Quick Review: The Dark Knight

Not even sure why I’m writing this blog today. I mean, according the early box office returns you’ve all seen the flick already. Still I see a flick, I review it. So in short, here we go.


The Dark Knight is the greatest Batman flick ever. This is my Batman, the gritty, dark, borderline psycho that I grew up on. Bale’s Batman improves by leaps over Batman Begins as he brings a violence to his performance that is superb. My only regret is that this Batman still relies a bit too much on his gadgets, but that’s a minor quibble. Chris Nolan has written a script that exposes all of Batman’s strengths and weaknesses for the audience and it’s bloody brilliant. His action direction has grown from the first film too, and I can honestly say there’s not a slow point in the film. Aaron Eckhart and Maggie G are welcome cast additions. Eckhart particularly shines as DA Harvey Dent and while most folks knew the arc his character would take (based on previous films and comics), I think that made his tale just that much more tragic. Then of course there’s the Joker. Heath Ledger does give the performance of the year (so far). His Joker, like Bale’s Batman, is pitch perfect. Here’s a man that embraces chaos fully, whose origin doesn’t matter, and who literally floats above the “sanity” of the world. I think the Oscar talk is premature but certainly warranted.

I saw the pic on the IMAX and if you live near one, this is how you MUST see The Dark Knight. The 6 revolutionary scenes that Nolan has committed to film show how IMAX can be used for both mind blowing action, and intimate conversational scenes. The depth of field and crispness is amazing and certainly deserving of some kind of award recognition.

Finally you’ll notice that I started my review saying this is the best Batman movie ever and not the best comic book movie ever. I think Iron Man might hold that category but I think The Dark Knight is the better movie overall. Confused? I see Iron Man as a perfect example of bringing to life a comic book that kids of all ages could pick up off a rack at their local Open Pantry. The Dark Knight reads like a graphic novel aimed at young adults and up, and that my friends is a different category of comic altogether. Call me a super geek for making the differentiation but I truly think The Dark Knight is a fully realized, deep piece of art where as Iron Man is a piece of fluffy super entertaining pop art. Both are amazing films and I love them, just trying to make a differentiation, as I know summer 2008 will link these two franchises forever.