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The Dark Knight

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The Dark Knight (2008)

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Reviews Counted:271

Fresh:254

Rotten:17

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.

[See More Credits]

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1 - 4 of 21

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Reviews for The Dark Knight

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 >> >|
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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..

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment 9 Comments
07/21/08
Andrew L. Urban
Andrew L. Urban
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Christian Bale is magnificent as the tortured hero, but the movie belongs to its freaky villain.

Full Review Source: FILMINK (Australia) | comment 2 Comments
07/17/08
Pauline Adamek
Pauline Adamek
FILMINK (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine Australasia | comment 2 Comments
07/17/08
Luke Goodsell
Luke Goodsell
Empire Magazine Australasia
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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?

Full Review Source: Triple j | comment 5 Comments
07/17/08
Marc Fennell
Marc Fennell
Triple j
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia) | comment 17 Comments
07/17/08
Margaret Pomeranz
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: IGN Movies AU | comment Comment
07/17/08
Patrick Kolan
Patrick Kolan
IGN Movies AU
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The Dark Knight illuminates courtesy of Ledger's brilliant interpretation of the madman.

Full Review Source: Courier Mail (Australia) | comment Comment
07/17/08
Des Partridge
Des Partridge
Courier Mail (Australia)
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At the core of what is undoubtedly the most intense, and even at times horrific, superhero movie yet made is Ledger's extraordinary performance.

Full Review Source: The Australian | comment Comment
07/17/08
David Stratton
David Stratton
The Australian
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: Time Out Sydney | comment Comment
07/17/08
Ruth Hessey
Ruth Hessey
Time Out Sydney
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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.

Full Review Source: The Age (Australia) | comment 3 Comments
07/17/08
Jim Schembri
Jim Schembri
The Age (Australia)
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As promised, Heath Ledger is terrifying. Cruelty plus cleverness is a fearsome combination.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment 1 Comment
07/17/08
Sandra Hall
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
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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.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment 14 Comments
07/10/08
Louise Keller
Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A dark, ambitious, mature and gritty crime saga the likes of which Michael Mann or Martin Scorsese would be proud to call their own.

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment 12 Comments
07/07/08
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It not only surpasses Batman Begins - previously considered the high-water mark of movies about the Caped Crusader - but one that magnificently transcends the superhero genre.

Full Review Source: Times-Picayune | comment Comment
10/09/09
Mike Scott
Mike Scott
Times-Picayune

The Dark Knight is a masterpiece of the first order, and the first great post-Sept. 11 film.

Full Review Source: Washington Times | comment 8 Comments
08/30/09
Sonny Bunch
Sonny Bunch
Washington Times

Middling as a summer blockbuster, zero as art, and more than a bit alarming as a phenomenon

Full Review Source: CinePassion | comment 24 Comments
08/25/09
Fernando F. Croce
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion

najefektniji u trenucima kada se kr%u0161e nepisana pravila

Full Review Source: Index.hr | comment 1 Comment
07/15/09
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
Index.hr

Heath Ledger is Diana Ross and these other kids are The Supremes. Believe the hype, Mr. Ledger as The Joker is categorically brilliant. The late-great actor turned another Batman movie into a riveting film that will be Oscar worthy only because of him.

Full Review Source: BET.com | comment Comment
07/07/09
Clay Cane
Clay Cane
BET.com

Despite its superhero trappings, The Dark Knight is more a piece of film noir.

Full Review Source: Cinefantastique | comment 1 Comment
03/10/09
Steve Biodrowski
Steve Biodrowski
Cinefantastique

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.

Full Review Source: Fayetteville Free Weekly | comment 9 Comments
02/01/09
Tony Macklin
Tony Macklin
Fayetteville Free Weekly
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 >> >|
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Latest News for The Dark Knight

June 25, 2009: The Dark Knight Wins Big at Saturn Awards Opens in new window
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 Opens in new window
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 Opens in new window
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 Opens in new window
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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