The Dark Knight
Starting with the phenomenal acting, and carrying through to the dark storyline, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight has the edge on the original Batman film. It’s not that easy of a statement to make. Tim Burton (Corpse Bride) does bring an element of darkness into the story, and Jack Nicholson brings out the Joker’s quirky, clownish nature. However, the 1989 cast portrays the Batman characters with a literal interpretation, whereas Nolan’s cast takes the literal portrait, and goes deeper.Following Batman Begins, The Dark Knight shows Batman feeling the weight of his role. With Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) as the new District Attorney, Bruce considers giving Batman a rest; that is, until the Joker comes along. The definition of psychotic, he turns the city upside down, and it’s up to Batman to stop him. The storyline truly is dark, placing characters in, what Roger Ebert describes, as ethical dilemmas that don’t have an easy solution (Rogerebert.com).Nolan cast brings a new level to the Batman story. When I first heard Heath Ledger was playing the Joker, I’ll admit, I was skeptical. While the late actor was phenomenal in Brokeback Mountain, he was commonly known for his roles in romantic comedies (Cassanova, 10 Things I Hate about You). However, Heath Ledger was the most impressive Joker to date. From the nervous, tongue movements to the interchanging stories for his smile, Ledger never let go of his character. As a result, he captures the role of a lunatic better than Nicholson did.Christian Bale (Equilibrium) is equally successful; portraying a more tormented Batman than Michael Keaton. Plus he is the only actor to give Batman a different voice from Bruce Wayne. Batman’s deeper tone not only shows he’s darker than the previous depictions, but slightly separates the vigilante from his alter ego. Ever wondered how Batman’s lovers never notice that Bruce Wayne and Batman have the same voice? Me too.The same tortured personality can be found in Harvey Dent. Eckhart plays the good guy striving for justice, but also suggests there’s an untouched personality lurking in the background. When Harvey falls, that second personality arises, and Eckhart captures the torment and desperation well. Other star cast members include Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman.With Nolan’s film we see a different side of Batman. Bringing the graphic novels to life, The Dark Knight will not disappoint Batman’s followers. In-fact, I think it will leave them screaming “FINALLY!”