The Dark Knight Reigns

I saw The Dark Knight yesterday, and I simply cannot relegate my review to a few short lines in a typical micro-review. It was far too good for such treatment. What follows is my (relatively spoiler-free) reaction.

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From the opening scene, we know that "The Dark Knight" is not going to be your stereotypical comic-book caper. From the opening scene, we see that the crimes will be bigger. From the opening scene we learn that "ruthless" and "diabolical" have found embodiment in the one villain worthy of the Dark Knight of Gotham, and nothing will ever be the same.

The Batman mythos got a fresh start in "Batman Begins." The origin tale was well told, and left plenty of room for Bruce Wayne to take center stage, as we followed his path to vigilantism. The villains were evil, and challenging, but it was Bruce Wayne at the center. "The Dark Knight" allows Batman to be the center of the story, and Christian Bale portrayed the darker personality exceptionally well. The script gives Batman a chance to confront his feelings about the kind of hero he wishes he could be, and the kind of villain who will always make Batman necessary.

We are also treated to excellent development of several characters who are firmly entrenched in Batman lore: Alfred, Rachel, Gordon and Fox, but most notably District Attorney Harvey Dent. "Batman Forever" unforgivably gave us a one-dimensional, comic-strip version of Two-Face. "The Dark Knight" gives him depth and lets us believe that some men can be heroic, but still fall short of being a hero. Aaron Eckhart was a natural choice for this, as his performance in "Thank You For Smoking" showed a charismatic actor who can imbue his roles with empathy, strength and vulnerability at the same time. And the visual effects of the two-faced monster were unbelievable, and disturbing. Perfect!

Still, while Dent probably got twice as much screen time as the Joker, it was the maniacal one, and his portrayal by the late Heath Ledger, that drove the film into instant-classic status. True enough, the part was well written: the traps, the forced choices between two evils, the calculating self-assuredness, and the devotion to anarchy were all parts of the script. But the way Ledger brought them to life in this almost-but-not-quite pitiable man, this aberration who claims "I don't plan," this psychotic creature who looks more appropriate in his cosmetics than without them -- it was a work of genius.

Yet finally, the brilliance of the direction and the writing could have left this movie short, but it didn't. The ultimate heroic acts by many characters, including the caped crusader, showed us that mere mortals can choose the good, the virtuous, the right, even when the cost is unfairly high. The film is long, but it does not feel that way - it's just right. Leave out any of the elements, and the completeness of its message would not have been achieved.

"Batman Begins" was a wonderful comic book movie. "The Dark Knight" is a wonderful movie, period. Bravo!