The Dark Knight Movie Review

Christopher Nolan is responsible for movies such as Memento, Insomnia, and The Prestige. That explains why The Dark Knight is actually a psychological thriller. But it's more than that. It's raised the bar and shown the potential of comic book movies. And also it's the only must see movie of the year.

The story follows millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne who moonlights as caped crusader Batman. When Bruce was young, his parents were murdered by criminals in Gotham City. Bruce grew from a boy to a man, with a spirit of vengeance in his heart due to the psychological trauma of witnessing his parents gunned down. It's because of that, he hates guns and refuses to use them. It's because of that, he's created a fear based persona to fight crime. Hence, the Batman.

There is a movie Batman Begins that elaborates the back story if one needs it. Also see Batman, made in 1989 for an earlier version of the mythos.

The Dark Knight is the sequel. Christian Bale returns to play Bruce Wayne/Batman. Heath Ledger, in the last complete acting performance, plays The Joker. Aaron Eckhart is Harvey Dent/Two Face. All these characters are familiar, due to plenty of previous Batman films with box office success. One of the first questions is can Ledger, or anyone for that matter, top the performance of Jack Nicholson as The Joker. (I'll give you the answer later- keep reading.)

This is the greatest comic book movie. Ever. Yes, that includes Batman from 1989 with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Or Superman or Superman II. Or the first Spiderman. And it's more mature than Iron Man. Better than previous attempts of grim and gritty (Blade). Even better than faithful translations of Sin City and 300. In fact, it supersedes being a great comic book movie, to being a great movie.

It's July 2008, and this is the best movie of the year. It's an epic movie. On the same scale of The Last Samurai, Braveheart, TheGodfather, and The Empire Strikes Back. If the concept of Batman and Joker were removed from the movie, this would easily be an Oscar contender in every category.

The hype surrounding Heath Ledgers performance as the Joker is well deserved press. His Joker is every bit as creepy and disturbing as Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men. Both characters are unpredictable killers that cause one to get tense and cautious whenever they appear on screen. Where Jack Nicholson played The Joker, he was a comic villain. And that's largely due to the writing and the limits of a pg rated movie. With the pg-13 rating, excellent writer, and a much darker movie, Heath Ledger gifts us with the performance of a lifetime. Nicholson's Joker is normally regarded as the best on screen villain. That title has been handed over to Ledger. He's that good. He's that creepy.

The dialogue that Heath delivers is akin to Al Pacino in The Devil's Advocate. The Joker taunts Batman in wagering for the souls of Gotham. Joker has a plan. There is a method to the madness. To prove mankind is unfit for salvation.

Joker uses many pawns in his deadly game of chess with Batman. A standout on the board is Harvey Dent. The hotshot District Attorney played by Aaron Eckhart equally deserves the distinction of best supporting actor. He walks a fine line to make the character transformation of Two Face believable.

Nolan further roots the movie in reality with demure understated costumes. There are no nipples on the bat costume. No brightly tinted bat cod pieces. His villains don't were brightly colored neon green and purple suits from Eyesoars-R-Us. Ledger's Joker dresses like a grungy outcast- like the Brad Pitt character in Fight Club. There are no clothes and costumes to distract the audience.

Special Effects are another Achilles Heel for movies. Not here. The Dark Knight is strengthened by amazing special effects, stunts, and pyrotechnics. Although C.G.I. is common in many films, in The Dark Knight one doesn't notice what's C.G.I. Surely Christian Bale didn't hang glide through a city. But there's total suspension of disbelief. The flawless imagery supports the fantasy. During these 2 hours and 32 minutes, you're in Gotham.

Having multiple villains is usually a sign of a bad movie. Refer to Spiderman 3, Batman and Robin, and Batman Forever for proof. In The Dark Knight, Nolan trudges head on into taboo territory and succeeds where so many have failed before him. The Dark Knight excels at everything.

The Dark Knight approached the theater with the highest expectations. Those expectations are met. It's like a psychological thriller. An epic with all A list actors. A morality play on the grandest stage there is. It's a promise delivered.

"This town deserves a better class of criminal... and I'm gonna give it to them."