Review of The Dark Knight

Movie #56 - The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight is the second Batman movie within the Christopher Nolan trilogy. The Joker is introduced in this film, and to be quite honest, he's the only reason I even watch this movie. I would give you a summary of The Dark Knight, but there really isn't one. The Joker wants...um...I think he just wants to invoke chaos throughout Gotham for no reason. That chaos causes chaos in the plot.

The inconsistency of what Gotham looks like kills me. This movie is filmed in Chicago, Dark Knight Rises is filmed in New York. It's annoying. Not only that, but to me, Gotham needs to be a dark, alluring place...like in the Tim Burton films...but when Bruce Wayne is driving through Gotham in one scene, and the sun is shining. UGH. I hate it.

And then let's discuss Christian Bale. I don't care what everyone else thinks, I don't like him as Batman. To me, Bruce Wayne is supposed to be sophisticated and mysterious. Christian Bale doesn't fit the part of either of those. Don't get me wrong, Christian Bale is a great actor...have you ever seen The Fighter? He's incredible as Dicky. But he's NOT Bruce Wayne. And that awful Batman voice that they do for him...gross. That's just another element to these films that bugs me.

Now let me address Maggie Gyllenhaal. Why was she cast in this movie? I know Katie Holmes was locked up by Tom Cruise, but she should've put her foot down and said "forget you." SHE is Rachel Dawes. The entire time I was watching Maggie Gyllenhaal, I wasn't even listening to her. I was imagining Katie Holmes in the scene. Damn you, Tom Cruise. You basically ruined a huge part of this movie.

Do I have anything good to say about The Dark Knight? Yes. But only one thing: Heath Ledger, your talent is greatly missed. Heath Ledger was one of the great ones. He left this earth way too soon. His portrayal of The Joker brings a completely new perspective to the role. Jack Nicholson was fabulous, but Heath Ledger was genius. Every scene he was in made me want to glue my eyes to the screen. He is so completely deranged, and it's fantastic. Heath was a method actor at its finest. To be someone who truly takes on their character, that's the stuff great actors are made of. Even though the role of The Joker is, ultimately, what led to his demise, he will never be forgotten for this character.


Overall, I give The Dark Knight 3 out of 5 stars - and those 3 stars go completely to Heath Ledger.