The Dark Knight: Heath Ledger's Final Film is a Modern Masterpiece

Christopher Nolan's newest installment in the Batman series, The Dark Knight, was met with box office success. The story line is engaging, the action is almost non stop, and the acting is superb. Nolan has done a good job of continuing the story line that was started in the 2005 box office hit Batman Begins. The feel of The Dark Knight follows it's predecessor's, though it does add some more strikingly dark undertones. Again we see Batman (Christian Bale) struggling to clean up a crime ridden Gotham City. Along the way a new character is introduced, District Attorney Harvey Dent ( Aaron Eckhart ). The story almost immediately introduces the principle villain in the move, the Joker (Heath Ledger ). The Joker is portrayed as dark, and maniacal. Heath Ledger does a phenomenal job of portraying the Joker as both frightening, and comical. The feel of the character follows a dark interpretation resembling Frank Miller's portrayal of the Joker.

The cinematography in the move still features wide angle shots of Gotham City. Fans will also remember the sweeping camera style that gave a sense of the massive scale of Gotham City in Batman Begins. The special effects are nearly flawless giving a sense of plausible reality to this fantastic story. The movie still portrays Batman in a gritty, yet realistic way. Viewers are given the idea of realism throughout the movie. Unlike previous Batman movies, the villains do not have elaborate hideouts and fancy gadgets. The general feel of Nolan's Batman is in stark contrast to Joel Schumacher's interpretation as seen in Batman Forever and Batman and Robin.

The acting in The Dark Knight is excellent. Each character is given a distinct feel that helps the audience to understand their decision. This movie sees Batman in conflict with his actions and Christian Bale does a great job of expressing that. Aaron Eckhart gives the movie a character who compliments Heath Ledger's Joker as well as Batman does. Heath Ledger is the star of the show, however. His portrayal of the Joker is masterful. The depth of this character gives the feel that the Joker deserves. His more maniacal take on the character makes his Joker seem more evil than he has ever been portrayed. This is the Joker as he was meant to be played. Ledger balances the character perfectly between frightening and funny.

The Dark Knight has raked in money at the box office. With the unfortunate death of Heath Ledger, it is uncertain if the Joker character will return, though it was hinted at in The Dark Knight. The movie does end giving the audience the assumption that another installment is on the way. In the meantime, The Dark Knight is a modern masterpiece in its genre, and in general.