A stupendous performance by the late Heath Ledger burns this incarnation of The Joker into our psyche as securely as did Jack Nicholson's. But even more than Nicholson, Ledger plays The Joker for real..
The Dark Knight (2008)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 265
Fresh: 249
Rotten:16
Average Rating: 8.5/10
Consensus: Dark, complex and unforgettable, The Dark Knight succeeds not just as an entertaining comic book film, but as a richly thrilling crime saga.
Australian Rating: M [See Full Rating] Frequent action violence
Runtime: 2 hrs 33 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Australian Theatrical Release:
Jul 16, 2008 Wide
US Box Office: $533,316,061
Synopsis: To say that Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT is the best comic book adaptation does the film a bit of a disservice. It may be a Batman film, but this isn't a kid-friendly action movie full of... To say that Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT is the best comic book adaptation does the film a bit of a disservice. It may be a Batman film, but this isn't a kid-friendly action movie full of the bams and pows of the original series. This is a pitch-black thriller with enough drama and tragedy to please even William Shakespeare, but it will certainly keep both comics fans and uninitiated audiences equally happy. THE DARK KNIGHT starts in the wake of BATMAN BEGINS: with the appearance of Batman (Christian Bale), Gotham City's criminal underworld is unnerved. They're also plagued by the new D.A., Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), who, in his quest for justice, remains above the city's corruption. Enter a new villain, the Joker (Heath Ledger), who wants to unite the criminals for a common purpose: to kill Batman. THE DARK KNIGHT is one of the most hyped movies to date, and a lesser film would be crushed under the weight of all that expectation. Some of the publicity stems from the early death of Ledger, who turns in an excellent performance. He provides moments of humor, but this Joker is terrifying, sharing more with classic villains such as Hannibal Lechter than with his comic book predecessors. Eckhart is equally good as Dent, and Maggie Gyllenhaal deserves praise for taking over the role of Rachel Dawes from Katie Holmes. Though there's more emphasis on plot and character development than in most comic book adaptations, that doesn't mean Nolan has skimped on any of the action sequences. Each set piece is done perfectly, leaving the audience breathless. THE DARK KNIGHT is filmmaking at its best; its subject matter may be dark and depressing, but it's tough not to feel exhilarated by its artistry when the credits begin to roll. [More]
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Eric Roberts, Anthony Michael Hall, Nestor Carbonell, Michael Jai White, William Fichtner
Director: Christopher Nolan
Director: Christopher Nolan
Screenwriter: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan
Story: Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer
Producer: Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan
Composer: Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard
Studio: Warner Bros.
Reviews for The Dark Knight
Christian Bale is magnificent as the tortured hero, but the movie belongs to its freaky villain.
Pop cinema has a new hero in Heath Ledger's Joker - a joyous force of dementia and one of the most haunting portrayals of villainy in some time.
Oh, and if skin-crawling performances, complex storytelling, and profound ideas don’t do it for you…did I mention that the film is completely badass?
This is a terrific movie, the action sequences are splendiferous, the acting impeccable but there’s something missing at the heart of it. And it seems to be Batman.
Heath Ledger's Joker is, in many ways, symbolic of Nolan's overall success with The Dark Knight; subtle and restrained, but always two shakes shy of bloody holocaust and a masterpiece of cinema that time will verify.
The Dark Knight illuminates courtesy of Ledger's brilliant interpretation of the madman.
At the core of what is undoubtedly the most intense, and even at times horrific, superhero movie yet made is Ledger's extraordinary performance.
There is an exquisite order in the chaos, a fascist formality and video game surrealism that resists the forces of disintegration with a sort of superhuman determination.
While the film may be a hell of a ride, it takes a hell of a long time for the ride to grind its way out of first gear.
As promised, Heath Ledger is terrifying. Cruelty plus cleverness is a fearsome combination.
There's a sense of daring in this explosive Batman film, in which we constantly feel on edge, aware of the impending risks and that there is something to lose.
A dark, ambitious, mature and gritty crime saga the likes of which Michael Mann or Martin Scorsese would be proud to call their own.
Despite its superhero trappings, The Dark Knight is more a piece of film noir.
The Dark Knight is a good movie. It has all the ingredients to be a great movie, but it isn't one. I may grudgingly put it on my best-ten-of-the year list (a paltry group at this point), but it could have been so much more. It came so close.
Can one great character carry an entire movie? ....the answer is obviously yes. Ledger does it.
The film itself evokes the collision of an unstoppable force with an immovable object.
The symbiosis of good and evil is the film's philosophical core, and images of duality and cloaked identity are strewn through it like shards from a fun house mirror.
Lacks is a sense of humor and a notion about the essential silliness of this premise.
The movie is two-and-a-half hours of almost non-stop action, which while often enthralling, eventually gets tiring. It's just go-go-go.
Latest News for The Dark Knight
June 25, 2009:
The Dark Knight Wins Big at Saturn Awards ![]()
The 35th annual Saturn Awards were held Wednesday night, with "The Dark Knight" earning a ceremony-high five awards -- including best action/adventure film -- and "Iron Man" and... More...
June 24, 2009:
Academy Expands Number of Best Picture Nominees to 10 ![]()
With today's news that in February, the Oscars will field 10 best-picture nominees, the horserace that is the Academy Awards promises to look a lot more like - a... More...
April 28, 2009:
Bale Crosses Fingers, Hopes Nolan Will Return for TDK Sequel ![]()
They've saved the juicy stuff for the print edition, but Total Film has posted a few bits and pieces of its recent interview with Christian Bale -- including some of his... More...
April 01, 2009:
Michael Caine Talks Batman 3 ![]()
Michael Caine is out promoting his latest feature, "Is Anybody There," but he's perfectly willing to share his thoughts on the next "Batman" sequel -- fortunately for Collider,... More...
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