Movie: The Dark Knight

Movie Release Date: July 18, 2008

Genre: Action, Drama

Running Time: 152 Minutes

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Cane, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary
Oldman, Morgan Freeman

My expectations for The Dark Knight were as high as any movie I've seen, but they were wrong. I expected this movie to be the Batman version of Iron Man, which I greatly enjoyed, however it compares more to The Departed. And yet The Departed doesn't quite do it justice...

The Dark Knight is truly dark. Despite its PG-13 rating, the movie has an R feel to it. There is no gore, hardly any blood, and yet, the violence is shockingly evident. There is no foul language, but the script is far from from child friendly. It's almost Hitchcock-esque in its delivery. The bleakness of the film serves as the perfect backdrop for a plot that is not as hero centric as other superhero films are. Instead, The Dark Knight offers more insight into other characters, especially the villain, Joker.

And that is who really steals the show. Christian Bale once again proves that he's the best Batman to ever appear on screen, and Aaron Eckhart is even better as Harvey Dent. Still, Heath Ledger outshines both of them. Ledger plays Joker so beautifully perfect it's tragic to think we won't see an encore. Give that man his duly deserved Oscar.

The special effects are not overly produced but are imaginative enough to merit a round of applause from the audience in the theater I was in. There is also enough character development to prevent the movie from becoming stagnant. I usually like to wait a week or two before determining how I feel about a movie, but The Dark Knight was so good I couldn't help but put it in my top 5 (Rounders' umber one spot is in great danger.) If you haven't seen the movie, go now. If you already have, go again. I am.

Grade: A+