Adapting a comic book into a film can be a tricky thing. There is a fine line that divides that which will please the hardcore fanboys, and that which will be accepted by a more mainstream audience. And since these films tend to be big-budget, blockbuster affairs, the majority of these films fall into the former category. With The Dark Knight, director Chris Nolan has been able to craft a film that will not only please both sides of the line, but exceed their expectations at every turn.



With 2005’s Batman Begins having handled all of the set-up work, The Dark Knight pits Batman against his most famous nemesis, the incomparable Joker. Much has been made of the late Ledger’s unique take on the character and indeed, his is a performance that is worthy of all the praise it receives.



The reinvented Batman movies have created a darker, more realistic Gotham City, and the Joker is the perfect villain for the crumbling metropolis. Ledger’s take on the classic character is suitably maniacal, painting the deranged clown as a deeply disturbed anarchist. His ultimate goal is neither money nor fame nor revenge. Instead, he is in it simply for the joy of destruction. As Bruce Wayne’s trusted butler Alfred says at one point, “some men just want to watch the world burn.” His reinvention of the Joker is so total, that this is the version of the character that will be most resonant with fans for years to come.



Ledger provides a perfect balance to Christian Bale’s dark, brooding Batman, who is dealing with somewhat of an identity crisis. In the wake of a number of copy-cat vigilantes, he begins to question what his role is and whether or not he is actually doing any good. This internal conflict brings about a number of moral dilemmas, and begs the question of what a hero truly is, and if Batman himself fits that role.

The insanity of Ledger’s Joker spreads throughout the city, a fact that is portrayed expertly throughout the film. At several points the tension builds up to an almost unbearable fever pitch, before finally releasing its grip on the viewer. The Dark Knight should also be praised for its ability to weave two classic villains into the narrative seamlessly. Harvey Dent, who eventually becomes the villain known as Two Face, is an organic piece of the puzzle, as opposed to say, The Sandman in Spider-Man 3. His obsession with chance provides yet another reaction to turmoil, contrasting Batman’s strict morals and the Joker’s live-with-no-rules attitude.



Despite a hearty running time of nearly two and a half hours, The Dark Knight remains engaging throughout. The Joker’s intentions are always a question mark, and Ledger’s disturbing performance is nearly impossible to look away from. This helps to mask a somewhat stiff offering from Bale, though the rest of the supporting cast is able to pull its own weight as well (especially Michael Cane, who once again turns in a terrific performance as Alfred). On the surface The Dark Knight is a terrific comic-book action movie, but deep down, it is so much more. The film is littered with complicated moral choices, and constantly challenges the viewers assumptions about what a hero or villain truly is.



The film is, without a doubt, the best comic book film yet.

The Dark Knight Photo
Copyright © Warner Bros. Pictures

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Andrew Webster is a freelance writer based in Toronto who covers comics, movies, videogames, and anything else that will rot out your brain. Check out his personal site to read more of his incoherent ramblings.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 at 10:55 pm and is filed under Tales From The Basement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.