The Dark Knight

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Mystery & Suspense

Note: Warning, spoilers ahead! Oh, and curse the lack of nuance in the star system!

This is probably as close to perfect as a superhero movie can get.

"The Dark Knight" heralds the return of Batman, DC Comics' only successful movie franchise to date. And what a hell of a return it is.

Director Christopher Nolan manages to top his first effort at reviving the Batman franchise. "Batman Begins", already a masterpiece in superhero movies, was a tough act to follow, but "The Dark Knight" not only follows, it sped straight forward and left its predecessor in the dust.

The Visuals

The movie, as befitting its subject, is shot mostly in the dark. Even the outdoor day scenes seem tainted with hues of gray and dark blue, ala NYPD Blue. Gotham City (with the city of Chicago in the role) looks like a tired and dirty city, a far cry from the gleaming progressive triumph that was Gotham City in the first movie prior to the death of the Waynes. There are some gorgeous airborne shots of both Chicago and Hong Kong, including a stunning sequence in which Batman glides across the Hong Kong skyline to reach a target.

However, herein lies movie's only serious flaw. The action sequences, though better than that of the first film, are still rough, choppy, and difficult to follow. Most of them being in the dark also doesn't help matters. I understand Batman is supposed to be business-like in dispatching his foes, but it would be nice if we could get in on the business too, and feel every searing punch or kick, instead of constantly blinking to follow his movement pattern. The scenes being in the dark should have added to the mood and enhanced the fight sequences, but the choppy nature of the sequences only made it more difficult for the eyes to adjust.

The Soundtrack

The soundtrack suits the subject. The low, rumbling melodies evoke an immanent presence in the dark. The rising crescendos, sometimes overpowering all other sounds, are placed in appropriate places, enhancing the emotional impact of what is occurring onscreen.

The Gadgets

Everybody and their mother whose been to the movies the last month has already seen the Bat-Pod. While the bike is cool, there are several other little enhancements that give Batman a realistic feel. Adjustments to his body armor give the viewer the sense that the wearer is human, and the tech comes from somewhere, which was lacking in all pre-Begins Batman movies. There is even an insider reference to lack of mobility of the Batman suits of the previous movies. But the biggest gadget of them all was a computer system that mapped out the entire city using sonar emanating from every cellphone!

The Characters

I know everybody's been raving about Heath Ledger's Joker, and its all justified. This Joker is possibly one of the most disturbed characters to ever grace a screen. However, I am more impressed with Christian Bale's Batman. It is much harder to act under a mask than it is under make-up, and Bale doesn't have the same license to go over the top as Ledger, but unlike previous Batmans, he refuses to be overwhelmed and out-acted by his villain. He chews up snappy lines, and oozes stoic bad-assery in the midst of Joker's creepy clowning. The only real drawback is the pseudo-growl he affects when attempting to disguise his voice. I don't think he should bother with it. Maybe next time.

The supporting cast also do their part. Gary Oldman as Lt. Gordon is strong and sympathetic, thankfully lacking any "I'm too old for this shit" cynicism. Maggie Gyllenhaal's Rachel Dawes makes me wish Katie Holmes never got a callback. And Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent was utterly believable as a crusader fallen from grace. There were a few drawbacks though. Eric Roberts just can't help but be Eric Roberts. Hey look, Eric Roberts is an Italian Mafia boss! Really?

The Story

The story moves at a slow pace, but the build-up to the climax brings the viewer to the edge of his or her seat. The twists and turns of the plot are manageable, and the dramaturgy is textbook in execution. The plot is straightforward enough that it allows time for the characters to develop, but at the same time, the twists are just enough to keep the story interesting without hijacking the narrative. My only real problem is that there wasn't enough space to fully emotionally flesh out Bruce Wayne. For example, he is not given enough time to even look like he's mourning his lost love. The actor makes do well enough with what he's got. However, this quibble is extremely minor. In terms of the integration of theme and plot, as well as proper pacing, Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan could school any screenplay writer out there. (Or preferably, here. Our screenplay writers, even the PhD'd ones, are absolutely pathetic compared to these two gentlemen.) The ending is a good paradox...it is both satisfying and makes me want more. I'm already in line for the third installment.

Themes

Bar none, this is the best treatment of the question of nobility to ever appear in a superhero movie. There are no platitudes or motherhood statements, only a strong, unspoken code that creates the backbone of the Dark Knight. The internal conflict regarding the inherent goodness and evil of humanity is extremely well-handled. I never expected to see a treatment of that question this good in a movie, much less a superhero movie. It was like Thomas Aquinas getting kicked around before rising up and bitch-slapping Nietzsche and forcing him to tap out...but in more cinematic and metaphorical form. The resolution to the conflict at the heart of this theme, whether or not the passengers of each boat would the other up to kingdom come or meet fiery doom simultaneously, doesn't feel forced. It felt...human. And I mean that in its good sense. As an added bonus, there is even an inadvertent reflection on the power of Original Sin, especially in the character of Harvey "Two Face" Dent.

Conclusion

Christopher Nolan set the bar really high with this one. I truly hope the third movie is worth the beauty and build-up of this middle piece. Let's hope the curse of both X-Men and Spiderman does not rear its ugly head.

4.5 / 5 (But since there is no nuance in the star system, I'll err on the higher side.)