The Dark Knight...Truly Stunning Sequel!

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2010)

---May contain spoilers!--- How can i even begin to review The Dark Knight as a film. So many reviewers have already exhausted superlatives when reviewing this picture. Thats understandable, however, as this film is quite simply breathtaking.
It's well known that for a sequel to surpass its predecessor is an extremely difficult feat. Take The Matrix for example. Wonderful, ground-breaking blockbuster that spawned two sequels that quite possibly are the worst of all time. Even the great Francis Ford Coppola couldn't produce the magic and mastery that he employed for the Godfather I and II as the third title simply didn't match.
However, The Dark Knight, completely defeats Batman Begins, taking nothing away from Batman Begins, it's a truly great film. It was responsible for giving the fading Batman franchise a much needed revamp after the nipple-suits, Uma Thurman and Bane. Bane!? Joel Schumacher...disgrace. Batman Begins packed one hell of an exciting thrill-ride but you can't help but be entranced by the brilliance of The Dark Knight.
This film also succeeded in living up to the hype, which is in't exactly bread and butter in the contemporary film industry. Avatar, King Kong? Dark Knight simply delivers. Christopher Nolan has done a great job in portraying Gotham as the crime-riddled, dark and devastating city that it should be. The direction was brilliant, I have become full of admiration for Nolan after seeing Memento and The Prestige and The Dark Knight completes a decade of great work by him.
The acting, absolutely glorious! Wonderful ensemble cast, Bale, Ledger, Freeman, Caine, Eckhart, Oldman are all great with a special mention for Ledger as the Joker, one of the greatest motion picture performances of all time. I know it has been said numerous times, but it's true. Even Maggie Gylenhall is acceptable in her role as Rachel, at least she improves on the dreadful turn of Katie Holmes. I have to mention though, Bales voice is inexplicably hoarse and deep, oops!
The movie centres on the lunacy of the Joker, as well as the shady dealings of the mafia in the centre of Gotham City and of course, the futile psychotic ploys of Harvey Dent (Eckhart) who transforms into the hideously disfigured Two-Face. For me, despite Batman Forever being a laughable piece of crap, Tommy Lee Jones lived the role of Two-Face quite well where as although Eckhart is good, I find him somewhat inferior his portrayal. This, however, is an excusable shortcoming of the film that certainly does not detract from the films brilliance.
The film is also responsible for producing one of the most pulsating endings of all time. Great action and drama with the Joker's insanity-fuelled projects i.e blowing up hospitals and arming two boats full of Gotham civilians and prisoners.
All in all, this is a fascinating effort from Nolan and his production team and I look forward to seeing his next film, Inception with Leonardo Di Caprio which is very promising and of course, can't wait to see the third instalment in his Batman franchise which has improved dramatically on Tim Burton's decent double and Joel Schumachers mis-guided, inadequate productions in the 90's.
The film thrives on it's great script, some of the finest acting seen in decades and almost flawless direction of Christopher Nolan. Comic book adaptations are a tricky subject. Fantastic Four was miserable and shocking, Daredevil failed to amuse and Superman Returns was barely passable but here we have two wonderful efforts with Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. 10/10. A must-see! Film of the year!