Rating of
4/4
It's Always Darkest Before the Knight
Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/19/08
There is a new standard has been set for the superhero genre. You can no longer rely on special effects and generic, bland characters. Batman Begins was a great start, this summer's previous hit Iron Man was a home run but The Dark Knight tops them all.
Anyone who goes into this film expecting a jaunty little action flick with your typical good-guy-saves-the-day routine are in for a shock. This is down-and-dirty, even gritty. The Dark Knight isn't just a catchy title, this is a very dark film. Take the most-discussed aspect of the film: Heath Ledger's Joker. This is a villain who sets a new high for bad guys. It doesn't matter if he's screwing over the mob, blowing up a hospital or just killing cops - he does everything with reckless abandon and glee. He revels in chaos and anarchy - and wants everyone to know it. He seeks to make everyone realize they're just like him, no matter what it takes. It is a performance worthy of the accolades it has received.
That brings us to Bale as Batman and new-comer Aaron Eckhart as ace district attorney Harvey Dent. The Joker seeks to corrupt these two bastions of power and morality. The whole film is basically the two men coming to grips with who they really are. Once they see the darkness within, they have to make a choice. You probably already know who embraces their dark side.
Besides the leads, the supporting characters all bring something to the table, no matter how large or small the part. Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhall ( a better fit than Katie Holmes), Michale Caine, Morgan Freeman, Nestor Carbonell, Eric Roberts - they all make their characters believable and add to the flavor of the film.
Aside from the incredible performances and story, Batman still has the gadgets and technology to impress. The Batpod motorcycles is impressive and makes chase scenes intense. A new more-flexible Batsuit and some crazy sonar technology tied to cell phones. There is enough action to keep superhero fans happy, but enough depth to give serious film buffs a reason to see it too.
The one flaw I had doesn't seem so bad in retrospect. I thought the film lasted about 15 to 20 minutes longer than it should - this is a long movie. But the more I thought about this, the less it seemed like a hindrance. Despite the dark nature, every moment spent with these characters is worth it.
