Movie Review: The Dark Knight

Probably the most hotly anticipated movie since time began, The Dark Knight finally arrives in cinemas this week after what seems a neverending wait.

Of course the accolades have been shouted from the rooftops and it gives us great pleasure to step in line behind countless others and give praise to what is sure to become a classic film of our time.

The film, as you should be aware by now, is a sequel to Batman Begins which rebooted the Bat franchise in a world rooted in reality. The Dark Knight not only continues the theme but expands it into something completely fresh and riveting.

Without giving too much away, the story revolves around new district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) and his campaign to rid Gotham’s streets of criminals, forming an alliance with Lieutenant Gordan (Gary Oldman) and Batman (Christian Bale), while also fitting in some Rachel Dawes loving (Maggie Gylenhaal replacing Katie Holmes). Simultaneously and unquestionably the most exciting prospect is the rise of The Joker (Heath Ledger), striking fear into the hearts of the citizens and proving to be more than a match for Batman.

Not once during The Dark Knight does it feel like a superhero movie. It takes itself perfectly seriously which, with characters dressed like bats and clowns, is no easy feat. Much praise should be placed on director and screenwriter Christopher Nolan’s shoulders for managing to craft together such an intense, intricate piece of cinema.

The Dark Knight plays out like a thriller, constantly shocking and twisting with a central villain killing without remorse, putting Batman to the test and questioning his morals. Anarchy is truly in the air in this film.

The heaps of praise that the late Heath Ledger received for the role were well-deserved -  it really is an entirely captivating performance that makes The Joker such a joy to watch. A character so deeply twisted that you feel almost guilty taking pleasure from sharing his skewed vision of the world. Ledger manages to turn everything the character does into an opening into his mind, whether it’s a lick of his scars, a skip in his step or a look in his eye.

Although you may forget, this is of course an ensemble drama and none of the rich cast of superb actors disappoints. Each performance, whether it be from Morgan Freeman or Gary Oldman, invests completely in the role. Batman and Bruce Wayne are not forgotten in the mix either, both being played brilliantly by Bale, who makes a truly conflicted hero of which you are never sure which side of the mask he is truly happy on.

Eckhart playing Dent also has to be praised, being the white knight in a dark city that can’t be reasoned with, he needs no mask to try and save the world. Eckhart’s noble and earnest take makes everything the character goes through believable and enriching.

This is an epic crime thriller, one that is unrelenting in its approach that it grabs the audience by the throat and refuses to play nicely. It constantly navigates through a maze of twists, turns and many characters, but manages to never feel forced or out of place. It is seamlessly crafted together and manages to not only have a depth and heart but be completely relevant for our time. It is so rich and complex that it overwhelms the viewer while never feeling overlong.

Obviously it isn’t devoid of criticism, Cillian Murphy feels like he forgot how the Scarecrow acted in the last film and therefore wastes what could have been a better cameo (Yes it’s a spoiler, but it’s hardly important to the story). Also towards the end a certain action only just manages to stay on the right side of cheesy but felt like it came from a Spider-Man film. These are little niggles, though, that do little to detract anything away from what the movie manages to accomplish.

Watching this on the Imax brings a scale and vertigo-inducing spectacle to some of the scenes that’s highly impressive, but you’ll be too invested in the story to notice. The highest praise we can give this film is that it lingers in the mind long after seeing it and screams for a second trip. It carves an impression of a film that has had more care an attention given to it than any summer movie deserves to have.

This is a year where the Hollywood blockbuster grew up and got a big red grin painted across its face. The Dark Knight not only stands out as the best comic book adaptation ever, but also as on of the best films of the year (if not the best). It will certainly put a smile on your face.

[story by David A. Scarborough]