Into The Knight
Written: Aug 21 '08
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Acting, especially Ledger, story, script, and direction
Cons: Some might find the film a little long
The Bottom Line: Batman's caped crusade grows.
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| pmills1210's Full Review: The Dark Knight |
Bruce Wayne is a philanthropist who prefers to keep the extent of his philanthropy to himself. He is the CEO of Wayne Industries, a business started by his late father. The money he gives to the people of Gotham City is money he backs with a personal guarantee. Few of the residents know that Wayne's personal guarantee involves him donning a suit that disguises his identity as Batman. As Batman, he has already taken some steps to make Gotham safe for its citizens. The criminal element, though, objects to the efforts, and one man enlists all of Gotham's crime lords in one monumental task - kill the Batman. As Gotham's criminals grow more determined to keep their criminal empires, Batman grows more determined to eliminate them in The Dark Knight.
It seems, though, that Batman/Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has a new ally in Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), the newly-elected district attorney of Gotham City. Dent and his team at the DA's office have promised to aggressively pursue prosecution against Gotham's criminals. His team includes Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal), who eventually becomes engaged to Harvey. She had lost interest in waiting for Bruce's caped crusading to come to an end. She sees that crime has only grown worse since he dedicated a big part of his life to being Batman. The main force behind the rise in crime is the Joker (Heath Ledger), who is both more brazen and more psychotic than all of Gotham's mob kingpins combined. He is also one step ahead of everyone else, so he knows how to retaliate. It's not enough for the Joker to strike fear into Gotham's law abiding citizens. He strikes at the mob by emptying their pocketbooks. He wants the mob to join with him to rid themselves once and for all.
The Joker also targets the allies of Batman, including Harvey, Rachel, and Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), who becomes the police commissioner after the Joker kills his predecessor. Even arresting the Joker doesn't stop him from wreaking havoc. Not only does he absorb the beating from Batman and from the police, but he has devised an escape plan. Once at large again, he promises to kill people at random until Batman reveals himself. One of the incidents where the Joker displays his murderous wrath has dire consequences for some of Batman's most loyal support. People are growing suspicious of Bruce's expenditures at Wayne Industries, including his CEO, Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman). The only person whose support remains unwavering as Batman strengthens his resolve is Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine), the butler at Bruce's new Wayne Manor.
The Dark Knight shows what has resulted from Batman's actions in Batman Begins. When Batman happened upon the scene, criminals staked their claim to continue their rule by fear. The Joker arrived, and raised the ante. Batman responds with tougher action and actions that come close to crossing legal lines. His actions also result in unwanted consequences from the citizens. The Joker brings an even greater fear to Gotham than previous foes. Another unwanted consequence is that ordinary Gotham citizens decided to don Batman suits and take on the bad guys of the city. Batman, in fact, has to intervene as a group of well-intentioned residents try and take on Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) as he continues to do his bad deeds. Batman is a man who goes where few dare to follow - and that takes some toll on him. Director Christopher Nolan, who wrote the script with his brother, Jonathan, builds on the tale and on the tension that Bruce Wayne feels to serve his city. Not only does Batman get tougher, but so does his arsenal.
The Dark Knight has plenty of solid performances, but the main performances display a strong battle of wills. Bale does a great job of bringing out the darkness in Batman. The more the Joker and others thumb their noses at Batman, the more determined and angry Batman becomes. It shows in his voice and his demeanor, whether the Joker shows that he's tougher than anyone else, or when Batman has to deal with supporters who think they should help him fight crime. Bale also shows a human and concerned side as Bruce Wayne. Both he and Rachel have moved on to other relationships, but Bruce remains calm, even when the Joker crashes his charity event. In plain clothes, Bruce cleverly finds a way to aid the police when the Joker plans to disrupt a police convoy. Bruce Wayne may have a way with women, but his favorite woman is the city he calls home.
Ledger, though, has the film's most memorable performance. In the final work he completed before his death, Ledger's Joker is as smart as he is sadistic. In a key sequence, he has kidnapped two of Batman's closest allies - and forces Batman and the police to make a choice of which person to save. Later, he goes to the hospital in drag to make a point about his ways as he brings more mayhem Gotham's way. The Joker will kill anyone without a second thought - even his own accomplices. Yet, he'll always happily explain how he became permanently scarred with a smile on his face. Ledger unleashes the evil of the Joker far better than either Cesar Romero or Jack Nicholson. It's a pity that Ledger will never get the chance to reprise this role.
The Dark Knight is a thrilling battle of good versus evil. Evil knows the hot buttons and usual patterns of everyone who works for the good of the city. The Joker is so remorseless about the things he does, Batman straddles the line between right and wrong to stop the Joker. Batman loses allies, as a result, in more ways than one. Bruce Wayne went into this fight knowing that making his beloved Gotham City a place in which people take pride and live safely wasn't going to be easy. With minimal support, Batman continues to take steps to forward his cause. He is venturing into a world that few can or should understand. Bruce Wayne has staked his life on a mission whose particulars he prefers to keep a secret.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Action Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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pmills1210
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Member: Pat Mills
Location: East Chicago, In.
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"Nothing in moderation." - Ernie Kovacs. Read and enjoy!
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