Let's Put a Smile on that Face

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2014)

Batman isn't a comic book anymore. "The Dark Knight" is a haunted film that leaps beyond its origins and becomes an engrossing tragedy. It creates characters we come to care about. That's because of the performances, because of the direction, because of the writing, and because of the superlative technical quality of the entire production. This film redefines the possibilities of the "comic-book movie.".
"The Dark Knight" is not a simplistic tale of good and evil. Batman is good, yes, The Joker is evil, yes. But Batman poses a more complex puzzle than usual: The citizens of Gotham City are in an uproar, calling him a vigilante and blaming him for the deaths of policemen and others. And the Joker is more than a villain. He's someone whose actions are fiendishly designed to pose moral dilemmas for his enemies.
The key performance in the movie is The Joker, played by Heath Ledger. This is a villain who sets a new high for bad guys. It doesn't matter if he's screwing over the mob, blowing up a hospital or just killing cops - he does everything with reckless abandon and glee. He revels in chaos and anarchy - and wants everyone to know it. He seeks to make everyone realize they're just like him, no matter what it takes. It is a performance worthy of the accolades it has received.
Throughout the film, he devises ingenious situations that force Batman, Commissioner Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent to make impossible ethical decisions. By the end, the whole moral foundation of the Batman legend is threatened. The Joker seeks to corrupt these three bastions of power and morality. The whole film is basically the three men coming to grips with who they really are. Once they see the darkness within, they have to make a choice. You probably already know who embraces their dark side.
Besides the leads, the supporting characters all bring something to the table, no matter how large or small the part. Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhall ( a better fit than Katie Holmes), Michale Caine, Morgan Freeman, Nestor Carbonell, Eric Roberts - they all make their characters believable and add to the flavor of the film.
Aside from the incredible performances and story, Batman still has the gadgets and technology to impress. The Batpod motorcycles is impressive and makes chase scenes intense. A new more- flexible Batsuit and some crazy sonar technology tied to cell phones. There is enough action to keep superhero fans happy, but enough depth to give serious film buffs a reason to see it too.
"The Dark Knight" moves the genre of the superhero movie into deeper waters. It realizes, as some comic-book readers instinctively do, that these stories touch on deep fears, traumas, fantasies and hopes. And the Batman legend, with its origins in film noir, is the most fruitful one for exploration.
Anyone who goes into this film expecting a jaunty little action flick with your typical good-guy- saves-the-day routine are in for a shock. This is down-and-dirty, even gritty. The Dark Knight isn't just a catchy title, this is a very dark film.