Almost too good for a superhero-movie.

Rating: 10/10 (1 August 2008)

If "Batman Begins" was dark, then "The Dark Night" is pitch black. Large parts of the storyline is driven by deep personal tragedies for the main character's, with resulting evolution for most of them. This is apparent in Bale who is of the few left from last time. He has clearly grown more into the role of particularly Bruce Wayne. As far as the hype surrounding Heath Ledger goes, Ledger is great. Copying some of Nicholson's mimics from "Batman" and finding a great balance between the sheer madness and the calculated evil that makes The Joker. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent, however, is much, much better. He brings life and complexity to the politician and crusader Dent, and whilst Ledger makes good on a great role, Eckhart makes perfect of a lesser character. He steals many of the scenes he is in, whether pitted against Bale, Gyllenhaal or Ledger. Nolan has done himself a huge favour by letting the evolving of characters move the film forward, rather than the other way around. Nothing ever feels forced, unnecessary or boring, despite a run of 152 minutes. The are fragments and clues spread around in a large portion of the aptly written dialogue that make the audience pay perfect attention when the intensity of action is lowered. What Nolan does best though, is contrasting Dent and The Joker. Dent will draw away from choice and consequence by flipping his coin (a wonderful symbol after it actually has two different sides) and act accordingly, whereas The Joker will force the conscious choice. Both for Batman and the common man there are exruciatingly inhumane choices to make that make you cringe at the very thought of them.