One of the defining films of the 2000s

Rating: 10/10 (17 November 2017)

I remember watching all of the trailers for this film and all of the clips before the movie came out (a cardinal sin for moviegoers, I know), and the film still found a way to surprise me and blow me away. I watched it again on a whim recently, probably my 15th viewing or so, and I still noticed new things that left me impressed. Nolan has constructed a story that resembles a classic tragedy or epic than a superhero caper. He turns the traditional superhero arc on its head by centering the struggle not around a villain chasing after an object, money, or even outright power, but around the concept of justice and what it means for Gotham. And he does so through his three main roles in Batman, Harvey Dent and the Joker. The three characters arcs are interwoven. Harvey Dent needs Batman in order to finish off the mob, and Batman looks to pass the torch so he can be free of the burden of crime fighting as well as (and maybe more importantly) be with Rachel, who happens to be dating Dent. This in itself is a set-up for an interesting story, but then Nolan has to throw the Joker in there for good measure, and turns the story from being good, to being one of the greats. The Joker isn't possible without the environment Batman has created, and his ultimate goal isn't possible without Dent. I haven't even begun to talk about the acting performances and the directing, which are also things to behold. There's so much to this film, it is worth watching multiple times and focusing your attention on different aspects each viewing. That is the mark of a truly great film that will live on for decades to come.