This year has already been a solid year for comic book movies and some could argue its best year yet. 2008 has already had two excellent superhero movies; Iron Man and The Incredible hulk were both excellent examples of how superhero movies should be made. However knowing what Christopher Nolan had created in 2005 with Batman Begins I knew this one was going to be special.
Christopher Nolan created an amazing film in 2005 but this time he has created something so special everything you thought it could accomplish was and then it was surpassed, until you start to realise you’re not watching an amazing film any more you’re watching the best of its kind, and possible one of the greatest films made.
Every one in a while a movie comes along that raises the bar, this movie raises the bar and then blows it to pieces. Its rare for a sequel to ever out do the first movie but just like The Godfather 2 this movie does with ease.
Christian Bale returns once again as the troubled Billionaire playboy who lives the double life as Batman only known by some of his closest friends, Rachel Dawes (now played by Maggie Gyllenhaal) Bruce’s childhood and former flame who he loves, Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine) who does amazing once again and offers some of the films comedic moments; and Lucious Fox (Morgan Freeman) the technology genius behind Batman’s advanced weaponry. Bruce will need the help of all his friends to fight the cities greatest threat yet The Joker (Heath Ledger).
Forget all the Joker performances before this movie this Joker is an urban terrorist whose goal like every terrorist is to cause panic and chaos rather than for wealth or power. If you have been living in a cave for the last year or so (unlike batman where Bruce manor and the caves are still being built) you will know that the Joker is played by Heath ledger, and if all the Oscar rumours are true then I can only say it will be for hi amazing performance as the Joker and not the fact that he has passed away. Heath does so well in his performance that you’re not watching the actor any more but your transformed into seeing a psychotic maniac in which is by far the greatest movie villain to ever hit the screens.
Nolan only offers small bits of the story a bit at a time so I won’t go spoiling this for any of the viewers by giving something away that will take away from the viewing pleasure so i will give a small glimpse into what you should expect to see. Batman still isn’t seen by the public of Gotham City as a hero rather he is seen as a masked vigilante who has inspired many copycat ‘Batmen’ who are trying to help but are only making things worse by destroying everything Batman has tried to create. However when the new district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) arrives at the scene and starts busting heads Bruce thinks he my be able to retire Batman and settle down with his long time friend Rachel Dawes who in the mean time has fallen for Harvey Dent.
The Joker has other plans for The Dark knight and Mr Dent however and I won’t go into them here, but I can say The Joker tries to pushes even the Whitest of Knights over the edge and TDK makes us look at how corrupt some people are willing to go to fight crime.
Just like Batman Begins this film is loaded with ‘realism’ everything The Joker sets out is both plausible and frightening and the consequences of these actions will push Batman to places where even he may not be able to come back from. You will realise through out this film any one could die at any moment including the main characters.
This film has everything you want from a Superhero movie and more. Christian Bale once again shows us why he is now Batman, however the star of the show without a shadow of a doubt is the excellent Heath Ledger, he provides a side to the Joker that we have never seen on screen before, no longer acting like a ‘clown’ but a Urban terrorist that has a dark funny side to him. Ledger provides some truly great scenes and you want to miss his ‘magic’ trick. Just as Batman Begins gave decency back to Batman, The Dark Knight gave us what the Joker should have been shown like years ago. Everything from this movie is epic, the cast, strong acting, excellent story, the action was amazing and the fight scenes were improved on from Batman Begins.
