The Dark Knight
Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: July 18, 2008
8.9
USER SCORE
Universal acclaim based on 6733 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
6,074
Mixed:
221
Negative:
438
Watch Now
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
10
rory_sMar 31, 2014
Christopher Nolan clearly is one of the few directors of comic book movies who actually cares. You can tell, because he elevated this movie from a simple comic book movie to an action packed thriller. The first thing I would like to talkChristopher Nolan clearly is one of the few directors of comic book movies who actually cares. You can tell, because he elevated this movie from a simple comic book movie to an action packed thriller. The first thing I would like to talk about is Heath Ledge. Wow. His performance blows my mind every time. As the Joker, he is a murderous psychopath. He really makes all of the tense scenes work. Christian Bale plays a great Batman, as per usual. Everything in this movie looks real, and that's because most of it is. Nolan is not a fan of CGI. These stunts are real. Speaking of these stunts, the action sequences are also done incredibly. This is a must see, comic book fan or not.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
royvargheseMar 22, 2014
This movie is not just an excellent comic book movie, it is one of the best movies ever made. It incorporate elements from multiple genres (crime,action,suspense,horror,psychological..............). Solid performances from all the actorsThis movie is not just an excellent comic book movie, it is one of the best movies ever made. It incorporate elements from multiple genres (crime,action,suspense,horror,psychological..............). Solid performances from all the actors makes this plot heavy movie one of Nolan's best.
P. S. Heath Ledger as Joker is AWESOME!!!!!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
ahnehnoisMar 1, 2014
If one movie captured what it was like to live in the post-9/11 decade, this is it. This is the movie of a generation.

It seems to lack a traditional narrative structure, instead pounding away relentlessly with jump scares, psychologicalIf one movie captured what it was like to live in the post-9/11 decade, this is it. This is the movie of a generation.

It seems to lack a traditional narrative structure, instead pounding away relentlessly with jump scares, psychological horror, and real action. Terse direction and a chilling manical score drive the action. The bank robbery prologue remains one of the classic film openings, but memorable scenes and quotable dialogue abound, culminating in the epic Batman/Joker interrogation scene.

People rightfully remember the profound tragedy of Heath Ledger's death so soon after this iconic performance, but there is an abundance of strong acting. Aaron Eckhart provides a nuanced foil before making a scary turn, and Maggie Gyllenhall sells the horror of the Joker's machinations, and of course Christian Bale somehow conveys the weight of the world being on his shoulders in an oddly thankless role.

Largely grounded in reality, the film nonetheless reveals plot holes and implausibilities upon rewatching. However, it is a testament to it greatness that despite the Joker's seemingly impossible schemes or the muddled ending, the emotional impact of the film as a whole remains untarnished. The film's brilliance is that in the climax with an unknown everyman, not a superhero, is given a choice to kill or be killed, the film genuinely sells that he might go either way, and the audience invests in his decision.

Even a cynic cannot watch The Dark Knight without laughing at its black humor, squirming at its horrors, and doing some self-evaluation afterwards. What has fear done to us? What is the right response to terror? Where do we go from here? Simultaneously a work of cinematic art, a philosophical treatise, and a pop culture classic, this movie's place in history cannot be denied.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
TheCartoon77Jul 22, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Batman film everyone should deserve, even for people who don't like Batman. The films atmosphere, relatable characters, well-done action scenes, tension building are the things films need more of these days. The Dark Knight is a film I watch just to remind me what any other film but this one should try and be like. I mentioned action scenes separately because they are one the biggest highlights for me. Every single scene ranging from fist fights and car chases is perfectly edited and choreographed to show the realistic Batman in action. The car chase showing the Joker trying to catch Harvey Dent is perhaps the most detailed and perfectly executed piece of cinematography in film history. It might be a little disappointing that they got rid of the Bat mobile so suddenly and without warning. However the bat cycle blends in perfectly with one of Batman's many fantastic vehicles for the trilogy. Batman himself has become much more easy to take seriously which is saying a lot. He has now moved on from his only works by himself cycle in the first film, and now shows him with Harvey Dent and Jim Gordon working together to take down crime in the city. All the while knowing that Batman is a vigilante. Bruce Wayne is now still onto Rachel despite her having found out his secret in the last film, who has now moved onto Harvey Dent and seems to use Bruce's secret against him as would anyone. However the most interesting character for me is the joker himself. He is perhaps the most well-chosen actors for the part as Heath Ledger portrays him in a way its creepy. He is a man driven by nothing but chaos and the very destruction around him. He is also driven to bring down the Batman. This is a brilliant plot device since the Joker has nothing to sacrifice but his very life. Whereas Batman has his social life and his secret identity at stake. The Joker only wants Batman to give in. This is good for tension building because the audience are with Batman and realise that the Jokers plan is technically impossible to beat unless Batman... well, kills him. I won't go any further because I am positive that you've already heard enough hype for this film, and let me say that The Dark Knight has lived up to every bit of it and more.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
heeldavidJul 25, 2014
I know that this might sound to consistent but this is probably the best superhero film of all time, the camera work, the makeup design (The Joker) , the direction, the writing and especially the performances are just great, Christian BaleI know that this might sound to consistent but this is probably the best superhero film of all time, the camera work, the makeup design (The Joker) , the direction, the writing and especially the performances are just great, Christian Bale really gives Batman some finesse and intimidation and handles the character well, Ledger's last performance was just great, i didn't think of him as that kid from Brokeback Mountain or 10 Things I Hate About You, i actually thought that he was a sociopath, and that is what i call amazing character study. Nice supporting cast as well. Christopher Nolan's best movie that's for sure… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
AvgassSep 18, 2018
Inexplicably good. One of those movies that you have to keep watching once you've started. Probably the best superhero film to date.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
Jackstevens98Mar 21, 2014
Where to begin with this brilliant superhero film... Well one of the outstanding reasons would have to be The Joker (Heath Ledger), firstly the performance by him in this film is fantastic and absolutely deserved the Oscar for best supportingWhere to begin with this brilliant superhero film... Well one of the outstanding reasons would have to be The Joker (Heath Ledger), firstly the performance by him in this film is fantastic and absolutely deserved the Oscar for best supporting actor. Another reason why this is a great feature and most definitely the best of the trilogy is because there's no stupid backstory that's just a load of nonsense, the Joker is just simply crazy or messed up and even as Michael Caine says in the film 'Some people just wanna watch the world burn' the joker mentions a few times about his past and how he got his scars but changes them each time so no ones actually sure what's wrong with him.
I also think Christian Bale plays a great Batman, compared to George Clooney or almost any of the others
Christopher Nolan is a great director and has directed many great films and this is right up there with the others and deserved all the credit it got!
A definite 9/10… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
DrewtheDude85May 10, 2014
While Batman Begins was a good film, The Dark Knight is grand. It's darkness and it's intense action will hold you captivated throughout the film. Christian Bale did an excellent performance playing Batman, I don't know why people are hatingWhile Batman Begins was a good film, The Dark Knight is grand. It's darkness and it's intense action will hold you captivated throughout the film. Christian Bale did an excellent performance playing Batman, I don't know why people are hating on his voice. The drama was cool, there were some emotional scenes, I overall had an amazing time when I first saw this film and I kind of want to watch it again right now. This is probably the greatest Batman movie ever made, so I would highly recommend it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
InspectorJavertMar 31, 2014
Nearly every aspect of this film is fantastic. The creative designs and aesthetics of the movie are very pleasing, from the designs of Batman's suit and arsenal to the sprawling city of Gotham. Hans Zimmer's composing is, as always, genius.Nearly every aspect of this film is fantastic. The creative designs and aesthetics of the movie are very pleasing, from the designs of Batman's suit and arsenal to the sprawling city of Gotham. Hans Zimmer's composing is, as always, genius. The Jokers theme is one of the highlights of this soundtrack, complementing the character perfectly. The acting in the film is top notch, Christian Bale and Gary Oldman deliver more rock solid performances and newcomer Aaron Eckhart also packs a punch as Harvey Dent/Two Face. But Heath Ledger steals the show as the, in my opinion, best interpretation of the Joker's character in any Batman media. The story is tense, well paced, and thrilling. The Dark Knight is easily one of the best Superhero movies ever made.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
carloswqApr 1, 2014
master piece!!!! the action, the lines, the reality for a hero. . . . is just amazing i think this movie goes for my top 5 of all times . . .btw so much jealous people hiting 0 score -_-
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
diogomendesJun 14, 2014
Overrated my left testicle. This movie is dark, complex, clever, unforgettable and Heath Ledger's performance is completely phenomenal and memorable. Christian Bale did another great job with this movie and once again, Christopher NolanOverrated my left testicle. This movie is dark, complex, clever, unforgettable and Heath Ledger's performance is completely phenomenal and memorable. Christian Bale did another great job with this movie and once again, Christopher Nolan proves that he does not only deserves an Oscar for best director, he also proves that we can always trust on him.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
Viper8787Apr 18, 2014
My favourite film of all time. This movie is absolutely incredible. Heath Ledgers portrayal as Joker is amazing and my favourite character ever in a movie. I can't praise this movie enough. It is just so dark and all the acting is amazing. IfMy favourite film of all time. This movie is absolutely incredible. Heath Ledgers portrayal as Joker is amazing and my favourite character ever in a movie. I can't praise this movie enough. It is just so dark and all the acting is amazing. If you haven't seen this movie make sure you check it out best film I have ever seen!!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
hginsburgApr 28, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Rare breed of film which is both serious and impossibly entertaining. Why so serious. The acting is first rate with already classic landmark performances from Ledger and Bale, with strong supporting acts from, Oldman, Freeman and Caine. The audience are able to feast there eyes on cinematic magic from the breathtaking visual effects, shown extensively through the chase scenes with the Bat-pod and Lorry. Whiles Hanz Zimmers theme keeps you heart pounding throughout the film. The film which is already seen as a classic for the genre has no major shortcomings though of course people will dig plot holes. Definitely the best superhero film of all time, though a wide range of successful themes allow it to almost transcend its genre.
Ultimately its Nolan at his very very best and i can think of no higher praise than that.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
AkashVijayJan 19, 2015
Pulp has never been so artistic. Chris Nolan's neo-shakespearean magnum opus soars across the cinema hall, proving to the world that sometimes even comic-book adaptations can be worthy of novelistic ambition. Despite being a blockbuster, thePulp has never been so artistic. Chris Nolan's neo-shakespearean magnum opus soars across the cinema hall, proving to the world that sometimes even comic-book adaptations can be worthy of novelistic ambition. Despite being a blockbuster, the Dark Knight deals with dark thematic issues most movie never touch like - the road to fascism is paved with good intentions, idealism is always easier to corrupt than greed, light always coexists with darkness (or as the Joker would say freaks attract freaks) and perhaps most disturbing of all, the Dark Knight proclaims that in a world where there is no justice there's no way to fight the system without falling into corruption, apathy or worse. Nolan wants us to take a good long look at the brutally bleak streets of Gotham and reflect on its striking perspicuous similarities to our own post 9/11 world. It makes us wonder if nature in it's most elementary form is governed by chaos and the structures we've erected just create an illusion of harmony (or is it the other way around?).… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
AaronWasserman2May 3, 2014
Theres only so many franchises where the 2nd film is the best. The Dark Knight is hands down the best Batman movie but also the best superhero movie. everything one could want in a superhero film. it takes superhero movies to a whole newTheres only so many franchises where the 2nd film is the best. The Dark Knight is hands down the best Batman movie but also the best superhero movie. everything one could want in a superhero film. it takes superhero movies to a whole new level. here are my ratings:

1. Cast: 10/10
2. Action: 9/10
3. Score: 10/10
4. Effects: 10/10
5. Theater experience: 10/10… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
MovieGKMay 8, 2014
The perfect Batman movie. Realistic and grounded, creating a perfect world where Batman can exist but we also can feel like it is real. Very complex especially for a comic book movie.. actually it is so much more than a superhero movie... itThe perfect Batman movie. Realistic and grounded, creating a perfect world where Batman can exist but we also can feel like it is real. Very complex especially for a comic book movie.. actually it is so much more than a superhero movie... it is a crime drama with Batman characters. And that makes it so awsome. Great performances (especially from Heath Ledger), storytelling, directing, everything!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
Venomq7May 14, 2014
Thanks to great acting, amazing performance by Heath Ledger and brilliant guidance by director Christopher Nolan this movie is destined to be remembered forever.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
SpiderPlayerMay 17, 2015
Great, serious and realistic film like Batman Begins, great acting of the cast, good action scenes, interesting and engaging story, well worth watching.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
dennisheerleinJun 16, 2014
This is a monumental piece of cinema. No film has ever portrayed chaos so well. Ledger gave one of the best performances in cinema history, Nolan's masterful directing has never been more prominent, weaving The Dark Knight into the bestThis is a monumental piece of cinema. No film has ever portrayed chaos so well. Ledger gave one of the best performances in cinema history, Nolan's masterful directing has never been more prominent, weaving The Dark Knight into the best action movie ever made. The Dark Knight is a beautiful tale of destruction, a flawless take on crime, and a plea to mankind's nature. Christopher Nolan creates a world where being a hero is a double edged sword, at best, and yet that hero keeps doing his job. An absolutely fantastic piece of work, that every person on this world should see.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
ThePotnoodleBoyJun 21, 2014
The Dark Knight is as much of a superhero film as it is a horrifying tragedy. With excellent casting, twisted and sickening characters and a devious plot make this the most outstanding Batman film in history. 10/10
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
Brizer121Jun 22, 2014
I found The Dark Knight to be great film, living up to it's name. Although it is a shame about Ledger's death. He played The Jokers part perfectly. No one could have played the chaotic clown any better than Heath Ledger. As for Christian BaleI found The Dark Knight to be great film, living up to it's name. Although it is a shame about Ledger's death. He played The Jokers part perfectly. No one could have played the chaotic clown any better than Heath Ledger. As for Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne to be very exceptional as well. The movie itself and the plot to be devised exceptionally well.

With Gotham in diss array and Batman trying to clean up the streets and is shunned by the law; while a megalomaniac is on the loose blowing up hospitals and killing without remorse. A great work of Art, better than the other two films in my opinion. Introducing Aaron Eckhart as Two Face; I found to be very exciting to see, seeing as he's one of my favorite DC villains.

Although the film is very long and some parts to be boring it's the little things that was fantastic. With Ledger's fantastic portrayal and improvised parts, showing the Joker in his true form.

This movie will be cherished and remembered for decades and the one of the greatest live action Batman movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
inaneswineNov 14, 2017
The pace of The Dark Knight far surpasses that of its predecessor, as Bale's brilliant Batman is forced to stop Ledger's wonderfully bizarre interpretation of the legendary Joker. The thrills are plentiful, and the story is poignant.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
JoshLuck1995Jul 22, 2014
By far the best super hero/batman film ever made, the second best film of all time in my opinion behind shawshank redemption, every actor gives a excellent performance especially heath ledger
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
HISHEhebJul 8, 2014
THE BEST MOVIE EVER!!! all the actors in this movie was great, Especially heath ledger as the Joker. the story was really really good. don't die before you watch this movie
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
cumoviesJul 24, 2014
unbelievable!!! this movie is so good the acting by Heath Ledger as the joker is amazing the joker is also very well made on script to. The action is great to the whole movie is just incredible very well done best superhero flick ever.
myunbelievable!!! this movie is so good the acting by Heath Ledger as the joker is amazing the joker is also very well made on script to. The action is great to the whole movie is just incredible very well done best superhero flick ever.
my ratting 9.5/10 a 9 for action 10 for acting 8.5 for story 9.5 for style and a 8.5 for character development… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
MarickJan 8, 2015
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed, produced, and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is the second part of Nolan's Batman film series and a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins.The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed, produced, and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is the second part of Nolan's Batman film series and a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins. Christian Bale reprises the lead role of Bruce Wayne/Batman, with a returning cast of Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Gary Oldman as James Gordon and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox. The film introduces the character of Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Gotham's newly elected District Attorney and the consort of Bruce Wayne's childhood friend Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal replacing Katie Holmes from the first film), who joins Batman and the police in combating the new rising threat of a criminal mastermind calling himself "The Joker" (Heath Ledger).… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
aguyglobalOct 1, 2014
It truly is an outstanding CBM, and a great film in general. The acting, the cinematography, and writing are all top notch. There's not much else I can say that hasn't already been said.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
Anonymous777Sep 12, 2014
Despite being overrated, The Dark Knight shows viewers a strong villain and dark atmosphere. Sadly, Heath Ledger died postumously to its release however, he still earned a Oscar for best supporting actor and cemented himself in film history.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
chiefwiggum2Sep 28, 2014
Has to be one of my favourite films of all time, filled with action, you are gripped to the TV, also Heath Ledger does an excellent job as the joker, in the facial expressions, to the small details.
Overall an amazing movie.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
Another_NerdOct 6, 2014
Because, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, and, yes, Christopher Nolan rocked the show.
The movie is a take apart from the comical Joker in DC Comics, and the mentally-affected Harvey Dent. These two elements raised the thrill completely.
TheBecause, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, and, yes, Christopher Nolan rocked the show.
The movie is a take apart from the comical Joker in DC Comics, and the mentally-affected Harvey Dent. These two elements raised the thrill completely.
The best superhero flick, till now. Intensity redefined. Mind-blowing plot, brilliant sequences.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
DartboardMar 14, 2015
A genuine crime epic that fits into the Batman mythos with ease and certainty. Obviously there are a few problems with the film, but that goes for every other movie. The pros easily outweigh the cons in this case. The film is beautifullyA genuine crime epic that fits into the Batman mythos with ease and certainty. Obviously there are a few problems with the film, but that goes for every other movie. The pros easily outweigh the cons in this case. The film is beautifully shot, the action scenes are viscerally thrilling, and it never ceases to be thought-provoking. Everybody involved in the production seemed to have given everything they had to make the best film they could make, and they came very, very close. The screenplay is sound, structure-wise, and it's impressive how the film seems epic in scope, yet maintains a level of palpable intimacy. One of the best films ever made.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
chroma09Oct 16, 2014
This is one of the best superhero movies ever with excellent performance from Heath ledger and acceptable performance from all actors and actresses and five star narratives.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
SythusRATINGSOct 17, 2014
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves toBatman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
Redbull55Oct 18, 2014
Well where do I start Nolan's films are always great but this is the best Bale is amazing but is nothin compared to Heath ledgers Acting if you say he won cause he died just watch him the film has a great plot terrifying moments greatWell where do I start Nolan's films are always great but this is the best Bale is amazing but is nothin compared to Heath ledgers Acting if you say he won cause he died just watch him the film has a great plot terrifying moments great villains and an unbeatable hero well done Chris.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
PeterParkerMar 23, 2016
The best 2008 movie, a great movie with charismatic characters like Batman, Alfred, Gordon and The Joker: This version of The Joker is the best version ever.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
EpilepticDec 7, 2014
Pulp has never been so artistic. Chris Nolan's neo-shakespearean magnum opus soars across the cinema hall, proving to the world that sometimes even comic-book adaptations can be worthy of novelistic ambition. This haunted and poetic BatmanPulp has never been so artistic. Chris Nolan's neo-shakespearean magnum opus soars across the cinema hall, proving to the world that sometimes even comic-book adaptations can be worthy of novelistic ambition. This haunted and poetic Batman diegesis deals with dark thematic issues most movie never touch, like the West's responsibility for terrorism, deceiving the masses for their own good, love not saving anyone and the impossibility of living up to heroic expectations. The Dark Knight meditates on the significance of morality, the imperfection of fortitude, the justice in anarchy and the corruptibility of humanity. Nolan wants us to believe in the darkness within each of us, the mask we all wear, to hide our two-facedness.
The Dark Knight touches on these themes boldly and bravely, not ashamed of the fact the the lead character is a man dressing up like a Bat. How long has it been since we've seen a blockbuster that's so thought provoking? Not since Apocalypse Now, I would say. The sign of a great film is if it's impact lasts longer than its screen-time, and the Dark Knight lingers long after the credits have rolled. It leaves us reflecting on its striking perspicuous similarities to our own post 9/11 world and makes us wonder if nature in it's most elementary form is governed by chaos and the structures we've erected just create an illusion of harmony (or is it the other way around?).… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
DokaluJun 23, 2015
Christopher Nolan really showed his skills with this movie. This is the best Batman film ever made, followed closely only by The Dark Knight Rises. The story is absolutely brilliant, Heath Ledger as the Joker is the best villain I have everChristopher Nolan really showed his skills with this movie. This is the best Batman film ever made, followed closely only by The Dark Knight Rises. The story is absolutely brilliant, Heath Ledger as the Joker is the best villain I have ever seen on screen, the acting is marvelous from everyone involved, the script is flawless, the action is mind-blowing and the characters are fantastic. There isn't one single thing I dislike about it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
jgcorbett00Aug 3, 2015
People will say this isn't a superhero movie it is a cop movie. That's not the point. This movie surpassed all doubts and expectations, with an incredible cast, a gripping story, edge of your seat suspense, and above all a great antagonist.People will say this isn't a superhero movie it is a cop movie. That's not the point. This movie surpassed all doubts and expectations, with an incredible cast, a gripping story, edge of your seat suspense, and above all a great antagonist. Heath Ledger gave us a villain that scared and amazed at the same time with his unforgettable role as the Joker. It may not be a superhero movie to its core but this became more than that it became a work of art under Nolan's guiding hands. In my opinion this is one of the best movies of the 2000's.

10/10… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
Darkly_TranquilJun 14, 2015
The Dark Knight is the benchmark against which all other comic book movies are judged. Featuring strong performances across the board from a star studded cast, particularly the now iconic performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker, supported byThe Dark Knight is the benchmark against which all other comic book movies are judged. Featuring strong performances across the board from a star studded cast, particularly the now iconic performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker, supported by fantastic production design, and skilled direction from Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight reinvents the comic book movie as a gritty crime thriller and it benefits enormously from this more down to earth treatment.

Purists have criticized the film for its reinterpretations of established characters, but the decision by Nolan to make the otherwise absurd world of masked superheroes and villains more believable is a masterstroke, and is what elevates it above all other comic movies. The Dark Knight is a triumph because it does not abuse the audience's ability to suspend disbelief in the way many of the other more bombastic comic book movies (Avengers) have tended to do, and instead presents a world and characters that one could almost believe might actually exist.

With strong writing, mesmerizing acting performances, strong direction, and fantastic production, The Dark Knight is quite simply the best comic book movie ever made, and its hard to see anything else coming close to topping it any time soon.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
UltimateBubFeb 7, 2015
I cannot deny this is a superior superhero film. Or just a superior film. I'm not a Batman fan (I used to hate the guy) but I've always liked "The Dark Knight". I will say that some things, as usual in this trilogy, are a bit exaggerated, butI cannot deny this is a superior superhero film. Or just a superior film. I'm not a Batman fan (I used to hate the guy) but I've always liked "The Dark Knight". I will say that some things, as usual in this trilogy, are a bit exaggerated, but if you overlook these few things, you'll find this movie to be thrilling, exciting, touching and freaking cool. This will be repeated to death, but the big highlight is obviously Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker. Lastly, a dark tone will always suit a character like Batman in such a good way, that you'll barely believe it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
7
HotelCentralJan 6, 2016
From the fairly sublime to the mostly ridiculous, The Dark Knight begins well, with character and plot working together hand-in-hand. But before this excessively long movie is over it devolves into a Grand Theft Auto orgy of gratuitousFrom the fairly sublime to the mostly ridiculous, The Dark Knight begins well, with character and plot working together hand-in-hand. But before this excessively long movie is over it devolves into a Grand Theft Auto orgy of gratuitous violence and effects that gets tedious around the two hour mark. If you like the Jason Bourne trilogy style of non-stop action flicks you'll probably love The Dark Knight. Myself, I just dream another little dream of how things might've been.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
MattBrady99Jul 18, 2018
"He's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A Dark Knight".

10 years later We will never get"He's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A Dark Knight".

10 years later

We will never get anything like this ever again. This is not a superhero movie, but a crime drama, almost like a Michael Mann movie. It's also been 10 years since the passing of Heath Ledger.

This movie and his legendary will live on forever.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
homer4presidentMar 13, 2015
The one singular thing I loved more than anything abotu this film was Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker. The one thing that touches me about his performance is that he was so into his character, he couldn't get out, and so he became TheThe one singular thing I loved more than anything abotu this film was Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker. The one thing that touches me about his performance is that he was so into his character, he couldn't get out, and so he became The Joker. He WAS the best Joker I've ever seen. This film, all in all, was a great second chapter to the trilogy!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
acaiberryMar 20, 2015
I love Batman because the story of his plight is more than about good guys vs bad guys. It's also about doing what is best for everyone and it explores the realities of problems in society. That movie to world connection really captivates meI love Batman because the story of his plight is more than about good guys vs bad guys. It's also about doing what is best for everyone and it explores the realities of problems in society. That movie to world connection really captivates me because every character seems to symbolize something.

If you haven't seen this, you're missing out the best superhero film right now in the past two decades. Everyone raves about Christopher Nolan but his innovative storytelling really sets this movie apart. The fight scenes are good, the MUSIC complements this well like ketchup and mustard, and the scenes contributing to the plot are all very good. What I really liked was the boldness to go dark in a superhero movie. That was definitely a shocker at the time, but it has been triumphant because of the emotional performance by all the actors in the movie.

10s are very hard to come by and to all the haters, I can't think of any superhero movie or action film that tops this. I guess every man is entitled to their opinion. Overall, do yourself a big favor if you have not seen this and set aside an entire evening served with good food and drinks to watch this film. The performances are extremely memorable and it sure ain't basic.

Word to describe: sympathy, you will feel empathy for both protagonists and antagonists...a good thing all movies have but it ain't Stockholm Syndrome level.
This is a fine movie to watch alone or with a few friends but don't make this a big hoorah and definitely DO NOT invite the annoying friend. He/She will ruin everything you planned for that time. Set aside a different time to catchup with that person.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
Termin8terMar 4, 2016
The Dark Knight is hands-down the best comic book movie of all time, and it's among the very best MOVIES of all time, All of the actors did a spectacular job in their roles. (especially Heath Ledger) The story picks up right where BatmanThe Dark Knight is hands-down the best comic book movie of all time, and it's among the very best MOVIES of all time, All of the actors did a spectacular job in their roles. (especially Heath Ledger) The story picks up right where Batman Begins left off, Batman, Gordon, and Harvey Dent are on the brink of bringing down the crime network that rules Gotham City: the Mob, when suddenly a mysterious crimelord known as The Joker makes a deal with the Mob to kill Batman. Now, before I continue, can I say that the Joker was written and acted PERFECTLY, good job Nolan for writing such brilliant dialogue for the Joker, and Heath Ledger for acting and voicing the dialogue spectacularly. Anyway, The Joker commits a number of serious crimes to get Batman to give himself up. The crimes get more and more horrific, and Batman is getting stressed out. I've probably spoiled enough by now, but if you read this review and don't watch this movie, then we can't be friends. WATCH THIS MOVIE NOW!!!!!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
EdwardGregoryApr 19, 2015
A good film critic, a really good film critic, is a film critic that you can trust to be the film critic you need and not just the film critic you want.

It would be easy, quite easy, to get swept up in the media masses who are desperatelyA good film critic, a really good film critic, is a film critic that you can trust to be the film critic you need and not just the film critic you want.

It would be easy, quite easy, to get swept up in the media masses who are desperately pining for "The Dark Knight," Heath Ledger's cinematic swan song and Christopher Nolan's second "Batman" film, to be a slice of cinematic paradise worthy of all the pre-opening Oscar surrounding Ledger's turn as The Joker.

The good news is that the awards hype is warranted...Heath Ledger doesn't so much burst from Jack Nicholson's shadow as he simply and beautifully and maniacally reinvents The Joker as a psychologically tortured criminal that is society's most dangerous type of criminal...the type of criminal who makes you compromise your own values in order to even have a hope of catching him.

Ledger's performance is a little bit prancing and preening, a whole lot menacing and taunting. Ledger would have undoubtedly cast himself into the Hollywood stratosphere with this performance, especially coming on the heels of such diverse work as "Brokeback Mountain," "Casanova" and "I'm Not There." The simple fact that Ledger can, unbelievably, make you forget his tragic death with this performance is even more haunting as you leave the theatre and reflect on the performance.

In other words, an Oscar nomination is a given. An Oscar award, while a bit more of a stretch, is certainly not out of the realm of possibility.
Yes, Ledger really is that good in "The Dark Knight."
Indeed, Nolan's second visit to Gotham is as intense, exhilarating and intelligent as his first with "Batman Begins." "The Dark Knight" is even more relentless in the psychological warfare that is unleashed before your very eyes.

Nolan's "The Dark Knight" isn't the fantasy world of so many superhero flicks, rather it is a startlingly realistic and uncomfortably authentic Gotham that sets Batman (Christian Bale), The Joker, Gordon (Gary Oldman, Scarecrow Cillian Murphy) and Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) in OUR world.

This is a Gotham that could just as easily be a Chicago (where much of it was filmed), New York, Los Angeles or Indianapolis. Nolan's Gotham is a world not unlike our own, a world in which the righteous and the evildoer are easily confused and, ultimately, all are disposable. It is a world that requires a superhero that transcends it all to become the superhero that is needed not just wanted. It is a world that needs not just a "white knight," the label given the new do-gooder District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), but a dark knight willing to do whatever it takes to save the community.

It would be a foolish and critical mistake to fault Nolan for this dark vision. With "The Dark Knight," Nolan does not always make the popular decision nor the comfortable decision. Instead, indeed, Nolan becomes the filmmaker "The Dark Knight" needs him to be by avoiding a reliance on the romantic conflicts of "Super-Man" and the more audience-friendly lightness of the recent "Iron Man." "The Dark Knight" is intense, morbid, uncomfortable and exhausting. It is as much an action film as it is a superhero film, if not even moreso. It doesn't aim to please, it aims to envelope the senses and even one's sense of being.

"The Dark Knight" succeeds.

From the opening moments of a perfectly choreographed bank robbery, Nolan makes it completely apparent that "The Dark Knight," especially in its preferred IMAX format, is going to plop right down in our laps and rattle every cell of our bodies until we're pleading for a mercy that never arrives until the closing credits.

Christian Bale feels even more comfortable as the caped crusader, with a performance that is even more focused and precise than his turn in "Batman Begins." As chiseled as his abs, Bale turns Batman and Bruce Wayne into characters disturb because they leave you thinking that you really ought to be a better human being yourself. While I'm still not sold on the digitally manipulated vocals for Batman, Bale's presence is as maniacal as Ledger's without ever giving into The Joker's chaos.

The film's supporting players are uniformly strong, most notably Aaron Eckhart's quieter yet equally career-transcending turn as Dent, who experiences an unexpected tragedy that transforms him into his already assigned nickname of Harvey Two-Face. It was Eckhart's casting that, for some reason, made the least sense to me and the early trailer's hadn't put me at ease. Yet, within the first few minutes of "The Dark Knight," Eckhart removes all doubts with a performance that is moving and scary and frighteningly real.

Both of Batman's confidante's return, Pennyworth (Michael Caine) and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman). Pennyworth harbors a secret that could potentially change everything, while Lucius becomes Batman's conscience when even he becomes ever so slightly consumed by the power he possesses. Both actors bring their A-game to the proceedings, turning what many films would project as minor characters into essential players.

Gary Oldman, as well, deliciously underplays Gordon and proves a nice contrast to the chaos that surrounds him and, perhaps most notably, Nolan corrects the miscasting of Katie Holmes in "Batman Begins" by adding the weightier Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes, the woman who is in the midst Dent and Wayne and Batman.

Co-written by Nolan and his brother Jonathan, "The Dark Knight" often seems to be as chaotic as the world in which The Joker lives. The script infuses The Joker with the film's greatest lines, lines such as "What doesn't kill you makes you stranger" and a well-placed, cinematic flashback will haunt you long after the closing credits. Yet, the script is far greater than the sum of its parts with little bits and pieces that will permeate your brain even moreso after you leave, as an effective script should.

As all-enveloping as "The Dark Knight" is, it is not without its flaws and, depending upon your cinematic preferences, these flaws may impact your view of the film even moreso than it did mine.

As beautifully choreographed as was the opening bank robbery, there are at least a couple of occasions where Nolan struggles to make sense of action sequences that are NOT choreographed with any sense of style or purpose or clarity. It feels unintentional and, fortunately, Nolan keeps the proceedings moving so quickly that it's easy to be so swept up in the action that one barely notices.

Still, I noticed.

Similarly, on occasion, the special effects seemed a tad run-of-the-mill. Most notably, an extended sequence involving a city-wide sonar device felt like it was more out of "Wargames" than Gotham and lacked the rest of the film's exhilarating sense of awesomeness.

"The Dark Knight," while certainly not a graphic film in terms of violence, is nonetheless a graphic film in terms of its psychological warfare. Ledger's The Joker means business and, coupled with Nolan's relentless intentionality, "The Dark Knight" may not be a film for smaller children unable to fully process this darker, morbid Gotham.

There are moments, quite a few moments, in "The Dark Knight" that transcend anything you've seen in any other superhero film. It is a feral beast of a film that will impact you like it impacted me, waking me up at 4am to write a review of a film I simply cannot stop thinking about for even a moment.

Brooding, captivating, unforgettable and awesome, "The Dark Knight" isn't always the film you want it to be...instead, Nolan compels us into a world that is equal parts fantasy and disturbing reality. "The Dark Knight" is the film we need it to be.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
EddyGregsApr 19, 2015
Batman (Bale) hopes to hang up his cape and hand over crime-fighting duties to District Attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart). But the arrival of clown-faced master criminal The Joker (Ledger) forces the masked vigilante to question everything heBatman (Bale) hopes to hang up his cape and hand over crime-fighting duties to District Attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart). But the arrival of clown-faced master criminal The Joker (Ledger) forces the masked vigilante to question everything he stands for.

Nolan navigates through a moral maze and some pointed politicking, but without ever stinting on stunts or explosions. It is thoughtful but never dull, and the OTT action and expansion — underscored in IMAX sequences which will no doubt look spectacular on the enormo-screen (Empire reviewed from a 35mm print) — are generally to its benefit, even though Nolan still appears more comfortable and engaged with interacting people than trucks and Batbikes. After a blistering opening, there’s a second act lull and a story shift not quite as elegant (or, some might argue, even coherent) as you’d expect from the director of The Prestige. But The Dark Knight is spectacular, visionary blockbuster entertainment: pretty much everything you could hope for and then some. It isn’t perfect but then, like its hero, like his late co-star, and as Nolan’s fitting tribute so ably observes, nobody is.

Ledger’s performance is monumental, but The Dark Knight lives up to it. Nolan cements his position as Hollywood’s premier purveyor of blockbuster smarts – and the Batbike is kinda cool, too.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
MovieManiac83Apr 23, 2015
Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended.Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended. However, in Christopher Nolan's Batman universe, decisions and actions have consequences. The Dark Knight, arguably the moodiest and most adult superhero motion picture ever to reach the screen, illustrates this lesson in ways that are startling and painful. This is a tough, uncompromising motion picture - one that defies the common notions of what is expected from a "superhero" film. While there are plenty of action sequences and instances of derring-do, The Dark Knight's subtext has a tragic underpinning that would intrigue Shakespeare or the Greeks. It's about power and impotence, sanity and madness, image and reality, selfishness and sacrifice, and - yes - consequences.

It has often been said that Tim Burton's vision of Batman was the darkest representation we were ever likely to see of a superhero. Compared to how Nolan sees the character, Burton's version was a pantomime. For many long-running franchises, Burton's included, the second volume stands tallest. Nolan has followed up on his gritty and successful Batman Begins with one of the best all-time sequels, and perhaps the most impressive mainstream entertainment experience since 2003's The Return of the King. The Dark Knight builds upon the themes and premises founded three years ago. With the introductions and origins dispensed with in Batman Begins, Nolan uses this opportunity to expand upon his portrait of Batman as a haunted individual who, driven by forces rooted deep in his psyche, must dispense justice according to his own strict code.

Often in superhero movies, there's a sense that, no matter what challenges the protagonist must face, all will be right in the end. That certainty is missing here, and its absence may represent Nolan's most impressive accomplishment. Batman is fallible and his world is dangerous. No character, no matter how well-established in Batman lore, is safe. This director's Gotham City may be less garish and gothic than Burton's, but it is in many ways a bleaker and more oppressive place. It's a joyless venue and the hero takes his demeanor from his city. Batman is a grim, brooding superhero. He rarely speaks while in costume and, when he does, his voice quivers with menace and his words are devoid of the quips and one-liners audiences have come to associate with action heroes.

For all of the heavy lifting done by the movie's screenplay, dealing as it does with substantive issues and existential questions, there's still plenty of the meat-and-potatoes content of any superhero movie: action sequences. There are numerous fights, chases, and races. The Batmobile gets its share of screen time as does a new Bat-cycle. Batman takes on bad guys singly and in bunches. And there's a heart-pounding sequence in which the Caped Crusader must race against time to save a life, where the price is almost as terrible if he succeeds as if he fails. Nolan's inherent sense of how to transform a relatively mundane fight scene into something involving is in evidence here, much as was the case in Batman Begins. He avoids flash editing and allows the action to evolve in a coherent manner, drawing the viewer in rather than keeping him guessing what's going on.

2008 may be the year that the superhero movie comes of age. Iron Man represents the best screen adventure of a Marvel hero. Now, D.C. has answered with The Dark Knight, a film so impressive in every significant facet that it makes one wonder why it took so long for the genre to reach this high level. Christopher Nolan has provided movie-goers with the best superhero movie to-date, outclassing previous titles both mediocre and excellent, and giving this franchise its The Empire Strikes Back.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
CinemaBlendMay 6, 2015
Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended.Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended. However, in Christopher Nolan's Batman universe, decisions and actions have consequences. The Dark Knight, arguably the moodiest and most adult superhero motion picture ever to reach the screen, illustrates this lesson in ways that are startling and painful. This is a tough, uncompromising motion picture - one that defies the common notions of what is expected from a "superhero" film. While there are plenty of action sequences and instances of derring-do, The Dark Knight's subtext has a tragic underpinning that would intrigue Shakespeare or the Greeks. It's about power and impotence, sanity and madness, image and reality, selfishness and sacrifice, and - yes - consequences.

It has often been said that Tim Burton's vision of Batman was the darkest representation we were ever likely to see of a superhero. Compared to how Nolan sees the character, Burton's version was a pantomime. For many long-running franchises, Burton's included, the second volume stands tallest. Nolan has followed up on his gritty and successful Batman Begins with one of the best all-time sequels, and perhaps the most impressive mainstream entertainment experience since 2003's The Return of the King. The Dark Knight builds upon the themes and premises founded three years ago. With the introductions and origins dispensed with in Batman Begins, Nolan uses this opportunity to expand upon his portrait of Batman as a haunted individual who, driven by forces rooted deep in his psyche, must dispense justice according to his own strict code.

Often in superhero movies, there's a sense that, no matter what challenges the protagonist must face, all will be right in the end. That certainty is missing here, and its absence may represent Nolan's most impressive accomplishment. Batman is fallible and his world is dangerous. No character, no matter how well-established in Batman lore, is safe. This director's Gotham City may be less garish and gothic than Burton's, but it is in many ways a bleaker and more oppressive place. It's a joyless venue and the hero takes his demeanor from his city. Batman is a grim, brooding superhero. He rarely speaks while in costume and, when he does, his voice quivers with menace and his words are devoid of the quips and one-liners audiences have come to associate with action heroes.

Of the newcomers, the Joker is the biggest addition. One could argue that it's impossible to make a Batman series without facing the main character against the Joker at some point. No superhero and villain are more inextricably linked. Yet this Joker is unlike any we have previously encountered. Cesar Romero's interpretation of the character (in the '60s TV series) was that of a deadly prankster. Jack Nicholson's over-the-top performance made 1989's Batman all about the bad guy. The late Heath Ledger, however, gives us something darker and more twisted - a role that would have been no less memorable had it not been his last and most grueling. There's nothing humorous about this freak. No flowery lines like "You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?" This is no caricature - The Joker is a frighteningly vicious and intelligent monster who represents a legitimate match for the title character.

The other major character to join the ensemble is Aaron Eckhart as Gotham's charismatic, photogenic D.A. Harvey Dent is Gotham's Knight in Shining Armor, and that's how Eckhart plays him - an individual with a pure heart who makes his own luck. Those even passingly familiar with Batman lore know Dent's fate, and it plays out here as one might suspect, although Nolan puts a different spin on things than did Joel Schumacher.

For all of the heavy lifting done by the movie's screenplay, dealing as it does with substantive issues and existential questions, there's still plenty of the meat-and-potatoes content of any superhero movie: action sequences. There are numerous fights, chases, and races. The Batmobile gets its share of screen time as does a new Bat-cycle. Batman takes on bad guys singly and in bunches. And there's a heart-pounding sequence in which the Caped Crusader must race against time to save a life, where the price is almost as terrible if he succeeds as if he fails. Nolan's inherent sense of how to transform a relatively mundane fight scene into something involving is in evidence here, much as was the case in Batman Begins. He avoids flash editing and allows the action to evolve in a coherent manner, drawing the viewer in rather than keeping him guessing what's going on.

Christopher Nolan has provided movie-goers with the best superhero movie to-date, outclassing previous titles both mediocre and excellent, and giving this franchise its The Empire Strikes Back.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
CinemaSinsMay 9, 2015
Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended.Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended. However, in Christopher Nolan's Batman universe, decisions and actions have consequences. The Dark Knight, arguably the moodiest and most adult superhero motion picture ever to reach the screen, illustrates this lesson in ways that are startling and painful. This is a tough, uncompromising motion picture - one that defies the common notions of what is expected from a "superhero" film. While there are plenty of action sequences and instances of derring-do, The Dark Knight's subtext has a tragic underpinning that would intrigue Shakespeare or the Greeks. It's about power and impotence, sanity and madness, image and reality, selfishness and sacrifice, and - yes - consequences.

It has often been said that Tim Burton's vision of Batman was the darkest representation we were ever likely to see of a superhero. Compared to how Nolan sees the character, Burton's version was a pantomime. For many long-running franchises, Burton's included, the second volume stands tallest. Nolan has followed up on his gritty and successful Batman Begins with one of the best all-time sequels, and perhaps the most impressive mainstream entertainment experience since 2003's The Return of the King. The Dark Knight builds upon the themes and premises founded three years ago. With the introductions and origins dispensed with in Batman Begins, Nolan uses this opportunity to expand upon his portrait of Batman as a haunted individual who, driven by forces rooted deep in his psyche, must dispense justice according to his own strict code.

Often in superhero movies, there's a sense that, no matter what challenges the protagonist must face, all will be right in the end. That certainty is missing here, and its absence may represent Nolan's most impressive accomplishment. Batman is fallible and his world is dangerous. No character, no matter how well-established in Batman lore, is safe. This director's Gotham City may be less garish and gothic than Burton's, but it is in many ways a bleaker and more oppressive place. It's a joyless venue and the hero takes his demeanor from his city. Batman is a grim, brooding superhero. He rarely speaks while in costume and, when he does, his voice quivers with menace and his words are devoid of the quips and one-liners audiences have come to associate with action heroes.

Of the newcomers, the Joker is the biggest addition. One could argue that it's impossible to make a Batman series without facing the main character against the Joker at some point. No superhero and villain are more inextricably linked. Yet this Joker is unlike any we have previously encountered. Cesar Romero's interpretation of the character (in the '60s TV series) was that of a deadly prankster. Jack Nicholson's over-the-top performance made 1989's Batman all about the bad guy. The late Heath Ledger, however, gives us something darker and more twisted - a role that would have been no less memorable had it not been his last and most grueling. There's nothing humorous about this freak. No flowery lines like "You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?" This is no caricature - The Joker is a frighteningly vicious and intelligent monster who represents a legitimate match for the title character.

For all of the heavy lifting done by the movie's screenplay, dealing as it does with substantive issues and existential questions, there's still plenty of the meat-and-potatoes content of any superhero movie: action sequences. There are numerous fights, chases, and races. The Batmobile gets its share of screen time as does a new Bat-cycle. Batman takes on bad guys singly and in bunches. And there's a heart-pounding sequence in which the Caped Crusader must race against time to save a life, where the price is almost as terrible if he succeeds as if he fails. Nolan's inherent sense of how to transform a relatively mundane fight scene into something involving is in evidence here, much as was the case in Batman Begins. He avoids flash editing and allows the action to evolve in a coherent manner, drawing the viewer in rather than keeping him guessing what's going on.

2008 may be the year that the superhero movie comes of age. Iron Man represents the best screen adventure of a Marvel hero. Now, D.C. has answered with The Dark Knight, a film so impressive in every significant facet that it makes one wonder why it took so long for the genre to reach this high level. Christopher Nolan has provided movie-goers with the best superhero movie to-date, outclassing previous titles both mediocre and excellent, and giving this franchise its The Empire Strikes Back.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
mthlacerdaMay 10, 2015
The best villain action of all time is in this movie, also a movie that revolutionized its genre and a terrific wonderful script and direction from Christopher Nolan. WATCH AND LOVE IT!
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
ZawMineMay 15, 2015
One of the best movies out there. A superhero movie that doesn't feel like superhero movie. The problem with this movie for me is the fighting scenes and its heaviness.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
retkimunaJun 13, 2015
I love this movie for one reason and it's Heath Ledger he's best joker since 1966 Cesar Romero. Movie has good acting and it's awesome see something else than **** I saw this movie only because Ledger and omg he's amazing. Watch this movie.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
markkermodeJun 19, 2015
Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended.Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended. However, in Christopher Nolan's Batman universe, decisions and actions have consequences. The Dark Knight, arguably the moodiest and most adult superhero motion picture ever to reach the screen, illustrates this lesson in ways that are startling and painful. This is a tough, uncompromising motion picture - one that defies the common notions of what is expected from a "superhero" film. While there are plenty of action sequences and instances of derring-do, The Dark Knight's subtext has a tragic underpinning that would intrigue Shakespeare or the Greeks. It's about power and impotence, sanity and madness, image and reality, selfishness and sacrifice, and - yes - consequences.

It has often been said that Tim Burton's vision of Batman was the darkest representation we were ever likely to see of a superhero. Compared to how Nolan sees the character, Burton's version was a pantomime. For many long-running franchises, Burton's included, the second volume stands tallest. Nolan has followed up on his gritty and successful Batman Begins with one of the best all-time sequels, and perhaps the most impressive mainstream entertainment experience since 2003's The Return of the King. The Dark Knight builds upon the themes and premises founded three years ago. With the introductions and origins dispensed with in Batman Begins, Nolan uses this opportunity to expand upon his portrait of Batman as a haunted individual who, driven by forces rooted deep in his psyche, must dispense justice according to his own strict code.

Often in superhero movies, there's a sense that, no matter what challenges the protagonist must face, all will be right in the end. That certainty is missing here, and its absence may represent Nolan's most impressive accomplishment. Batman is fallible and his world is dangerous. No character, no matter how well-established in Batman lore, is safe. This director's Gotham City may be less garish and gothic than Burton's, but it is in many ways a bleaker and more oppressive place. It's a joyless venue and the hero takes his demeanor from his city. Batman is a grim, brooding superhero. He rarely speaks while in costume and, when he does, his voice quivers with menace and his words are devoid of the quips and one-liners audiences have come to associate with action heroes.

Of the newcomers, the Joker is the biggest addition. One could argue that it's impossible to make a Batman series without facing the main character against the Joker at some point. No superhero and villain are more inextricably linked. Yet this Joker is unlike any we have previously encountered. Cesar Romero's interpretation of the character (in the '60s TV series) was that of a deadly prankster. Jack Nicholson's over-the-top performance made 1989's Batman all about the bad guy. The late Heath Ledger, however, gives us something darker and more twisted - a role that would have been no less memorable had it not been his last and most grueling. There's nothing humorous about this freak. No flowery lines like "You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?" This is no caricature - The Joker is a frighteningly vicious and intelligent monster who represents a legitimate match for the title character.

For all of the heavy lifting done by the movie's screenplay, dealing as it does with substantive issues and existential questions, there's still plenty of the meat-and-potatoes content of any superhero movie: action sequences. There are numerous fights, chases, and races. The Batmobile gets its share of screen time as does a new Bat-cycle. Batman takes on bad guys singly and in bunches. And there's a heart-pounding sequence in which the Caped Crusader must race against time to save a life, where the price is almost as terrible if he succeeds as if he fails. Nolan's inherent sense of how to transform a relatively mundane fight scene into something involving is in evidence here, much as was the case in Batman Begins. He avoids flash editing and allows the action to evolve in a coherent manner, drawing the viewer in rather than keeping him guessing what's going on.

2008 may be the year that the superhero movie comes of age. Iron Man represents the best screen adventure of a Marvel hero. Now, D.C. has answered with The Dark Knight, a film so impressive in every significant facet that it makes one wonder why it took so long for the genre to reach this high level. Christopher Nolan has provided movie-goers with the best superhero movie to-date, outclassing previous titles both mediocre and excellent, and giving this franchise its The Empire Strikes Back.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
CineAutoctonoOct 17, 2017
"The Dark Knight" was a sensational film, undoubtedly the best Batman in history, performances, history, action scenes and plot were excellently managed, Christopher Nolan certainly did wonders with this classic, but what that caught me the"The Dark Knight" was a sensational film, undoubtedly the best Batman in history, performances, history, action scenes and plot were excellently managed, Christopher Nolan certainly did wonders with this classic, but what that caught me the most, is Heath Ledger's performance (RIP Heath Ledger), made the best joker in history, Christian Bale's performance was very good, this film is complex and spectacular.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
BatmanDudeJul 27, 2015
Batman The Dark Knight is simply the best movie ever made, every thing in it is just so perfect, some people say its overrated, but those are just people who don't like super hero movies or Marvel fanboys, Heath Ledger's performance is theBatman The Dark Knight is simply the best movie ever made, every thing in it is just so perfect, some people say its overrated, but those are just people who don't like super hero movies or Marvel fanboys, Heath Ledger's performance is the best, Christian Bale's Performance is the best and all other performances are the best.

Joker>all villains… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
mohamad91hkMay 1, 2019
In this movie we can talk about the joker only, coz he is one who make "the dark knight" one of the greatest movies in the cinema.

Heath Ledger & Christopher Nolan gave us a psycho character that will stay in minds forever. I don't thinkIn this movie we can talk about the joker only, coz he is one who make "the dark knight" one of the greatest movies in the cinema.

Heath Ledger & Christopher Nolan gave us a psycho character that will stay in minds forever.

I don't think there is someone was liking The Joker before, but after "the dark knight" everyone talk about The Joker more than Batman. The insanity, intelligence, pure evil, etc. all this performed perfectly by Heath. Honestly, the cinema lost one of the greatest actor in history, R.I.P Heath.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
Ayush333Sep 9, 2015
justjust AWESOME!!!..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
geo333Oct 22, 2022
The best comic film to this day and one of the best films I have watched Great job Nolan you nailed it.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
IAMGEOFFREY99Sep 1, 2015
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. "Madness is like gravity, It only ... takes ... one push" This movie is my personal favorite, whether it's heath ledgers amazing acting or the amazing fight scenes this movie is great and totally worth your money! hope this review helped c: "Madness is like gravity, It only ... takes ... one push"… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
ConnorkirkerDec 9, 2015
Dark as in The Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan Has done another masterpiece. From Memento to Interstellar.
Loved the first one but this one is near-spectacular. Because Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart as the villains is a wonderful choice asDark as in The Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan Has done another masterpiece. From Memento to Interstellar.
Loved the first one but this one is near-spectacular. Because Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart as the villains is a wonderful choice as being in this great movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
marianodSep 21, 2015
Perhaps the best of batman's movie. This (obscure) movie seems to be the most twisted of all. The acting of Heath and Christian was memorable, realistic and visceral.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
TrackerDeviceNov 2, 2015
This movie is fantastic on so many levels. With great performances, great storytelling, and the wonderful directing of Christopher Nolan, this movie not only lived up to its expectations, it is the greatest superhero movie of all time.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
VamonteMar 8, 2016
The film that sets bar too high for comic book movies. The Dark Knight is more than just an ordinary superhero movie. It is an epic crime drama with an unforgettable portrayal of the Joker.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
sahamouckticNov 20, 2015
I watched this movie and fell in love with it! SERIOUSLY there is nothing quite near to this EPIC creation by Nolan in cinematic Universe. An exceptionally well written story,Screenplay,Soundtrack, Acting by the cast,Real stunts performed andI watched this movie and fell in love with it! SERIOUSLY there is nothing quite near to this EPIC creation by Nolan in cinematic Universe. An exceptionally well written story,Screenplay,Soundtrack, Acting by the cast,Real stunts performed and Message on Human behaviour and tendency .… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
adam09_Mar 31, 2016
"The Dark Knight" is a Masterpiece that focus' on the characters more than the action. Heath Ledgers Joker is amazing and is one of the best portrayals of a villain in movie history. This movie might have Batman as the main protagonist but"The Dark Knight" is a Masterpiece that focus' on the characters more than the action. Heath Ledgers Joker is amazing and is one of the best portrayals of a villain in movie history. This movie might have Batman as the main protagonist but its not a superhero film its a gritty crime/ thriller movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
EpicLadySpongeJan 3, 2016
The Dark Knight is like way too long and it's not really that interesting. On the other hand, it's something dark and a teasing movie that made the name straight on to the action category.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
NicoteenJan 16, 2016
The Dark Knight
points based review:

Story: 8.7 (very good)
Genre-Rating: 9.0 (awesome)
Effects, camera and performance: 9.4 (awesome)
Cast: 9.4 (awesome)

OVERALL RATING: 9.1 (awesome)

9.1 = 9
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
gameguardian21Feb 10, 2016
This is the best comic movie put to film. The story is full of amazing moments, action, batmans throat cancer, and jokers spectacular performance, he even mad me laugh a few times. If you know anything about batman, you should definitely goThis is the best comic movie put to film. The story is full of amazing moments, action, batmans throat cancer, and jokers spectacular performance, he even mad me laugh a few times. If you know anything about batman, you should definitely go check this one out.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
TheMovieDoctorJan 7, 2016
Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended.Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended. However, in Christopher Nolan's Batman universe, decisions and actions have consequences. The Dark Knight, arguably the moodiest and most adult superhero motion picture ever to reach the screen, illustrates this lesson in ways that are startling and painful. This is a tough, uncompromising motion picture - one that defies the common notions of what is expected from a "superhero" film. While there are plenty of action sequences and instances of derring-do, The Dark Knight's subtext has a tragic underpinning that would intrigue Shakespeare or the Greeks. It's about power and impotence, sanity and madness, image and reality, selfishness and sacrifice, and - yes - consequences.

It has often been said that Tim Burton's vision of Batman was the darkest representation we were ever likely to see of a superhero. Compared to how Nolan sees the character, Burton's version was a pantomime. For many long-running franchises, Burton's included, the second volume stands tallest. Nolan has followed up on his gritty and successful Batman Begins with one of the best all-time sequels, and perhaps the most impressive mainstream entertainment experience since 2003's The Return of the King. The Dark Knight builds upon the themes and premises founded three years ago. With the introductions and origins dispensed with in Batman Begins, Nolan uses this opportunity to expand upon his portrait of Batman as a haunted individual who, driven by forces rooted deep in his psyche, must dispense justice according to his own strict code.

Following his defeat of Ra's Al Ghul at the end of Batman Begins, Batman (Christian Bale) has become a mythical figure in Gotham City. The Caped Crusader, as he is now known, is the city's great hope, although the debate rages as to whether he is more hero or menace. There are copycat "Batmen," as well - vigilantes who wear similar costumes but whose methods are crude. Batman's nocturnal activities are taking a heavy toll on Gotham's organized crime syndicates, and things take a turn for the worse when the new D.A., Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), decides to take them on rather than turn a blind eye or take a payment. Abetted by incorruptible police lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), Dent meets with Batman and the two come to an understanding about how to proceed in this war against crime. But a new threat is rising in the form of a sadistic lunatic called The Joker (Heath Ledger), who offers to become the mob's enforcer in the pursuit of a single goal: chaos. And this brings him squarely into conflict with the city's black-costumed guardian. To Batman, he makes one demand: remove the mask and turn himself in or the streets will run red with blood. When Bruce Wayne's identity remains secret, The Joker makes good on his word.

Of the newcomers, the Joker is the biggest addition. One could argue that it's impossible to make a Batman series without facing the main character against the Joker at some point. No superhero and villain are more inextricably linked. Yet this Joker is unlike any we have previously encountered. Cesar Romero's interpretation of the character (in the '60s TV series) was that of a deadly prankster. Jack Nicholson's over-the-top performance made 1989's Batman all about the bad guy. The late Heath Ledger, however, gives us something darker and more twisted - a role that would have been no less memorable had it not been his last and most grueling. There's nothing humorous about this freak. No flowery lines like "You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?" This is no caricature - The Joker is a frighteningly vicious and intelligent monster who represents a legitimate match for the title character.

For all of the heavy lifting done by the movie's screenplay, dealing as it does with substantive issues and existential questions, there's still plenty of the meat-and-potatoes content of any superhero movie: action sequences. There are numerous fights, chases, and races. The Batmobile gets its share of screen time as does a new Bat-cycle. Batman takes on bad guys singly and in bunches. And there's a heart-pounding sequence in which the Caped Crusader must race against time to save a life, where the price is almost as terrible if he succeeds as if he fails. Nolan's inherent sense of how to transform a relatively mundane fight scene into something involving is in evidence here, much as was the case in Batman Begins. He avoids flash editing and allows the action to evolve in a coherent manner, drawing the viewer in rather than keeping him guessing what's going on.

The Dark Knight, a film so impressive in every significant facet that it makes one wonder why it took so long for the genre to reach this high level.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
mrhotmoeJan 24, 2016
This is by far the best film your watch in a very very long time it is by far the greatest comic book movie of all time it simply cannot be beat from Heath Ledger's performance to Christian Bale as Batman bad ass. It is a wonderful movieThis is by far the best film your watch in a very very long time it is by far the greatest comic book movie of all time it simply cannot be beat from Heath Ledger's performance to Christian Bale as Batman bad ass. It is a wonderful movie crime drama thriller with the greatest villain of all time. Perfect hope you enjoy it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
abdulmuhaeminFeb 4, 2016
Was never into Batman, comics, nothing. Then, I saw The Dark Knight, as a film fan, and it became my favorite movie of all time. Despite there being no bias.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
Devestator158Feb 16, 2016
An amazing movie, even after nearly 8 years it is still my favorite movie of all time it had great acting, an excellent cast, and probably the best Joker ever as of right now making The Dark Knight is an absolute masterpiece.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
Mats2468Apr 14, 2020
The Dark Knight is simply the best movie that exist today, thanks for its passion and love for filmmaking that Nolan did alongside with the rest of the crew that was doing everything in order to make it a perfect movie. We as viewers got toThe Dark Knight is simply the best movie that exist today, thanks for its passion and love for filmmaking that Nolan did alongside with the rest of the crew that was doing everything in order to make it a perfect movie. We as viewers got to witness some of the best performances from Health Ledger as the Joker and Gary Oldman as Gordon, it was truly special to watch. What is so unique about this Batman movie is that it does not feel like a typical Batman movie, but a psychological crime drama mixed with a dark story. Christopher Nolan knew that bringing too much CGI could destroy the quality of the film so he chose to go for a realistic Batman movie and it just worked so well! The soundtrack from Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard are absoutely brilliant that really matched with the movie's dark twisted theme. The movie is the closest as flawless you can get, and possible the best movie ever made in history of cinema.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
FuturedirectorNov 7, 2016
Thanks to Haeth Ledger's terrific interpretation and Christopher Nolan's professional direction and production, The Dark Knight is an eficent; action-packed and tention-full film that cannot follow in a better way to its predecessors.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
CinemassacreMar 13, 2016
Having memorably explored the Caped Crusader’s origins in “Batman Begins,” director Christopher Nolan puts all of Gotham City under a microscope in “The Dark Knight,” the enthralling second installment of his bold, bracing and altogetherHaving memorably explored the Caped Crusader’s origins in “Batman Begins,” director Christopher Nolan puts all of Gotham City under a microscope in “The Dark Knight,” the enthralling second installment of his bold, bracing and altogether heroic reinvention of the iconic franchise. An ambitious, full-bodied crime epic of gratifying scope and moral complexity, this is seriously brainy pop entertainment that satisfies every expectation raised by its hit predecessor and then some. That should also hold true at the box office, with Heath Ledger’s justly anticipated turn as the Joker adding to the must-see excitement surrounding the Warner Bros. release.

With the Bruce Wayne/Batman backstory firmly established, “The Dark Knight” fans out to take a broader perspective on Gotham City — portrayed as a seething cauldron of interlocking power structures and criminal factions in the densely layered but remarkably fleet screenplay by helmer Nolan and brother Jonathan (stepping in for “Batman Begins’” David S. Goyer, who gets a story credit).

Using five strongly developed characters to anchor a drama with life-or-death implications for the entire metropolis, the Nolans have taken Bob Kane’s comicbook template and crafted an anguished, eloquent meditation on ideas of justice and power, corruption and anarchy and, of course, the need for heroes like Batman — a question never in doubt for the viewer, but one posed rather often by the citizens of Gotham.

Indeed, with trusty Lt. Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman, superbly restrained) and golden-boy District Attorney Harvey Dent (a cocksure Aaron Eckhart) successfully spearheading the city’s crackdown on the mob, even Wayne himself (Christian Bale) figures his nights moonlighting as a leather-clad vigilante are numbered. The young billionaire hopes to hang up the Batsuit for good and renew his relationship with assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal, an immediate improvement over Katie Holmes), who has taken up with Dent in the meantime.

But Batman’s stature as a radical symbol of good has invited a more sinister criminal presence to Gotham City — and, as seen in the crackerjack bank-robbery sequence that opens the pic, one who operates in terrifyingly unpredictable ways. Utterly indifferent to simple criminal motivations like greed, Ledger’s maniacally murderous Joker is as pure an embodiment of irrational evil as any in modern movies. He’s a pitiless psychopath who revels in chaos and fears neither pain nor death, a demonic prankster for whom all the world’s a punchline.

After Ledger’s death in January, his penultimate performance (with Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” still to come) will be viewed with both tremendous excitement and unavoidable sadness. It’s a tribute to Ledger’s indelible work that he makes the viewer entirely forget the actor behind the cracked white makeup and blood-red rictus grin, so complete and frightening is his immersion in the role. With all due respect to the enjoyable camp buffoonery of past Jokers like Cesar Romero and Jack Nicholson, Ledger makes them look like — well, clowns.

The pic shrewdly positions the Joker as the superhero-movie equivalent of a modern terrorist (one of several post-9/11 signifiers), who threatens to target Gotham civilians until Batman reveals his identity. Batman, Gordon and Dent uneasily join forces, but the Joker seems to have the upper hand at every step, even from a jail cell; the city, turning against the hero it once looked to for hope, seems more fractious, vulnerable and dangerous than ever.

Though more linear than “Memento” and “The Prestige” (both also co-scripted by the Nolans), “The Dark Knight” pivots with similar ingenuity on a breathless series of twists and turns, culminating in a dramatic shift for Dent. This subplot reps the film’s weakest link, packing too much psychological motivation into too little screen time to be entirely credible. Yet Eckhart vividly inhabits the character’s sad trajectory, underscoring the film’s point that symbols of good can be all too easily tarnished.

Viewers who found “Batman Begins” too existentially weighty for its own good will be refreshed to know that “The Dark Knight” hits the ground running and rarely lets up over its swift 2½-hour running time. Nolan directs the action more confidently than he did the first time out, orchestrating all manner of vertiginous mid-air escapes and virtuosic highway setpieces (and unleashing Batman’s latest ooh-ah contraption, the monster-truck-tire-equipped Bat-Pod). In a fresh innovation, six sequences were shot using Imax cameras, and will presumably look smashing in the giant-screen format (pic was reviewed from a 35mm print).

Plus a fantastic moody score by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard.

A superhero crime epic saga. Loved to hear that Chris Nolan is also a big fan of Heat which inspired a majority of the film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
MovieMasterEdMar 22, 2016
Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended.Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended. However, in Christopher Nolan's Batman universe, decisions and actions have consequences. The Dark Knight, arguably the moodiest and most adult superhero motion picture ever to reach the screen, illustrates this lesson in ways that are startling and painful. This is a tough, uncompromising motion picture - one that defies the common notions of what is expected from a "superhero" film. While there are plenty of action sequences and instances of derring-do, The Dark Knight's subtext has a tragic underpinning that would intrigue Shakespeare or the Greeks. It's about power and impotence, sanity and madness, image and reality, selfishness and sacrifice, and - yes - consequences.

It has often been said that Tim Burton's vision of Batman was the darkest representation we were ever likely to see of a superhero. Compared to how Nolan sees the character, Burton's version was a pantomime. For many long-running franchises, Burton's included, the second volume stands tallest. Nolan has followed up on his gritty and successful Batman Begins with one of the best all-time sequels, and perhaps the most impressive mainstream entertainment experience since 2003's The Return of the King. The Dark Knight builds upon the themes and premises founded three years ago. With the introductions and origins dispensed with in Batman Begins, Nolan uses this opportunity to expand upon his portrait of Batman as a haunted individual who, driven by forces rooted deep in his psyche, must dispense justice according to his own strict code.

Often in superhero movies, there's a sense that, no matter what challenges the protagonist must face, all will be right in the end. That certainty is missing here, and its absence may represent Nolan's most impressive accomplishment. Batman is fallible and his world is dangerous. No character, no matter how well-established in Batman lore, is safe. This director's Gotham City may be less garish and gothic than Burton's, but it is in many ways a bleaker and more oppressive place. It's a joyless venue and the hero takes his demeanor from his city. Batman is a grim, brooding superhero. He rarely speaks while in costume and, when he does, his voice quivers with menace and his words are devoid of the quips and one-liners audiences have come to associate with action heroes.

Of the newcomers, the Joker is the biggest addition. One could argue that it's impossible to make a Batman series without facing the main character against the Joker at some point. No superhero and villain are more inextricably linked. Yet this Joker is unlike any we have previously encountered. Cesar Romero's interpretation of the character (in the '60s TV series) was that of a deadly prankster. Jack Nicholson's over-the-top performance made 1989's Batman all about the bad guy. The late Heath Ledger, however, gives us something darker and more twisted - a role that would have been no less memorable had it not been his last and most grueling. There's nothing humorous about this freak. No flowery lines like "You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?" This is no caricature - The Joker is a frighteningly vicious and intelligent monster who represents a legitimate match for the title character.

For all of the heavy lifting done by the movie's screenplay, dealing as it does with substantive issues and existential questions, there's still plenty of the meat-and-potatoes content of any superhero movie: action sequences. There are numerous fights, chases, and races. The Batmobile gets its share of screen time as does a new Bat-cycle. Batman takes on bad guys singly and in bunches. And there's a heart-pounding sequence in which the Caped Crusader must race against time to save a life, where the price is almost as terrible if he succeeds as if he fails. Nolan's inherent sense of how to transform a relatively mundane fight scene into something involving is in evidence here, much as was the case in Batman Begins. He avoids flash editing and allows the action to evolve in a coherent manner, drawing the viewer in rather than keeping him guessing what's going on.

2008 may be the year that the superhero movie comes of age. Iron Man represents the best screen adventure of a Marvel hero. Now, D.C. has answered with The Dark Knight, a film so impressive in every significant facet that it makes one wonder why it took so long for the genre to reach this high level. Christopher Nolan has provided movie-goers with the best superhero movie to-date, outclassing previous titles both mediocre and excellent, and giving this franchise its The Empire Strikes Back.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
hugoferreiraAug 28, 2018
Nolan is the only director that can pick up a superhero franchise and not only make it believable as also turn it into a cult film. The Dark Knight, second of the trilogy and the best by far, is an accomplishment reachable only by one of theNolan is the only director that can pick up a superhero franchise and not only make it believable as also turn it into a cult film. The Dark Knight, second of the trilogy and the best by far, is an accomplishment reachable only by one of the best of all time Mr. Chris Nolan. Joker twisted, psycho and anarchist mind brilliantly executed by Heath Ledger, most likely to reason for him to commit suicide, fills every corner of this film. The well deserved Posthumous Oscar for a best supporting role for a superhero is a statement to Ledger's performance. The dark noir tone of this film combined with Joker's mind as well as the dark twitch present in the film leaves you with a sense of emptiness but also hope. Here lies the beauty of this film, the mixed feelings you get, the struggle between good and evil and where does it come the grey area. The Oscar for best movie would never go to Dark Knight, no idea why always thought the category was best movie and not best drama movie, however this is without any doubt the best move of 2008 and the one of the best of all time. Now time to watch and enjoy.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
ReelViews94Mar 23, 2016
Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended.Consequences. In real life, these ramifications emanate from every action like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond. Often in movies, especially those that feature characters who don't play by the rules, such penalties are suspended. However, in Christopher Nolan's Batman universe, decisions and actions have consequences. The Dark Knight, arguably the moodiest and most adult superhero motion picture ever to reach the screen, illustrates this lesson in ways that are startling and painful. This is a tough, uncompromising motion picture - one that defies the common notions of what is expected from a "superhero" film. While there are plenty of action sequences and instances of derring-do, The Dark Knight's subtext has a tragic underpinning that would intrigue Shakespeare or the Greeks. It's about power and impotence, sanity and madness, image and reality, selfishness and sacrifice, and - yes - consequences.

It has often been said that Tim Burton's vision of Batman was the darkest representation we were ever likely to see of a superhero. Compared to how Nolan sees the character, Burton's version was a pantomime. For many long-running franchises, Burton's included, the second volume stands tallest. Nolan has followed up on his gritty and successful Batman Begins with one of the best all-time sequels, and perhaps the most impressive mainstream entertainment experience since 2003's The Return of the King. The Dark Knight builds upon the themes and premises founded three years ago. With the introductions and origins dispensed with in Batman Begins, Nolan uses this opportunity to expand upon his portrait of Batman as a haunted individual who, driven by forces rooted deep in his psyche, must dispense justice according to his own strict code.

Often in superhero movies, there's a sense that, no matter what challenges the protagonist must face, all will be right in the end. That certainty is missing here, and its absence may represent Nolan's most impressive accomplishment. Batman is fallible and his world is dangerous. No character, no matter how well-established in Batman lore, is safe. This director's Gotham City may be less garish and gothic than Burton's, but it is in many ways a bleaker and more oppressive place. It's a joyless venue and the hero takes his demeanor from his city. Batman is a grim, brooding superhero. He rarely speaks while in costume and, when he does, his voice quivers with menace and his words are devoid of the quips and one-liners audiences have come to associate with action heroes.

The survivors of Batman Begins are all back. Christian Bale has become the first Batman where it matters which actor is under the cowl. Keaton, Kilmer, and Clooney were all interchangeable when wearing the Bat-suit. Not so with Bale, who owns the role. His presence in the costume is forceful in a way that none of his predecessors achieved. Michael Caine's Alfred acts not only as Bruce Wayne's butler but as his conscience. Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) is Batman's version of "Q." Indeed, there's a scene in The Dark Knight that could have been lifted from one of many James Bond films. Gary Oldman's Jim Gordon, who wasn't too sure about Batman for much of the first film, is now fully on board as his unofficial liaison to the police force. Assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes remains the girl who got away, the woman whose promise of a normal, happy life provides Wayne with hope for the future. For The Dark Knight, Maggie Gyllenhaal has replaced Katie Holmes, but the change in actress isn't a detriment. Gyllenhaal is a better actress and makes the character her own from her first scene.

Of the newcomers, the Joker is the biggest addition. One could argue that it's impossible to make a Batman series without facing the main character against the Joker at some point. No superhero and villain are more inextricably linked. Yet this Joker is unlike any we have previously encountered. The other major character to join the ensemble is Aaron Eckhart as Gotham's charismatic, photogenic D.A. Harvey Dent is Gotham's Knight in Shining Armor, and that's how Eckhart plays him - an individual with a pure heart who makes his own luck. Those even passingly familiar with Batman lore know Dent's fate, and it plays out here as one might suspect, although Nolan puts a different spin on things than did Joel Schumacher.

For all of the heavy lifting done by the movie's screenplay, dealing as it does with substantive issues and existential questions, there's still plenty of the meat-and-potatoes content of any superhero movie: action sequences. There are numerous fights, chases, and races.

2008 may be the year that the superhero movie comes of age. Iron Man represents the best screen adventure of a Marvel hero. Now, D.C. has answered with The Dark Knight, a film so impressive in every significant facet that it makes one wonder why it took so long for the genre to reach this high level.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
Jimi360May 27, 2016
Dark and twisted, but mezmorising and memorable, The Dark Knight is the finest movie to ever include superheroes or superhero themes, and unlikely to ever be beaten. A true masterpiece from Christopher Nolan.

I can not go any furtherDark and twisted, but mezmorising and memorable, The Dark Knight is the finest movie to ever include superheroes or superhero themes, and unlikely to ever be beaten. A true masterpiece from Christopher Nolan.

I can not go any further without discussing Heath Ledger. His portrayal of the Joker is nothing short of unbelievable, and the lengths that you can tell he went to just to bring do that character justice need to be applauded. An exceptional piece of acting brilliance, some of the finest acting you will ever see. Christian Bale is, once again, a solid Batman. Michael Caine is such a loveable Alfred, which is also matched by Morgan Freeman's Fox. Other performances also worth mentioning is Gary Oldman, who you are routing for from start to finish, as well as great debuts in the series from Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes, and Aaron Ekhart as Harvey Dent. The movie's original score is outstanding, and a real credit to the composers there. The atmosphere throughout the whole movie is dark and slightly hopeless, thanks to the presence of Joker, but this adds to what is an incredibly well written story. A scene in particular between Bale's Batman and Ledger's Joker is outstanding, and so well written it will have every movie-goer on the edge of their seat.

If you haven't seen The Dark Knight, make it happen. Seriously.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
RPKHMar 24, 2016
Joker Joker Joker, this is what you heard a lot about "The Dark Knight" which is obviously true. Heath Ledger`s Joker is one of the greatest anti-hero or what i call bad-man characters and besides that one of the best performance that anJoker Joker Joker, this is what you heard a lot about "The Dark Knight" which is obviously true. Heath Ledger`s Joker is one of the greatest anti-hero or what i call bad-man characters and besides that one of the best performance that an actor could perform (don`t you agreed?), but this is not the only strong point of the film; Nolan`s superhero is more human like despite what we seeing these days (i write this in march 2016) of so called super mega heros that you can not do anything to them!
I think this will be enough.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
ufkumhoMar 25, 2016
Not gonna lie, my favourite movie of all time, wtached it for my birthday in the cinema , and I was astonished 8 years ago, and everytime I watch now.
The whole cast is awesome, Bale is my favourite Batman as he gives a deep look inside theNot gonna lie, my favourite movie of all time, wtached it for my birthday in the cinema , and I was astonished 8 years ago, and everytime I watch now.
The whole cast is awesome, Bale is my favourite Batman as he gives a deep look inside the man behind the caped crusader, Oldman was perfect, Freeman and Caine served almost as comic reliefs, Eckhart's Dent is simply breathtaking. And are there any words to describe Ledger's acting ? Well, a brief sentence maybe : The best acting performance in modern day cinema history.
But what I liked most that Nolan made Batman accesible, touchable and feelable for the first time, it's not like near.superhuman.being like Ben Affleck's Batman in BvS, it's the very first time a vigilante seemed exceedingly vulnerable, less physically than mentally or pyschologically of course. The realistic set-up of the Nolanverse truly suprised and fascinated , as for the bery first time, I felt like " yes, all of this could this exist in real life too ", which really made me think a lot about it. Nolan deserves true respect for truning it into a realisitc set-up so flawlessly, he already did it in Batman Begins, but he has stepped up the game for this sequel like no one else. I think it wil take a quite long time for any superhero movie to beat "The Dark Knight", simply because almost everything about this movie is perfect. And yes , BAtman sounds like he has throat cancer, but if I was criminal, I would be afraid of a the best detetctive in the world who is a trained ninja, has awesome gadgets, looks menacing and beats other ciriminals to pulp, plus sounbds like he has a serious disease in his throat area… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
SrPepeJan 3, 2018
Un peliculón de principio a fin, pero si vamos al caso, Ledger se hace toda la película sólo, le faltó una mejor historia y un mejor Batman.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
NehuenMar 27, 2016
Por lejos una de las mejores películas de héroes de la historia (por no decir la mejor). The Dark Knight es una película obligatoria de verse para aquellos fanáticos del género y del personaje en cuestión. Con un guión frenético, complejo yPor lejos una de las mejores películas de héroes de la historia (por no decir la mejor). The Dark Knight es una película obligatoria de verse para aquellos fanáticos del género y del personaje en cuestión. Con un guión frenético, complejo y atrapante, sumando las grandes actuaciones de los actores, aunque el que se lleva toda la película es Heath Ledger, que realiza una interpretación del "The Joker", poniéndolo como uno de los mejores y más aclamados villanos del cine. Todo esto hace que esta película sea inolvidable, y pase a ser una de las mejores películas de culto. Por lejos uno de los mejores trabajos de Christopher Nolan.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
mahdi-shadowMar 28, 2016
this is literally the best Batman movie we ever had in years. and heath ledger was amazing . i love joker and dialogs .depth. story and depth the dark knight is not just a super hero movie this is more then that and smart movie
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
Antgiog1202Aug 6, 2016
The Dark Knight is not only a comic-book adaptation, it's a film about themes as well. The Joker's s viewpoint on chaos, order, anarchy, morality of an average human being is a key example of what I'm trying to explain. This film surpassesThe Dark Knight is not only a comic-book adaptation, it's a film about themes as well. The Joker's s viewpoint on chaos, order, anarchy, morality of an average human being is a key example of what I'm trying to explain. This film surpasses all the superhero flicks we get today because of complexity it has to offer to it's characters and plot. It's not about the CGI action sequences that tells the story, it's about the exploration of the theme of hero and villain, as well as order and anarchy.

Rating: 10/10

A+ = 10
A = 9
A- = 8
B+ = 7
B = 6
B- = 5
C+ = 4
C = 3
C- = 2.5
D+ = 2
D = 1.5
D- = 1
F = 0… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
MCCrusaders6May 18, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie is great example on how a batman movie should be. Dark, scary, complex, and of course a ton of fun. The performance for joker was out of the ballpark and really set the bar high for other jokers. It uses genius ideas like having the hostages look like the bad guy, and the bad guy the hostages. Its brilliant!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
NalkaMay 8, 2016
By far the best film based on a comic book character. Not your usual comic comic book movie. Dark, smart, stylish action with no CGI and thrilling from beginning to end. Plus an iconic performance by heath ledger.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
Aaron_WassermanJun 1, 2016
The greatest Comic book movie of all time, the greatest Batman movie of all time, and one of the greatest movies of all time. Do I even need to explain why The Dark Knight is incredible? It is not just because Heath Ledger( thought he isThe greatest Comic book movie of all time, the greatest Batman movie of all time, and one of the greatest movies of all time. Do I even need to explain why The Dark Knight is incredible? It is not just because Heath Ledger( thought he is incredible) but Bale is amazing along with the side characters. Action is top notch, and story telling is powerful. Well done Nolan.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
superbatJul 22, 2020
The Dark Knight is a rare masterpiece within the superhero genre. It offers more than the typical action of superhero movies. It tells a thrilling and ultimately tragic story about fighting crime in Gotham. It exceeds its predecessor inThe Dark Knight is a rare masterpiece within the superhero genre. It offers more than the typical action of superhero movies. It tells a thrilling and ultimately tragic story about fighting crime in Gotham. It exceeds its predecessor in nearly every way. The performances are better overall; Heath Ledger's unforgettable performance as the Joker is the standout. The action scenes improve, and Zimmer's score fits the movie perfectly. The Dark Knight stands out as masterpiece in the comic book genre to this day.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
FarsheedJun 6, 2016
Finally it was a movie by Christopher Nolan that critics could not oppose. If you like action movies, you have to watch this movie. Of course, the story, cinematography, costume designing, etc. is marvelous. Also pay attention to HeathFinally it was a movie by Christopher Nolan that critics could not oppose. If you like action movies, you have to watch this movie. Of course, the story, cinematography, costume designing, etc. is marvelous. Also pay attention to Heath Ledger performance.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
UNARMED_JORDAug 21, 2016
the dark knight is not just the best superhero movie of all time, its possibly my second favorite film after American Sniper, it brings in the phenomenal Heath Ledger as the Joker and a worthy story line and motive that leads to a fantasticthe dark knight is not just the best superhero movie of all time, its possibly my second favorite film after American Sniper, it brings in the phenomenal Heath Ledger as the Joker and a worthy story line and motive that leads to a fantastic conclusion the result: quite possibly a movie without fault.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
rei07Jul 19, 2016
I really love this one. The Dark Knight proves exactly what Nolan is capable of as he has offered a more compelling narrative. Batman Begins got off to a good start, but this film set the bar pretty high. Heath Ledger gave us an amazingI really love this one. The Dark Knight proves exactly what Nolan is capable of as he has offered a more compelling narrative. Batman Begins got off to a good start, but this film set the bar pretty high. Heath Ledger gave us an amazing performance with his portrayal of the Joker. Also, Christian Bale seems more conflicted, yet strangely confident as Bruce Wayne/Batman offering more weight to his character. We finally get to see that there is more to Bruce than "the hero that Gotham needs, but doesn't necessarily want". His conflict is internal, but also external in some way. That aside, this film is a genuine masterpiece.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
salmansohail_Mar 23, 2017
THE BEST SUPER HERO FILM EVER. This film is so incredible that it deserves oscars from every direction, after the success of Batman Begins, I was afraid that the sequel would not be able to deliver a good enough meaning. I was wrong, thisTHE BEST SUPER HERO FILM EVER. This film is so incredible that it deserves oscars from every direction, after the success of Batman Begins, I was afraid that the sequel would not be able to deliver a good enough meaning. I was wrong, this film defined greatness when it came to pictures. This super hero movie is a rare film that drills deep inside the character and the script more than the action. The Dark Knight dares to be more than it should be. It transcends the barriers of being labelled a "Batman movie" or "superhero movie" by excelling in all areas: character, plot, action, writing, acting, directing. The Dark Knight is not for fans of Batman or fans of serious drama. It is a film for everyone and stands as one of the most important films of the decade. However it isn't the director or The Dark Knight himself who made this film what it is. Its HEATH LEDGER. Unfortunately after his death, he was never able to witness what he had created, and that many people loved this and that it was one of the best creations in the super hero genre. Heath Ledgers joker is by far one of the best Jokers we have seen. Its hard to say that any other joker could beat him. The shear direction of this film was incredible.

Overall: 9.5/10… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
cfpAug 5, 2016
This is Joker movie, and its outstanding, Ledger was fantastic and created a credible version; and gave such a realistic take of the Joker that makes the character more plausible in real life than batman himself.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
KillercadenAug 17, 2016
Heath Ledger as Joker was the spotlight of this movie and kicked Batman into the curb with his acting. Don't get me wrong, Batman's acting was still really good, but compared to Joker, he was not the best. But this movie and it's almostHeath Ledger as Joker was the spotlight of this movie and kicked Batman into the curb with his acting. Don't get me wrong, Batman's acting was still really good, but compared to Joker, he was not the best. But this movie and it's almost non-stop action is perfect along with it's story was very interesting. I would definitely recommend this movie!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
nsroehlAug 7, 2016
The best super hero movie ever made in my opinion. The joker is fantastic. The final scene can drag a little bit, but the way this movie ends is amazing. I'm not sure how people can rate this movie so low. The story is great, making itThe best super hero movie ever made in my opinion. The joker is fantastic. The final scene can drag a little bit, but the way this movie ends is amazing. I'm not sure how people can rate this movie so low. The story is great, making it seem like batman could actually exist making this movie borderline non fiction. I love how Bruce Wayne even tries to fight crime on two fronts, one during the day with politics and the other being at night as the caped crusader. Amazing movie, it is a must watch.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
dislexicpotatoApr 14, 2019
One of the best DC films ever made, slightly overrated but still a great film nonetheless despite its flaws such as the long runtime that drags on towards the end and illogical decisions that many of the characters, mainly the cops, make in the film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
veggiesAug 14, 2016
This movie is very close to perfect, it does so many things right. The paceing of the movie was near perfect, making sure that enough was explanied before moving on to a different problem in the movie, but also, leaving enough for the viewerThis movie is very close to perfect, it does so many things right. The paceing of the movie was near perfect, making sure that enough was explanied before moving on to a different problem in the movie, but also, leaving enough for the viewer too think of what just happened. The movie also set in the theme of dark versus light very well, but by the end of the movie questioning what was immoral and what was left just in the world. The movie also gave us a set of characters that we could love and really care for and actively worry weather they lived or died. And best of all was the acting. Every actor in this movie seemed to poor their souls into this film but, the shining star of the film was Heath Leadger as the Joker. He stole the show and if anythjng is the one reasson you should watch this movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
voxottoAug 19, 2016
best batman movie there is imo. especially the best joker ever, the dark humor and dark filming style suits the batman franchise the best. Its the saddest thing in movie history that we can not have another movie with this joker
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
Page:
More From This Movie

85 Critic Reviews

8.9 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 71 The Sheep Detectives
5 68 Crime 101
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL