The Dark Knight

Overall score:

Christian Bale once again does a spectacular job portraying a Batman who is dangerously balancing between doing what is right and giving in to his emotions and doing something rash. He seamlessly goes from playboy gone corporate worker to a man who will do anything it takes to do what he thinks is right. However, what we think is right isn't always right. Does this lead him down a path of darkness?

Michael Cane and Morgan Freeman, Alfred and Fox, brilliantly play supporting rolls. While they don't always support Bruce's endeavors, they still support him as a man and a hero. Gary Oldman, Gordan, does really well portraying a character who is struggling to trust anyone throughout the movie while Maggie Gillenhaal, Rachel, desperately searches for love and a stable relationship.

Heath Ledger, the main antagonist, The Joker, is undoubtedly insane in his search to sow chaos on Gotham's streets. His angrily adorned makeup, covering up scars from an incident we never quite understand, is a refreshing change from Jack Nicholson's meticulously done version. The character has been shifted to become a darker jester who still enjoys to laugh, but whose tricks include making a pencil "disappear" into a mans skull and whose jokes include putting lives on the line and making our hero make the classic choice of the girl or the second option. Truly no past or future performance can compare to Ledger's brilliant one.

Aaron Eckhart, Harvey Dent, begins his roll as an up and coming politician who is loved by the people of Gotham, as well as a beautiful young lady, Rachel. He is doing all he can to clean up the streets and make Gotham a better place, but soon finds himself loosely working with Batman. Some of Batman's older fans may be disappointed in the way this character makes a transition in the film, because it doesn't follow the original story, but it is similar and provides for an excellent suspense scene later in the movie. After a terrible accident Harvey takes on an old nickname, Two-Face, becoming a completely different person who struggles to define the difference between justice and revenge.

The movie is action packed and suspenseful, not a dull moment. Throughout the movie you are kept on your toes as the story makes drastic, unexpected turns. Gaining new perspectives, some characters gain depth and dynamic, where others become a bit disappointing.& Characters will win and lose, our hero will hold lives in his hands, he'll struggle with what's right and what's 'right' and people will die laughing over some new "jokes". Most Batman fans will be thoroughly satisfied with the writing in this movie. There are a few parts that don't fit the original canon, such as how Two-Face becomes who he is, but these slight discrepencies are welcomed as they make the movie more suited to the big screen.

The Dark Knight was rated PG-13 due to language, violence, and dark humor.

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Written by miyabi on August 05th, 2008