The 2008 crime drama/superhero movie The Dark Knight serves up a nerve-tingling tale of a superhero without all the ‘too hard to believe’ special effects some movies have to resort to in order to keep the audience’s attention. Though the movie is longer in length (running time: 2 hours 32 minutes) than many of its counterparts, the lengthy scenes are worth the time it takes to watch them.
Often, lengthier scenes in movies are a sign that the plot has fallen short of its potential. When a plot can’t carry a movie, scenes are padded and one way to tell that this has been done is if a scene can be cut and it doesn’t change the sense of foreboding, doesn’t change the action or storyline With this movie, each scene works to lead viewers right into the next one.
Grabbing the viewer’s attention from the start, The Dark Knight sucks people into the sometimes blurred line of what’s good and what’s bad in the world. By drawing viewers deep into the lives of the multi-layered characters – including the evil one so aptly with wonderful skill by the late Heath Ledger – the movie is an unforgettable experience.
Heath Ledger stars with creepy brilliance as the Joker with a more evil countenance and performance than the Joker performance of Jack Nicholson from the Batman movie released in 1989. Heath Ledger’s Joker costume and his amazing performance including his unique mannerisms and his deadly skills with a knife make Heath Ledger’s Joker the best Joker ever.
Even if you didn’t happen to be a die hard fan of the Batman character from the comic book storylines, you’ll still be thrilled with the complexity of the movie and the journey of each of the characters as they each seek to accomplish their goal.
The pacing of the movie starts out with an in your face invitation to watch right away and doesn’t release the hold on viewers until the very end. Thanks to the skill of director Christopher Nolan, the movie does a superb job of presenting the oppressive sense of darkness that surrounds the overall feel of the scenes. The Batmobile in the movie is not as sleek or attractive as the Batmobiles were in previous Batman movies.
Bruce Wayne’s love interest Rachael Dawes (brought to life by the talented Maggie Gyllenhaal, who replaced Katie Holmes from the 2005 movie Batman Begins) adds a softer look to the dark hero. Though there are romantic undertones, they don’t compromise a good part of the movie.
Though some of the movie is too dark and graphic for the younger generation, the huge box office success of The Dark Knight is a testimony to the lure of a superhero and the quality of the movie.
