The Dark Knight (2008)
It’s been so long since I last blogged that I’m not even sure if I’m doing this right…but, personal things aside I really want to say a few words about ‘The Dark Knight’, the latest installment of the ‘new’ Batman series.
I was very fortunate to watch the movie today. I had heard quite often since (especially since his untimely passing in January) that Heath Ledger had put in an enormous performance in this movie as ‘The Joker’. But, contrary to what I had read, I think Ledger’s performance was even better than I thought. Christopher Nolan has created a ‘Super-hero’ movie that for all that I have seen is probably the best so far, but Heath Ledger steals this movie with his portrayal of The Joker as a psychotic, twisted yet insanely brilliant criminal. It was quite simply one of the most breath-taking performances by an actor I can remember. I always thought Jack Nicholson gave a scary performance as The Joker in the 1989 film Batman, but Ledger has brought the character of The Joker to a whole new level. One that’s bordering on insanity, a total disregard for reason and zero empathy for human life. One can only wonder, if it was not for his tragic and unfortunate death earlier this year, what the future could have held for Ledger…
"Why so serious?" Heath Ledger as 'The Joker'
Apart from Ledger, the other stand-out performer was Aaron Eckhart, as the unfortunate District Attorney Harvey Dent.
I Believe in Harvey Dent
Aaron Eckhart’s portrayal of Dent is slightly different from the previous Batman movies (or even the comics), in that he is portrayed as a man who even as ‘Two-Face’ still wanted to provide justice and fought for what he believed was right. Dent is seen by Bruce Wayne as a cleaner, and brighter hope for Gotham City. But as the movie goes on you can see the cracks beginning to appear in a man who is untiringly fighting against crime and corruption in the city, especially among the Gotham Police.
Christian Bale also gives a convincing performance as Batman, but I still seem to find him a bit wooden in his acting. But I guess for a complex and deeply torn character such as Bruce Wayne, that sort of portrayal is probably accurate.
The supporting cast of Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and especially Gary Oldman also provide a solidity to the movie. The whole theme of the movie was pretty dark, and portrayed the flaws and the positives of human beings…Life can get very difficult when you have such responsibility, and one has to wonder how far a good person would be willing to for what they believe in..
I can’t recall me feeling bored at any point during the movie, which is not something even my beloved ‘Star Wars’ can say! (I do feel blasphemous saying it though…please forgive me Obi-Wan!)
Even though this song is not really in keeping with the theme of ‘The Dark Knight’, it IS from a previous Batman movie, and is one of my favorites. Kiss From A Rose, by Seal.
