Batman: the Dark Knight - 2008

At first glance and a thought of the past, Batman in cinema is like anything sharp and spiny up one’s rectum. The mass amount of crap that encompasses the previous Batman movies, games, and television make a person very gun shy. The rubber suit with the nipples alone makes a guy want to start doing something productive with Sundays rather than waking up and watching cartoons. But with the release of Batman Begins, it makes one want to take up there fire arm and start firing up in the air wildly like you’re a Warner Bros. cartoon. Now its three years later and the long awaited sequel to the best non-comic book Batman production finally is out for the masses…and is taking box office records like Michael Phelps takes names in the pool.

Read More.

The movie shows the beginning of the sophomore year of the Dark Knight, and Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has managed to motivate the people of Gotham with his actions so much that they’re taking to the streets to help in the cause. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we see the crime families slowly starting to lose their grasp on the underworld of Gotham to the freaks. One freak in particular, The Joker (Heath Ledger), leads the sadistic charge to give the city the type of criminal that they can be proud of. In response the new District Attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), vows to clean up the streets and make a world where Batman is not needed, but when the pressure of the job starts to get to the D.A., Big Bad Harv starts to show his face.

So I sat there at midnight in front of the IMAX waiting for my film to start when this reviewer’s favorite part of the movie started, The Previews. Now I don’t really talk about previews in my reviews because it typically does not have any bearing on how I view a film…but when the DC Comics symbol flashed across the screen, all my hair stood on end and I could barely hold back from shouting. The guys sitting next to us thought it was the Flash, we knew better. It was The Watchman. If you have yet to see the trailer, http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/watchmen/, now there are no excuses. This was the perfect primer for what turned out to be the best summer movie.

The Dark Knight catered to all the audiences. Everyone one from the palest comic book geek to the illiterate jock who wouldn’t be caught dead leafing through a trade paperback. There was action, drama, comedy, tragedy, a little bit of everything for everyone. It managed to capture the dark tone that the comics have and was still able to have someone who has never even heard of Batman a nice insight into the legacy that the series is.

The acting was top notch in this one. Heath Ledger definitely went out with the performance of a lifetime. He portrayed the Joker in a way that made you fear any man with a painted face for at least a week. The Joker is a sick sadistic tortured soul whose only goal in life is to make Batman’s life a living hell, and Heath brought that to a whole new level. If he does not win an Oscar for at least Best Supporting Actor, I will be very disappointed. Christian Bale brings in another vocal chord snapping performance. He manages to make his voice change to what would be a demons voice. Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhall, and Morgan Freeman all bring in solid performances.

When it comes to Batman, or anything comics for that matter, the action has to be top notch as well as story. The fight scenes and chases are some of the best I have seen on the big screen. My favorite scene though involves The Joker, a mobster, a pencil, and a vanishing trick that Criss Angel himself would not attempt.

From top to bottom, this film is the best thing to come out in a very long time. From actors to production, this film is far and beyond the best film, I have seen this year, and will be the best one you will see to.
 A great story coupled with wonderful acting and action. Nothing can be better. Taaaa Daaaa!

(Rated PG-13 . 152 min.)