The Dark Knight

Wow, I really don't watch this movie enough. I have to admit that I enjoyed myself a lot, and looking at it with a reviewer's eye, there is a lot I noticed that I hadn't really accounted for in the past, so let's get into it.

The story of this film is a sequel to Batman Begins, and it focuses on Batman, played again by Christian Bale, who ends up having to deal with his greatest adversary yet: The psychopathic Joker, played to perfection by Heath Ledger. Helping him in his crusade is Lt. James Gordon, played by Gary Oldman, and the new district attorney Harvey Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart.

Where Batman Begins feels like a pretty solid origin story, this one goes deeper and darker, with a lot more focus on character studies, while still giving a good superhero experience all the same.

What really stood out was the focus on Batman, the Joker, and Harvey Dent, because that is really what this movie is all about. You have Batman, who is trying to be a hero but things have gotten more and more intense to the point where it is hard for Batman to keep a handle on things. Dent is out in the open stopping crime, but he has a weakness for his girlfriend Rachel Dawes, played this time by Maggie Gyllenhaal, and he says a line that echoes all too true later in the film: "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain."

Then, of course, there's the Joker himself, who is a complete sadistic psychopath, and his whole goal is to cause as much pain and suffering as possible. He doesn't even have a reason for doing it beyond a sick sense of fun, which makes him a tough foe for Batman to go up against. Watching the Joker's plans play out show that he will literally do anything to have chaos reign supreme in Gotham, and it makes for one of the bleakest Batman films ever made.

Overall, this film is more than just a superhero film. This is a story about good, evil, corruption, chaos, and harsh reality. There is a reason it has the reputation it does, and if it interests you, definitely watch it if and when you can.

Next time, we get to see the origin story of one of DC's most popular superheroes in animated form. I don't know much about it, but I have heard it is quite a good film. Keep an eye open for the animated film Wonder Woman.

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