Review: The Dark Knight

Literally the moment after 2005's Batman Begins was released, audiences wondered: what next? Director Christopher Nolan's visionary, unique approach to the comic book adaptation really stood apart from previous Batman flicks. He and the cast signed onto two more installments, so audiences and critics alike were eager to witness the next adventure. A little more than three years later, The Dark Knight has arrived with a bang. Chilling, gripping, and jarringly violent: these are just a few of the words that can describe this masterful film.
Christian Bale reprises his role as the title character. He is relentless and determined not to back down, but he often questions his instincts and morality. He seems unsure of himself and has lost the love of his life, Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) to the new DA Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). Despite this love triangle, the two men work together to conquer the criminals of Gotham. Tensions rise and conflicts erupt among the population. The unstable state of the city causes mass chaos and terrifies the citizens. They look to Harvey as a beacon of light and a symbol of hope. But everything takes a turn for the worst when his alter ego, Two-Face, takes over his conscience.
The rest of the cast gives solid performances as well, but the film's real standout is undoubtedly Heath Ledger. His stunning portrayal of The Joker, from his quirky apparel and clown makeup, to his creepy, somewhat condescending voice is an integral part of the film. The Joker threatens Gotham like no other criminal before him. "This town deserves a new class of criminal," he says, "and I'm gonna give it to them." Mass-murdering, sadistic, and disturbingly funny, he truly is who he describes himself as: a freak. It is an incredible, tour de force performance, and when reality finally sets in, that this is Heath Ledger's final complete role, it's as shocking as it was on January 22, the day he died. Honestly, it's still hard to believe he's gone. Not surprisingly, Heath is garnering a lot of well-deserved Oscar buzz.
The Dark Knight definitely lives up to expectations. Although it isn't necessarily a masterpiece, it definitely separates itself from its predecessors and other comic book movies. The film has a much darker persona, and its perfectly synchronized action scenes and sudden, frequent blasts create an intense adrenaline rush. Also, Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard's riveting score fits right in with everything else. But the film also tackles many ethical issues that go way beyond just good vs. evil or right vs. wrong. It centers on trust and the question: who can you believe in dark and difficult times? Heroes aren't always who they seem, or as Harvey Dent tells Batman: "You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Definitely something worth pondering during times like our own.