The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight picks up where Batman Begins with the Joker raising hell in Gotham. The Joker robs a mob bank. Meanwhile Batman is fighting off thugs and this time some Batman wannabes are trying to get in on the action. Batman clearly disapproves, criticizing their suits (I'm not wearing hocky pads!)

Meanwhile Harvey Dent is running a campaign for new District Attorney and Rachel Dawes is dating him. Meanwhile, the Joker meets with a mob and makes a proposition with them, to kill the Batman. After that, the Joker begins killing people to get Batman to reveal himself.

Basically, the whole film is a match of wits between Batman and the Joker. Heath Ledger puts in a memorable performance as the Joker, unfortunately it was his last performance. The Joker in this film is much more menacing, brutal, dangerous, serious, and ruthless than the Joker in Batman of 1989. The Joker in this film basically destroyed half of Gotham for no other reason but to prove that people are no more than the product of their situation.

This film is a worthy follow up to Batman Begins. It is highly enjoyable, and in some cases shocking and maybe even scary. The Dark Knight is just about as enjoyable as Batman Begins. It is a little overrated but I don't care all that much, as Batman is one of my favorite heroes. One of the reasons is because he has no superpowers, he fights evil with his skills and intellect.

Cast

Christian Bale - Bruce Wayne

Heath Ledger - The Joker

Aaron Eckhart - Harvey Dent

Michael Caine - Alfred

Maggie Gyllenhaal - Rachel Dawes

Gary Oldman - Jim Gordan

Morgan Freeman - Lucius Fox

Michael Jai White - Gambol

Cillian Murphy - Jonathan Crane

Monique Gabriela Curnen - Ramirez

Eric Roberts - Maroni

Chin Han - Lau

Directed by Chris Nolan

Run time - 152 mins

Aspect Ratio - 2.35:1 (35MM scenes) 1.44:1 (IMAX scenes)

Sound mix - Dolby Digital

Rating - PG-13