Words fail, but I’ll try.
This movie makes Batman Begins look like a cartoon. Christopher Nolan has created the first true post 9/11 superhero movie, one that looks at all the compromises that we take and make in order to defend ourselves against chaos and terror. At the same time he has also made a film that plays that subtext as one part of many, a puzzle piece part of a fantastic piece of entertainment.
It is not perfect – though it’s closer to the golden mean than the first film was – but then again, Empire Strikes Back wasn’t either, and many consider it a masterpiece. I don’t think TDK qualifies for that type of hyperbole, but it’s damn close.
There are rumors that this movie will make $160+ million in three days, which would not surprise me – if any film released this summer is deserving of such a windfall, it’s this one.
More maybe later, as I try and work through my thoughts on the film, but to summarize: It would not surprise me to see this film sweep – yes, sweep – the Academy Awards. It’s that good.