Where do we begin? The Dark Knight (TDK) truly does meet all the hype surrounding it prior to its release. Where Batman Begins set the bar for comic book movies, TDK successfully raises that bar, grounding the caped crusader in a very real world, with incredible performances from the entire cast, and mind blowing sequences, superseding its predecessor in both complexity and action, providing a dark, gritty and, at some points, disturbing masterpiece woven into the superhero genre. Not only is TDK a fantastic and thrilling comic book movie, it is an astounding film in its own right, due to the incredible directing prowess of Christopher Nolan.
Christian Bale returns as billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, who dons the iconic black cowl of Batman to fight the criminal underworld of Gotham City. As the owner of Wayne Enterprises, Bruce has left CEO Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), in charge of the company who also doubles as Bruce’s supplier of tech and gadgets through Wayne Enterprises’ Research and Development department.
About a year has passed, and crime has escalated in Gotham as a result of Batman’s emergence, generating a stirring in Gotham’s criminal underworld, bringing mob leaders together, and the rise of psychopathic villain with a “flare for theatrics”, The Joker (Heath Ledger). The Joker seeks to obliterate everything that the Batman stands for, acting purely on an insatiable desire for destruction. The chaos that ensues leaves Bruce feeling responsible for this surge of villainy, longing for a way to bring peace to Gotham City without hiding under the persona of a vigilante. Which is where ambitious district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) comes into the picture. Portrayed as a ray of ‘light’ cutting through the ‘darkness’ that is Gotham, Dent appears to be the saviour the city needs, allowing Bruce to hang up the cape and cowl. Here’s the kicker: Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Bruce’s love interest from Begins is now involved intimately with Harvey, which starts to raise a few issues.
So what exactly has earned this movie SO much hype and applause? The answer: Pretty much everything; from start to finish. Outstanding performances from the entire cast really lift the film onto a level of its own. Notably, Ledger’s performance as the Joker is one I personally will never forget. When watching the Joker, that’s all there was. The Joker. Not an actor subscribing to role, but rather a truly sadistic and terrifying face-painted monster. If for no other reason, I would recommend this movie purely for Heath’s performance. From the moment we see Joker’s face, the rollercoaster ride begins, and never stops until the ending credits.
With some pretty amazing action sequences, fight scenes, car chases and memorable one liners (“why so serious?”), I really can’t recommend this film enough. It’s definitely a must see. And for those who have yet to watch Batman Begins, it’s a great foundation for TDK. The Dark Knight is quite possibly the best film of 2008, and without a doubt, the best comic book movie to date.
Adrian "Chewie" Chew