A true game changer

Rating: 10/10 (26 June 2015)

The Dark Knight changed cinema forever. It took a kid's Saturday morning cartoon concept and made it into a drama that appeals to not just Batman fans but movie fans in general.
The movie expands on the realistic approach of Batman Begins to show what being a superhero in real life could be like. It doesn't follow the typical sequel formula as it's simultaneously a crime drama and a character study of Bruce Wayne's struggle to make Gotham a better place when arch-villain The Joker steps in to tear Gotham to the ground, how these polar opposites repel each other, and how society is affected by this.
Heath Ledger gives the performance of a lifetime as The Joker. Terrifying, cunning, nihilistic, darkly funny, and many other words can describe the character he brought to life on screen and was perfectly deserving of the Oscar he won posthumously.
Other credits go out to excellent performances from the rest of the cast including Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, the Nolan brothers who wrote this movie, Christopher Nolan's direction, cinematography, practical effects that made the world of this movie feel real, and technical achievements with IMAX cameras.
The Dark Knight is a perfect example of how to take an aging franchise and making it new and fresh for modern audiences.