The Lowdown
Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Chritian Bale, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Aaron Eckhart
What they did Right and Wrong
After the success of Batman Begins, many people were nervous about the inevitable sequel. So many good things were established in Nolan's first film that die hard fans were hesitant to entrust that lightning could strike twice.
Much to everyone's delight, fans no longer have anything to worry about. Lightning did not just strike twice, but hit the ground and froze time. This may be just fanboy banter, but I truly believe that The Dark Knight is one of the best pieces of cinema that has been created.
Although the excitement of the film is primarily centered around Heath Ledger's performance, it is not the only thing that the film has to offer. The filmmakers truly made some brutal choices when creating this film and to the benefit of the audience and respect of the art, they went against the prescribed hollywood treatment and created a work of art that was not only an extreme financial success, but managed to create a profound social commentary that has enough weight to support a dissertation.
Ok, here it goes because it needs to be said. Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker is his swan song. I believe that Ledger should get the Oscar because this performance deserves it, not because he passed away. Nicholson's Joker performance was a interpretation of the comic book, while Ledger's performance was flesh and blood with a side of tormented and twisted.
The Verdict
There are not many movies these days that warrant a second viewing, but this film is definitely one of them. The film is not perfect, if such a thing exists, but it excites, inspires, and proves to hollywood that these figures and stories that have leapt from the pages of comic books can be as profound and life altering as any piece of classic literature.
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