Aug 17, 2008 12:16 PM
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Sometimes people need superheroes and sometimes the superheroes live long enough only to become unwanted or rather “wanted” by the same people who have turned them heroes. While most superhero movies revolve around the similar theme, The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, takes this concept to a whole new level. The Dark Knight takes off at note where people not only impersonate but try to be real time superheroes by being foolishly present at the crime scene jeopardizing their lives. But this very gesture evokes a kind of feeling in the Batman that he might have not felt ever.
“Batman does not stand for death and madness”
This peril of any superhero is brought about superbly on the screen and it is almost unbelievable how well crafted and well thought off all the characters of the movie are. Never there is a moment in the movie where your concentration would run haywire and that the presence of popcorns that you bought during the intermission might prove a hindrance.
From the word go, The Dark Knight grips the viewers and before long you find yourself engrossed into the movie. And yet, like all the great movies, the action and visual effects become incidental, although executed at the highest level, in comparison to the strong plot and strong character sketching.
The Dark Knight is less of a movie and more of a longish intellectual graphic novel that would compel to turn the page with fervent curiosity. Although one is treated with many a things one is expected, the way the very same things are presented come as a shocker. When you walk out of the theatre rest assured that your mind would be full of mixed emotions. You would feel exhausted by the sheer action, thrilled by the plot, scared to death by the psyche of the three main characters and shaken to your core by the whims and twisted ways of the Joker.
Yet it is the Joker that is going to make the most impact. Heath Ledger has executed this role to such perfection that it would be a mere consolation if he wins an Oscar. It is sad that Heath is not alive to see one of the most memorable performances, certainly a performance that would have catapult his career as the best actor who ever lived. Unfortunately that cannot happen and we must thank the director Christopher Nolan for drafting such a resplendent role for Heath and making him immortal in our memory. The film, if anything else, is the best tribute to him.
But this is not to mention that the Batman’s role loses any depth on the grounds that his enemies are so strong and are edgier than ever. Christian Bale as Batman/Bruce Wayne is almost flawless in his performance. Especially the deep hoarse voice he uses whenever he becomes Batman adds thrills to the already spooky and dark plot. And yes he looks devastatingly handsome onscreen with his chiseled looks and a ferocious determination of cleaning the streets of Gotham city of every possible criminal. In the movie the Batman realizes for better or for worse that he could at best be a protector of Gotham City and that it is better to leave the role of “The White Knight” to someone as good and as resolute as Dent.
Other characters like Maggie Gylenhall as Rachel, Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent and Gary Oldman as Gordon are a delight to watch. So are Oscar winner Michael Kane and Morgan Freeman.
Besides the special visual effects and the action sequences, the story and dialogues complement the length of the movie with such brilliance that you are left yearning for more. For those who watch movies through a critic’s eye and whine about the length of this movie can actually go and humor themselves. After one leaves the movie hall there are not few scenes that come to haunt you but it is the entire movie that capture your imagination. It makes you see the movie over and over again because you just can’t get enough of it.
Lastly, and most importantly the thing that has struck a chord with me with maximum resonance is the way human psyche has been captured. The storywriters and screenplay writers must be one heck of intellectuals to have been able to portray such twisted existence of Joker. However the best scene of the movie is neither between Batman and Joker, nor between Two-Faced Harvey or Gordon…well you got to watch the movie to find out! And please watch this one only in the theatres. It is a classy once in a lifetime movie, a movie that couldn’t have had a more apt title: The Dark Knight…. indeed!
