The Dark Knight (2008)

What is there to say that hasn’t already been said about “The Dark Knight”, this 11 year old drama-thriller is considered by many to be one of the greatest movies ever constructed. It features some of the best performances in any DC film, with pulse-pounding practical action sequences and complex themes; this is one of the most compelling, mature and downright brilliant comic book movies ever made!

Christopher Nolan is probably my second favourite director of all time (after Steven Spielberg); every one of his magnificently crafted films has something fascinating to say and “The Dark Knight Trilogy” is no exception. “Batman Begins” explored the power of fear; “The Dark Knight Rises” would push Bruce Wayne to rock bottom before he clambered out of the darkness and into the light (figuratively and literally speaking.)

“The Dark Knight” delves into the negative outcome of Batman’s crusade against crime, as his heroism inadvertently attracts it’s polar opposite, the destructive force of nature that is the Joker. The Joker is the physical embodiment of chaos; he’s such a terrifying and unpredictable antagonist because he isn’t motivated by anything conventional. Unlike many villains who yearn for money, power or revenge, the Joker simply wants to tear down the establishment and the status quo for his own enjoyment. The Joker is a maelstrom of devastation at the centre of the story which all of the characters are sucked into, damaging them both physically and mentally.

I love that we know nothing about the Joker’s past, in my opinion the Joker should never have a definitive origin story, because as soon as you know what created his deranged persona, he is immediately less mysterious and therefore less compelling.

With a script this elaborate, only the most skilled actors would be able to play these characters effectively. Fortunately, the cast in “The Dark Knight” are absolutely amazing!

Christian Bale is even better than he was in “Batman Begins”, his portrayal of the tortured protagonist is gripping and thrilling. Batman endures many psychological trials throughout the film that push him to his limits, forcing him to evaluate the razor-fine line between heroes and villains, this must have been a mammoth task but Bale succeeded excellently. It doesn’t hurt that he suits up in my favourite live-action Batsuit and uses the awesome Bat-Pod to speed through the streets; even in this serious and thought-provoking film, it’s still good to have some “THAT’S SO COOL” moments!

Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are still as entertaining as ever, they’re the most optimistic and enjoyable characters in the story that add moments of levity to the narrative extremely well.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is very good as Rachel Dawes (who was played by Katie Holmes in “Batman Begins”), she did a great job with the more emotional moments in the film. Rachel is an integral part of “The Dark Knight”, as she drives both Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent’s arcs. That being said, I think I preferred Katie Holmes as Rachel, I just felt that she had better chemistry with Christian Bale and fleshed-out the character more engagingly.

Gary Oldman’s Lieutenant/ Commissioner Gordon is the best interpretation of the character in any form of media (in my opinion), he’s nuanced, likable and one of the most important elements in “The Dark Knight.” Also, his short monologue that ends the movie is the perfect description of Batman; those final few minutes are simply superb!

The saying goes that a hero is only as good as the villain, which explains a lot as Batman has the greatest rogue’s gallery in comics! This is very evident in “The Dark Knight”, which features two of the best villain performances in film history!

Aaron Eckhart is outstanding as Harvey Dent, he doesn’t get enough credit for how good his performance is. He starts as a charismatic politician who wants to rid Gotham of crime by abiding by the law, but descends into vengeance and insanity as the Joker tears his life apart. Unlike many movie villains, who are great on screen before becoming lunatics without warning, the Two-Face side of Harvey feels like a natural and believable extension of his character.

And now we reach the most praised, iconic and beloved aspect of “The Dark Knight”, Heath Ledger as the Joker. This is undoubtedly one of the best villain performances in modern cinema; Ledger’s Joker is frightening, disturbing, enigmatic and darkly comic all at once. From the costume to the make-up, the voice and facial tics, this Joker blows every other interpretation of the supervillain out of the water (except Mark Hamill, who is probably my favourite Joker.)

This a rare instance in which the actor is indistinguishable from their role, when I watch “The Dark Knight” I try so hard to see the protagonist of “A Knight’s Tale” underneath the horrific scars and peeling face paint of the Joker but it’s impossible.

Heath Ledger transformed himself into the Clown Prince of Crime so effectively that you almost believe that this incarnation of the character could exist in the real world. Certain scenes that revolve around him (mainly those in which he discusses how he “got these scars”) are deeply unsettling to watch as they almost become too realistic.

It’s tragic that Heath Ledger died so young, he was an incredible actor who absolutely deserved his Oscar for his role as the Joker. His performance was truly Ledger-andary!

The direction and cinematography in “The Dark Knight” are eye-widening, the use of IMAX cameras adds to the epic scale of the narrative, creating many visually stunning shots!

Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard managed to top their spectacular work on “Batman Begins”; the score in “The Dark Knight” is intense, exciting and just down right great. I listen to this soundtrack a lot, however I always skip the Joker’s theme because it’s basically insanity in music form!

The action set-pieces in “The Dark Knight” are phenomenal; Christopher Nolan directs them brilliantly, using a wide array of practical effects and stunt work that help make the action feel more believable. From the blazing opening heist to the climatic finale, every scene leaves your blood pumping and your heart pounding.

I love watching a film like this with the knowledge that the explosions and vehicle stunts actually took place on set. This makes “The Dark Knight” more tangible, much more like a Bond film than a Batman movie (this is probably due to the fact that many of the members of the crew worked on various James Bond films.)

I don’t really have any criticisms with “The Dark Knight”, my main issue is that whilst the film moves very briskly, it does feel much longer than it actually is. Also, on a personal preference level, this isn’t the sort of movie I would watch regularly when I want to be entertained. If I fancy watching a comic book movie one evening (which I do a lot) I’d probably watch “X-Men 2”, “Iron Man” or “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2.” Call me a Marvel fanboy all you like but to me, their movies are more enjoyable and re-watchable than most of DC’s.

I don’t need to tell you that “The Dark Knight” is fantastic. The cast are outstanding, the script is thoughtful and intelligent and the action is nerve-shredding. I wouldn’t call it the greatest superhero movie ever made, but it’s definitely up there. It’s the movie that Gotham needs and the one it deserves!