one of the best superhero films ever made

Rating: 10/10 (6 October 2016)

The Dark Knight Film Review
In The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan once again showcases why he is currently considered to be one of the best directors in the film industry right now. It has to be considered as one of the best superhero films ever made thanks to key components such as dark, twisting themes that make viewers think, arguably the best superhero villain performance ever, gritty, fight scenes, and well developed characterization.
The Dark Knight's events takes place relatively soon after Nolan's first Batman Film, Batman Begins. Bruce Wayne, Harvey Dent, and Lieutenant Gordon find themselves doing their best to clean up the seemingly endless mob crime running rampant through the city. When the Falcone Mob finds itself in a tough spot, it unintentionally unleashes the Joker on Gotham. He, in turn, creates complete chaos that turns the city into a living Hell. The three men are pushed to their very limits both physically and mentally in a desperate attempt to stop the biggest test Gotham has ever faced.
In the film, Nolan uses all of the resources provided by the studio to create a gripping, extremely successful epic that pulls audiences straight into the world of Batman. From a filmmaking standpoint, Nolan's directing makes the movie astonishingly strong. Many little things considered to be relatively small can make a huge impact and Nolan recognized this during the making of The Dark Knight. Sometimes scenes were a bit slow but it was needed to provide characterization and allow key dialogue to get across to the audience. However, Nolan is able to make these particular scenes interesting by creating dynamic shots through camera movement. He uses slow zoom to emphasize important dialogue and panning to keep viewers interested. Nolan also made an important choice when selecting Hans Zimmer to direct the film's score. Zimmer knows exactly when to use certain character cues and uses the music to build tension while also foreshadowing future events. The dialogue is one of the key components that allows this movie to thrive. Nolan knows how to use tension and release within the character dialogue. When Bruce and Alfred are forced to make a tough decision regarding the future of Batman, both characters find it extremely hard, in particular Bruce, who is ripped apart on the inside. This creates a sad, almost hopeless mood but as the two men leave a secret bunker, Nolan releases tension by giving humorous lines to both characters. Nolan's use of a low lighting key throughout the film sets the tone for the dark film and portrays Gotham as a place filled with evil and hardship. The key component, however, that brings the film to life is the realism brought to the action scenes that otherwise, would not be life-like. What makes these thrilling action sequences tick is Nolan's choice to use conventional effects rather than CGI for several key scenes. In the chase scene, Nolan chooses to use a real 18-wheeler which eventually flips. Later in the film, the production design team turns an abandoned office space into a realistic looking hospital that is blown up on set. The bike Batman rides was actually invented and a driver trained for months to learn how to operate it. These instances of conventional effects give the action in the film a sense of realism and intensity compared to other superhero movies that often choose to use CGI special effects. The movie is solidified by the choices made during casting. Heath Ledger truly becomes the Joker, a madman out to "watch the world burn" through research and the twisting of his own mind into a dark state. Christopher Nolan makes the Batman into a strong hero that will stop at almost nothing to stop the Joker while also having heart that audiences can relate to. Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, and Maggie Gyllenhaal also play key supporting roles that allow the main characters to thrive. What makes The Dark Knight so strong is the long list of successes compared to the very few, if any, mistakes. Nolan makes the world of Batman as real as possible and delivers a spotless portrayal of the DC Universe. This film is not the average superhero film and really sets a high standard for future Batman films. It has the perfect balance of action, tension, dark themes, and raw emotion to prompt viewers of all ages, Batman fans or not, to see the film. The Dark Knight deserves a 10 out of 10.