The history of The Batman has always been drowned in darkness.

Rating: 8/10 (7 August 2008)

The city that spawned the violence that gave birth to the Dark Knight himself; the psychotic emulators that Bruce unwittingly coded; the constant struggle within to maintain a strict moral code - not to lose himself completely to the darkness he shrouds himself in out of necessity... all these elements add to a dark, brooding and violent mythology that Nolan manages to capture perfectly without ever giving in to the gratuitous.
While the film is gloriously over-the-top (which is of course fitting for a comic book universe), Nolan manages to ground the larger than life characters and story arcs just enough to add a chill and striking reality to them (Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker is especially stunning).
A perfect example of violence (both the physical now and the mental histories) and tragedy handled with real care and attention, TDK stands as testament not only as a marker for other comic book adaptations, but as an expert example of how to do darkness without dealing in the absolutes that shallow the usual attempts.
A chaotic and brilliant masterpiece.