At The Movies: The Dark Knight

Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine

Directed by: Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Prestige, Batman Begins)

This is not a comic-book movie; it is in a league of its own. While others have claimed this summer to be loaded with tremendous blockbuster pictures and such, I differ. I think we’ve seen all of this before; the typical big special affects blockbusters, the occasional big money making comedy, and the superhero movie. Ironman has more or less been the only post-Oscar movie to wow me this year in any shape or form. The Dark Knight didn’t wow me, in fact, it left me speechless, gasping for air, questioning if this could possibly be the best comic-book adaptation ever, and lastly, questioning if this could possibly be one of the best movies to come out in the last decade.

Bold statements, I know, but these were all were claims made before the movie even came out. Because the director here is Christopher Nolan, nothing is a surprise as far as quality goes. You are going to get the best experience mentally, emotionally, visually, and just about any other way it is possible to get an experience at the movies. An all star cast led by Bale and the late Ledger give performances that are all worthy of acclaim and praise.

This is also barely a summer movie. Sure, all the blasts, explosions, action scenes and superhero-ness lead one to perceive that, but the complex storyline, extensive character development, gripping cinematography, artistic visions and carefully picked score suggest that this movie is not to be limited to one season.

The ending of Batman Begins gave you the hint that The Joker would be around. The Joker (Ledger) is a psychopath who kills just for the fun of it. He actually enjoys the chaos and mayhem Gotham City undergoes when he reaches the peak of his havoc. Of course, Bruce Wayne as Batman is called upon to put a stop to this carnage. The character played by Ledger is one of extreme intelligence when it comes to destructing Gotham City, as he is always one step ahead on route to his goal. He betrays and persuades his enemies and short lived friends along the way, including District Attorney, Harvey Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart. Without giving away too much of the plot, it is easy to say that even as a hardcore Batman fan, there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, but moreover, it is the ridiculously gripping writing of Nolan, his brother Jonathan, and David S. Goyer that will keep you intrigued when stuff isn’t getting blown up.

The delivery of the dialogue by Ledger and Eckhart in any scene they are in is quite amazing and it should keep you holding your breath just as the action scenes do. Maggie Gyllenhaal replaces Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes, the love of both Bruce and Harvey, and she delivers a suitable performance. Caine and Freeman reprise their roles as aids to Bruce and once again do a fantastic job whenever they are on screen.

Nolan’s vision is beautiful; he portrays Gotham as a modern day corrupt Rome or Constantinople, and he subtly tackles topics of crime, character, surveillance, and ethics without making you think too much. Moreover, his aerial shots, action sequences and especially chilling close ups on the scarred smile of The Joker add so much flavor and personality to a movie that had pretty much established itself in the first 5 minutes.

This movie only contributes to the fact that Nolan is at least one of the top three directors in Hollywood today and is one of the best writers the industry has to offer as well. His in depth look on the psychology of just about every character is more philosophical than scientific and his development of character seems unparalleled in this day and age of summer movies. If Memento and Insomnia weren’t enough to draw a coming out party for him, then hopefully this Batman series is.

It is also important to outline the performance by Ledger. As a hip hop fan, we tend to over rate those who have passed on and hold them in high regards as a sign of respect and recognition. But this isn’t the case here. His death does make this performance extra chilling; however, even if he were alive it would be perfect. Every time he is on screen, he grabs the audience by the balls and controls whatever he wants. He even makes a pencil disappear.

The movie, however, isn’t flawless (rarely any movies are). It is slightly too long. It runs at about 2 hours and 40 minutes with the last 20-25 minutes seeming rushed and packed with so much info. The ending isn’t completely satisfying and is literally left hanging. Also, the introduction of Two-Face along with the already established villain of The Joker seemed to be a lot to instill in one plotline. There is certainly a lot going on, but this warrants a possible second viewing. You really do not feel the extensive time until the movie is over because you still will be strapped to your seat, but, in retrospect you could point out that a few scenes could have been skipped over or excluded and put away for another sequel. Still, the essence of Nolan is seen in every scene and I love being the nerd that can tackle the moral and purpose of every scene.

Seriously, this is a complete movie and you will not really have anything bad to say about it once you leave the theatre. I couldn’t speak for a while because I was still in shock, but when I came back to my regular state of mind, you realize that it is simply one of the most intense movie experiences you will ever have. It is worth every penny and I suggest you see it while it is still fresh. However, I repeat, it is not a comic-book movie; it is in a league of its own, but it will set a new bar as far as comic book movies go because this one kind of makes all the others look like a joke.

Overall Score: 90/100