Movie Review -- Had to Write for Newspaper Class

The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman, and the late Heath Ledger, was the top grossing movie of 2008. Taking place in the city of Gotham, this dark thriller is the sequel to Batman Begins.

The movie opens with the Joker (Ledger) and his crew of thugs robbing a bank – the bank account belonging to another gang. The Joker uses this as leverage to gain the gang’s assistance in killing Batman (Bale). Harvey Dent (Eckhart), the city’s new “ray of hope,” offers to help Batman in protecting the city, even giving himself up as Batman, to keep him on the street. In turn, Dent is taken into custody. When being transported to Central, the Joker took an 18-Wheeler and ensues in a high-speed chase. Batman, of course, comes to the rescue, saving Dent and clearing his name of “Batman.” The Joker is apprehended by Officer Gordon. However, Dent is taken, along with Rachel Dawes, by the Joker’s thugs to separate buildings, both filled with oil drums. And then, a new enemy for Batman is born out of revenge and hate.

Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard composed the background music to The Dark Knight. Fitting the title, all of the songs are very dark, and very suitable for the scenes they are played in. For example, in the beginning, the music is slightly anxious, which fits because the Joker’s minions are anticipating the robbery, are anticipated who they shoot, and who, if anyone, would shoot them. When Batman appears, the music is dark, fitting the way he’s always out at night, protecting the city of Gotham. All of the music is instrumental, giving the movie a certain original flair.

The acting in The Dark Knight is done exceptionally well, even going so far as one of the actors, Heath Ledger, dying from getting so into character. Christian Bale does an excellent job as well, portraying Batman’s dark demeanor in his expressions and voice. Ledger seemed to have the hardest part, having to play a depressed psychopath, or Batman’s other half; the half you never see. The Joker’s character was so depressing, Ledger ended up overdosing on anti-depressants in the middle of 2008.

When I first saw the film, I was appalled at how well it was done. All of the acting, the music, even the length, I thought was perfect. I laughed at some parts, and I felt sad in others. It had me interested the whole time, despite the two and a half hour length. I could look past that, because I knew and felt that it was a great movie. And it was. Deeply entertaining, it strikes you right to the core, if you really get into wondering about how the characters think, how they feel, what made them do this, what made them do that. And since the movie is a thought-provoker, it’s easy to wonder about it. Overall, it’s a good movie, well acted, and easy to love. Easily deserving the billions of dollars it made through DVD/Blu-ray sales and at the box-office.