An end to the hype

Rating: 9/10 (5 August 2008)

When films get as much hype as this the advertising backfires. Everyone knows that the movie is coming out with all the unnecessary hype. It builds up an anticlimax because any flaws in the film become glaring.
This is a very good film and by now most people will have seen it.; But its certainly not as great as many seem to think. There are some great set pieces and all the stunts and explosions have been done the old fashioned way without drowning in CGI. Christopher Nolan has written an intelligent script which is unusual and sets it apart form most big summer movies.
Ledger's performance has been lauded by almost everyone and his shadow has obscured Christian Bale's performance who would otherwise be receiving the plaudits.
The story unfolds with glamour and deftness but does suffer from being overlong. Of the many actors who have been overlooked it time to mention Cillian Murphy's Scarecrow. He has th added difficulty of performing from behind a mask and he does an excellent job. Aaron Eckhart's, Harvey Dent is such a major character and his performance matches this.
The women in the film who are overlooked include Melinda McGraw's Barbara Gordon; and Maggie Gyllenhaal is so much better than Katie Homlmes.
Living in London I was quite excited that the stage and screen actor Stephen Armourae was in this. I've seen some short films that aren't listed on this site. Difficult to find him in the movie and clearly appears to briefly. If you reappears in the next it must be with more screen time.
The Dark Knight asks uncomfortable questions about justice and morality. Its a mature film presented as a summer blockbuster.