The Dark Knight
(2008)Why so serious?
The second instalment in the rebooted Batman franchise, this time featuring Heath Ledger as The Joker in his Oscar winning performance. Batman (Christian Bale) sets out to destroy organised crime in Gotham for good, with the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart).... More
The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker - 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).Hide
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Best Supporting Actor for Heath Ledger - Academy Awards 2009, BAFTA Awards 2009, Golden Globes 2009.
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Directed by Christopher Nolan
Starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine
Written by Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan (based on a story by David S. Goyer, based on characters by Bob Kane)
On Demand, DVD & Blu-Ray
Available from 5 providers
Flicks Review
BY Andrew Hedley Flicks Writer
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.... More
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.Hide
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The Dark Knight
BY adamatdramatrain superstar
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.
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
The Joker should never die this is Jokers love hate relationship with Batman whether Batman likes it or not....! LOL!
Showing 5 of 16 reviews. See all reviews
The Press Reviews
94%
of critics recommend.
Rotten Tomatoes Score. More reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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. Full Review
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. Full Review
Iron Man and even more so The Dark Knight move the genre into deeper waters. They realize, as some comic-book readers instinctively do, that these stories touch on deep fears, traumas, fantasies and hopes. Full Review
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. Full Review
To see it is to understand that Nolan and his co-writer brother Jonathan saw a chance to go deeper into familiar characters and mythology, a chance to meditate on darker-than-usual themes that have implications for the way we live now. Full Review
Pitched at the divide between art and industry, poetry and entertainment, The Dark Knight goes darker and deeper than any Hollywood movie of its comic-book kind. Full Review
A dazzling, determined superhero classic and Ledger puts Nicholson in the shade. With Batman Begins Nolan set the bar; with TDK he's just raised it. Full Review
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. Full Review
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