Rating of
4/4
Why so serious?
madcap_rei - wrote on 08/18/08
In early August, I visited the theater for the first time in weeks. When I left the building over two hours later, I was invigorated, inspired, and I had a new favorite movie.
The Dark Knight lends credence to the phrase that 'the whole is greater than the sum of the parts'. There were aspects of the film that I disliked, and scenes that didn't hold my attention. But these were overshadowed, almost obliterated, by the good of the story.
The plot of this film felt, for the most part, smooth and natural, building towards the climax without artificially raising the stakes. Each action led into another, and each event created a ripple effect on those who experienced it. There was at least one character arc that moved too quickly, and which could have been handled with more grace. Yes, Harvey Dent, I speak of thou. But, by and large, there was just a sense of deep psychology and dark inevitability.
This sense of depth extended to the cinematography. While the daylight scenes looked typical, as ninety percent of daylight scenes do, the night brought an overwhelming atmosphere and urgency. Things were moving, dynamics were changing, all under the cover of darkness. Paired with a nigh-flawless musical score, there was almost too much style to take in.
There were some characters who didn't ring true, and actors/actresses who could have been replaced. Yes, like most people, I speak of Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal). In many of her scenes, she appeared to be half-asleep, and she lacked the intensity of the other characters.
To be honest, I wasn't that fond of Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, either. He seemed dark, and brooding...and that was it. There was little depth to that character, regardless of the moral dilemma that he faced.
So, what made this film so good? Why do I still find myself playing its scenes through in my mind? Two words - the Joker.
Heath Ledger was a brilliant man, playing an equally brilliant character. The Joker was truly the focal point of this story, a creature of dark layers and intense desires. He was the person whom everyone else reacted to, pushing the movie on towards its riveting conclusion. When he entered a scene, the atmosphere changed instantly, filling with madness and twisted excitement. There are many people who would have buckled under the weight of such a role, over-acting or ruining the character, but not Ledger.
So, there you have it. A fluid plot, a potent atmosphere, and one character who defined the entire story. See this movie. Rent it, watch it, buy it, keep it. You will be glad that you did.
