The Dark Knight Review

The Dark Knight Review:

 Released in 2008 the Dark Knight was a smash hit with comic fans and average moviegoers alike, and today 11 years later it still manages to hold up fantastically. The films great mix of well written and iconic characters mixed in with great storylines and actions managed to win Christopher Nolan's superb creation over 20 awards.

The story takes place in a crime-ridden Gotham ruled by a circle of vicious gang kingpins, however, due to the good work of  Harvey Dent and Batman countless of these criminals are crushed and imprisoned. Despite this, the streets of Gotham aren't safe for long as the infamous Joker makes his first big-screen appearance in decades. Joker then decides to proposition these gangsters, for much of their money he will kill the Batman, after this the Joker begins his own crime spree around Gotham vowing to kill more and more people each day until the Batman turns himself in.

Now although the film appears simplistic in nature, 'The Dark Knight' is a fascinating character study. The Joker is representative of the fragility of the human psyche, it only takes the right push in the right place at the right time and then the next Joker is revealed. This concept is also echoed through the Jokers unknown identity, he has no records, no data, he just pops out of nowhere. The Joker is just an idea, one which anyone could emulate at any time. The Joker also later reveals his true motive when he begins to burn his half of the money earned from his job with the gangsters, he can't be bought, he just wants to 'see the world burn',

This concept is explored brilliantly through Heath Ledger's fantastic performance, he kidnaps Harvey Dent and makes him into two faces, just to prove how easily anyone's moral compass can be snapped with just a little pressure. Ledger's Joker also endeavors to explore his theory on a mass scale as he sets up bombs in two boats, with two detonators and one boat with ordinary citizens and one with criminals. Only one can survive, the Joker's idea fails however, as even the worst of humans beings refuse to turn on each other in such a way.

The Dark Knight is possibly the best superhero movie of all time, as while its underlying moral message is extremely thought-provoking, the great action, script, storyline, and actors make it a great experience for anyone to watch, again and again.
8/10