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The Dark Knight 2008
A direct sequel to the excellent Batman Begins, this installment sees Batman set out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good, with the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart).
The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker (Heath Ledger in his last completed role, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar) - a psychotic criminal who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante.
Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine return, and Maggie Gylenhaal replaces Katie Holmes in the love-interest role of Rachel Dawes. Directed again by Christopher Nolan (whose most recent film was the underrated The Prestige).
Starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine
Directed by Christopher Nolan ('Batman Begins', 'Memento', 'The Prestige')
Written by Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan (based on a story by David S. Goyer, based on characters by Bob Kane)
Festivals & Awards Best Supporting Actor for Heath Ledger - Academy Awards 2009, BAFTA Awards 2009, Golden Globes 2009, Screen Actors Guild 2009.
Thriller, Superhero, Drama, Crime, Action | 2hr 32mins | Rated (M) | Contains Violence | Origin: USA
Flicks review
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Remove yourself from the seat you're sitting in, find your way to a cinema, hand over your cash, buy a ticket. The Dark Knight delivers a hefty uppercut of superior pop entertainment. Christopher Nolan's rich and engrossing adventure rip-roars across the cinema screen, bullying blockbusters into new territory.
As you'll have heard, Heath Ledger takes you through the wringer with his portrayal of the Joker – nihilist, anarchist, a seething embodiment of menace. He's freaky as hell. He's awesome. Equally valuable is Christian Bale, especially in playboy Bruce Wayne mode. Or Gary Oldman's honest-cop Police Lieutenant Jim Gordon.
The story combines character with action, weaving together a sprawling and haunting contemporary tale, riffing on the idea of terrorised societies that fear chaos and anarchy. It deftly balances the intimate with the grand; the individual with the city.
Another point The Dark Knight scores over rivals, is in its attention to realism. Whilst the action is ludicrous, Nolan so wholly creates a universe, you buy it. The CG work is invisible. He also peppers the film with innovation. Lyrical moments, such as lingering on the Joker hanging out the window of a speeding car or the upside down final confrontation, give the movie a certain boldness (I only wish there was more of it). On paper it's perhaps a pessimistic tale, but Nolan has created something else with his joy of invention.
It's a terrific balancing act of ideas. This is blockbuster entertainment that feels fresh, modern and tragic. The Dark Knight, enthralling in its complexities, will have you compelled to discover the fates of its richly drawn characters. Yep, it's a cracker.By Ed, Flicks.co.nz
The Peoples voice
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AMAZING MOVIE
5
best movie ive ever seen. fullstop.
By sarah
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Best Batman Film yet
5
Awesome plot, quite realistic, great scenes, great music and great acting. Heath Ledger dying is beside the point, he still played an awesome part as the Joker no doubt and should be commended for it. A movie worth seeing definitely.
By Someone
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i unlocked the secret you have to uncover it
5
well the truth is you do have to listen to what i have to say so listen everything you need to know about the plot if it was disappointing or not dont look at batman or anyone else in the film hear what the joker says everytrhing you need to every answer of why the film was like that it is all in the speech he says everything he's says theres an explanation just pay attention and youll find the answers
By dannny
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Darkknight
4
The Joker should never die this is Jokers love hate relationship with Batman whether Batman likes it or not....! LOL!
By Matthew
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ACTION PACKED!!!
5
I love this movie so much!!! It can be a bit confusing at times if you don't keep up with the storyline, but great performance by Heath Ledger especially for his last one. I highly recommend this as a must see! ENJOY!
By Banana
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Handy with the bombs I guess
3
Yes Heath Ledgers' performance was awesome and that just makes his death so much more tragic - what he should have gone onto. But is it just me or is everyone blinded by the Ledger glow - the movie plot fell apart half way through and from then on it simply became holy-difficult-choices-Batman the Joker has set up ANOTHER vast rig of explosives in the blink of an eye! I realize the Joker is an insane genius but when he keeps producing these highly elaborate explosive rig ups the movie started becoming tiring and too illogical even for Gotham reality. I mean - the guy burns all his money! So how did he pay the vast hoard of minions who slipped explosives through all the hospitals and lugged all the barrels into the bottom of the ferries?! And HOW did they get that past anyone anyway?! Ok its a movie but the story disappeared and DA Dent's sudden moral shift into Two face with the coin was unconvincing. Sorry - definitely not worth the hype. 3 stars for set, cinematography and good acting from all - shame about the plot.
By Adrian
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HYPE, HYPE and more HYPE!!!!
2
Due the untimely death of Mr Ledger, this has received the sympathetic accolades of many a critic whom all seem to merely reword previous reviews to broad their vocab! Sure, it is a big budget "bllockbuster" and the box office tells a tale of it's own but just because a movie excells at the box office, doesn't mean it's a great movie.... It just means CRAPLOADS of people were sucked in to parting with a handfull of cash!!! I guess if ya disregard the fact it's a Batman movie, it makes it a little better. Generally, we expect Batman to have wit and quips which didn't seem to show up this time round. Perhaps i'm just A Nicholson fan underneath it all!
By DJ
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Hmm
2
When i seen The Dark Knight, i was a bit dissapointed to be completely honest, i think that it's down to the fact that they changed quite alot ot things. Im a fan of the old 90's cartoons, even they showed Batman alot better than The Dark Knight and Batman Begins. It was an alright movie but i have seen better.
By Anonymous
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Unremittingly dark, and no fun
2
I was really looking forward to this, but it was lacking in any sense of playfulness that it was a huge disappointment following Batman Begins. Violent, plodding, dull and no fun
By Former Batman Fan
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Scariest yet
5
The Dark Knight is Batman as it should be. No jokes/gimmickry just dangerous storytelling that will scare anyone. Chases, explosions and very clear human drama fed this story well. Heath Ledger did an amazing job as the Joker and deserves all the credit as does everyone who had anything to do with this
By Ken Burns
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Best Batman
4
Excellent - let down, I think, by a few too many theatrics. But an enthralling, testosterone fueled watch.
By nick s
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BEST MOVIE EVER!!!
5
This movie is totally the best movie ever, and yes .... The best bat movie of all time and it truly deserves and oscar, especially for the late Heath Ledger!!!!
His amazing performance as The Joker was so incredible, it almost sends chills down your spine.
I've been a Batman & Joker fan ever since i was a kid, and i have never seen anything like it.
Sorry, Cesar, sorry Jack, but Heath is The Joker!!!!By Matt Done
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Smiles All Round
4
Class. The action and stunt spectacles keep this one rolling throughout its extended length, and the movie is put together with that kind of precision which Christopher Nolan pulls off in every movie he makes.
What made Batman Begins so good was its authenticity. The villain in the first movie had a lot of depth, and you could get to grips with why Liam Neeson and Batman were at odds. That same depth doesn't quite register here, as the villain is merely a barmy psychotic, but Nolan and his amazing Joker Heath Ledger pull out all the stops to try to get you to envelope yourself in the mind of the psycho.
Ledger's performance is simply one of the most astonishing seen for some time. You end up hanging on every raspy word.By Marty
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Holy moly. This is wicked.
5
By Brodie
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The Bright Light Of The Darkest Knight
5
Ledger. Bale. Nolan. Eckhart.
Names that will now forever live in the annals of film history, alongside Scorsese, Pesci, De Niro, Copolla, Brando and Pacino.
The film that will come to define a cinematic generation.By Kurt
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An Unstoppable Force Meets an Immoveable Object.
5
I wasn't alive when The Godfather II was released but I imagine that this is exactly what it felt like.
Having the privilege of being invited to see the movie in Sydney on the iMAX screen it did not dissapoint.
Believe the hype, Chris Nolan and co. deliver on this true piece of cinematic perfection. A solid script backed by fantastic direction and of course excellent displays of acting by all of the characters, especially Bale and Ledger, it seems that all the superlatives that have been given to this film is still not a true representation of how good this film really is.
Batman fan or not you will enjoy this.By ThePopcornBox
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Pleasure on mine eyes.
5
Being the high rolling, red carpet walking, celebrities we are these days we got invited to the press screening of The Dark Knight last Sunday. We recommend you quit your job immediately and start queuing up now.
Official Flicks.co.nz review coming soon.By Ed, Flicks.co.nz
Press Reviews
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Christchurch Press [Margaret Agnew]
4 4 out of 5 stars
1/2 While moral messages are to the fore in this dark tale, and themes as diverse as madness, human nature, self-sacrifice, tragedy, hopelessness and terrorism are peppered throughout, there's so much going on here that even with a lengthy runtime you're left wanting more.
Click to read the full review -
Empire [UK]
5 5 out of 5 stars
Ledger's performance is monumental, but The Dark Knight lives up to it. Nolan cements his position as Hollywood's premier purveyor of blockbuster smarts – and the Batbike is kinda cool, too.
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Hollywood Reporter
Bale again brilliantly personifies all the deep traumas and misgivings of Batman's alter ego, Bruce Wayne. A bit of Hamlet is in this Batman.
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NZ Herald
5 5 out of 5 stars
In an already legendary performance, the late Ledger is gloriously unhinged, giving you nothing to grasp on to character-wise, and all the more disturbing for it.
Click to read the full review -
Stuff.co.nz [Chris Schulz]
5 5 out of 5 stars
He nailed it. If there's one thought that will stay with audiences after Heath Ledger's stunning portrayal as The Joker in The Dark Knight, it's this: He completely and totally nailed it.
Click to read the full review -
TV3 [Kate Rodger]
5 5 out of 5 stars
Banish the thought of this being a Batman movie, and see it for what it is - a complex, stylish and modern thriller, good versus evil but not nearly that simple, and with a Heath Ledger performance that redefines The Joker.
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Variety [USA]
Enthralling...An ambitious, full-bodied crime epic of gratifying scope and moral complexity, this is seriously brainy pop entertainment that satisfies every expectation raised by its hit predecessor and then some.
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