Not just a great Batman movie, but a great movie period.

Rating: 10/10 (20 July 2008)

So, it's finally here. After seeing the Joker playing card at the end of Batman Begins, we've been waiting for this day. I've finally seen it. I've let it resonate in my mind for a while. I've gone over the good and the bad, and yes, there are some things I was not a fan of. I'll get to those first.
There are only a few things that bothered me.
1) The sonar. It seems so weird compared to the rest of the film.
2) Sometimes Batman's voice gets dangerously close to laughable.
3) I wish the Joker had gotten a last scene in Arkham. He's just left there literally hanging, and that is the last time we see him in the film. No final shot.
4) Michael Caine had so little to do in the film. Compared to how much he did in BB, he is just a bit player here.
That's really it. So now the good stuff...
What can I say that hasn't been said already? It's just a great movie. After thinking about this a while, I've realized just how different BB and TDK are. Despite the same director, they are completely different in their style and presentation. If anyone has seen the Prestige, also written by the Nolan brothers, it's very evident that Jonah Nolan helped write TDK. Like the Prestige, the story gets going and never stops. It never allows for a breather. Stop paying attention for even a minute, and you can get lost. It's that quick. I expected a film like BB, and instead I got something else. Notice how this isn't listed as a negative. It's just not what I expected.
The Joker is exactly how Nolan said he would be. He has no real storyline. He exists just to push people to their breaking point. He is a terrorist in ways no other villain has been. Hell, he out terrorizes real terrorists! He is a real enigma, and you always know when he is approaching because of his theme. I loved this. Whenever the Joker's presence is imminent, the "Why So Serious" theme starts. It sounds literally like a tornado siren. Every time that started, I was thinking, "Oh crap, he's coming!" It's exactly what Nolan intended, and it works beautifully, building tension to his appearance. And the Joker is not really in the film that much. Like I said, he is more of an enigma. He's even doing things when he is not on screen, putting his plot in motion. His presence is felt, but not seen. He's also insanely (literally) funny. The way he moves, talks, and acts is funny. Even when giving his speeches about his philosophy on life, he is still funny. However, this does not lessen his impact. It heightens it even more. It's great stuff.
Also, there are some incredibly tension inducing, nail biting scenes. One is where the Joker simultaneously murders both Loeb and the judge prosecuting the mob, while also attacking Bruce's fund raiser for Harvey Dent. As this happens, the theme starts kicking in. You know he is coming. Something is going to happen, and when it does, it does not disappoint. Another great sequence is when this guy (can't remember his name) knows Bruce's secret, and is about to reveal it to Mike Engel on GCN. But before he can, Joker calls in and says that if he is not dead in one hour, a hospital will blow up. Total city-wide panic. What hospital could it be? No one knows, but because people want to save their loved ones, the man is constantly being targeted for assassination. This whole sequence leading up to Joker and Harvey's confrontation is without a doubt my favorite part of the film. And that nurse scene is hilarious.
Despite Two-face's end, I didn't feel cheated like some people. Ya, it's surprising he was killed off, but in that short time we got a Two-face that delivers in what we want. Also, Harvey Dent is a great character. Dent is a little psycho before he becomes Two-face. The whole scene where he interrogates one of Joker's henchmen really shows you the path he is destined for. Like the Joker says, "Madness is like gravity, all you need is a little push." And a little push is all Harvey needs to become a madman. It feels totally plausible too, and this is because of the madness Harvey had before he becomes Two-face.
Ultimately, I would not say it is better than BB. I like them both. They are both so different. Everyone did a great job. And after the film ended, my father, who loved Batman89 and Jack Nicholson, turned to me and said, "That probably will win an Oscar." Enough said...