The Dark Knight
(Film Review)
(Film Review)
Since the moment of the closing sequence of Batman Begins, in which ally cop James Gordon hands Batman a Joker card, anticipation had been high for the sequel. Batman Begins had been, in my humble opinion, the first great live action Batman adaptation ever released in theatres and the idea of a new reinterpretation of the Joker had me positively ecstatic over the idea. Following up on a great film is always a difficult prospect and I certainly had moments of doubt as I followed every news story I could.
Perhaps my biggest moment of worry came when they announced Heath Ledger as the Joker. I scoured message boards for some proof that this wasn't true as supporters pointed to films such as "10 Things I Hate About You" and "A Knight's Tale" as proof that he could handle the role, which only made me more angry. My faith in Christopher Nolan and his vision for the direction of our favorite vigilante was certainly shaken. Still, of course, looking forward to the film as they announced Aaron Eckhart for the role of Harvey Dent and replacing one of the weaker points of the first film with Maggie Gyllenhall. Even with the rest of the support I was still dubious, however, about the casting of Heath Ledger, even as raves and discussions of an Oscar-worthy
performance starting to filter through.
However, just as the foundations started to crumble, they were quickly shored up again by this trailer, which revealed the Joker in all his insanity. The final line of the trailer is "Let's put a smile on that face of yours..." and this trailer certainly did. My faith renewed and my anticipation reached heights not seen for films since Spider-Man 3 (let's not discuss how that one ended). As the viral marketing and reviews for the movie continued, I was looking forward to this movie more than I could stand and eventually ended up watching at a midnight film showing. Even so, could the Dark Knight possibly match or even exceed my lofty expectations?
Let's find out - and here...we....go!
The Dark Knight
Released: July 18, 2008.
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Micheal Caine, Maggie Gyllenhall.
Running Time: 153 Minutes (2 Hours and 33 minutes).
Rating: PG-13.
Director: Christopher Nolan.
"You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." - Harvey Dent.
As the opening credits roll, we're immediately drawn back into the gritty world of Gotham City as it picks up not too long after the film. Following the events of the first film, organized crime apears to be in their final days as Batman has left them with a tenous group on the city they once controlled. With a new crusading District Attorney who is determined to put an end to crime through the legal system, Bruce Wayne dares to dream of a world in which in Batman is no longer needed and reunited with his love, Rachel Dawes, who is the only woman who knows his secret. However, as the opening scenes establish, this will be harder to accomplish than anticipate as one of the prominent themes from the first movie, escalation, comes into play and enter the Joker. All of the problems in the city can be solved with one simple and elegant solution, "Kill the Batman."
Obviously emboldened by the success and critical reception to the first film, Christopher Nolan appears determined to escalate things as well. Nolan and company have an incredible vision for our caped crusader and one that's not just content to view this through the lens of being just a comic-book film. Instead, it sets out to view what things would be like in the real world if a man decided to dress up like a Bat to fight crime and a man dressed up like a clown sought to destroy him and everything he stood for? On paper, it may sound implausible but on the big screen, the results are nothing short of breathtaking. It's a heartbreaking and entertaining decision into one man's descent into what it will take to save his city.
As the movie progresses, it's evident that Batman is more than just one man's crusade to end crime. To a city long starved of hope and decency, Batman is a symbol - one that has inspired many of the residents of Gotham City and in particular, Harvey Dent, as they oppose the mob. If the theme of the first movie was about fear, this second one is about chaos. By introducing chaos into the city, the Joker seeks to destroy not the city or the man behind the mask, but the symbol itself and the decency it represents. The scale of the Joker's assault on the city is ruthless in its complexity and scale, forcing Batman to examine what he's willing to risk, examining the repurcussions of his actions on those he cares about and on Gotham itself. This is a movie that works because of the performances from the cast and what a set of performances it is.
As the lead character, Christian Bale does a fantastic job portraying a man who has to consider his decision and where to place his moral compass as he realizes what he'll have to do to save his city from these new types of criminals, ones whose motives aren't quite so easy to discern. Christian Bale plays both parts well, the billionaire playboy who is never taken seriously and the masked vigilante he moonlights as. Bale portrays both sides of the equation at a crossroads, showing both the resolve and the doubt that sometimes threatens to bubble to the surface as his character is at a definite crossroads. However, despite it all, there is no question that he remains dedicated to the ideals and code of conduct he represents for Gotham.
On the opposite side of the coin, you have the Joker, played in what was one of the most buzzed about performances of the year and ultimately an Academy award-winning one for Heath Ledger. What I feared might be the anchor that weighed down the film is the best thing about it. Some have suggested that the goodwill towards Ledger's performance as the Joker can be attributed to his death and I think that is simply an embarassing idea. Heath Ledger simply disappears into his malevolent on-screen persona, a self-proclaimed "agent of chaos", who simply puts any previous on-screen incarnations of the Joker to shame. Heath Ledger isn't just the best comic book villain of all time, but certainly deserves to be mentioned in the same breathe as other classic villains such as Hannibal Lecter. Heath Ledger's Joker owns the film from the moment he makes his classic debut until his climatic confrontation with Batman. Although there will be some who will attempt to dismiss his work here as some morbid fascination with him in the wake of his death, there is no doubt that Heath Ledger committed completely to the role and as a result, portrays one of the great on-screen villains in film history. Simply amazing.
Often lost amidst the revelation of the Joker, completely reinvented for the modern age, is the unsung performance of Aaron Eckhart, who delivers one of the most gut-wrenching performances of the year as Harvey Dent, the 'white knight' of the city, the district attorney. A true idealist, his desire to help his city finds himself considering his own moral compass as he forms a loose partnership with both Batman and Comissioner Gordon. While the movie mostly focuses on the intense rivalry between Batman and Joker (and rightfully so), the underlying plot of the film is the personal journey of Harvey Dent. It's an amazing performance and one that I can't imagine played by anybody else. Building on past smooth-talking performances like the one in Thank You For Smoking, he portrays confidence in his beliefs while also experiencing some profound changes that will have him undergoing a distinct personality change that is explored throughout the film, especially the latter half. However, thoughout it all, Aaron Eckhart is a man who is determined to make things better for the city, even if he's not sure he's up to the task.
Replacing what I really considered one of the only weak performances from the first film is Maggie Gyllenhall as Rachel Dawes. The previous Rachel was played by Katie Holmes, who I believe is a much better actress than people give her credit for, but simply felt out of place in the first film. Maggie Gyllenhall does a much better job in the scenes that she's in, portraying what is often a thankless job as the middle setion of a love triangle. However, Maggie does a great job as Rachel, showing her sincere affection towards Bruce Wayne and a great chemistry with Eckhart's Dent. As Rachel, Maggie builds up what is convincing chemistry with both men and adds a real depth to the role that simply wasn't present in the first film.
Of course, you cannot ignore the contributions from your award winning supporting cast for a second. Basically playing the role of Q for our hero, Morgan Freeman comes in to provide not just gadgets, but dispenses advice as well. Yet, his real gift is running the Wayne Enterprises boardroom and providing technology for Batman. My personal favorite for this film is the Batpod. Not to be displaced as the voice of reason which continually rescues Batman from the abyss, Micheal Caine returns as Alfred, who continually helps Batman. Some of his little nuggets of wisdom are some of the best moments in the film. Special notice has to go to Gary Oldman, who plays Commissioner Gordon, as he examines his own partnership with Dent and Batman, who has to examine his own responsibility and motives as he recognizes Batman as a force through which he allows to bend the rules and help enforce the law.
Hopefully my review doesn't lead you to believe that this is just a philosophical examination of morality, decisions and the responsibility that accompanies them. While that is certainly one of the main themes of the film, it is explored in a decidedly mature and entertaining way. Throughout the entire running time of the film, the movie never lags for a second as it has a number of great action set pieces and fights to keep things going. There is a feeling of tension in every moment of the film, even in the more subdued moments as it feels a volcano of violence lurks right beneath the surface, threatening to explode at any moment. And when it comes to violence, the Dark Knight doesn't relent at all. I would say the limits of the PG-13 rating were certainly pushed a bit. The feeling of palpable uncertainty isn't helped at all by the haunting soundtrack provided, once again by James Newton Howard & Han Zimmer.
Overall, this is just a movie that deserves to take its ranks among some of the best films of not just this year, but of all time. The Dark Knight manages to entertain, but also engage audiences as it interests them and then forces them to ask some seriously thought-proving questions that should stick with them long after the movie is over. As Batman stands at the top of the tallest building in the city, he might as well be looking down not just over those who depend on him to protect them but on every other superhero film ever made. The Dark Knight exceeds them all by not sticking to the conventional comic book formula, but by making a serious film that explores the true nature of good versus evil. Watching this film, you can be reminded why we need heroes, which is one of the many triumphs of this particular movie. In terms of scope, ambition, imagination, plot and in virtually every category, this is without, a doubt, the best superhero movie ever made. However, through sheer excellence, it is elevated even above that auspicious compliment as it is a true masterpiece of film-making that I am certain will definitely stand the test of time. Overall, this is just a movie that deserves to take its ranks among some of the best films of not just the superhero genre or of this year, but ever.
Rating: HIGH FIVE! (Five Stars).
(Keeping with past posts, I've decided to include this fairly humorous spoof of one of my favorite scenes in the movie, even though I don't completely agree with it. However, it's one that my brother introduced me to and it's one that I find myself quoting it with him from time to time. It's a heavily viewed video on YouTube and you may have seen it already. Regardless, for your viewing pleasure here it is - Batman Interrogation Spoof)
Perhaps my biggest moment of worry came when they announced Heath Ledger as the Joker. I scoured message boards for some proof that this wasn't true as supporters pointed to films such as "10 Things I Hate About You" and "A Knight's Tale" as proof that he could handle the role, which only made me more angry. My faith in Christopher Nolan and his vision for the direction of our favorite vigilante was certainly shaken. Still, of course, looking forward to the film as they announced Aaron Eckhart for the role of Harvey Dent and replacing one of the weaker points of the first film with Maggie Gyllenhall. Even with the rest of the support I was still dubious, however, about the casting of Heath Ledger, even as raves and discussions of an Oscar-worthy
performance starting to filter through.
However, just as the foundations started to crumble, they were quickly shored up again by this trailer, which revealed the Joker in all his insanity. The final line of the trailer is "Let's put a smile on that face of yours..." and this trailer certainly did. My faith renewed and my anticipation reached heights not seen for films since Spider-Man 3 (let's not discuss how that one ended). As the viral marketing and reviews for the movie continued, I was looking forward to this movie more than I could stand and eventually ended up watching at a midnight film showing. Even so, could the Dark Knight possibly match or even exceed my lofty expectations?
Let's find out - and here...we....go!
The Dark Knight
Released: July 18, 2008.Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Micheal Caine, Maggie Gyllenhall.
Running Time: 153 Minutes (2 Hours and 33 minutes).
Rating: PG-13.
Director: Christopher Nolan.
"You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." - Harvey Dent.
As the opening credits roll, we're immediately drawn back into the gritty world of Gotham City as it picks up not too long after the film. Following the events of the first film, organized crime apears to be in their final days as Batman has left them with a tenous group on the city they once controlled. With a new crusading District Attorney who is determined to put an end to crime through the legal system, Bruce Wayne dares to dream of a world in which in Batman is no longer needed and reunited with his love, Rachel Dawes, who is the only woman who knows his secret. However, as the opening scenes establish, this will be harder to accomplish than anticipate as one of the prominent themes from the first movie, escalation, comes into play and enter the Joker. All of the problems in the city can be solved with one simple and elegant solution, "Kill the Batman."
Obviously emboldened by the success and critical reception to the first film, Christopher Nolan appears determined to escalate things as well. Nolan and company have an incredible vision for our caped crusader and one that's not just content to view this through the lens of being just a comic-book film. Instead, it sets out to view what things would be like in the real world if a man decided to dress up like a Bat to fight crime and a man dressed up like a clown sought to destroy him and everything he stood for? On paper, it may sound implausible but on the big screen, the results are nothing short of breathtaking. It's a heartbreaking and entertaining decision into one man's descent into what it will take to save his city.
As the movie progresses, it's evident that Batman is more than just one man's crusade to end crime. To a city long starved of hope and decency, Batman is a symbol - one that has inspired many of the residents of Gotham City and in particular, Harvey Dent, as they oppose the mob. If the theme of the first movie was about fear, this second one is about chaos. By introducing chaos into the city, the Joker seeks to destroy not the city or the man behind the mask, but the symbol itself and the decency it represents. The scale of the Joker's assault on the city is ruthless in its complexity and scale, forcing Batman to examine what he's willing to risk, examining the repurcussions of his actions on those he cares about and on Gotham itself. This is a movie that works because of the performances from the cast and what a set of performances it is.
As the lead character, Christian Bale does a fantastic job portraying a man who has to consider his decision and where to place his moral compass as he realizes what he'll have to do to save his city from these new types of criminals, ones whose motives aren't quite so easy to discern. Christian Bale plays both parts well, the billionaire playboy who is never taken seriously and the masked vigilante he moonlights as. Bale portrays both sides of the equation at a crossroads, showing both the resolve and the doubt that sometimes threatens to bubble to the surface as his character is at a definite crossroads. However, despite it all, there is no question that he remains dedicated to the ideals and code of conduct he represents for Gotham.
On the opposite side of the coin, you have the Joker, played in what was one of the most buzzed about performances of the year and ultimately an Academy award-winning one for Heath Ledger. What I feared might be the anchor that weighed down the film is the best thing about it. Some have suggested that the goodwill towards Ledger's performance as the Joker can be attributed to his death and I think that is simply an embarassing idea. Heath Ledger simply disappears into his malevolent on-screen persona, a self-proclaimed "agent of chaos", who simply puts any previous on-screen incarnations of the Joker to shame. Heath Ledger isn't just the best comic book villain of all time, but certainly deserves to be mentioned in the same breathe as other classic villains such as Hannibal Lecter. Heath Ledger's Joker owns the film from the moment he makes his classic debut until his climatic confrontation with Batman. Although there will be some who will attempt to dismiss his work here as some morbid fascination with him in the wake of his death, there is no doubt that Heath Ledger committed completely to the role and as a result, portrays one of the great on-screen villains in film history. Simply amazing.
Often lost amidst the revelation of the Joker, completely reinvented for the modern age, is the unsung performance of Aaron Eckhart, who delivers one of the most gut-wrenching performances of the year as Harvey Dent, the 'white knight' of the city, the district attorney. A true idealist, his desire to help his city finds himself considering his own moral compass as he forms a loose partnership with both Batman and Comissioner Gordon. While the movie mostly focuses on the intense rivalry between Batman and Joker (and rightfully so), the underlying plot of the film is the personal journey of Harvey Dent. It's an amazing performance and one that I can't imagine played by anybody else. Building on past smooth-talking performances like the one in Thank You For Smoking, he portrays confidence in his beliefs while also experiencing some profound changes that will have him undergoing a distinct personality change that is explored throughout the film, especially the latter half. However, thoughout it all, Aaron Eckhart is a man who is determined to make things better for the city, even if he's not sure he's up to the task.
Replacing what I really considered one of the only weak performances from the first film is Maggie Gyllenhall as Rachel Dawes. The previous Rachel was played by Katie Holmes, who I believe is a much better actress than people give her credit for, but simply felt out of place in the first film. Maggie Gyllenhall does a much better job in the scenes that she's in, portraying what is often a thankless job as the middle setion of a love triangle. However, Maggie does a great job as Rachel, showing her sincere affection towards Bruce Wayne and a great chemistry with Eckhart's Dent. As Rachel, Maggie builds up what is convincing chemistry with both men and adds a real depth to the role that simply wasn't present in the first film.
Of course, you cannot ignore the contributions from your award winning supporting cast for a second. Basically playing the role of Q for our hero, Morgan Freeman comes in to provide not just gadgets, but dispenses advice as well. Yet, his real gift is running the Wayne Enterprises boardroom and providing technology for Batman. My personal favorite for this film is the Batpod. Not to be displaced as the voice of reason which continually rescues Batman from the abyss, Micheal Caine returns as Alfred, who continually helps Batman. Some of his little nuggets of wisdom are some of the best moments in the film. Special notice has to go to Gary Oldman, who plays Commissioner Gordon, as he examines his own partnership with Dent and Batman, who has to examine his own responsibility and motives as he recognizes Batman as a force through which he allows to bend the rules and help enforce the law.
Hopefully my review doesn't lead you to believe that this is just a philosophical examination of morality, decisions and the responsibility that accompanies them. While that is certainly one of the main themes of the film, it is explored in a decidedly mature and entertaining way. Throughout the entire running time of the film, the movie never lags for a second as it has a number of great action set pieces and fights to keep things going. There is a feeling of tension in every moment of the film, even in the more subdued moments as it feels a volcano of violence lurks right beneath the surface, threatening to explode at any moment. And when it comes to violence, the Dark Knight doesn't relent at all. I would say the limits of the PG-13 rating were certainly pushed a bit. The feeling of palpable uncertainty isn't helped at all by the haunting soundtrack provided, once again by James Newton Howard & Han Zimmer.
Overall, this is just a movie that deserves to take its ranks among some of the best films of not just this year, but of all time. The Dark Knight manages to entertain, but also engage audiences as it interests them and then forces them to ask some seriously thought-proving questions that should stick with them long after the movie is over. As Batman stands at the top of the tallest building in the city, he might as well be looking down not just over those who depend on him to protect them but on every other superhero film ever made. The Dark Knight exceeds them all by not sticking to the conventional comic book formula, but by making a serious film that explores the true nature of good versus evil. Watching this film, you can be reminded why we need heroes, which is one of the many triumphs of this particular movie. In terms of scope, ambition, imagination, plot and in virtually every category, this is without, a doubt, the best superhero movie ever made. However, through sheer excellence, it is elevated even above that auspicious compliment as it is a true masterpiece of film-making that I am certain will definitely stand the test of time. Overall, this is just a movie that deserves to take its ranks among some of the best films of not just the superhero genre or of this year, but ever.
Rating: HIGH FIVE! (Five Stars).
(Keeping with past posts, I've decided to include this fairly humorous spoof of one of my favorite scenes in the movie, even though I don't completely agree with it. However, it's one that my brother introduced me to and it's one that I find myself quoting it with him from time to time. It's a heavily viewed video on YouTube and you may have seen it already. Regardless, for your viewing pleasure here it is - Batman Interrogation Spoof)
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