worlds of twisted morality

Rating: 9/10 (27 July 2008)

Continuing on from "Batman Begins", Christopher Nolan has now given us "The Dark Knight", an equally brilliant achievement. Here we have the Caped Crusader (Christian Bale) battling The Joker (Heath Ledger in a blood-chilling final performance), while also trying to navigate the cesspool of crime and corruption that pervades Gotham City.
I will say that I found the movie a little silly whenever Batman converses with someone. But what really impressed me was Harvey Dent's (Aaron Eckhart) role. As Gotham's hotshot DA, he represents hope for wiping out all crime; Batman is mostly known as a vigilante. And he can only be known as such, because...well, I'll let you find out what it means.
You may have heard that this is a dark movie. Especially The Joker. Whereas Jack Nicholson's Joker was basically a live action Bugs Bunny, Heath Ledger's Joker is a maniacal, ruthless, vicious thug; he seeks only the creation, promotion and dissemination of pure chaos. And there are some REALLY intense scenes throughout the movie; not necessarily violent, but definitely not for the fainthearted.
All in all, I wholeheartedly recommend this one. While I could predict some of what was going to happen, much of it surprised me. It will probably surprise you too. Also starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, and small appearances by Cillian Murphy and Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy.