The Dark Knight: Batman, Joker et al

I bow to Christopher Nolan. After all, we knew he could pull it off, if Batman Begins was anything to go by. Add that to his reputation for dark films – think Memento and The Prestige – and with superheroes, Batman is as dark as it gets.

Yes, I loved the movie.

The Dark Knight was everything its hype promised to be – brilliant acting, fantastic script, great action scenes and wonderful cinematography, in the strangest of ways.

I’m not going to talk too much about the movie, lest I give spoilers away. I managed to get passes to watch the preview earlier tonight, and I would recommend anyone who loves a good movie to catch it ASAP.

Everyone has raved about the acting – it was no doubt brilliant. I would die for 0.0001% of Heath Ledger’s acting ability, and Gary Oldman was nothing short of spectacular.

Yes, enter the Joker and the Commissioner.

Lots have been said about Heath’s performance in the movie, and previews have even generated Oscar buzz. Party poopers have attributed the buzz to his tragic death, but you just have to watch him in action as the Joker to dispel all that. He is the real thing and good god, this Joker is one for the ages.

From that one line: “Why so serious” to his cackling laughter, I had goosebumps every time he appeared on screen. It was from fear. As much as I tried to imagine Heath acting, I just kept seeing the Joker over and over again, as if he was real. I shudder as I write this.

And Gary Oldman was superb – his expressions flawless, and his reaction immaculate.

Yes, of course Aaron Eckhart, Christian Bale, Michael Cane and Maggie Gyllenhaal did a good job too but The Joker and The Commissioner. Wow.

What I loved very much as well too was how the story was written. It was a brilliant script, but most of all, it reminded the audience what kind of superhero Batman really is. There is no right and wrong, there is no good and evil.

In the world of Batman, confusion and choas reign’s supreme – whether it is in Gotham City or in Bruce Wayne/Batman’s head. He is the troubled hero, he is the gritty hero, he is … a hero?

If you thought Batman Begins was brilliant, wait till you see what Nolan did with this.

I could go on forever about how good the movie is, but I won’t. I just wish that it had ended half an hour earlier (it was about 2.5 hours long) because then it would have been a perfect movie.

I’m kind of not looking forward to Batman 3 because I really don’t know how you top this one. Iron Man – whatever. Spider-Man? Pfft.

The Dark Knight is a reminder why DC heroes rule supreme.

3.17am Malaysian time (+8 GMT)

Tags: batman, batman begins, christian bale, dark knight, dc comics, heath ledger, joker, movie, the dark knight, the joker, two-face