Nearly flawless action blockbuster

Rating: 9/10 (25 January 2014)

I firmly believe that The Dark Knight is in the discussion of the top twenty-five greatest movies ever made. This movie is Star Wars for a new generation. This movie is lightning in a bottle.
From the word go, we are treated to a taut, suspenseful heist sequence with all kinds of reversals and double-crosses. Within the first minute you notice something about this movie: it feels larger than life. It's crackling with energy and movement, bursting with fantastic scenes, great dialogue, tight editing, and outstanding performances.
One of those performances is surely in the top ten male leads of all time, and you know the one I'm talking about. Heath Ledger as the Joker is pure electricity. He's funny, psychotic, dangerous, wildly unpredictable, full of tics and utterly enthralling to watch. The supporting cast is where I somewhat sense a flaw or two. Christian Bale is much better playing Bruce Wayne then he is behind the mask. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Aaron Eckhart are just serviceable. However, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman turn in great work in their minor parts.
The plot never stops moving, not once loses steam. The Joker is terrorizing Gotham City, and it's up to Batman to stop him. It's an ever-escalating series of stakes, paced to perfection. The action sequences are heart-pounding. The music flows well with the action on screen. Jonathan Nolan's dialogue is smart and memorable.
Very few movies have come together so powerfully and so well, in all departments. The closest analogy I can think of is that The Dark Knight is the Citizen Kane of superhero movies. Both give you the continual sense that you are watching a great film. Although, where Kane was lauded for its brand new innovations in film technique, The Dark Knight deserves praise for taking the blockbuster genre to near-perfection. 9.5/10