The Dark Knight

It's very rare that a comic book movie breaks the boundaries of being kid friendly, and made more for the adults as intended. It's also very rare that a comic book movie is loved by so many when people don't even like comic book movies to begin with.

In 2005 Chris Nolan came in and revamped the whole Batman franchise, after Joel Schumacher ruined it with Bat Nipples, Mr. Freeze, Crazy colors and Alicia Silverstone. But Nolan was given the task to make and revamp the whole Batman series. Using people like Christian Bale,Morgan Freeman,Micheal Caine,Liam Neeson and even Katie Holmes whom everyone was surprised that she was still a bad actress. But no one cared when Nolan's Batman Begins came on screen people were wary but in the end applause went through, everyone was happy a true Batman film was finally made. Of course at the end of Batman Begins were treated to a tease that the next Batman would feature the Joker. Internet forums were going crazy as to who would play the joker, when the movie was coming out. And after a million people who auditioned for the role it was the late Heath Ledger who earned the role respectively. And after a million Internet promos and games July 18, 2008 would be a history maker for the box office.

The Dark Knight centers around a new found Gotham City, which looks less bleak and dark then then in the previous installment. Crime has decreased, and people are afraid, as the Batman wanders the night and patrols anyone who dare mess around in his city. But when the Joker arrives and causes problems not only for the mob but Batman himself and starts terrorizing Gotham City, Batman must pull together with District Attorney Harvey Dent to stop the Joker at all costs.

The first scene is an eye opener, a bunch of clowns dressed up, and robbing a bank but not just any bank, it's a mob run bank. Soon when all the clowns turn on each other and start killing each other so there's less money to share around, It's then when one of the clowns tries killing the other but is killed by a bus which crashes into the bank. It's here when we see the Joker reveal himself, makeup sort of worn out, his hair greasy and green and a cut in smile so that he's always laughing. This is the joker we have been waiting for.

It's not hard to see why Heath Ledger steals the show, so many rumors on the Internet and early reviews claimed his performance(as this was his last "COMPLETED" film not his last film) was nothing short of amazing and was even academy award material. I didn't believe it myself but when you see Ledger as the Joker, you'll be so shocked and amazed at how well the part is played you'll forget who the guy who is playing him is. This is the joker that really shines that we've been wanting. He kills anyone, doesn't care about himself, he's psychopathic and causes a hell of a lot of problems. One scene sure to stick out is near the beginning where The Joker visits the mobs after a meeting and does his now famous "pen trick". Another scene involving The Joker, where he's detained, and talking to one of the police guards asking him how many of friends has he killed. The guard doesn't really respond at first knowing Joker just wants attention, but the joker rambles on about how you can tell the cowards from the brave ones, and how when he kills them he knows which ones are the cowards, then looking back at the guard tells the guard "Want to know which one of your friends were cowards?". It's not hard to see why people praised Ledgers performance, it really separated his Joker from Jack's Joker in Burton's Batman '89. Of course debates still run rapid as many people argue which was the better Joker. But in this reviews opinion, having followed the comics, and having known Batman for many years, This was the Joker I came to really enjoy, and was even scared at.
Of course that's not to say the rest of cast doesn't do there part well. Christian Bale still takes his Batman and Bruce Wayne counter-part, and shows how different they each can be. As Batman he's raspy voiced(something which still annoys fans to this day), Strong and dedicated to taking crime down. But as Bruce Wayne he only acts like a spoiled brat, a rich billionaire playboy who can do whatever he wants. He really shows how different the two can really be. Bale does not disappoint again as Batman and Bruce Wayne.

Maggie Gyllenhal steps in to replace Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes with a few extra pounds packed on, but a better acting attitude. As much as I really liked Gyllenhal, I found the character of Rachel Dawes a bit boring, maybe that's because she wasn't really important, but Nolan never gives enough about her to care about her except the fact that she knows whom Batman really is, and to create sexual tension between Bruce and Harvey Dent.
Speaking of Harvey Dent, Aaron Eckhart steps in to play role flawlessly as well, as both Harvey Dent and even Two Face, yes that's right two villains in the movie. You can see where Harvey Dent shines as District Attorney, he wants Gotham to be a safer place, and even when criminals are trying to kill him, he still goes out there, to try and bring justice to any criminal thinking they can get away with it. He is the White Knight of the story, someone that Bruce believes, could mean he could live a normal life and not have to be Batman. Unfortunately when his turn as Two face comes, we see a different Harvey Dent, one who is merciless and, even grotesque. And the Two face make-up that they used, well much better then Schumachers play out of Tommy Lee Jones' "I have half a Barney the dinosaur looking scar on my face". This Two face is grotesque and ugly, and hard to look at, half his face is burnt off, muscles showing, and even gum's and teeth, it was an excellent job for Nolan to really have taken this in the true nature of what Two Face should really be.
So is there anything to complain about in this movie? I can't really think of anything. I loved this film so much that I saw it 2 times in theaters and am definitely buying it on December 08, 2008 on both Blu ray and Standard Def. This is one of the movies which is hard to miss, the great direction and action, and proving that CGI is not needed to make a film better. One thing to really say, but not to nitpick is, this was not intended for children, this was an adult Batman, the dark nature of the film, the killing of people. Not to say children won't enjoy it, but there is a lot of dark material in the film that parents should wary to be careful.

So if you haven't seen the Dark Knight, you owe it to yourself to see it in theaters if you can, wherever it's still playing and buy this one, yes BUY it because this is one film you can't argue with having a great satisfaction of seeing. Even if you hate superhero movies, pick this one up you will not regret it!