A breathtaking, and exhilarating experience

Rating: 10/10 (16 August 2008)

When Christopher Nolan and company delivered the superb origin story of Batman Begins, the shift in tone and ambition from previous superhero comic book adaptations was both riveting, and most welcome, if not curiously overdue. Using that as a springboard, The Dark Knight reaches places that are utterly stunning and overwhelming in the depth and scope they reach. This movie goes far beyond what any previous comic book movie has come close to, creating a haunted and comprehensive study of crime, morality, and tragedy. The story poses numerous moral and philosophical dilemmas for its characters, forcing them to make choices that can have devastating consequences, while also showing the duality that exists between sides of what is moral and immoral, civil order and chaos, truth vs. justice, loyalty to those around you and your own established boundaries, and the gray areas in between.
While the vast landscape and powerful narrative that Christopher Nolan and his team have woven is a huge factor, a significant part of the reason the conflicts achieve such a forceful impact is because of the immense power of the performances from a talent heavy cast. Returning as the Caped Crusader/Bruce Wayne, Christian Bale continues to infuse the character with a remarkably conflicted and ultimately tragic quality. Bruce Wayne has troubles that have deep roots within him, constantly disturbed and driven by his past to uphold his strict moral code to deliver justice to Gotham, while trying to maintain a human grip on sanity within him, and for those he is close to. Bale brilliantly conveys this inner turmoil, in a character that is very low-key, reaching depths that his predecessors hardly even hinted at.
As the loyal butler to Bruce, Michael Caine delivers another wonderfully composed Alfred, who more or less acts as Bruce's moral conscience, and provides the balance for him as well as the film itself. Morgan Freeman also delivers his reliable class to Luscious Fox, serving as Batman's technical supplier, and even manages to deliver some pertinent commentary on the issue of excessive individual power over a population that strikes a contemporary chord. In a much more central role this time around, Gary Oldman deliver's a quietly stellar performance as the righteous and unyielding Lt. Gordon. Maggie Gyllenhaal proves to be a welcome upgrade from Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes, adding a confident edge and swagger to the character that was not as evident in the previous narrative. Other newcomer Aaron Eckhart delivers what turns out to be a startlingly moving, and forceful performance, very effectively showing the trajectory of the very determined and confident district attorney Harvey Dent, to his tragic fall from grace. Those familiar with the subject matter will be privy to what he sadly becomes.
The most central newcomer is the Joker as portrayed by Heath Ledger, in what is a monumentally sadistic, maniacal, and frighteningly unsettling performance. While Jack Nicholson and past performers provided wickedly entertaining interpretations, what the filmmakers and Ledger have crafted here is something remarkable in its viciousness, and sheer nihilistic relentlessness. This Joker has very little that is amusing about him, no matter how amusing he finds everything else. He fully embodies his self proclamation of: "I am an agent of chaos", taking a sort of fascination and amusement at the notion of stripping power away from those that feel they possess it, and breaking down any notion of order that exists in Gotham. The Joker is like a constant moral plague on the law enforcement and Batman, constantly setting up scenarios which force them to make decisions that may violate their ethical codes and have dire consequences. As brilliant as Ledger is and as domineering a character the Joker may be, the fact that everyone within the story hold their own and don't get overshadowed is a testament to how strong the ensemble effort is.. Any overshadowing seems to be coming from sources outside of the film that want one performer/unfortunate story to overshadow everything else.
The technical aspects are simply stunning. Christopher Nolan and his technical crew have created a vast and stark Gotham, drenched in a dark and moody atmosphere much like Batman Begins, where the weight of the city is felt in every scene in what is a masterful work of visual composition. The action sequences are electrifying, continuing from the first film in a gritty, near-realistic style that is minimal on CGI and heavy on stunt work with crisp editing, that along with the whole film progress at a relentless pace. The 2 ½ hours fly by, with a constantly imposing tension and sense of peril filling every frame.
There isn't really much more one can truly ask from this electrifying, uncompromising and rich experience. The movie goes places that haven't been close to being reached in the genre, and transcends it altogether in a way that is immensely satisfying, and fulfills and I say even exceeds the promise that the first film established and has been built up for until now. This is in my view the richest and greatest comic book/superhero movie ever made.