Blog Post

“The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming!”

- Harvey Dent

Went to see The Dark Knight at midnight with some of my friends.  We showed up at 10:30 (90 minutes before showtime) and were still only around 200th in the line that had already formed.  Everyone, including myself, was very excited already (I’m a huge nerd).  The movie itself did not dissapoint; it lived up to every positive word, and then some.  (If you don’t want it to be spoiled, stop reading)

As I said in my preview a few weeks ago, Batman Begins manages to blend incredible actions sequences with a compelling plot.  The Dark Knight does this even better than the first.  Many of the outdoor scenes were shot in Chicago, providing a beautiful background for the film.  At 2 hours 30 minutes, the movie is long, but rightfully so.  Every scene is necessary and entertaining.  Complementing each scene is a beautiful score by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, two of the best composers in the business.  Above all of these superlatives stands the performances of Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent and especially Heath Ledger as The Joker.

Eckhart’s transformation from Gotham’s “White Knight” District Attorney who wants nothing more than to see the city’s worst criminals behind bars to the grotesque, vengeful figure of Two-Face is fascinating.  As far as Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker, not enough good words can be said.  He manages to make The Joker not just a silly villain who robs banks, but a criminal mastermind who is quite possibly the creepiest villain of all time.  It’s too bad Heath Ledger passed away at such a young age.  I think this performance would have given him an even bigger name in Hollywood.  Regardless of his death, he should win an Oscar for it.

The Dark Knight managed to keep a high level of tension throughout the 2 hours and 30 minutes, creating a gripping and incredible movie experience.  Although this movie was not perfect, as none are, it’s damn close.  98% of this movie is wonderful.  This and Wall-E (possible review coming later) are far and away the best movies of the year so far.  If you have seen it, tell me what you think in the comments.  If you havn’t, I recommend doing so as soon as possible.  The only part I’m sad about is the fact that I will have to wait another three years or so before the next movie in the series comes out.