Certificate:

Director: Christopher Nolan

Release Date: 24 July 2008

Tagline: Why so serious?

Main Cast:

Bruce Wayne … Christian Bale

The Joker … Heath Ledger

Aaron Eckhart … Harvey Dent

Alfred … Michael Caine

***  WARNING – THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS  ***

This is how I like my Joker served up. An evil sociopath for whom nothing is out of bounds. He’s absolutely delicious! And everything you’ve heard about Heath Ledger’s performance is true. If there’s any justice in this world, the he surely will win an Oscar for his performance. I’m not just saying this because (tragically) he’s dead. I’m saying this as a long time reader of the comic, and long time lover of the Joker. Jack Nicholson was great in Tim Burton’s version, but that was closer to the camp 1960’s TV show. The Dark Knight depicts the Joker exactly as he should be. There’s nothing funny about him and that’s the irony.

Moving on from the Joker (because I could wax lyrical all day about him), Christian Bale is again excellent as Batman. I’m glad that they changed the suit (too stiff – as mentioned, he couldn’t turn his head) and blew up the Batmobile. I hated that from Batman Begins and hope that we really have seen the last of it.

The character of Rachel Dawes is insipid, and her demise is welcomed by myself. Of course, knowing who Harvey Dent is, I was in no doubt that the Joker had played a trick on Batman and the police, and Harvey was the one who would be saved. This works very well both for those who are unfamiliar with the comic – my husband was surprised at the trick (oh crap – I’ve given my gender away!) and I myself revelled in the evil twist. Personally, I wanted another one. I hoped that the ferry incident would have led to the death of the one which decided to press the button, but I guess that they had to show the difference between the Joker and and those of us who have morality. Screw morality – I wanted more carnage, not a lesson!

There are moments of comedy (twisted and fantastic!) but this is not a light comic book film at all. Personally, I think that the BBFC have lost all credibility, and the rating system is all but useless. 12a? Not in the slightest. Cinema is ruled by money, and it seems to me that the BBFC are now bowing to pressure, and using the ‘a’ part of the rating as a cop out. 12 has now been ditched, and all responsibility has been placed on the child’s parents/guardians. And we all know how responsible some parents can be. The screening I went to had two young children (no more than 5 & 7 as they were from the same family) and if they had been mine, I would never have let them watch it.

The Dark knight is utterly brilliant, and any sequel will surely pale in comparison. Watch this film. It’s superb!

Rating: