The Highest Peak.

Rating: 10/10 (23 August 2008)

Well, it's here, the movie of the summer and likely the movie of the year, too. Everyone had high hopes for The Dark Knight, and they were raised as new trailers were released and even moreso after Heath Ledger, our new Clown Prince of Crime, died, and the movie itself surpassed all of them.
For one, let's talk about the movie as a whole. It's clear that Nolan and the main actors have all read their comics - Ledger apparently loves The Killing Joke - and done their homework, as on the prequel to this one, Batman Begins. What I love most about this is that it doesn't stray from the comics just to make the movie more watchable on screen, but rather to make the series fresh and innovative. Nolan takes the fabric of the Batman story and contorts it into something that it very well could have been if started in 2008 instead of 1940. Never does it feel forced or cheap, just...an alternative. A well made alternative at that.
This is definitely a success as a comic book movie, but we also have an added dose of hyperactive, metal-spiked flaming tank ownage via Die Hard 3, vamping the levels of ass-kicking up about ten notches. Seriously, this just rules all the way through, with a polished sheen and a ton of edgy, super-memorable scenes that will keep you coming back again and again. There's a lot going on here, about three different subplots, and I definitely didn't catch everything on one viewing. But the speed is just another reason this is good, rather than a detractor, as in the first film. Everything is done a step up better than on the film's prequel, and that is how any sequel should be, but usually isn't.
The acting is the other high point. I felt that the acting in Batman Begins was sometimes inadequate, but that has been fixed here. This is more relaxed, calculated and well performed, with sterling performances by Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart (honorable mentions for his excellent Two Face, nobody could have done it better!) and especially Heath Ledger. Ledger's Joker is indeed of the Killing Joke school, except he's even more dark and devious than he was in that novel. Every moment he's on screen he captivates, being the perfect counterbalance to Batman's rigid, often frightening justice stance. The "disappearing pencil" trick, the "Why so serious?" scene, and his final moments, laughing in the wind of the night...all masterful, completely superlative. Every inch of the praise upon him is worthy. Believe it.
So basically this rules, see it instead of whatever other movie you were planning on seeing in 2008. The bar has been set high for a third installment to this series, and even if there isn't one, well, it's always better to go out on a high note. And that's what The Dark Knight is; a high note. My highest recommendation.