The Dark Knight Review

It is extremely rare that a superhero movie transcends beyond its genre into something more, something deeper, something profound enough to classify it as an iconic experience of a lifetime. The Dark Knight is one such epic film that transcends above and beyond anything else in its genre.

From the very beginning, The Dark Knight grabs a hold of you and never lets go. It is full of action, satisfying action junkies. However the action is not what makes The Dark Knight so keenly special. It is intelligent, provocative, full of reflections and symbolisms of real life. It is full of rage, despair, pure psychotic chaos, pushing one's limits to the very edge and human hope that reminds us that there is still some good left in this otherwise chaotic world. The theme of duality is constantly present throughout the film. Bruce Wayne's billionaire playboy persona versus his true self as the Batman, driven by revenge, rage and the incorruptible desire to do what is right and seek justice beyond the powers of the established system of law. Batman, the Dark Knight, versus Harvey Dent, the White Knight of Gotham City, both seeking to bring down every criminal in the city, using different methods but crossing paths. One is the hero that Gotham City deserves, the other is the hero that Gotham City needs. Cross the line of no return or keep your code. Moral versus unethical behavior. Personal desire or selfless sacrifice. Revenge versus justice.

Christian Bale is as much as Bruce Wayne/Batman as Tobey McGuire was meant to portray Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Bale delivers another stunning performance in The Dark Knight, as in American Psycho and Batman Begins. I believe Bale is one of the best actors in this generation.

Much has been made about Heath Ledger's final performance and death. With all the talk and hype, Ledger delivered an iconic performance that lives up to the hype. Ledger's portrayal of the Joker was so dark and disturbing, I have chills going up my spine just thinking about it even 12 hours later. At minimum, Ledger deserves an Oscar nomination. You simply do not see this type of performance in most films, let alone a superhero one. Rest in peace Heath Ledger and thank you.

Aaron Eckhart is my dark horse favorite of The Dark Knight. As Harvey Dent, his quest for justice is just as strong and incorruptible as Batman's. His eventual turn to Two Face and the resulting events that transpired afterwards was another one of those few iconic moments of movie history that is rarely seen.

Maggie Gyllenhaal brings substance to the Rachel Dawes character, something that Katie Holmes lacked in her portrayal in Batman Begins. The rest of the cast was outstanding as well. Michael Caine as my favorite butler, Alfred. Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon and Morgan Freeman as Wayne Entreprises' CEO and Batman's gadget guru, Lucius Fox.

And of course, there is Christopher Nolan, the man behind it all. The man who rescued the Batman movie franchise from utter shit and produced this iconic epic. I'm not sure if Nolan and Bale plan a third "their" version of Batman or how they could even possibly produce a better movie than The Dark Knight, however I have faith. I have a feeling that Nolan and Bale are really setting the stage for something even bigger and better. Make it darker, more mature, more intelligently simulating and make it rated R.

Finally something needs to be noted about the music. I'm usually not a big fan of movie scores, but Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard really delivers an iconic performance. The music sets the tone perfectly for each scene and is worthy of an Oscar.

In conclusion, I've used the word "iconic" several times in this review because The Dark Knight is truly just that - iconic. From the script and cinematography to the acting and music, it all just works beautifully. The Dark Knight is not only the best superhero movie of all time, but an instant modern icon.