The Dark Knight: The Face of Chaos

Warner Bros
2008
Same Bat-time, completely different Bat-channel. Batman has always been one of the darkest superheroes in the comics and on the screen, but this time around may just be the caped crusader’s most sinister cinematic endeavor yet.

The Dark Knight, hence the name, is certainly not your cookie-cutter summer superhero sequel. Leave the kiddies at home as this ride may be too intense for young viewers. It should have received an R rating due to intense scenes of violence so be cautious. But this film still deliverers a knockout for those who are usually disappointed when it comes to all the hype.

Whereas the typical valiant crusader in sequels such as Superman II or Spider-Man 2 struggle with the idea of boldly taking on their super role, Batman goes even deeper into the character he was meant to be in The Dark Knight sequel. He can justly be everything Gotham needs him to be. Sure the explosions are bigger, the gadgets are more ingenious, and the villains are even more sinister than before, but the plot and characters of Batman are also taken very seriously. That’s what makes this old superhero feel so fresh. The dark city of Gotham isn’t even afraid to even kill off some of Batman’s main players. This film is full of surprises not advertised in the previews and for that it is truly enjoyable. If an imaginary text bubble were to be captioned for this movie, it would simply read “Kapow!”

Bruce Wayne’s alter ego teams up with Commissioner Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent to dismantle the city of Gotham’s crime wave. The chaotic and disfigured clown-faced Joker, the most sinister of all criminals, seeks anarchy upon Gotham and meticulously plans sadistic chaos. The Joker has undeniably been the best of the Batman villains, even from the old TV show right on through Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman as well as the WB’s animated series. He’s a terrorist that demonstrates no interest in money, politics, or really even power. As Alfred puts it in The Dark Knight, “He just wants to watch the world burn.” What usually makes a great hero is a great villain. Like two sides of the same coin, only this type of muddled criminality can be a true and worthy adversary to Batman. And that is exactly what we see in the latest Batman film. Seeking to unmask Batman, the Joker himself hides behind grotesque makeup and scars. He even wears the same purple and green colors that have become synonymous with this legendary antagonist. Still, this cackling menace steals every scene he’s in. He’s sick and twisted and yet so jovial and amusing to watch. Even in the midst of his constant clowning around, he means business. The question is, does Gotham see Batman as the face of the vigilante, or is it the Joker, or even someone else? Several times in the film, the audience is asked to make a decision between what is wrong and what is justified.

It’s also a thrill to see what new gadgets Batman employs similar to James Bond’s devices obtained from Q. In fact, the same 60’s technology used in the last scene from Thunderball makes another cinematic appearance to aid Batman in The Dark Knight. One fantastic action scene in particular involves the now famous bat-bike, to which we all enthusiastically replied “Holy peeled-out rubber Batman!” Honestly the whole movie is a blast to watch. Creepy and maybe even startling, but it’s definitely a pure adrenaline adventure. I haven’t been so glued to a movie in a while. It’s a little on the long side coming in at 152 minutes, but The Dark Knight may be the best superhero movie you’ll see in theatres in six months.

Can you hear me now?