I just returned from the late night screening of The Dark Knight. I have to say this, throw out all the reviews of all those critics you read about in the newspapers, especially the bad ones, I don't know what they were watching, or what they were thinking when they were watching the movie, because this Batman was not only one of the best, it was one of the darkest! Kudos to director Christopher Nolan for doing it right!
Batman is considered a superhero, but one without super powers. He's just incredibly rich and spends all his money and time fighting criminals and injustice in Gotham City. If you follow the comic books, he's part of the Justice League of America or JLA which comprises of Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and several other characters who band together and fight injustice. But Batman on his own, well, he's just dark, brooding and most of the time holed up in his Batcave.
What this generation of writers have done is to write Batman as a force to be reckon with. They have somehow humanised his character, not always letting the good side win, but at the same time given him the power to deal with his group of freakish criminals in Gotham City. Unlike how Spiderman always swings to the rescue and spins the criminals up in a web, Batman doesn't use a gun, he takes things up close and personal with the criminals using hand to hand combat.
A few spoilers below, read at your own risk!
Heath Ledger's portrayal of The Joker blew Jack Nicholson's out of the water hands down! This Joker was not only insane, he was unpredictable, diabolical and menacing all at the same time. His plans were plans within plans within plans. Nobody knew or could have guessed the outcome of his plans. The way he flicked his tongue when talking reminded me of the way David Tennant flicked his tongue when he portrayed Barty Crouch Jr in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He turned all the heroes to look in on themselves. People don't like what they see in themselves and will never admit their darkest secrets. This Joker lived up to his name as Batman's true nemesis. It was possibly an Oscar-winning performance on Heath's part, may he rest in peace.
Christian Bale did his usual good stuff in reprising his role as Batman/Bruce Wayne. It is so nice to see a hero falling, unlike those who would dodge bullets and escape unhurt, and how gravity could not affect them. This Batman could be hurt, not just with bullets, but when those closest to him get hurt. But as Bruce Wayne, it's always so nice to arrive fashionable late for fundraisers in a helicopter, with 2 or 3 beauties in each arm!
Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes over Katie Holmes' original portrayal. Although it does seem that a different actress did make the character older and harder, I still think that the casting was all wrong. I would have thought Charlize Theron could have played a better Rachel Dawes, but that role would have been too small for her as Charlize is lead actress material, not supporting. So, in a way, I was also glad that they got rid of her (oops spoilers!).
Gary Oldman as Lieutenant Gordon/Commissioner Gordon. Wow, he certainly added more depth to his character and had a larger role than in the first movie. He did a magnificent job of supporting actor. Gary Oldman is a very seasoned actor, I've loved his deep and character driven acting ever since Immortal Beloved, and Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two Face. Another wow, his portrayal added a lot of charisma to first, Gotham City's suave district attorney and then later as Two Face himself. The other half of his face that got burnt, you have to see it for yourself, the effects are downright scary! "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
If you haven't already watched this movie, go quickly to catch it at a cinema near you. Because telling yourself that you will buy the DVD or Blu-Ray to watch it is just not the same as watching it in the cinemas!
I highly, highly recommend this to all adults and lovers of Batman, as this movie is filled with mature themes and brings Batman to a whole new level of superheroes, along the same lines as Superman, Spiderman and Iron Man. The movie is a little too dark for kids, but I'm sure they'll understand sooner or later.
9.5 out of 10 stars
