The Dark Knight reigns despite a disjointed effort

Rating: 8/10 (19 July 2008)

Batman Begins returned the Dark Knight to the true realm which he belongs. Nolan's Batman is every bit the dark and brooding hero who finds himself torn by the memory of his parents, vengeance, and the conflict he finds himself facing alone as he stands between the worst criminals of Gotham and its citizens. Christian Bale's portrayal is memorable and truly is the best representation of who Batman should be in every way.
It has been a year since the defeat of Ra's Al Ghul and Scarecrow. The criminals of Gotham have found themselves under a never ending siege as Batman/Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) continues his personal crusade. This time the major gangs and mob have been broken and forced to hide from the night as Batman hunts them down one by one. While there are always battles to be found, Batman has won the streets for the people of Gotham.
He is not alone in his struggle. District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckart) is also out to destroy the criminal element that has ruled Gotham for so long. Daring, popular, and determined, Dent is as hard on criminals in the court as Batman is on the streets at night. By his side is Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who is as determined as he is to bring down the criminals who have made so many in Gotham cower in fear. However, her past relationship with Bruce and new relationship with Harvey, complicates an already delicate situation between her and Bruce. In the future it will have dangerous consequences for all three.
The law of cause and effect comes into play when a mysterious scarred and painted criminal calling himself the Joker (Heath Ledger) appears. First seen as obnoxious by the existing criminal leadership of Gotham, Joker soon surpasses and replaces them as the most dangerous threat Gotham has seen since Ra's Al Ghul and Scarecrow. His terror will include everything from murder, robbery, kidnapping, and terrorism. If Batman is a one man army for law and justice, the Joker is a one man army of death and chaos who will not be stopped.
The two collide head on and Gotham pays the price. Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman) leading the major crime unit of Gotham and Dent do their best to control the damage. However, Gordon and Dent find themselves unable to cope with the rising threat of the Joker who soon turns the city upside down in his rampage. The city is unable to deal with the Joker and soon the population of Gotham finds itself held hostage to the Joker's destructive urges. The police are crippled, the government nearly broken, and Batman himself finds himself struggling to defeat the Joker before he burns the whole city down around them both. This is Gotham's darkest hour and Batman may be unable to return the city to the light.
The Dark Knight is stunning in almost every scene as we watch Batman soar, fall, and ride through the streets of Gotham to Hong Kong. The drama between Bruce, Rachel, Dent, Gordon is complex but works. This is a personal drama besides being an action movie and it works well. Bruce's personal transformation, and conflict between his desire of protecting Gotham and Rachel, is a perfect evolution from his trials during Batman Begins. Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine) and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) return as aides but also voices of conscience for Bruce who support but also challenge Bruce to continue his mission.
The problem, though, comes in Nolan's disjointed direction. Unlike Batman Begins, The Dark Knight is unable to bring its many plots together to a conclusive end. There is so much going on that the Dark Knight bounces around so much that it doesn't focus well until the latter half of the movie. The transformation of Harvey Dent into Two Face occurs at the right time but then ends before we can enjoy it. Batman's sudden act of heroic sacrifice in that he becomes the "criminal" to save Harvey's reputation seems well meaning but rushed and not convincing. Wasn't he already an outcast who many didn't trust besides Gordon? Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker will forever mark the highlight of that character's existence. However, in what amounts to a heresy, I would argue that Liam Neeson's Ra's Al Ghul was an even more interesting villain whose goal was more complex and more of a threat than the Joker's. Mindless death and destruction for anarchy is interesting but in the end of the day that is all what it is.
The Dark Knight reigns despite a disjointed effort and the tragedy is that this will be Ledger's final role. The Dark Knight isn't a perfect movie but it is a excellent tribute to an actor who will be missed.
8/10