Review: The Dark Knight (Spoiler Free)

1.
Unlike movies based on comics stories, films like The Dark Knight, based on characters have free reign to pick and choose. Nolan and his brother (along with David Goyer) choose very, very wisely, taking what works on film and leaving what doesn’t, crafting a straightforward yet appropriately cinematic version of Gotham. It may not be the insane place featured in the comics, but it’s one that chugs right along on film. The script is smart and pleasantly layered without losing the audience with unneccessary convolutions, focusing on ethical and moral areas that haven’t been touched on in the genre, at least not in this intelligent a manner. There were moments in which I was honestly surprised by what I was seeing on film, an unusual sensation when watching a superhero film.

2.
Heath Ledger really is that good. A whirling dervish that’s impossible to remain unengaged by, his Joker kicks Jack Nicholson to the rightly-deserved curb and threatens Caesar Romero as the definitive live-action version. What’s amazing to me is how he makes what would seem like an irresolvable dogpile of quirks, tics, and mannerisms come together so elegantly. It’s a lyrical, savvy performance that makes me regret that he won’t be around for another film, particularly after seeing how well he acted out the ideological battle that’s the core of the movie.

3.
Christian Bale knows how to hit every note that’s placed, from the way Batman’s eyes move to Bruce Wayne’s slightly-slouchy rich-man’s pose. His interaction with the other actors in either role raises the bar for anyone else who puts on a costume and poses on film. He’s a lot like Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man; you can actually see him working through things and decisions without a muscle moving.

4.
The rest of the cast, particularly Aaron Eckhart, are also above-average in their roles. Without giving too much away, I’ll say that Eckhart manages to make you believe in Harvey Dent and the attendant quirk without it seeming comic-booky at all while newcomer to the franchise Maggie Gyllenhaal reminds you how very not-good an actress Katie Holmes is. If you saw Batman Begins, then you know how good Oldman, Freeman, and Caine are in their roles, and i was glad to see them all return, even if two of them were in a slightly-diminished capacity.

5.
I’ll need to see the movie again, but I think it may have just nudged its way into my top ten list, maybe even the top five. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a movie engage my brain this well while having an appropriate number of kicks, punches, and explosions.