Electrifyingly darker than even Tim Burton’s original vision, Batman: The Dark Knight is certainly no family film. Packed with explosive action, heavy-hitting violence, and diabolical maniacs, the masked vigilante has never looked or felt more intense. But despite the many attempts at seriousness, realism still evades The Dark Knight, as inexplicable technology comes to the rescue and a jarring lack of security allows villains to plot elaborate schemes. And despite a flawless performance by Heath Ledger as Batman’s archrival The Joker, the film weakens as Two-Face steals screen time from what was plenty enough mayhem for a single superhero.
The gangsters who run the underworld of Gotham City are continually under the scrutiny of the mysterious vigilante Batman (Christian Bale). Aided by a new district attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), and his lawyer girlfriend Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal), the town begins to crack down on organized crime, forcing the mobsters to turn to extreme measures. And that’s when they let the clown out of the box.
A horribly disfigured psychotic masochist who dons face paint and a purple suit, known as The Joker (Heath Ledger), hires himself out to the warring gangs to dispose of Batman. But in his attempts to kill the pesky vigilante hero, he proves uncontrollable and unstable, and continues to spread panic and pandemonium through the streets of Gotham. Firstly targeting everyone close to Harvey Dent and Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman), The Joker terrorizes the city with explosives and death, and proves to everyone that he is absolutely not a laughing matter.
And indeed, the most impressive aspect of The Dark Knight is Heath Ledger’s performance. Made up with a truly sinister appearance, including hideous scars and devilish clown makeup, the film wastes no time with giving this notorious antagonist a backstory. Opening with a bank robbery scene that rivals the intensity in Heat‘s unforgettable holdup, Dark Knight leaps right into the action and rarely lets up. Despite the comic relief provided by Michael Caine’s Alfred and Morgan Freeman’s Lucius Fox, the film stays deadly serious so much of the time that it’s difficult to see any light at the end of the tunnel.
The unrelentingly baleful tone of the film makes The Dark Knight a perfect match to Batman Begins, and a real treat for fans itching for stark realism; but much of the over-the-top fun of the character has altogether vanished. It is no longer friendly for younger audiences. But despite the severe switch in target audiences, adults may find themselves questioning the ease with which The Joker is able to move around the city, plant bombs, and avoid gunfire. And sadly, as Spider-man 3 single-handedly proved, having too many villains can be dreadfully detrimental. Fears are confirmed when the enraged Harvey Dent starts to transform into his alter ego, Two-Face. The creative team behind The Dark Knight went to great lengths to achieve realism with the scar tissue and makeup for The Joker, but went drastically overboard on Two-Face. Believability is completely discarded for the sake of shocking.
With amazing action sequences, a new Batcycle toy to play with, thrilling car chases, awe-inspiring stunts, bazookas, the demolition of buildings, and generally entertaining anarchy, The Dark Knight may be too mortifying for some, and just right for others – but Batman films always prove to be box office gold.
– MoviePulse
SCORE = 7/10
Genre: Action/Adventure, Crime/Gangster, Adaptation and Sequel
Running Time: 142 min.
Theatrical Release Date: July 18th, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace.
Directed By: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman
Wow it amazes me how lame a film critic Mike Massie is. Seriously his criticisms are retarded. Does he really want to see The Joker plan everything!? Does he not like to be surprised?
This is the same guy who gave average scores to Iron Man, Hulk and now this. What a tool.
I agree with most of his assessment. Heath Ledger was phenomenal playing the Joker, but just about every other aspect of the movie had flaws. Ledger easily gets a 10/10 nod for his performance, but the rest of the film is a 7.5/10 in my book. Don’t get me wrong, it won’t disappoint any fans of Batman Begins, it just wasn’t that impressive. However don’t let that deter you from seeing it on the big screen. It is still an action packed rampage through Gotham, and everyone likes to see Batman using new toys.
I’d give it a 10/10, the only thing about the film that I could fault was a) those sonar sequences, where the CG jarred me out of the film a bit, and b) William Fichtner needed a bigger part! Fichtner is one of my favourite actors.
I’d give it a 20/10 it was great but it was a little long my 13 year old son fell asleep in it
Joe Russo from movie pulse gave it a 10/10…. screw the twins… nothing is ever good enough for them. “blah blah blah.. batman’s suit wasnt black enough… thats another point off..” wtf ever man…
I was very disappointed by the movie, as were my friends who also went to see it. It never rose. It was always slow and bleak with unconvincing performances from the lead actors. It seemed like its real problem, aside from the obvious casting challenges, was knowing what it was about. The audience left the screening confused and feeling jilted having paid money for seeing this. Batman is supposed to be quick-witted, fast on his feet and in your face. A real crimefighter. This Batman is weak, bitter and tarty. This was all a complete turn-off for the audience watching in the theater with us.
I was surprised that I didn’t like it as much as Batman Begins, but it was still better than all the Burton and Shumacher movies. All of the Joker’s plots were ultra clever. Maybe a little too much of the characters explaining what it was all about. Also wanted to see more Batman and less batman’s gadgets. Just assume he has them but they don’t have to show how he does everything. Very deep exploration of the depths of humanity, however.
Wow I’m sorry, but Dan, your a fracking IDIOT!!! How can you be so ignorant to say that the roles of the lead actors were unconvincing????? Heath Ledger gave by far the best acting performance I’ve ever seen in my life!! He made the movie. And you obviously haven’t paid much attention to the series because Batman’s character is suppose to be bitter and tarty. No one wants to see a movie with a superhero that has no flaws. That would just be bland! This movie had the type of realism that other comic book series’ only wished they could capture. And the other lead roles of Gordon and Harvey were also phenomenal!! There are at least 3 actors in this movie who could be put up for an Academy Award. You must have been in an audience full of Senior Citizens cuz this movie was amazing.
I’m a Senior Citizen and I absolutely loved it!
I agree with the critic to an extent. I don’t believe that ledgers performance was Oscar winning. Was the film dark,yes was the acting well done,yes, but was is it Oscar winning, no. But definitely a good batman film, maybe the best. My Two Cents pooch
Best movie ever, I give a rating of 30/10. I loved this movie. Every character should win a Oscar.
I’m surprised that the huge numbers of audience who praise Heath ledger (Joker) performance in Batman are over embracing the character (except for some ladies who watch the movie just to see his performance) he represents. Ledger as an actor plays the psychologically motivated killer at his best without realizing that he has glorified Joker in one way or another. This is supported by the number of huge audience who turn out to watch his performance and unfortunately his glorified joker role have influence many youngsters flocking to the toys stall to get their model of joker. The joker model sells more than the batman. This shows that the joker shady character has been accepted by some as “not so seriousâ€. I feel the writers of the movie tried to blend a bit of “pulp fiction†theme in this supposedly a superhero movie. Unfortunately it turned out glorifying psychological killers. I am not surprised with the number of shady themes like these have influenced many teens in the past who justify their crime as psychologically motivated.
They may think its ok to do a crime and get away with it glorified even after death. One has to note that in the past the participants of the Columbine High School massacre were influenced with such glorified anti-hero psychologically motivated themes. I feel movie producers; writers and directors should not just think of making money out of glorifying anti-hero characters and manipulate the gift of talented actors in thinking that they are doing justice to the character. It is important that movie producers adhere to the notion that superhero movies should always be the goodness triumphed over evil and not glorying evil. We do not want our kids to choose joker as their new hero role model over Batman do we??
Vanan
Singapore
I liked the movie a lot.. Heath ledger was brilliant. But he did himself permanent damage by taking it so seriously, which I think he did.
I’m more worried about what vanan said- because I thought the exact same thing the moment I saw people in my theater clapping and laughing at the joker’s ‘funny’ or ‘witty’ dialogue. I don’t think the dumbasses realized what they were accepting. I’m young as hell, but I can tell you, very very honestly, that my generation. whatever our gifts- are seriously, TERRIBLY deficient in integrity.. and that includes me. I saw that in myself- after the movie- that I had glorified the joker in my mind and included him in my ‘hall of fame’.
See, I don’t believe that all of us have a dark side- But I feel that many times our environment compels us to.
I totally agree with what VANAN said…..The movie was nice..but i didnt feel like a super hero movie…it was not a batman movie…it was about the JOKER…!