Review of The Dark Knight (2008) by Patcharawat P — 23 Jul 2017

As we all know by now, Christopher Nolan is a dominant name in the modern filmmaking. His films combine all the elements in filmmaking such as complex storytelling, brilliant cinematography, and stunning practice action sequences. Nolan's name has been around Hollywood before 2008, but The Dark Knight has driven his name to the top level of filmmakers, and since then he can do whatever he wants.

During the 2000s, superhero movies are becoming the new money-making machine for major studios. However, there was an up-and-down in this genre. When Batman Begins was released, the world met the new approach to this genre. However, the true game-changer that provides the new perspective and new definition of the superhero genre is The Dark Knight. Everything that we believe has changed forever, and it has become the new highest standard in this genre. There are few movies that ever come this close, including Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Rises, and Logan.

The plot of this film is unbelievably complex and realistic. During that time, none of the superhero films have this kind of story, and their plot is very straightforward. However, Nolan took it to the whole new level by taking out unnecessary subjects that could ruin the movie and replace them with a darker tone, more realistic elements, and complex characters. He testifies the definition of hero by showing and letting the protagonists and antagonists do what is right and wrong in their perspectives, and the results might not be as we expected. By allowing them to come close to the line that divides them from one another, we can see how similar they are.

Batman is a character from the comic as well as others in this film, but all the characters are realistic as hell. Their motivation is legit and their standpoints are clear. The Joker is the energy behind all characters. He tears the the heroes apart. He is the one who change Harvey Dent into evil of his own. He destroys Gotham's hope and convinces them that Batman is nothing but like him. In addition to Batman and the Joker, their relationship is very fascinating. Yes they are rival, but the bond they have throughout the entire runtimes is speechless. Without the Joker, Batman wouldn't be anything but just a guy in a dark costume. The same can be said to the Joker. He even says it himself that without Batman, his mission to terrorize the city would be useless if no one stand to protect it. Nolan makes us care more about the stories and motivations of people behind the masks as much as we care about them when they put the masks on.

All of the action sequences in Christopher Nolan's films look practical from every angle. In The Dark Knight, all action sequences are practical. Nolan uses as less as CGI as possible, for as we know the CGI can make the sequences less effective. The scenes with the truck, the exploding, and the hospital are real, which make them even more awesome when we know the facts.

The success of Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy is beyond any definition. Many movies try to follow his footsteps, especially DCEU and Zack Snyder. They try so hard to duplicate Nolan's works by making their new films more realistic and darker. However, none of them have received the same criticism as The Dark Knight Trilogy has. That is because it's not about how realistic the film is or how the tone is, but because of the structures, the story, and the scenes. Nolan understands this concept and masters his works while others who try to copy his works struggle.

There is nothing bad I could say regarding this film. Every single minute I invested into this film is full of excitement, amaze, and tears of joy. Christopher Nolan understands what it needs to be done. The Dark Knight is one of the most critically and commercially successful film. The film that is so perfect in every way possible. We can't even imagine how superhero of the other genres can surpass this madness.