To Heath Ledger

Rating: 7/10 (19 July 2008)

Batman has human weaknesses and is still a superhero. This, I think, is what endears him to his fans. 'Batman Begins' brings that out beautifully. In 'The Dark Knight' the tension is not within Bruce Wayne, but outside. It is about how Gotham perceives him - the people of the city not liking him; blaming him for deaths, and so on. At this juncture, we see Joker, who apparently is challenging Batman at a moral level. Joker is a criminal for his own sake, not for money or anything else. Just as Batman is a protector of Gotham for his own sake. The plot does not bring out this moral dilemma or conflict of Batman, except in few instances. The plot is in conflict with itself in trying to create an action film and to create a moral war between the hero and the villain.
What makes the film out of the ordinary is Heath Ledger. His interpretation of the character and how he just seems to delve deep into that role is amazing. Few actors have lived out a character like that for the entire duration of a film.