"Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn..."
Alfred Pennyworth.
Script Logic; 1/2
Pace; 1/2
Acting; 2/2
Aesthetic; 2/2
Originality & Intention; 2/2
Final Word: Yeah, it's brilliant. We all know that the late Heath Ledger excels as the wild-dog Joker, and is supported by a rock-solid cast including veteran 'thesps' Gary Goldman and Michael Cain, so let's quickly consider some the film in some other (less talked about) areas instead.
Despite being a direct follow-up to Batman Begins, the comic-styled Gotham City from that film is given a very real-world facelift (being filmed on location in Chicago rather than on sound stages), and the gamble pays off, setting the scene for a truly gritty and tragic clash. Bravely, this isn't really a Batman film, in the traditional sense- more a story with a focus on a line-up rosta rather than any single character; the film is no more Bruce Wayne's than it is Harvey Dent's, Jim Gorden's or the Joker's. For this reason the film has been compared to such crime thrillers as Heat and The Godfather (where each character is guided by their own motivations and personal stories entwine), so if you can look past the cloaks and garish costumes, and consider this as a character piece rather than a superhero film, then the comparison more than holds up.
Sadly, the film is marred by a baggy mid-section and overly long running time. Worse yet, (spoiler ahead) Harvey Dent's transformation into a super-villain feels rushed and unconvincing, especially given the length of the movie and the realism it strives for. Still, that said, The Dark Knight is a high benchmark for what can be achieved with comic book adaptions, as well as films in general. An art-house blockbuster.
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