We've all been there. Sitting in the theater regretting spending $9 on a movie based on a childhood superhero. Thankfully, The Dark Knight is not one of those superhero movies.
Christopher Nolan, the man behind movies like Memento and Batman Begins, took Batman and Gotham city to a place that most superhero movies dare to go. Reality. Nolan made The Dark Knight gritty, realistic, and... well dark. This wasn't just a popcorn movie, this wasn't just a superhero movie, this was a great standalone feature. The visuals are stunning, helped in part by the implementation of IMAX cameras. The movies opening bank heist, as well as many other action sequence, were filmed on super high resolution IMAX cameras (one of which was destroyed during shooting). IMAX had never been used for action sequences before, but Nolan's bold move paid off, offering the audience some of the crispest pictures seen on the silver screen (or Blu-ray disc). Taking Batman and his fictional city of Gotham and placing them in a universe that feels so real to the viewer was exactly what this franchise needed. No more Jim Carrey Riddlers, no more Tommy Lee Two Faces, this movie felt like it could actually happen, while staying true to the comic books. Heath Ledgers astounding portrayal of the Joker is a performance that will go down in history as his finest. Christian Bale doesn't fail to keep Batman as intense as ever, and Aaron Eckhart played Harvey Dent like he was meant to be played (although his portrayal of Two Face left something to be desired).
With stunning cinematics, an A-List cast, and the world's finest equipment, The Dark Knight is an astounding movie that would be great even if Batman didn't start out as a comic book. Christopher Nolan's fingerprint can be seen all over the film, and we can only hope he comes back to do a third. If you haven't seen The Dark Knight, you are missing out on an amazing theatrical experience.
I've watched the movie now about four times (I have the Blu-ray), and there is a lot to see in this movie, so much so that you benefit from the second and third viewing. For one, it's got a complex layer to it, and it can be summed up in something as simple as Harvey Dent's famous coin. It has heads on both sides. But after the explosion, the coin is charred on one side, and in his twisted game of chance, that's the side that's the bummer for his reluctant player. The explosion was the event that ruined his own life, which now marks the side of the coin ends the life of others.
I can't see Nolan doing this again. There were rumors for a while that he had a couple of A-list actors for the next installment, but I believe those were proven to be just interesting, buzz-generating rumors. Nolan is one smart dude, and I believe he'll become bored with this whole franchise. If you haven't see The Prestige -- another very complex film -- I highly recommend it. Nolan knows how to juggle structural complexity with deftness. Look at Momento, too, while you're at it. I have a feeling that he'll be bored with this Batman franchise, but I hope he's professional enough that if he does permit himself to be contracted for another one, he gives it his complete undivided attention, then brings in another stellar contribution.