Why calling this "The best superhero movie to date" is an understatement

Rating: 10/10 (18 July 2008)

To talk about the strengths of "The Dark Knight" as a superhero film and why it's probably the best superhero film yet, would be to sell it incredibly short.
This film is more than about satisfying comic book fans, action junkies and thrill seekers: it is a gripping tale of corruption, crime and justice that tries mightily to pry at an understanding of human nature. Director and writer Christopher Nolan has made his case for why the superhero genre can be just as capable of delivering a view and critique of society as a crime drama--and still leave room for a plenty of explosive entertainment for dessert.
Of course "Dark Knight" is no "The Godfather" (though Bale's Batman voice often becomes as raspy as Marlon Brando's), but it's still wildly successful at addressing crime in its own way-- through impeccable and frightening characters like The Joker and scene after scene of chaos and mayhem. Unlike its predecessor "Batman Begins," this film paints a grimmer Gotham City that feels more like real life and less like the pages of a comic book--and it echoes throughout all aspects of the film. Chicago proves an excellent city to serve this purpose too and it's amazing what they allowed this crew to do in their streets.
No worries though, the real life feel doesn't sacrifice the thrills of a superhero action film. Nolan and his crew do unbelievable stunt work (the CGI is incredibly scarce) and The Joker schemes up some stuff that results in terrific fight scenes and action sequences, all of which are way better than the first "rebirth of Batman" installment. The script, though true to the constantly thematic-focused material of "Begins," is also more sophisticated and even less cheesy this time around. It's sheer genius and best of all--it doesn't try and do too much like so many over-hyped superhero films before it.
The story takes place with Gotham back in a place of corruption, but when new District Attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart) shows up and starts putting guys behind bars (with some help from Batman and Lt. Gordon (Oldman)) the crime lords turn to The Joker (the late Heath Ledger, whose performance will go down in the books and define his short but excellent career) in order to put an end to it. The only thing is that they don't understand The Joker-- he's motivated by pure desire for chaos and that will make him Batman's most formidable foe.
With the amount of intriguing characters and great actors involved, the focus shifts away from Bruce Wayne in this movie and it becomes more about identifying Batman's role in the crime-fighting puzzle. This focal shift makes "Dark Knight" a true ensemble piece. When The Joker is on screen, you won't take your eyes off of him. Ledger captures his chaos, his theatricality, his crude sense of humor and channels it towards the themes the script pushes. His lines are the best in the film and not only in delivery but pure craftsmanship. He's the glue of this film--not Bale/Batman.
Eckhart is an excellent Harvey Dent and a solid Two-Face. Filmgoers (specifically Batman fans) should know that his role is very central to the film and his emergence as Two-Face ends up being the whipped cream and the cherry. Not only do you get the story of a strong hero challenged by an incredibly complex villain, but you get an origin story of a man turning from good to evil. No superhero writing team has ever put so much complexity into a script and made it work without becoming a disappointing train wreck, but the Nolan brothers do. There are some bumps, but you're so sucked in it doesn't matter.
So it's easy to label "The Dark Knight" the best superhero film to date, because it delivers everything you want with an artists touch on every piece of it. What I will dare to say is this film is one of if not the best crossover between entertainment and crime drama. Combine that with the most successful and biggest viral marketing campaign ever and this film has changed the way we watch movies. But most specifically, It's thematically bulletproof and those who love superhero movies that explore the deepest depths of its themes will easily name "The Dark Knight" one of their favorite films.