Let's put a smile on that face!. Review on The Dark Knight Movie

Warning: Plot has been partially revealed in the article below.

Christopher Nolan has done the near impossible. He has bettered himself in The Dark Knight. Where Sam Raimi had shown promise in his Spiderman series, the comic book purists weren't too happy. He had taken too many creative liberties in the name of cinema and though the SFX was amazing and the movie quite enjoyable, it left scope for more and wasn't quite faithful to the comic book.

The latest in the Batman franchisé however is worth every rupee and every minute of your time!

Let us start with the characterization. Christian Bale as Bruce Waye/Batman – Check. Michael Caine as Alfred – Check. Gary Oldman as Inspector (later Commissioner) Gordon – Check. Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox – Check. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two Face – Check. Heath Ledger, may god bless his soul, Perfect!!! Even Maggie Gyllehaal earns some points as Rachel Dawes.

Let's move on to the effects. Brilliant! Dark! Explosive! Let's face I – part of the movie was shot in IMAX format. Why not the whole film? sorry, I am not complaining.

Next, dialogs and screenplay. Can not be better! Why so serious? Said the Joker before striking!

Campaign. Have you checked out Whysoserious.com? That is where the first picture of The Joker was unlocked from. Honestly, the movie is worth all the hype and more!

Christian Bale is perfect as the troubled billionairre, but this movie belongs to the anti heroes – the men who play The Joker and The Two Face. Now, why would someone resurrect The Joker on cellloid after Jack Nicholson's tryst with it? He was menacing and crazy in the Tim Burton version. But hold your breath fellas! Mr. Ledger not only surpasses the senior actor's interpretation of the character, he makes it a haunting legend. It is sad that this was this fine actor's parting shot.

Then there is Aaron Eckhart. Let's forget about No Reservations; this man was mean in Thank You for Smoking. And while we are at it, I will recommend that the good readers of this review check that movie out. He is perfectly cast as the handsome D.A. Harvey Dent, Rachel's new flame, who wants to try and change the rotting system of Gotham city. It is dangerous, he knows, and people can not be trusted – not even his police force, but he is no quitter. He doesn't fear for his life, he fears for Gotham and the fact that if he doesn't try now, it may be too late to revive the city.

So the heroic trio of Inspector Gordon, Harvey Dent, and Batman set upon the deadly mission against the Gotham city mob and the newest menace in town – the unpredictable, crazy, Arkham escapee – The Joker.

This is not the movie of cheap thrills. This is a movie that makes its heroes and villains appear so real that they creep you out of your skin! Special mention of a conversation between The Joker and Batman in the interrogation cell and toward the end of the movie where The Joker tells Batman that they need each other; that one is nothing without the other. This sends shivers down your spine because you know that the lunatic is telling the truth. Purists will love it since Nolan based these sequences on one of the comic books in the Batman series where they both have a similar conversation in The Joker's Arkham cell where Batman is paying him a visit.

Another scene of Ledger's brilliant portrayal would be when he walks out of the hospital, mighty pleased with himself after turning the mutiliated Harvey's head around. Dressed in a nurse's outfit, blowing up the hospital, the lunatic is unable to hide the spring in his steps and glee in his body language. It is funny and creepy at the same time. I can go on and on about the brilliance, but it won't be fair.

This movie comes packed with the thrills needed in your life, so I highly recommend it for your weekend if you haven't already seen it! I am watching it again as to me, this is the best superhero movie ever! Join me...

“Here's my card.”

Note: This article is written for Saturday Post, Chennai.