Dark Knight Movie Review by Nived

Everyone has that special ‘theatrical’ experience that seems to stay with them forever. Some have Star Wars or Raiders of the Lost Ark to latch onto, as the night they first saw it is imprinted deep in their brains. THIS is my “Star Wars”. Christopher Nolan’s follow-up to 2005’s Batman Begins is bloody brilliant: a relentlessly gripping two and a half hour nerve-rattling roller coaster ride, and the moment it was over all I wanted to do is take it for another spin. The Dark Knight is one wickedly overwhelming time at the movies, and left me exhausted, but absolutely loving every minute of it.

To call it the “best comic-book movie ever” wouldn’t be doing it enough justice. It makes Iron Man and Spider-Man look like child’s play. It’s a massive step up from Begins on virtually every level. No, this is so far at the top of its genre, it transcends everything “comic book movies” typically are, and is most certainly Oscar-worthy on multiple levels. The film works as a fun superhero movie, an engaging adult-minded crime-thriller and as a twisted morality play, but best of all it doesn’t sacrifice intelligence or heart for non-stop thrills. You can have both.

This is a masterpiece, and for Nolan, it’s his finest film to date. Showing total and impeccable control on his craft, The Dark Knight is filled with so much sensational, riveting drama one feels as if they’ve just walked away from a sumptuous buffet of badass—stuffed, satisfied, and not feeling the need for another film in the series. How could they possibly be able to top it? This is the best film of the year, and a definite contender for Best Picture. Yes, it really is THAT great. Ledger’s performance as the Joker is nothing short of genius; he’ll terrify you, and knock you dead with laughter all in the same breath, which is all the more frightening. It’s one of the best portrayals of evil in the history of cinema. It will become just as iconic as Darth Vader.

Filled with resonant characters pushed to their breaking points and constantly challenged by moral dilemmas about terrorism, anarchy, heroism, the value of human life, surveillance eavesdropping, and the lengths to which good should go to combat evil, the film raises many tough questions, and never provides any easy answers. It's the most savvy and intelligent post-9/11 film made, and who would have suspected it'd come from a Summer time comic-book movie? There are plenty of explosive set-pieces, all shot on an epic scale, from its heart-pounding opening to its nail-shredding finale which will certain put knots in your stomach. The Dark Knight is a wild time at the movies I just didn’t want to see it come to an end, and I’ll never forget it. Nolan, you’ve just changed things… forever.