Batman - The Dark Knight

Not bad, not bad at all. In fact very, very good. I really enjoyed the latest installment in the Batman story for several reasons:

Pace. This movie doesn’t stop. It pumps up the adrenalin from the very beginning and rarely slows for the next two hours. At first I didn’t appreciate this but quickly adapted. It felt like a trailer at times, ie high octane, energy fueled scenes full of soundbites.

Darkness. Have yet to see the first Batman movie Christopher Nolan made but I’m assured that it is just as dark. And by darkness I mean tone as much as lighting. Compared to Burton and Schumacer’s earlier batman films this latest offering avoids any campness or cabaretesque moments. And this feels right, much more believable. Very few scenes are shown in the daylight hours but when they are, blinding white sunlight bleaches out colours and offers an environment just as stark as the nocturnal stage.

Locations. Chicago, New York, Battersea Power Station stood in for Gotham city. It shows you’re a big budget movie when you can afford to take over a couple of Staten Island ferries, have a cast of hundreds of extras in major US cities and then start blowing up Battersea Power Station.

Cast. Heath Ledger left this life with a fitting epitaph presumably ensuring he achieves James Dean status. His Joker is a scheming, Machiavellian evil lunatic and the manner in which he lisps and sucks his lines achieves a suitable amount of distaste from the audience. Christian Bale is also a lot more believable as Batman than previous incumbents – a driven, ruthless man teetering on the edge between good and evil. Great supporting actors as well: Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gylenhall.