The Dark Knight Movie Review

Vital Statistics

Opening Date: July 18th, 2008
Run Time: 152 Minutes
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers:
Screenplay:
Jonathan Nolan
Christopher Nolan (screenplay)
Story:
Christopher Nolan
David S. Goyer

Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace.
Based on: The comic book character Batman by: Bob Kane. Published by DC Comics.

The Story

Spoilers Below!
The Dark Knight sees Batman on the brink of victory. The mob is running scared with Batman, Detective Jim Gordon, and new ally District Attorney Harvey Dent hitting them in the one place the mob can’t live without, their pockets. Sting after sting sees their money laundering operations coming down, their members in jail, and the mob gangs are running scared.

Two forces appear to help them with their problem. A Chinese businessman, who transfers all the money to Hong Kong and out of Gotham jurisdiction keeping it safe and in one location and a mysterious man with a painted face and scars calling himself The Joker. This man says the future of the mob isn’t in protecting their money; rather it is in killing Batman, the driving source of all their ills. In time they agree and let loose this wild dog upon their enemies. The result is something no one could have guessed, chaos and carnage. The Joker is playing the game for his own purposes and leaves bodies, fear, and the screams of his victims in his wake, which is all music to his ears. Batman is poised with breaking his own rules to bring down the Joker and keep alive the good work that the men and women of Gotham have worked so hard to accomplish.

Review

Lately, more and more comic book movies have gotten it right when it comes to how the characters, origins, and stories are treated in their re-imaging of the comic book property. The Dark Knight is one of those movies that has gotten it right, and perhaps is one of the best to do so in a long time.

When Batman Begins came out, it gave us a new look at The Batman. It was a lot more serious than the other film incarnations of the character and told a darker story of a man fighting against the dark and insidious corruption that had taken root in Gotham City. The movie was a great success and paved the way for a renewed Batman franchise. The Dark Knight continues that success in more ways than one.

The cast, as in the last Batman movie, was fantastic. Christian Bale is showing himself a great action star that can also give a dramatic performance. His ability to show the brooding Wayne one minute and the obnoxious trust fund baby the next fits right in with the Batman character from the comics. Long time stars Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman also did a fabulous job in their roles as part of the team that helps Batman in his crusade. The supporting cast was very good as well and I thought added a lot to the story overall. But the one that will probably be remembered as stealing the show? Heath Ledger as The Joker.

I will admit that I was worried about Heath Ledger] becoming The Joker. I had heard that he even hated comic book movies! What was a comic fan to do? It turns out that Ledger turned in a performance that was so different from the other actors before him and had such a great story to work from that there was no need to worry. I think this movie will be remembered as one of Ledger’s greatest performances and I was sad that it would be one of his last as well.

The special effects and action were also top notch, keeping this movie on par with the first and even some of the latest special effects blockbusters like Iron Man. There was so much going on in this film that I hardly felt like time was dragging in this two and a half hour epic. Batman has new gadgets that brought him up close and personal with his foes, and keeps himself safe and out of harms way – most of the time.

The story itself, although it veers from the source material, was well done and seemed to take a lot from comics like The Killing Joke, and Batman Year One. It was dark and realistic and showed what The Joker might truly be like; a paranoid schizophrenic who delights in causing harm and ruining the well laid plans of others. His plans were brilliant, deadly, and showed true insanity, forcing others to choose who would live and die. The origins were tweaked, especially that of Harvey Dent turning into Two-Face, although there were nods to the origins from the comic, especially with how The Joker continues to change his own origin story.

Bottom Line

The Dark Knight was gritty, fast paced, and sometimes very creepy…and I loved every minute of it. I was waiting for a more serious comic book movie that did well with the source material, wasn’t campy or silly, `and told a story with fine actors that did justice to the rich history that the comic book has laid down for us for decades. For me, The Dark Knight did just that and more.

If you are a fan of current Batman comics, or some of the darker classics like The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Returns, then I think you will love this movie. This Batman and Joker are right in line with those comics. If you were a fan of the campy TV series and want a more lighthearted Batman, then The Dark Knight will most likely disappoint. This version is dark, hard hitting and fast paced and has little to do with its campy predecessors.

I wholeheartedly recommend this movie to comic book fans everywhere. Be warned, it is much darker than the first film, so I’d advise not bringing the little kids. Just be ready for a great time.