Sequels just cannot surpass the original...or can they?

Rating: 10/10 (21 July 2008)

Goadfather Part 2 couldn't do it. Aliens couldn't do it. Die hard couldn't do it. Did Dark Knight repeat the history or made one? I think the latter one.
I wanted to see this movie right from the start of the year. This indeed was the most awaited movie for a long time at least for me. When I left the cinema I surely was spell bounded. I am not actually a fan of action movies, rather I hate them. Very few have made it to my top list. Main reason about disliking action movies is that in most of them there is little or no character development and now-a-days they rely heavily on the CGI and stuff like that. Very little heed is actually paid in the 'acting' department.
But Batman Begins and The Dark Knight have surely changed my views. I guess if give a talented artist like Nolan any previous crap, he can turn it into a masterpiece. The Character Development in both the movies was something I have never seen in an action movie.
Talking about The Dark Knight, well the movie was the most talked about in a long time. And seeing it just the next day after 'Hancock' made me realize that between two action movies many things are common but in a very rare case like this one a hell lot of things can be different. The Dark Knight scores on every front.
Direction. Well when 'Begins' was in the making I had doubted Nolan had turned commercial after agreeing to direct a previously 'failed' series. But to everyone's astonishment as I mentioned above he did manage to turn a crap of a series into a masterpiece. And this time too he manages to accomplish the same rather couple of steps ahead than his previous attempt. His direction is simply magnificent. He gives the film its dark nature which is what a Batman movie should have. He never overemphasizes on any of the character. Each character from Joker to Two face gets his due.
The special effects. Well I have to say that most of the stunts, car chases in the movie seem very real. Well most of them are actually real. The fact I liked here is that the film does not try to attract the audiences by the overuse of CGI as in the case of 'Spiderman' series. The film has its very own soul and does not have to rely on these factors. The car chase seen in the tunnel was one of the best. A film should never rely heavily on the CGI as the techniques continue to get better and better and after 20 years those CGIs will be worth laughing . Believe me after 50 years or so people would be laughing on the matrix series not for its philosophical subtext but for its action scenes while on the other 'Godfather' will still be considered a masterpiece.
Cinematography. Well thats something I really don't appreciate in action movies. 'Bourne' series' cinematography was a pain in the neck. The Dark Knight's film-noir inspired cinematography will certainly set new standards for action films to come in years.
Music. Well the trademark music(I'm talking about the one which appears just for a second in the last track of the official soundtrack but is present in both the movies more as a background score) by Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard is just fantastic. They delivered the best at the right moments in the movie. None of the tracks overshadowed the action. Nor did it distract the audience from the plot. Perhaps the Best soundtrack to come in years.
Acting. In this department Heath Ledger steals the show. May be he will be the second actor after peter finch to win Oscar posthumously. While the joker is presented like never before, the film does not lose the emphasis on other characters. Even the cop in the interrogation room with joker has a pivotal role. Bale does justice with his character. Caine like in the first movie is excellent in his supporting role. Morgan Freemann though in a small role is not disappointing. Aaron Eckhart's character's change from Harvey Dent to Two Face is shown steadily and progressively in a very believable manner. Gary Oldman as Lt. Gordan also brings quite a lot of surprises in the movie. His dialogs during the end of the movie were fantastic. Only disappointment was Maggie Gyllenhaal in the role of Rachel. She does not seem to be too important to the script. This is the only flaw I can find in the film.
Finally this is one of those masterpieces not difficult but impossible to make. An action genre movie appealing to the audiences of every genre. Such movies will come only once in a long long time.
Action movies are always rejected by the Oscars. Will this movie make history?