Batman returns in The Dark Knight 2008 Film
Based on DC Comics Director Christopher Nolan unleashes the Joker
Aug 27, 2009
Gotham City has accepted the Batman as their protector, and their symbol, who shows them that they don’t need to be afraid of the criminal element any longer. New District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Gotham’s ‘white knight’ is leading the fight to bring the criminal bosses to justice. It is Bruce Wayne’s hope that Dent might take over from him in cleaning up the city, allowing Batman to disappear and Wayne to settle down with his love Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over the role from Katie Holmes).
The Dark Knight and The New Joker
After the Tim Burton’s Batman it was always going to be difficult for any actor to follow in the great shoes of Jack Nicholson’s Joker. The late Heath Ledger’s final performance is one of his best; he takes the Joker, and makes him so gloriously insane and vicious, that it is impossible not to smile even when he is being his most diabolical.
The Dark Knight focuses on the relationship between the Batman and the Joker. Both are powerful characters, and both might be considered insane by the rest of the world. Joker is not interested in power, or money, all he is interested in is watching the world go to hell around him. There is also no back story, so the audience doesn’t know how or why the man before them became the ‘Joker’. Wayne struggles with his conscience, because he believes that the only way he can beat the Joker is to become like him, and during the film Batman becomes increasingly unhinged.
Continuing the Legacy
Batman is a hero, one that has copycats, and has really started to show the people of Gotham that things are going to get better. In the opening sequence he captures the Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy cameo role), and is forced to deal with gun toting copycats who believe that by dressing like him they are acting as his backup. The real Batman warns them off, telling them that he doesn’t need their help (fearing that they will get hurt if they continue to copy him).
Wayne Manor is being rebuilt (after it burned down in Batman Begins) and so an underground area beneath a shipping container acts as Batman’s base. The Batmobile returns and The Dark Knight sees the introduction of the Batpod (a motorcycle-type vehicle). The majority of the cast from the previous film return to reprise their roles. Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) is now fully aware of Bruce Wayne’s dual identities (in the previous film he didn’t want to know what Wayne was doing) and Alfred (Michael Caine) is on had to provide moral support for Bruce and backup for the Batman.
As the Joker’s antics escalate, the public are seen to turn on Batman, demanding that he gives himself up to spare the people the wrath of the Joker. The moral dilemma features heavily as Bruce Wayne prepares to surrender himself to the mercy of the courts.
The set pieces and story are directed flawlessly by Nolan, who knows exactly how far to push Batman without turning him into the villains he seeks to bring to justice. Both Bale and Ledger light up the screen whenever they are together, and Ledger will have the audience chuckling all the way through. His magic trick of making a pencil disappear is just one of dozens highlights that make this sequel a must see and even causes it to surpass its predecessor.
Ledger gives a magnificent performance, but his Joker is only so effective because he is matching up against the iron-will of Bale's Batman. The two characters are as different from one another as two people could possibly be, and that is why the Joker is determined to have some fun with such a worthy adversary.
This film is very violent, however, the violence in implied and is not seen on screen. Despite its UK 12 certificate it is not a film that should be seen by younger people and would have been much better suited to a 15 rating.
The Dark Knight is a very good film, unfortunately, the violence might put off some viewers, and parents should watch it before allowing their children to see it. Like its predecessor it leaves the ending open for another film, and hopefully, that film will continue this excellent relaunch of the series, continuing the pace of the first two films.
10/10
Surpasses Batman Begins, the Joker is played with menace and insanity, whilst Batman struggles to find a way to beat him. Bale and Nolan continue to evolve Batman and leave the audience waiting in anticipation for the next installment.
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