The Dark Knight is everything you'd expect from a summer blockbuster and then some. In addition the film is unlike a 'regular' superhero film. In any case one look at films like Iron Man and The Dark Knight and you know that superhero films aren’t' what they used to be.The Dark Knight continues the adventures of millionaire Bruce Wayne and his crime fighting vigilante alter ego The Batman. Gotham is safer by the night as every criminal fears the looming presence of Batman. The new DA Harvey Dent promises to be the perfect Ying to Batman’s Yang. While the ‘White’ Knight hauls up almost all the goons off the streets, The ‘Dark’ Knight contemplates weather the day when Gotham won’t need Batman is almost there. He starts looking forward to a life where he won't have to fight crime and be with the love of his Rachel Dawes. He doesn't know that its not just his job that Harvey Dent could take up but also his love.
Just when things seemed to settle down the Joker turns everything around. The perfect nemesis for Batman, the Joker is a psychopath extraordinaire who doesn’t know when to stop for he has no limits. The DA, Batman and Gordon all join forces to get rid of the Joker but it is nothing short of the fight of their lives. Through many tribulations the Dark Knight does save the day for Gotham but not before he corrupts the soul of Gotham in the form of DA Harvey Dent.
Batman Begins might have been the perfect vehicle to infuse life in a dying franchise and change things around for superhero films but The Dark Knight takes comic book films to an entirely different plane. Gone are the days of Batman and Robin, gone are the cool one-liners, this film does away with cardboard villains and depth less characters. The Dark Knight could arguably be the greatest superhero film ever made. What is surprising is the all around praises showered on the film and its crew. Christopher Nolan takes things up right from the word go; imagine a superhero film based on a comic book which is inspired by modern day classics such as Michael Mann’s Heat and William Friedkin’s The French Connection.
This would be always remembered for being the last completed assignment of the late Heath Ledger. The image of Jack Nicholson as the The Joker is ingrained beyond reproach in our subconscious. Heath Ledger has managed to do away with Nicholson and painted the Joker in his color. His Joker is sinister, cool and unstoppable who enjoys doing what he does- wreaking havoc. By the end of the film you realize that this film could have been called The Joker Cometh for Ledger dominates the proceedings beyond your wildest thoughts. Sadly a huge part of the praise for his work would naturally result from his untimely death looming large on the film but trust me the performance doesn’t need any parameters to evoke such reaction.
This would be always remembered for being the last completed assignment of the late Heath Ledger. The image of Jack Nicholson as the The Joker is ingrained beyond reproach in our subconscious. Heath Ledger has managed to do away with Nicholson and painted the Joker in his color. His Joker is sinister, cool and unstoppable who enjoys doing what he does- wreaking havoc. By the end of the film you realize that this film could have been called The Joker Cometh for Ledger dominates the proceedings beyond your wildest thoughts. Sadly a huge part of the praise for his work would naturally result from his untimely death looming large on the film but trust me the performance doesn’t need any parameters to evoke such reaction.
Perter Bart of Variety has argued that Christian Bale would be the only solo expression actor in the world to enjoy such success. Bale as The Batman was a welcome relief but there is something about him in this film that just doesn't click. Could it that we see more of the Batman and less of Bruce Wayne? The change in his voice that Bale incorporates for Batman is somewhat funny considering that everything else in the film tries to be uncomic book like. Or could it be that Batman is supposed to be wooden and with the death of Rachel Dawes even Bruce Wayne has lost all reason to go beyond the solo expression?
The film doesn't go into the origins of the Joker (like Batman) and never really explores Two Face (like Batman Forever) as much as his transformation, which I think was a very good idea. The great thing about the 'new' superhero films like Iron Man and The Dark Knight is that they don't idiot proof the film for the viewer. The safe haven of fantasy films is now over.
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