Review: “Batman: The Dark Knight”

August 2, 2008 · Print This Article

The next installment in the revived Batman series has adopted a much darker tone than its predecessors, but it will likely be named the the best of all the Batman movies made thus far, thanks in large part to the monumental performance by the late Heath Ledger.

In this film, Batman (Christian Bale) must team up with Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and the new District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) who seems too good to be true. These three begin a crackdown of the Mob in Gotham City, but the downfall of Mafia activity has opened the door for a new criminal mastermind to appear. This criminal, known only as The Joker (Heath Ledger), seems to feel no remorse killing his enemies and his henchmen alike. His reckless actions make him a formidable opponent for Batman. Heath Ledger portrays this madman to twisted perfection and provides a good foil for Christian Bale’s tormented Dark Knight. Ledger manages to draw in the audience by creating a character who is both fascinating and revolting in his actions.

Unexpected plot twists and plenty of car chases keep this film from dragging. This film was riveting enough to keep even those with only a mild interest in the Batman movies glued to their seats. The only problem was the late introduction of Two-Face in the movie. It could have occurred at an earlier point in the plot or been saved for the sequel.

Like any good Batman film, there are a slew of gadgets used by the Dark Knight in his never-ending quest for vengeance against Gotham City evil doers. The Batmobile, known as “the Tumbler”, makes a return appearance, but there are new surprises and modifications to the vehicle not seen in the Batman Begins. Another technology of interest is the method used by Batman to find the Joker at the end of the film. It takes current technologies and uses them for a completely unexpected application which proves clever and plausible.

Batman: The Dark Knight is a must see. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most intelligent superhero movies made, and Heath Ledger’s final performance is one not to be missed.

CMR gives “Batman: The Dark Knight” a rating of 5/5.