Clowning achievement

I may have been a bit lax on getting to see some of the big summer movies this year, but there was no way I was going to wait to see The Dark Knight. I saw this on opening day and clearly I'm not the only one (Dark Knight Sets New Opening Day Record). With some movie franchises, there is a bit of worry with each new entry that it won't be as good as the last. However, given the capable hands of director Christopher Nolan I was confident this film would deliver and boy does it.

This was the most intense movie experience I have had in a long time and that's a good thing. The Dark Knight is just non-stop in both its action and storytelling. They pack so much into this film, yet the time absolutely flies by. This thing pulls you in and doesn't let go until the credits roll.

After doing such a good job in casting with Batman Begins, it's nice to see all the main players back for this one. The only exception is Maggie Gyllenhaal replacing Katie Holmes in the Rachel Dawes role and it was a definite upgrade. She's not only a better actress, but seems more suited for the role as well. But as for the returning cast, each of these terrific actors has plenty of screentime and does a superb job once again. Christian Bale has been able to figure out how to properly play both Batman and Bruce Wayne (something none of the previous Caped Crusaders could do), Gary Oldman once again plays Lt. Gordon (and gets a much larger role this time), and while Michael Caine as Alfred and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox have smaller roles, their presence is always welcome on screen. They are a couple of veterans who know how to get the most out of their roles.

But of course, while we can justly praise the returning cast, it is the new cast members, which are garnering the most attention. Clearly, all eyes are on Heath Ledger's Joker as this will ultimately be his final full role in a film after his tragic death last January. When we first got a glimpse of his take on the Joker, fans were amazed. As more and more footage was released, some people actually began considering this as an Oscar-worthy performance. Discussion of that months ago was way too premature. But after seeing it fully, I would have no problems with him getting a nomination. This is just an amazing performance. He absorbs himself into this role completely to the point that if it wasn't so well known that Heath Ledger was playing this part, you may not have known who it was. Heath's performance absolutely nails what the Joker character is all about based on the way the villain is depicted in the comics. He finds that perfectly balance of exhbiting clowning behavior with homicidal tendencies. There are so many nuances that he brings to this character, that you can't help but sit back and watch in awe. And as great as the performance is, it's not overbearing in any way. He doesn't dominate the screentime and he doesn't overshadow his other cast members. It is just a pure joy to watch him work; which is a weird thing to say given the terrible things he does to people in this film.

The other newcomer is Aaron Eckhart playing Gotham DA Harvey Dent. With the amount of coverage being devoted to Heath, some may not think he has a large role in this film, but they would be mistaken. Dent is a major character in this film and Eckhart plays him in a way where you can see why the Gotham citizens would view him as their savior. The alliance that is formed between Dent, Gordon and Batman is crucial to this story and is done well. And if you're a Batman fan, then you know that Harvey Dent eventually becomes famous criminal Two-Face. Without giving away too much, I'll say that you will get to see him as Two-Face in this film and he looks amazing. The way they visually create the character is awesome and I'm glad I avoided seeing pictures ahead of time, because the reveal was a lot more fun within the context of the movie.

As noted earlier, they pack so much story into this film. And unlike certain films that feel bloated because they try for too much (coughSpider-Man 3cough) all of sequences in this story seem organic. There are several points in the film where it feels like it could be the end, but it just keeps going and revealing more. With all the action going on in here, Nolan is able to give the audience a real sense of terror and anxiety that is occuring in Gotham as the Joker runs amok. With each successive crime that the Joker commits, you feel the anarchy mounting within the city. I really feel I need to watch it again just to truly understand what was going on because when you watch it that first time, you are just spun around in a dizzying array of crime and fear.

If I have one complaint of the film, it's about its visual style. That's not to say that the film doesn't look good. Rather, I was disappointed that there was very little that visually connected this film to Batman Begins. Gotham looks totally different now than it did in the first film. This time, Gotham is basically Chicago, whereas in Batman Begins it looked like a generic, run-down city. Also, there is no Wayne Manor or Batcave here. So for as good as this film is, it doesn't look like a direct sequel to Batman Begins. One could easily think the two films were made by different directors.

But while the film lacks visual continuity, it looks impressive nonetheless. One of the nice things about this film is how little it relied on CGI. Most of the stunts are done with basic camera techniques and stunt work. And what little CGI there is in this film is added in seemlessly. This film continues to show me why Christopher Nolan is such a talented director.

I would easily suggest going out to see this, but I have a feeling you didn't need my review to tell you that. Most that read this have probably already seen the film for themselves or are planning on seeing it soon. Given what a huge Batman fan I am, I am so pleased to see this franchise get properly ressurected after Joel Schumacher nearly killed it. I fully expect to see this film again and soon. I'm anxious to see if it improves upon a second viewing. I am now also anxious to see what they have in store for the next film. Watching The Dark Knight, I felt this is comparable to The Empire Strikes Back. It's the second film, has a much darker tone, and will no doubt be the favorite of many fans. The Batman universe has plenty of wonderful characters to choose from, so I have no doubt that when another one is made, they'll make the right choices and deliver another gem. Until then, I'm happy enjoying this one. This one easily shoots up to the number one slot on my top ten list. Grade: A-