Before Watching: The Dark Knight (2008)

Rating: 10/10 (10 September 2019)

"The Dark Knight" (2008) is the second movie of Nolan's Batman Trilogy and objectively one of the highest praised movies of all time. If you want to get as much out of it as possible, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before watching:
The Dark Knight is ultimately an ideological fight between Batman and the Joker. To understand Batman's side of things, it is very helpful to watch Batman Begins first. It introduces you to Bruce Wayne, his morality and sets up his relationship with Rachel as well as with the city of Gotham as well. It also sets the tone for the type of superhero Batman is, namely a mere human who doesn't have futuristic (yet sweet) technology or magical powers. It is almost a pre-requisite watch, and you will not regret investing in its additional runtime.
Then it's the Joker. Never before has a character been so mentally unstable and still made so much sense. He is extreme, intense, but worst of all - understandable and far too relatable. The clash between the Joker and Batman creates a chaotic, brutal and disturbing nail-biter that viewers need to embrace for. The violence is not very gory or graphic, yet the psychological implications are enormous.
Then there is the rest of the movie. The other characters fill out the movie impeccably and completes the on-going characters dynamics as well as plot events. It never feels forced, just one smooth stream that keeps you entertained to the limit. In addition: the score is a revelation, the cinematography and camera work are beautiful and lush, and the small, fantastic details littered throughout will keep your mind occupied and crave additional viewings. It is gritty, absolutely fantastic and superbly well made. The Dark Knight does indeed shine as one of the brightest pearls in cinema history.
My personal grade: a disturbingly brilliant 10/10. If you found this helpful, check my profile for more reviews.