I remember sitting in the theatre, chomping away at my buttery popcorn when the lights dimmed and the trailers started rolling. I love watching trailers. I think I was seeing a useless chick flick at the time when I saw the bat symbol ever so faintly on the screen. Then I heard voices, including his, the Joker's, the best villain ever written in comic or graphic novel form. Then I was really excited for June 2008. Little did we know this film would generate some of the biggest hype and controversy of the year. This movie is outstanding in so many regards, we have Nolan back at the helm with his brother, Bale is back as Batman as well as the other former supporting cast. We also have new comers as well, Maggie Gyllenhal has replaced Katie Holmes as Rachel, and Aaron Eckhart plays Gotham's DA, Harvey Dent, who eventually becomes the mad Two Face. We also have another new comer, Heath Ledger, and having him cast as the joker was the biggest surprise in any film from this decade. His role before this was "Brokeback Mountain", I just couldn't picture that sensitive, sweet man as the evil, sinister Joker. The Joker is pure evil.
This movie transcends what it is actually supposed to be. This movie is supposed to be a comic book superhero movie, at least this is what the audience is thinking when they go to see this film, but what we get is something much more. This movie is an amazing crime thriller, it can be compared to "Heat" or "Dog Day Afternoon", this is a cut throat crime drama. Nolan creates an amazing tension throughout the entire film and he creates something that no Batman movie has had yet. This movie is dark and horrific, it parallels with such movies has "Saw" and "Seven", moments in this movie are dark and hopeless, this is what Batman is supposed to be. Dark, moody, and brilliantly meshed together is what this movie boasts, as the Joker says "It's all part of the plan". This movie twists and turns and jerks you around but it keeps a beautifully evil grace about it as well, as if Nolan was devilishly putting us through one of his evil games. What really makes this movie special is the acting, this is top notch acting.
The characters in a Batman comic book are so big and brilliant. The characters written before us are always beloved and we show empathy towards them, especially the evil ones, but the Joker is the most beloved of all. Heath Ledger has a huge job in front of him playing one of the comic universe's most wonderful and beloved villain, what he does here is absolutely breathtaking. First of all the voice, he changes his voice into this high pitch, squeaky, eerie voice, it doesn't even sound remotely like Mr. Ledger. Second his costuming and make-up are perfect, he doesn't look like a clown anymore, he looks like a lunatic that is truly terrifying. The second scene he shares with a group of mobsters is so hilarious and terrifying all at the same time, watching Ledger carefully calculate his lines and reactions is such a joy, he was flawless in this film. Christian Bale plays Bruce Wayne again and he too gets deeper into his role this time around. He was good in the first one but this second film he is perfect. Batman deals with darker and deeper things in this movie and he resorts to hiding the truth from the public to become the ultimate hero. Bale's Batman is so cool and his Bruce Wayne is so much fun to watch but as he backs up Harvey Dent, we sense a loyalty and a hope within the billionaire, almost like he thinks the city is close to having a true saviour. Probably one of the best scenes in the movie (second best) is when the Joker and Batman confront each other in a holding cell. This scene has fireworks shooting out of it, it's filled with tension and sparks, the two actors together as these characters gives this movie a pure energy. This is one of the greatest scenes in a comic book movie, ever. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent is another excellent newcomer, Two Face was never my favourite but the way he's portrayed here is excellent and Eckhart plays the tortured man all too well. The best scene in the movie is when the Joker turns Harvey Dent into two face by persuading him. The Joker is in a nurses outfit and he uses his brilliant dialogue and sneakiness to convince Dent to go on a murder rampage. This movie is brilliantly twisted. Maggie Gyllenhal is a very welcomed addition to the Batman franchise but I still am so glad Rachel gets killed off here, I was never a fan of Rachel Dawes in the Batman franchise, Batman isn't a lover he's a fighter and he has some serious villains to fight. Gary Oldman is also a seasoned veteran as the cop turned commissioner, he's just awesome, and he gives the dark film a wholesome heart.
I could go on and on about this perfect film. The Batman franchise has reached it's potential with this film, this is not only an amazing superhero movie but it's an awesome crime thriller that is so dense and epic in scope. Nolan is a mastermind and the perfecter of the "blockbuster" movie. He has exhilarating action with amazing emotion and tension, this is a deadly combo. The cast in this movie are flawless and work so well together, watching these brilliant actors is always a treat. It's sad that Mr. Ledger lost his life and many people say that this movie was overdone because of his death but let me tell you this. Heath Ledger was amazing in this film, he is spellbinding, flawless and brilliantly calculated. He is the best Joker, yes better than Nicholson, he is so demented and crazy that it's so much fun to watch even though it's also disturbing stuff. This is a dark venture for Batman but that is what Batman is all about, staring pure evil in the eye and looking for any sign of hope. Too bad Nolan didn't get nominated for best director, he is a brilliant visionary when it comes to film. This is a brilliant film.
