THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)

Tagline: Why So Serious?

Dir - Christopher Nolan
Cast - Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
Genre - Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery
Production Budget - $180,000,000
Release Date - 18 July 2008

It's already been over three weeks and I rarely like writing a review for mainstream cinema, but I just couldn't stop myself.

Wow, what a movie! It's a testament to the fact that mainstream 'superhero' cinema is concentrating more on the mental aspects of the protagonist. Films based on comics are becoming more graphic (read Sin City (2005) and Hellboy II (2008)) and although The Dark Knight hasn't reached that point, it has all the characteristics it requires to reach out to a mature audience. Christopher Nolan has delivered... AGAIN, easily surpassing Batman Begins (2005) and matching the brilliance he showed in The Prestige (2006) and Memento (2000), and I've made a mental note to watch Following (1998).

Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is Gotham City's DA and with Batman's (Christian Bale) help, brings over 500 criminals to trial, making him an overnight superstar. The Joker (Heath Ledger) is hell bent on destroying the city's faith in law and order and is sick of the hypocritical minds which people conceal with moralistic masks.

The metier of this movie lies in The Joker's villainous intentions. It's not about money, not about pride or fame or any other physical gains. He just hates people. He hates them for being whited sepulchers and his urge to show this side of seemingly moralistic people drives him in his evil-doings. In a comparatively much more moderate way, you find it hard not to relate to him.

The script is excellent and the lack of non-sarcastic humor keeps the tension from breaking.

Upsides: Great action, superb performances (especially from Heath Ledger who, unfortunately, never got to see the movie) and subtle occurrences and dialog which all secure profound meaning

Downsides: No info on The Joker's past, Harvey Dent's slightly unconvincing transformation to Two-Face and the fact that the civilians didn't press the trigger (you'll know what I'm talking about if you've seen the movie; I felt Joker needed a psychological victory for all his efforts).

Trivia: Director Christopher Nolan and co-writers Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer decided not to explore the origins of The Joker, in order to portray the character as 'absolute'.

Overall, a 4.5/5.0

Links for you:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/

Download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/138368047/tdn-bb4life.part1.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/138372155/tdn-bb4life.part2.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/138375791/tdn-bb4life.part3.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/138379703/tdn-bb4life.part4.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/138383405/tdn-bb4life.part5.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/138386956/tdn-bb4life.part6.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/138390249/tdn-bb4life.part7.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/138393484/tdn-bb4life.part8.rar.html