Review of The Dark Knight (2008) by Matthew D — 06 Jul 2017

Taking the themes, situations and consequences of the unique world defined in Batman Begins and running with them, The Dark Knight develops them into a sequel that goes beyond the bounds of the genre to deliver something special.

From the elegantly choreographed opening to the chilling ending, the pace is relentless, building into an unstoppable juggernaut of a cinematic thrill ride. There is a lot of plot crammed in, although it is never confusing; like all Nolan films it demands the audience keep up.

Sometimes the main character seems to get lost beneath emotional exploration of the supporting cast, but if Batman Begins was a film about how Bruce Wayne defines himself, this is a film about how others define themselves around him.

It focuses on his most central relationships; Eckhart's hauntingly tragic Harvey Dent, the growth of Oldman's superlative James Gordon and Ledger's supremely unnerving version of the Joker.

His embodiment of the iconic villain is simultaneously unlike any interpretation seen before and yet a spot-on translation regarding his reaction to, and interaction with, the caped crusader. That's not to say our hero gets short-changed; this film has perhaps the best balance of his three personas, each played to perfection by Bale, who effortlessly switches between cowled vigilante, public façade and the private man underneath, and at heart the story is about the internal conflict between these facets of the central figure with the others ultimately serving to personify and amplify the struggle.

So, like the first film, character development takes centre stage, but this sequel also introduces a philosophical strain, asking open ended questions about society, morality and heroism. Yet it still finds room for unforgettable action and edge-of-the-seat suspense.

This is an experience that, like the Dark Knight himself, gives everything and more.