Darkness and light

Rating: 6/10 (3 January 2015)

He's back, the Bat-man, the superhero whose most defining super-power is that he is super-rich. The second instalment of Christopher Nolan's trilogy has much in common with its predecessor and successor: unnecessary length and over-complex plot (with at least three principal villains), spectacular special effects (even if one cannot always follow what exactly is happening, it looks as if it ought to be exciting) and fantastic technologies introduced into the story for the sole reason that they would look good if realised. The mood is dark rather than comic, but mood is all there is. This was the film famous for the appearance of a soon-to-die Heath Ledger as the Joker, traditionally the most comic of Batman's foes. While Ledger does a good job of interpreting his character as a figure of real menace - his plaudits were well-earned - it's an absurd amount of effort into making something vaguely real from a comic book scribble. I actually enjoyed 'Batman Begins', almost in spite of myself; but the flimsy central conceit can't really handle the weight of implied consequence laden on its sequels. The film is called 'The Dark Night'; and sadly, in spite of its superior execution, is missing any essential lightness of touch.