Nolan ups the ante!

Rating: 7/10 (20 July 2008)

The best super hero movie ever? Na...that would be Spiderman 2...but a pretty good super hero movie anyway? Yes! Chris Nolan has crafted an extremely dark, brooding film that takes the Batman franchise into hitherto unexplored territory. This is not to suggest that the film deviates from the pre-requisites of a summer blockbuster - big action set pieces & impressive SFX are woven into the narrative seamlessly. The matte painted, Gothic Gotham City that we have become accustomed to seeing in most Batman films is replaced by a very real, everyday American city that in fact adds to the creepiness by making the goings-on seem that much more identifiable. As the Joker unleashes terror on the city, its upto Batman & upright D.A. Harvey Dent to try & stop him. But can a man who has nothing to loose & is not motivated by greed be stopped? As Nolan explores issues of morality & conscience, the film descends into a nightmare world where the Joker is the puppeteer & the good guys his puppets. Though every actor excels, the film truly does belong to Ledger. While his sinister make-up and Nolan's very astute direction do help, credit has to be given to Ledger for the sheer energy and madness he brings to the role. The action, whenever it bursts forth, is indeed a big adrenaline rush. Of particular note is a stunning extradition sequence in Hong Kong & the Batcycle-Monster truck chase through the streets of Gotham that ends with a spectacular pay-off. The film however, does have its flaws. Most importantly the length. 20 minutes of trimming (particularly in the latter half) could have made it a much more streamlined product. Also, the excessively dark tone often weighs too heavy and makes one crave for the occasional relief. But gripes aside, 'The Dark Knight' is a rewarding night at the cinema - one that provides entertainment with a dollop of intelligence.