The Dark Knight: More Than a Comic Book Film

By now (if you're a fan of Batman), it's almost certain you've heard the buzz about Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker. You may also have heard about (or seen) the opening heist sequence, with William Fichtner in a cameo as the vengeful bank manager. If you haven't yet seen The Dark Knight in theatres, do it!

In many respects, Ledger upstages the rest of the cast. As The Joker, he's insanely ruthless, unpredictable, and darkly comical; yet at the same time, he displays an inherent understanding of human nature. Those accustomed to Ledger through his performances in films like Brokeback Mountain and The Patriot are in for a complete shock. Not only does his superbly done makeup render him unrecognizable, but he has formulated a voice and characterization unlike any of the actors (e.g. Jack Nicholson, Mark Hamill) who have played him in other appearances. Also, faithful to his early comic appearances, he is brutally violent, and even suggests symptoms of schizophrenia.

Christian Bale, of course, reprises his role as Batman. One problem that many comic and sci-fi movies have shared in recent years is that when sequels are made, the hero has no space to grow. All the "growth" and training takes place in the first film, and in some cases, the character comes off as invincible (think of The Matrix Reloaded).

In The Dark Knight, however, this isn't the case. While Batman/Bruce Wayne is as skilled a fighter as ever, he is up against not only a more vicious foe in The Joker, but the public as well. They blame him for the rise in crime, as mob syndicates, police, and corrupt businesses go to war with one another. While violence continues to escalate, Wayne wonders whether he can maintain his role as a hero.