Software Developer, Media Nut, and Proud Father of Two

After months of media blitz, a year since a teaser was released, and dealing with the agonizing fact that the movie was already in the theater for its third week, I was able to see The Dark Knight at IMAX with my brother-in-law Al. If I hadn't spent so much on the ticket, I would be willing to see the movie a second time, but money's not exactly falling out of my pockets. When Al and I walked out of the theater, I was trying to find the right words and I started laughing, heartily proclaiming, "I'm speechless!" There are so many words to describe this movie, but suffice to say, you will not be disappointed. If you haven't seen it yet, then make plans to because you will be blown away. 10 out of 10, the movie was perfect and epic. If you haven't seen the movie yet, then read no further.

The Dark Knight contains a fantastic story that was written by people who truly have a passion for Batman. Putting aside the fact that I'm a big Batman fan, the story itself, which is kept within the limits of plausibility, with a few moments pushing or exceeding that limit, is well constructed and paced. The twists and turns provided by the Joker are profound. Just when you think things couldn't be crazier, the Joker pulls his ace in the hole and floors you, several times. This film doesn't build up to a singular climactic moment; rather, it is a two and half hour climactic film that meets and surpasses anything I could have expected. One of the best things of this movie it didn't pander to fanboys just to it more appealing or "cool." A perfect example of this was X-Men: The Last Stand, where some previews highlighted the fact that the movie contained sentinels, when in fact you saw a sentinel for about 20 seconds, and we only saw its head.

Here's a great overview of the Joker from member of GameDev.net:

Who the Joker was is irrelevant. How he came to be the Joker is irrelevant. He is, an enigma and force of nature, a polarizing entity, an unpredictable and violent storm. And Heath Ledger plays him to perfection. Of the live action Jokers, Ceasar Romero's is a caricature while Jack Nicholson's is a parody. Heath Ledger's, however, is a menace. No gimmicks, no lapel flowers squirting water or acid, no laughing gas or "Joker Serum" - his pockets contain only "knives and lint." Stripped of all applique characterization, Heath Ledger produces a fascinating, unnerving portrait of lucid insanity. Every little tick, every facial twitch, every pause and line repetition suggests a warped mind processing the world around him in the most bizarre yet brilliant fashion possible. This Joker is not so much insane as he is completely amoral and devoid of fear, which makes him impossible to threaten and bold enough to attempt anything.

The film - nay, the franchise - revolves around this Joker. His actions reshape the entire world of both films, radically altering Gotham's trajectory and creating uncertainty heading into the future. Unlike the end of Batman Begins, or almost every other superhero movie, you leave the theater not with the excitement and elation of victory, but with a curious mix of tremendous excitement... and doubt. This is brilliant, brilliant writing, and truly taking a chance veering on arthouse with what is ostensibly a big-budget piece of popcorn entertainment. And it works.

I never truly understood the meaning behind Batman being the Dark Knight. It was a title, or concept, that I never explored or considered. However, by the end of this film it is made painfully clear on just what that means and the weight it carries on both Batman and the city of Gotham. Harvey Dent is Gotham's White Knight, actively pursuing criminals and restoring the morals, ethics, and dignity that the city had long forgotten about. He is a shining example of what the city's corruption could not touch and serves as the inspiration of brighter and better days. By the end of the film, however, Dent has been pushed beyond his limits and resolves to exact revenge for the murder of his love, Rachel Dawes, and for the horrendous burns to his face, on those who caused them. Incidentally, he doesn't kill the Joker when he has the chance. Instead he goes after the people who helped the Joker get him to that point, which were cops themselves. Going back to the same reviewer from GameDev.net:

Gotham needs the ideal of Harvey Dent perhaps more than it needs the ideal of Batman, though it needs the reality of Batman more than it needs the reality of Harvey Dent's tragic conclusion. Batman's willingness to sacrifice his reputation, to attach his image to acts he considers reprehensible in order to preserve the memory of a pure Harvey Dent and inspire hope in the people of Gotham concludes a fascinating dissertation on the essence and nature of heroism.

What is a hero? Is it a big boy scout, an incorruptible individual who always does what is right and saves people not only from the consequences of the actions of others, but from themselves as well? Can a hero have flaws, make mistakes? And if a hero appears to do what's wrong in the short term, in service of a long-term good, is he still a hero? Especially if nobody knows about the long-term good? It's a fascinating discussion because we like the idea of heroes, and we lift people up - often only to be disappointed.

The film ends with Batman fleeing the scene of where Dent apparently dies after having held Jim Gordon and his family hostage. Gordon's son asked, "Why is he running?" A saddened Gordon, making the tough call by not revealing the truth, replied, "He has to run away because we have to chase him." Batman did no wrong, is truly incorruptible, but allowed himself to appear corrupted for the sake of Gotham's future, giving birth to the true meaning of him being the Dark Knight.