Movie Review: The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight (2008):
Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
Director: Christopher Nolan
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace
Critics Rating: A plus
View: Trailer

This movie was by far the BEST movie I have seen this year (even though I never got to see Sex and the City.) It was both entertaining and exciting the ENTIRE time. From the moment the WB symbol went off the screen till the credits rolled, you were kept in focus throughout what was going on. Very rare that a movie has done that in some time. But here are my thoughts:

To say that Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT is the best comic book adaptation does the film a bit of a disservice. It may be a Batman film, but this isn't a kid-friendly action movie full of the bams and pows of the original series. This is a pitch-black thriller with enough drama and tragedy to please even William Shakespeare, but it will certainly keep both comics fans and uninitiated audiences equally happy.

THE DARK KNIGHT starts in the wake of BATMAN BEGINS: with the appearance of Batman (Christian Bale), Gotham City's criminal underworld is unnerved. They're also plagued by the new D.A., Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), who, in his quest for justice, remains above the city's corruption. Enter a new (or old?) villain, the Joker (Heath Ledger), who wants to unite the criminals for a common purpose: to kill Batman.

THE DARK KNIGHT is one of the most hyped movies to date, and a lesser film would be crushed under the weight of all that expectation. Some of the publicity stems from the early death of Ledger, who turns in an excellent (EXCELLENT!) performance (surpasses Brokeback, yes I said it, BROKEBACK!). He provides moments of humor, but this Joker is terrifying, sharing more with classic villains such as Hannibal Lechter than with his comic book predecessors.

Eckhart is equally good as Dent, and Maggie Gyllenhaal (wasn't her brother in Brokeback?) deserves praise for taking over the role of Rachel Dawes from Katie Holmes (I knew there was something different). Though there's more emphasis on plot and character development than in most comic book adaptations (*cough*, X-Men 1,2 and 3), that doesn't mean Nolan has skimped on any of the action sequences. Each set piece is done perfectly, leaving the audience breathless (understatement). THE DARK KNIGHT is film making at its best; its subject matter may be dark and depressing, but it's tough not to feel exhilarated by its artistry when the credits begin to roll. (Standing ovation on the first night.)

So in my mortal words dear hearts, GO SEE THIS MOVIE. It is worth how ever many times you wanna go see it. It is worth boosting it past Titanic (which bored the crap outta me until the end) and getting it nominated for an Oscar. So you go see it, and tell me how it is.