Why so serious?
by Jennifer G. Castro on September 8, 2008
In the much-anticipated sequel to Batman Begins, director Christopher Nolan redefines what a comic book adaptation should be by portraying the superhero as Gotham City’s most wanted. In contrast to previous Batman films, The Dark Knight seems more like an epic crime drama than an action blockbuster, but don’t fret as the film delivers on both ends.
Gotham City’s future looks promising as Batman (Christian Bale in a return performance) continues to dismantle criminal organizations. Meanwhile, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart, Thank You for Smoking), the new district attorney, is set on placing these thugs behind bars. Events take a turn for the worse, however, when the Joker (Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain) is hired to kill Batman.
Bale once again delivers a believable and emotional performance. When the Joker starts his killing spree, Batman’s anguish and internal torment is palpable. It is through these darker and troubled events that Bale balances the strength and vulnerability of Batman, showing a consistent effort in portraying the hero as a man with shortcomings.
Ledger makes an indelible performance as the Joker. His version of the villain is dark, psychotic, and truly frightening with the hunched posture, creepy make-up, and maniacal laughter. Ledger takes the persona onto a whole new level by adding a touch of insanity to the character. Whether it’s the wicked glint in his eyes or his eagerness to watch Gotham burn down, Ledger believably acts the part of the deranged psychopath.
Another amazing performance is Eckhart as Two-Face, formerly the ambitious and righteous Harvey Dent. Despite a radical change in character, Eckhart manages to make the shift believable. His transition from “Gotham’s White Knight” to one of its criminals seems like a realistic outcome.
Maggie Gyllenhaal (Stranger than Fiction) plays Rachel Dawes, Dent’s girlfriend and fellow attorney. While her character provides some romance and relief from the testosterone-heavy film, Gyllenhaal’s performance is forgettable partly because the character itself is only effective in rationalizing why Dent became Two-Face. Aside from that, the character is useless.
Completing the main cast are Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) and Michael Caine (Sleuth) as Lucius Fox and Alfred, Bruce’s butler, respectively.
The Dark Knight’s theme is darker and more complex than that of a regular comic book movie. It tackles ethics and morality—both of which are present whenever Batman is forced to choose which victim to save. Also, major plot twists keep the movie exciting as Joker’s schemes are ingeniously planned out despite his crazy demeanor.
One of the best features of the film is its direction. Nolan builds the tension of the story well by focusing more on the development of the characters. There is a real sense of urgency and fear as Nolan clearly establishes the threat of Joker’s plans and what they entail.
Supported by a talented cast, an intelligent plot, and an adventurous director, Dark Knight lives up to the hype. The movie does provide action through motorcycle chases and exploding bombs; however, Dark Knight goes above and beyond what you can expect from an action blockbuster.
It doesn’t just entertain, but also encourages the viewer to question the ethics of the characters’ decisions. Though it is longer than it should be at two and a half hours, every minute builds up to the climax. It is definitely worth a trip to the cinema, maybe even two.
Rating: 5 out of 5 g’s
