which is more terrifying, supreme evil or supreme justice?
If he had to answer without thinking, the answer would certainly be evil. For most people, justice is naturally better the stronger it is.
However, after watching this film, Kenneth Turan couldn't help but relate it to reality. Is justice really better the stronger it gets?
.....
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