Dark Knight at IMAX Theatre

Gotham City, Bruce Wayne, Joker, Robin, Batmobile, all the Batman ingredients. Dark Knight is another episode of the Batman legacy. This time, as is the last one, stars Christian Bale as Batman, and Heath Ledger as the Joker. Michael Caine is Wayne's butler, and Morgan Freeman builds all of Batman's gears.

It's a big movie this summer, already No. 1 for the 2nd week in the US. We decided to watch the IMAX version of it, for one we haven't watched a real movie in an IMAX theatre, and two, it's such an acclaimed and popular movie that it's so much worth to watch in a more visual and audio advanced cinema.

The show time was 12:15 pm, and we arrived an hour before, worrying that there could be line ups for the seats. You know, in Canada, there's no assigned seats... To our surprise, we were among the first 8 people in the theatre... The screen was exceptionally tall and wide.. it's so big even from the 2nd last row. The screen was blank as we settled, and I certainly hoped that the picture would turn out at the right proportions and easy to the eyes.

So the movie started... OMG, the picture is so clear and so bigggggggggg. I need to adjust my focus... my eyes has to be pushed to the back of my head to see the whole screen. I actually feel a little dizzy after a while.

The movie, oh well, it's action packed. The HK aerial scene was stunning indeed. Edison appeared for a few seconds when he escorted Freeman off the chopper. Wife missed it.. and asked me where he was near the end of the movie. She must have blinked her eyes at that time. Christian Bale was handsome I think. Freeman is as wise as ever. The Joker.. oh my oh... he is absolutely unbelievably in character - intimidating and sarcastic at times, and funny always.

Ledger portraited a more mental version of the Joker, compared to Nicholson almost 2 decades ago. He's certainly shown a completely different character than his role in the Oscar nominated Brokeback Mountain. He is convincingly possessed, a psycho who was disturbed in his childhood and betrayed as a husband. He sees Batman as his arch enemy. He is lonely and he needs attention from Batman, the only person who makes his life interesting.

Anyway, story aside, it's a pretty long movie in an IMAX setting. I think I will just go normal theater next time.. once is enough, my eyes still hurts and I feel as if I haven't had coffee for two days.

Conclusion: movie good, IMAX not so good.