Batman: The Dark Knight

The caped crusader returns to the screen in the darkest and downright scariest version of Batman to date

  © 2007 Warner Bros. Entertainment IncBy Alexander McNamara

What’s the story?
Gotham City’s masked vigilante is up to his old tricks again, catching criminals and thwarting all manner of misdemeanours in super heroic ways. But now he has a new hero at his side, the not super powered, District Attorney Harvey Dent. Together they bring the criminal underbelly of the city to its knees, but through their success breeds something they never prepared for; a more evil and sadistic creature than any foe Batman has faced before. Batman must do battle with The Joker, who brings with him a reign of terror, violence and fear.

Who’s in it?
Following on from his success in Batman Begins, Christian Bale returns as billionaire Bruce Wayne, a man who spends his evenings in tight, black, flying bat suits. The ever-likeable Aaron Eckhart plays Harvey Dent, Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over the role of Rachel Dawes and Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine reprise their roles from the previous films. The real star of the show is the late Heath Ledger.  Much has been made about his portrayal of the Joker and it doesn’t disappoint in any way. Jack Nicholson last portrayed the Joker in the 1989 Batman, but don’t expect anything similar from Heath here. This Joker is more reminiscent of madman Jack Torrence from the Shining than the prankster from past films. Be prepared for the new face of on-screen villainy (his evilness actually made this reviewer shed a tear).

What’s to like?
If you’re a fan of the camp, cartoonish Batman films of the 90s (the ones with spandex and neon lighting) then you’d better steer clear of this one. Dark, moody, and scary are a few of the simpler adjectives to describe Batman: The Dark Knight, and you’re in for a treat if you like a bit of an edge, which some of the best-loved Batman comics are known for. As well as a cracking story and some perfect performances, especially Ledger’s psychotic and menacing Joker, the film comes with the thrills and explosions that you’d expected our caped crusader to face. We especially liked the scene that sees our hero having to make some tough, life-saving decisions, complete with guns, bangs, tricks and a new Batmobile more suited to a battlefield than the streets of Gotham.

What’s not to like?
You will be hard-pressed to find something to disappoint in The Dark Knight. It ticks all the right boxes for the comic book purists, the big blockbuster enthusiasts and those who enjoy creepy, paint-covered clowns.  If anything you could say it is a little long, and a few things at the end are disappointing, but I wouldn’t want to give anything away now would I?

Verdict
The bat is back in what has the potential to be the greatest on-screen realisation, not only of Batman, but of all super heroes and comic books alike. The bar has been raised, and it looks like the future of batman is dark!