IMDb top 250 reviews #1

Rating: 10/10 (1 August 2008)

This is my first review in a series of, in theory, 250. Seriously folks I'm gonna watch em all!
At the time of this writing The Dark Knight is the number one ranked film on the IMDb. Although one should always be skeptical about the hype and passion that we heap on what is new and novel. This may be one time where the hype was justified. The credit here belongs to Christopher Nolan, who is perhaps the most compelling director of this generation. With Batman Begins, Nolan transformed the comic book film forever and finally gave us the vision of Batman that we had been waiting for. I recently heard a statement (by Kevin Smith I believe) that The Dark Knight follows it's predecessor the way Godfather two follows Godfather one. I'm afraid I couldn't say it better. Dark Knight makes it's claim to individuality by almost negating the thesis of the first film. (as Godfather II does) Nolan's films always seem to revolve around perception and how it is used to create our reality. The first film was about how Batman turned fear on those he has sworn to fight. The Dark Knight is about how Batman has finally found an opponent who can turn his own crusade against the city. The Joker is the first villain who is "immune" to Batman's methods. The film sustains constant tension (almost horror) when we realize that the Joker is always 4 steps ahead of our hero. And how do you defeat a villain with no agenda?
Heath Ledger delivers everything that was promised. The Joker that Ledger has created is truly an achievement in menace. Every other performance of the character is obsolete. (including the over-hyped, overrated performance by Jack Nicholson). Often the sympathy that comes with dying young leads actors to be over romanticized and over hyped. But this performance even won over the person most likely to be annoyed by unjustified hype (me). The Oscar would be well deserved!
Also worthy of mention is the surprising handling of Two Face which is yet another aspect of the Batman story that Nolan has explored in ways that (after HE did it) seemed almost obvious. Which may be the most subtle part of his genius. (although a lot of credit needs to go to Frank Miller and all the writers of the last 20 years who have made the character three dimensional)
It should not be at the top of anyone's list of all time films..............but what Nolan has achieved here will be remembered for decades to come. He has upped the ante forever on the sequel in general and the comic book sequel in particular. But more than that.......The Dark Knight is yet another installment in a career that keeps us coming back again and again to be shocked and amazed.