Movie Review: The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight
rated PG-13 for Intense violence and menace
Film-making: 5 out of 5 stars
Moral rating: Better than average
Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

The Dark Knight is without a doubt one of the best movies I have ever seen. Period.
Sure the hype was huge and everyone wanted to see Heath Ledger as the Joker but was The Dark Knight really going to deliver? The answer is absolutely.

From beginning to end TDK is a thrilling treat of psychological and intense emotional amazement, as characters like The Joker, Batman and Two-Face constantly redefine morality on a massive scale. As Harvey Two Face says at one point. "You either die the hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Powerfully prophetic words for his character.

Director Christopher Nolan brilliantly crafts the story as he intertwines the Meroni crime syndicate, The Joker's own agenda to kill Batman, and Harvey Dent's tortured soul and emotional struggles. The editing and story are partially inspired by the classic graphic series "The Long Halloween" and features some of the best writing i have ever seen from the Nolan movie team.

Acting on Heath Ledger's part was phenomenal. I have never in my life seen a role so perfectly performed. In every sense Ledger WAS the Joker. I never saw Heath underneath because he had taken on the psycho role of the Joker so perfectly that he always was in character. Without a doubt he will posthumously receive an Oscar nomination. Aaron Eckhart also deserves one as best supporting actor for Harvey Dent. These two newcomers are mind blowing with their performances, adding to the already amazing performances of Christian Bale and Michael Caine. Maggie Gyllenhaal takes on the role begun by Katie Holmes in Batman Begins and plays a beautiful Rachel Dawes.

I can barely write this review, I am so in awe, so I am not going to say much more than go see The Dark Knight. It has already broken 10 box office records, so this is one movie that critics and audiences agree on. As one reviewer said. "It is The Godfather of comic book movies".

Why is it so great? Perhaps it is that gritty realism and emotion. We can relate to Bruce Wayne's personal problems and pains. The psychotic villains, while very evil are still very much so believably real.

In this broken world it is good to know that there is a Dark Knight that is not afraid of doing right even though others might hate him.

Don't miss this one!

Signing out, The Buckland Fiddler