Darker Sequel to "Batman Begins" has strong performances and an great visual look.

Rating: 8/10 (20 July 2008)

Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale) is still fighting crime in Gotham City, while he finally captured Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy is a rather amusing cameo from the first film). Now Batman faces his greatest challenge when an brilliant mastermind but totally insane criminal named The Joker (Heath Ledger) is trying the convinced some of the most dangerous gangster in Gotham City to kill Batman and while The Joker has plans of his own. While in the city, an top district attorney named Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) tries to do good in the city with the help of his girlfriend named Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal). While Bruce/Batman still has feelings for Rachel, since she knows his other life as a crime fighter. Dent's plan is stop the notorious gangsters in the city like Salvatore "Sal" Moroni (Eric Roberts) but Dent needs prove, since the Chinese business man named Lau (Chin Han). Which Lau is also an account for this gangsters in Gotham City but he escape from the city before Lieutenant/Commissioner James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and the other police offices to stop him. But Batman faces out that The Joker is a actually a bigger threat in the city than the gangsters, while The Joker is planning something very sinister in Gotham City that no one will never forget.
Directed by Christopher Nolan (Insomnia "2002", Memento, The Prestige) made an strong darker sequel to "Batman Begins". Which it was also made by the same filmmaker. Nolan has an great eye for visual style in this one, the production designs are excellent, the cast are wonderful (Especially the late Ledger and Eckhart) but the story does have some problems early on in the feature and it is occasionally confusing at times. But screenwriters David S. Goyer (Blade Series, The Crow:City of Angels, The Puppet Masters) and by the filmmaker's brother Johathan Nolan) came up with impressive character moments and it has some of the most unexpected plot twists in recent features. "The Dark Knight" is notable for Ledger's last leading performance, which he is outstanding although he does has one final performance in Terry Gilliam's upcoming feature named "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus". Originally Ledger's role was a leading performance but since Ledger unexpectedly passed away early this year, which the picture has filmed half-way through. Now Gilliam's stopped the production and he quickly re-written his script to have Ledger's character also played by three other actors in the picture!
I also enjoyed a lot Eckhart's good-hearted performance as Harvey Dent, i felt in the third act when Dent becomes Two-Face. I think his Two-Face character was much more creepier than The Joker in my opinion. Gyllenhaal was an major improvement over the role, which it was originally played by Katie Holmes in the first feature. Which i felt that Holmes was one of the few weakest things in "Batman Begins". Two Time Oscar-Winner:Michael Caine as Bruce's loyal butler/friend/father figure Alfred gives the movie's lighter moments. It was nice to see Oscar-Winner:Morgan Freeman back in the role as Lucius Fox. It was a hoot seeing Michael Jai White as a gangster (Since he's best known for playing the hero from hell in "Spawn") in a bit, especially in the scene when he calls The Joker a clown. Which i nearly had flashbacks of "Spawn". Which only a few of the movie audiences got the in-joke. Also Anthony Micheal Hall, William Fichtner and uncredited Nicky Katt appeared in small memorable roles as well.
There's only a few minor things i was disappointed with "The Dark Knight", especially early on and the way they handle the Scarecrow character. Which it was played so brilliantly by Murphy in the original, i felt it was reduced to a second-rate villain in this one. I felt most of the audiences were extremely confused by Nolan's well-staged action sequences at times. It is also very dark looking at times as well but that was necessary to the story. I am still not sure, if i thought "The Dark Knight" is better than "Batman Begins". But i think "The Dark Knight" is the most enjoyable of the Batman Movies since the highly under-appreciated "Batman Returns" 16 years ago. "The Dark Knight" is also one of those rare sequels where Evil could overcome Good, which usually Hollywood shy away from these days. But if you are curious to see it, see it on the big screen and especially on IMAX. Which it should look superior than the regular screen movie screen for the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Don't miss it. Panavision. (****/*****).