Dark Knight

On July 18th something wonderful happened... Chris Nolan's "The Dark Knight" received a record breaking opening, and there's no wonder why.



This movie is flawless.


Jim Rutledge from WTLX and I met up for drinks on Friday, and then caught the 9:25pm showing of "The Dark Knight." Before I give my review, I must speak about two things that I miss dearly; Chicago's architecture, and Heath Ledger.

Watching this movie was a little difficult for me as I have missed Chicago so much. Nolan has a WONDERFUL aversion to using sound stages and special effects, so he used Chicago as the backdrop for his Batman films; rightly so.


Chicago is hopefully dark.


To see buildings in the background - buildings that I recognized as my old stomping grounds - played tricks with my emotions... and so did Ledger.

Gone. Too. Soon.


I was unbelievably disturbed when I heard the news of Heath Ledger's death.
a) he was way too young.
b) he left his small daughter behind.
c) he had so much more of life to live, love to give, and talent that rivals the greats - if not surpasses.

... the only thing I find comfort in is that he passed while sleeping; for an insomniac to catch some Zs is refreshing, and to pass when you are unaware is blissful.





Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.





Now. On to my review.

"The Dark Knight" is seamless and captivating from frame one. Nolan has a way of making comic book camp seem real and life-like in a way that no other director has been able to grasp (and I'm a HUGE fan of Sam Raimi, so that says a lot).



Christian Bale reprises his role as the conflicted Bruce Wayne/Batman who is struggling between his trust-fund-playboy-mystique and his more truer self, a man who lives for creating honesty in a city full of corruption. Bale is, again, the Batman audiences have been waiting for.





Heath Ledger's "Joker" is also a performance that fans of the comic books and the movie debacles have been longing - LONGING - to see executed. He is twisted, maniacal, and captivating. He grabs you from the second he performs his first "magic trick" with the pencil on the table. Leger's "Joker" is a movie villain that no other actor should dare to tamper with.


Perfection.


That's the word that sums it up; perfection.

No doubt Bale is okay, if not comforted, when critics say that Ledger stole this movie and ran in a frenzy. What a way to say "goodbye." A performance that no other can touch.

Aaron Ekhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman, and Gary Oldman round out the cast so well, you would think you are watching one of the classic street-smart-good-guys-versus-bad-guys-mobster-flicks with the intensity of James Bond... which was, no doubt, Nolan's intent.

To Christopher Nolan, I say, thank you for making this film (and it's prequel) something legitimately good that comic book, action, and drama fans can cling on to, hoping that the third instalment is just as impressive as this film and "Begins."

So, without further ado, I HIGHLY recommend this film to everyone.

An enthusiastic A+.