Batman Gets Serious.

Rating: 9/10 (1 January 2014)

After a well executed origin story with "Batman Begins" (2005), "The Dark Knight" obviously had to raise the bar and bring a take on the Joker, that could stand against the larger than life portrayal from Jack Nicholson in "Batman" (1989). Well I was 16, and in my final year at secondary school at the time of this movies release. I bring this up as while in my ICT lesson, I heard the sad news of Heath Ledger's passing from my classmates. This was still at a time whereas I wouldn't really watch any pre-release trailers, or read articles on the production etc. But nevertheless, I very much wanted to say that I've always enjoyed his performances and after seeing him in this movie, IT really is sad such a talent has passed away in the prime of his life.
To get back on to the movie, I was still not entirely aware of Batman's 75 years of history at the time. This movie WAS the summer film of 2008, and got large mainstream attention in a sense that everyone I knew was talking, dressing and acting like the Joker etc. It was a great rush to see something like comic books, suddenly being brought so large into the mainstream around my age. Merchandise and marketing were flying everywhere, and seeing Batman so heavily invested in what was essentially an organised crime story was a very unique scenario. Christopher Nolan manages to bring something new for comic book movie standards, that could actually work without the leads even wearing costumes.
To say what I really enjoyed about this movie off the top of my mind, there are no flashback scenes whatsoever. The future "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012) had a few, but there are so many subplots well executed in this chapter it doesn't need any back and forth. Everything is so "in the moment", it feels like well executed progression that I genuinely get chills thinking back to that interrogation scene. Again the casting is sublime, and every performer carries their own weight without having to exist for the sake of existing, or relying as a wingman to a more important character. The Joker IS the movie. Not only did anarchy get to stretch above and beyond in this flick, but the many images from burning dollar bills, to pencil magic tricks all kept me captivated as soon as it started on screen.
The few small problems I have are really just nit picks. Gotham doesn't look as good as it did in "Begins", and I wish Batman & Joker had a few more scenes together (Just to give us more of that fantastic back and fourth dynamic yin and yang confrontations). Secondly, the portrayal of the Joker is perfect for this movie, yet I hope the clown side will come out more next time as I fear the character may not be able to do so, after being portrayed so dead serious. I do not envy the actor who has to follow up this Oscar winner.
Final Verdict: The best of "The Dark Knight" Trilogy, that really goes beyond even that title. It's the pinnacle of a serious live action take on the franchise, that deserves to be seen and heralded for raising the bar. 9/10.