Release Date: July 18, 2008 Studio: Warner Bros. MPAA Rating: PG-13 Genre: Action •
Adventure •
Scifi Director: Christopher Nolan Writers: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer, Bob Kane Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Nestor Carbonell, Eric Roberts, Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Jai White, William Fichtner, Tommy 'Tiny' Lister Synopsis: The follow-up to the action hit “Batman Begins,” “The Dark Knight” reunites director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale, who reprises the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in his continuing war on crime.
With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante. The Review: It's been one hell of a summer so far at the Cineplex for super hero flix. First we got a very fun and entertaining Iron Man on the big screen, then a really solid outing by the Hulk, after that Hellboy came busting out of Jersey again, now we've got a Batman hitting screens. Will the kick assery hold up for the summer or fizzle out?
I wont leave you in suspense this movie hits the ground running like Forrest Gump looking for some lovin from Jennnnnnay. From the start Bruce has found his calling and the balance to his dual lives and he’s loving every minute of it for the most part. The only sore spot in his life is the lack of ability to give up the Bat and give into his love interest. That is until the Joker comes a calling again. *I say again because it’s been about a year since the Batman hit town and the Joker is mentioned as being a minor annoyance rather than a serious threat…until now* Christian Bale proves once again that he’s the man for this role. Still boggles my mind that this is the kid from Newsies and Empire of The Sun kickin ass in a rubber bat suit. When Keaton was wearing the cape I’ve never gotten past him being Mr. Mom. No offence to the Keat but sorry I’ll never buy him as the Bat. Gods forbid Bale decides to walk away.
As The movie begins the Bat has gained a solid rep in town for being sort of a criminal boogey man, and while the powers that be aren’t exactly happy about it they cannot deny the value of it. The Joker on the other hand has nothing but contempt for the criminal meek over the fear of the Batman and while he has no plan per-se he’s got a pocketful of anarchy on his side.
What’s great here is instead of focusing on any sort of back story for the Joker he’s served up and gleefully accepted as just a maniac out to watch the world implode upon itself under the weight of humanities own flaws. A beat taken straight from the Killing Joke graphic novel (woo hoo!). The tiny bits of biographic info he’ll give you is never the same story twice and you get the feeling that one of those lies might actually be the truth. Whadya expect? The guy is not just a super villain he’s filled with a gooey center of insanity with a creamy chocolate shell.
Watching Heath pull out all the stops on this ride through crazy town is stunning and of course sad. The guy was simply a great actor and knew how to turn a role into something unique and nobody and I mean NOBODY could have pulled off this version of the Joker. Oh sure someone else could have given us a really great Joker but it couldn’t have the balance between funny and disturbing that he has. Nicholson was just Jack playing the Joker, Ledger is nowhere on screen in this thing its all Joker all the time.
With a weighty running time on this one you’d expect to feel it, but I have to tell you this doesn’t feel anywhere near two and a half hours. It runs like clock work and keeps things boiling even between the action. I was worried when I heard about all the people in this thing and all the plot points getting covered. Spider-Man 3 couldn’t keep all its balls in the air and it had far less to juggle. But nothing is left to waste or shoe horned in to this story it flows effortlessly and entertains on a massive scale. Much like the Joker himself it doesn’t just threaten to do something it delivers on all counts.
Not just another comic book film this is high art wrapped in one. Rating:
