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Rated PG-13 for violence and menace but nobody named Dennis
Reviewed by Karl Scott

 
Heath Ledger passed away on 1/22/08.  The Dark Knight was the last film he completed. He takes over the role made famous by the clown with a frown, Jack Nicholson, in the first of the modern day film series about Batman in 1989.  HL is a lot better.  A whole lot better.  

 

The only psychopath on screen as good as Heath Ledger was Anthony Hopkins portrayal of Hannibal Lecter which began with Silence of the Lambs (1991) and will continue every time they can think of another idea to insert the Lecter character into. That’s pretty good.  If for no other reason, this movie needs to be seen just to see HL as the Joker.  HL and Hannibal Lecter have the same initials.  Is there a meaning there that I am missing?

 

The Dark Knight picks up where Batman Begins (2005) left off.  The Joker is the new menace in town.  Other baddies are bad and on hand but none can even think of standing in the shadow of The Joker.  He gleefully destroys all that try.  He is even more psychotic than my date to the prom in 1965.  

 

Christian Bale returns as Batman or The Dark Knight.  Take your pick.  Other returning roles include Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.  

 

 Lots of big special efx scenes occur involving explosions, guns being aimed and discharged and car crashes.  Many tangled plots interweave but give way to another round of chaotic and violent excitement.  Batman’s outfit and extra’s are more high tech than ever.  Even a stunt from the James Bond film Thunderball (1965) turns up with a twist.  

 

The pace early on is like lightning.  Then things build up to a point where you can hear the fat lady tuning up and ready to sing.  Then the movie comes to its big conclusion but the fat lady remains quiet.  The film then carries on for another 45 minutes.  Eventually, long after things should have been wrapped up, another big ending is trotted out but nobody stands up to leave this time just in case.  That is the only flaw in this otherwise dark and brooding summertime movie.  

 

At two and a half hours it seems to go on all summer.  But don’t miss it.  Heath Ledger in his last complete film will make it worth your while.  Next up for Heath Ledger will be a co starring role with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law in the Terry Gilliam film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus due out in 2009.  And I am not being a Joker.
 
Rated 3.25 out of 4 Two Faces.  He will be in the film.  Can’t tell you where.