Verdict:
Growing up, Batman was my favorite superhero, because he is one of the few superheroes that doesn’t have any superpowers, which means that he is believable. Any one of us could be Batman, given enough cash. On top of that, he is broody, so an angsty kid like me could identify with him. The only problem: Batman productions at the time were a little too silly.
If I were still a kid, Nolan’s Dark Night would have made me excited like a schoolgirl, because Nolan tries to go for gritty realism. His Batman is dark and serious, and so is the entire tone of the movie. Batman’s car is not some glowing sci-fi rocket but a concept military vehicle that looks like a stealth jet. The action is brutal. The fights look down-to-earth.
As an adult, however, I start asking myself if this realistic style really fits the subject of Batman. He is a guy fully clad in a dark costume, with ears on his head. He wears a cape, guys. He wears a cape. How far do you go, as a film maker, in trying to create a realistic portrayal of a character like that? You may as well go all the way and redesign his suit. Give him a functional suit of armor. But then you just have The Punisher with gadgets.
The Joker is the true reason to see this movie. Christian Bale as Batman is a bit boring, which is shocking if you know how much energy and range Bale has in his other movies, but Batman is supposed to be that way – he is the dark background upon which other more colourful characters are painted. I am not going to focus on Gary Oldman or Morgan Freeman for long either. These guys are established as really good actors and they give good performances, as you would expect. But it is Heath Ledger’s Joker really came into the spotlight to become the new de facto standard for that character. Many people didn’t think Heath Ledger could deliver a performance like this, but here we are. And now you have various mass shooters saying how they were inspired by this character. That’s horrible of course, but it is also the ultimate compliment in a way, because it is true that the character of Joker excellently captures a certain mindset and philosophy.
I have had some mental issues of my own, and I can admit that the Joker’s motivations and philosophy presented throughout this movie echoed within me with scary realism. I never thought that some movie with a guy in a bat suit would give me an introspective mirror to look at. Ultimately, the Joker is right in his assessment of the world. That’s what makes him so effective as a villain.
Hans Zimmer is back with another epic score. The sound is used to great effect to create unease and to bring the seriousness that Nolan wanted for this film. However, most of the scenes have minimal music if any, so the score stays in the background and does not outstay its welcome.
The Dark Knight is arguably the best Batman movie and one of the best superhero movies, IF you are into the realistic style that Nolan brings to the table. Even if you’re not, it is undeniable that the performances on display are phenomenal.