The Dark Knight

lil eva · The Dark Knight

The spectre of Heath Ledger looms large over the pulsating The Dark Knight. The actor's death lends an eerie quality to an already sinister film, but his brilliant performance as the gleefully sadistic Joker brings it fully to life. Taking an intense, psychological approach to the role, compared with Jack Nicholson's more comical turn, Ledger has created one of the screen's truly great baddies. And his memorable entrance, when he demonstrates an original trick by making a pencil disappear, is as funny as it is disturbing.

That Ledger's performance is the best thing about The Dark Knight is praise indeed given the film's many highlights. At least the equal of Batman Begins, it is a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride filled with wit, invention, surprising depth and terrific performances. If deserving of one criticism, it is that in its effort to provide more bang for its buck, it rather goes over the top.

It begins with Gotham's public wearying of Batman, who they see as a lawless vigilante. A number of copycat Batmen have further sullied his reputation. Batman's alter-ego, wealthy businessman Bruce Wayne, starts to question his position, and looks to District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) as the person with the integrity and strength to takeover his role working with Lieutenant Gordon (Gary Oldman) to clean up Gotham. In an effort to insure that doesn't happen, the city's crime bosses have collaborated. Into this long-standing and well-defined feud comes the Joker, describing himself as "an agent of chaos." With a scarred smile etched on a face caked in crudely-painted clown make-up, he offers to help the crooks by eliminating Batman, a service for which he demands 50% of their operation. But it soon becomes apparent that the Joker is less interested in money than mayhem.

To combat such a maniacal foe, Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) provides Batman with an impressive assortment of gadgets and a new mode of transport, the two-wheeled Batpod, all of which are used in some spectacular action sequences. The Dark Knight also exhibits Wayne's propensity to surround himself with beautiful women, lending him an almost James Bond air.

But for those who believe you can't have too much of a good thing, The Dark Knight certainly offers lots of very good things. None better than the moment the Joker lives up to his name by taunting Batman with Tom Cruise's famous line from Jerry Maguire, "you complete me." That Ledger's delivery makes you smile and shiver simultaneously is testament to an extraordinary performance and the ambitious and bold filmmaking that spawned it.

popi25

I'll have what lil eva is smoking sounds like good shit

GenieDi

I'm not at all into Batman films I'm afraid, but my son wants to see it.

lil eva

Aparently its a bit long and drawn out.........a bit like the review

GenieDi

Ha ha..... I read it was a bit over hyped, suppose we had to expect that really.

Chrissy Canadian

i would only see it for heath ledger. i love him. so sad what happened, he was really an awesome actor and seemed like a really down to earth person too

Dave-The-Penguin

There's also a new super hero coming......The Dark Penguin

Chrissy Canadian

yep, he's our super hero alright

Dave the Penguin

When ever there is a Fish being stolen

Or when ever a bird gets covered in oil

You will always find

THE DARK PENGUIN

COMING TO AN ICE COVERED CINEMA NEAR YOU