The Dark Knight [Theatrical Release] | ![The Dark Knight [Theatrical Release]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pGxSkkz4L._SL160_.jpg)
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| Category: Theatrical Release
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Rating:  258 reviews
ASIN: B00005JPY0
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The Dark Knight arrives with tremendous hype (best superhero movie ever? posthumous Oscar for Heath Ledger?), and incredibly, it lives up to all of it. But calling it the best superhero movie ever seems like faint praise, since part of what makes the movie great--in addition to pitch-perfect casting, outstanding writing, and a compelling vision--is that it bypasses the normal fantasy element of the superhero genre and makes it all terrifyingly real. Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is Gotham City's new district attorney, charged with cleaning up the crime rings that have paralyzed the city. He enters an uneasy alliance with the young police lieutenant, Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), and Batman (Christian Bale), the caped vigilante who seems to trust only Gordon--and whom only Gordon seems to trust. They make progress until a psychotic and deadly new player enters the game: the Joker (Heath Ledger), who offers the crime bosses a solution--kill the Batman. Further complicating matters is that Dent is now dating Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal, after Katie Holmes turned down the chance to reprise her role), the longtime love of Batman's alter ego, Bruce Wayne. In his last completed role before his tragic death, Ledger is fantastic as the Joker, a volcanic, truly frightening force of evil. And he sets the tone of the movie: the world is a dark, dangerous place where there are no easy choices. Eckhart and Oldman also shine, but as good as Bale is, his character turns out rather bland in comparison (not uncommon for heroes facing more colorful villains). Director-cowriter Christopher Nolan (Memento) follows his critically acclaimed Batman Begins with an even better sequel that sets itself apart from notable superhero movies like Spider-Man 2 and Iron Man because of its sheer emotional impact and striking sense of realism--there are no suspension-of-disbelief superpowers here. At 152 minutes, it's a shade too long, and it's much too intense for kids. But for most movie fans--and not just superhero fans--The Dark Knight is a film for the ages. --David Horiuchi
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| Customer Reviews: Read 253 more reviews...
 Should Have Been Called: The Joke's on Bale October 9, 2008
David B. Isbell
Considering the 269 customer reviews preceeding mine, there really is not much I can add, if anything at all. I am not particularly a fan of super hero movies, though Hancock and Iron Man kept my attention. This one, however, was an insanely wild ride. Having watched all the Batman movies during the '90's, I nearly chose to ignore this one completely, as I had done with Batman Begins a year or so ago. Am I glad I didn't! I had no idea who Heath Ledger was when I watched this so you can imagine my disappointment when I heard of his untimely demise. The realism he brought to this role would certainly be difficult to match, if at all (probably no Joker sequels to follow), and I think this is where The Dark Knight makes its cash: it hits us where we live. Shedding the cartoonish props of an imaginary city, Gotham is as real a place as any other (obviously filmed in Chicago; even used Illinois plates). The weapons are "real," the situations are almost entirely believable, and the criminal element is no different than any you would find on modern prime-time crime dramas.
I'm not sure how to classify the Joker's personality, though words like psychotic, sociopath, criminally insane, terrorist, and "just don't give a rat's **s" certainly come to mind. Poor Batman, though the hero, takes a serious back seat to the chilling life that Heath breathes into his character. Batman is over shadowed so terribly by Ledger's presence that he might as well be a mere by-stander.
Simply put, The Dark Knight is one of the most entertaining movies since Raiders of the Lost Ark. Perhaps a silly comparison, but back in '81 the Lost Ark aired for six straight months in theaters. The film reels began to break frequently from so much play. Though in theaters for roughly two or three months, The Dark Knight stands with Raiders as one of few films to out-last the initial box-office advertising hype, and for good reason. I've wathced it four times on the big screen, and I drool at the prospect of owning it on disc. As with any film, this is not for everyone. Interestingly enough, my wife--who hates ridiculous hero films--enjoyed this enough to watch it with me twice. It's definitely an attention getter.
For those of you who might enjoy an interesting twist on shape shifters, dragons, and wizards, check out a book by David M. Conners called Way of the Cat Kind. It's a solid entertainer.
 Heath was fantastic, Bale was so-so October 8, 2008
Jay Moore (Indiana, USA)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Heath made this movie... and his one-liners were priceless. Bale was just OK. Accent wasn't very good and he simply was not impressive.
 Most overrated movie ever made. October 7, 2008
Physeter catodon (Mariana)
2 out of 35 found this review helpful
This and Citizen Kane are the two most overrated films ever made. Admit it, you probably wouldn't have even watched this movie if Heath hadn't died like he did.
Batman continues October 5, 2008
David Bonesteel (Fresno, CA United States)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Bruce Wayne / Batman (Christian Bale), the guardian of Gotham City, has begun to wonder if he can ever hang up his cowl or if he is fated to battle the criminal element in darkness forever. His hope of a normal life hinges on the "white knight of Gotham City," DA Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), who can act in the light and within the system; if he can take Batman's place, it will be a powerful indicator that Gotham has become a healthy city. This transition appears to be on track until the Joker (Heath Ledger) begins his rise in the criminal underworld. He is anarchy and unrestrained self-interest incarnate, pure and simple. The Joker and Batman are opposites, and the soul of Harvey Dent becomes their battlefield, thereby setting the stage for a tragedy.
Director / co-writer Christopher Nolan has surpassed his excellent first film of this series. Everyone brings their A-game. I confess that I found the script to be unfocused and chaotic at times, but I was completely won over by the time the credits rolled for two primary reasons. First, the film's last act, and particularly its final moments, brings all the thematic threads together in an unexpected fashion. Secondly, the episodic nature of the screenplay made me feel that Batman and the Joker had a history of conflict by the end of the film, rather than one big encounter. It seemed like a more faithful adaption of their relationship from the comics.
If another Batman film is never made, I will feel completely satisfied. However, given the huge success of this one, there will obviously be a third. I just hope they don't blow a good run a la "Spider Man 3."
Great! October 4, 2008
Colleen J. King (Asheville, NC)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Kill the Batman, What dosen't kill you only makes stranger, Why so serious, Let's put a smile on that face, Wanna know how I got theese scars, HA! HA! HA! HA!- The Joker, Heath you'll be missed. See it.
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