I wanted to write this out as soon as I got home after movie, but I was just too sleepy and tired. Instead, I’m writing it out as soon as I woke up from my sleep! LOL!

 

 

I managed to catch The Dark Knight last night, finally. And I’m glad I did! People just couldn’t stop singing praises to this movie since its release. They talked about how great this movie is, and how great Heath Ledger was in the movie. (Even so, I still get a handful of not-so-great opinion from some people) 

 

 

Now, here’s my share of view. Even while I was half-way (maybe even quarter) through the movie, I thought, this is too darn good to be missed. It’s a must to pay tribute to this movie and Heath Ledger. 

 

 

You can read all the synopsis all over the internet. It’s pointless for me to include it here. I’ll jump straight to my interpretation of this movie.

 

This reboot of Batman franchise is considerable great success, which all began with the prequel of this – Batman Begins. It casting for the movie was strong, we have Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson,  Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, and Ken Watanabe. The prequel did a great job reintroducing Batman, as suggested by its title – Batman Begins. 

 

 

The Dark Knight’s casting is just as strong, if not stronger than its prequel. In The Dark Knight, Christian Bale resumes the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne, so did Michael Caine and Gary Oldman for their respective role for Alfred and Jim Gordon. Morgan Freeman makes his presence count as Lucius Fox. Maggie Gyllenhaal replaces Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes. Heath Ledger was installed as The Joker, while Aaron Eckhart was brought in for the Harvey Dent role.

 

 

When Heath Ledger was first casted to The Joker’s role, there was a doubt if Heath Ledger was good enough for that role. Jack Nicholson was first to draw blood in criticism, at least I remember reading that somewhere some time ago. But all doubts were casted away fast enough since the movie’s release this summer. 

 

 

With all the respect to Christian Bale, I thought Heath Ledger was brilliant throughout the movie. Since the reboot, Batman franchise has since led a darker plot than the previous installments. Hence, The Joker in this movie is expected to be more serious, more psychotic role. Heath Ledger did more than that, he portrayed that character brilliantly. The Joker doesn’t have to do much to strike fear in you. He can just creeps into your bone by just looking at you into your eyes. His look, with the goth-like makeup, loose and messy hair, and the visible scar on both his cheeks, is just creeping and disturbing. The video footage used in the movie was even more disturbing. You can feel how much he has done to terrorize the city! 

 

By far, I think this is my favorite villain all-time! I just love the tone as he speaks, a little bit wacky, a little bit insane, and he’s simply The Joker! I’ve lost all the words I can describe the brilliance of Heath Ledger. When I told my friend, a self-proclaimed movie enthusiast, that the show I was watching is near full-house (in Kuching), he simply replied telling me, “Near is an insult to Heath Ledger.” 

 

 

The Dark Knight is simply the best movie of the year. When IronMan was released in May, it was the best Superhero movie to date. But The Dark Knight is simply another different level. Heath Ledger’s performance is no doubt an Oscar-award worthy. I loved every single bit of the movie since the start of the movie. After watching this movie, something hit me though. 

 

How can anyone top Heath Ledger’s brilliance as The Joker? It sure is a big shoe to fill in. The Dark Knight will just make us miss Heath Ledger more. No doubt his departure will be sorely missed. 

 

So much about The Joker, now back to the plot. I haven’t been catching up with the Batman franchise for a while now, the memories of Michael Keaton as Batman, and his sidekick Robin (played by Chris O’Donnell). Note. (George Clooney was the Batman when Robin was introduced), were all pretty vague. So, all Batman related info was quite rusty for me. In this installment, the story revolves around three main characters, Batman, The Joker and Harvey Dent. 

 

Batman Begins reintroduced Batman, telling us how Bruce Wayne became Batman. How he got himself trained, how he access to all the technology to his gadgets, they were all told in that movie. Towards the end, it led us to this sequel, teasing us with the Joker card in the end. The hint was big, Batman’s nemesis will be brought in next.

 

After Batman Begins, Gotham City’s crime rate was decreasing since Bruce Wayne decided to become Batman, the dark hero for justice. Even the mafia mob had to give way to him. They even changed their meet up to broad day light, as their safety maybe compromised at night. The Dark Knight introduced Harvey Dent as Gotham City’s district attorney. His brilliance in law had quickly made him a favorite to be the new hero with face in Gotham City. 

 

Harvey Dent, this name rings a bell when I first heard it. It sounds so familiar, but I wasn’t sure where I heard it from before. Then comes the coin flipping in his hand, he kept mentioning bout chances. From thereon, I knew where I heard it from. Harvey Dent is the Two-Face. 

 

 

I know some people were so confused why The Dark Knight is made such a way that, people is hating Batman for what he has done (to save the city), and why the focus is so much on The Joker. It is normal if you forgot the root or background of the Batman and Gotham City story. Gotham City was never a city of peace. It was a city with corruption throughout. In the prequel, Batman somewhat cleaned the city and restored the order. Since then, the city is less like a Gotham City it should be. Here in The Dark Knight, it tells us how Gotham turns into the city it is originally written as, a city filled with incorruptible criminals.

 

Why the focus on the Joker in the film? Well, simply because if there is no Joker, there is no Batman. Had the Joker not came into the picture, Bruce Wayne might have just disappeared, no longer assuming the role of Batman, leaving Gotham City to the new district attorney. It was because the psychotic Joker, everything has since changed. That is when Bruce Wayne knew, he must endure, and continue to endure behind the mask. He knew Gotham City needs him, until a new hero with face appears. Harvey Dent later fell into the dark side, hence, becoming Two-Face, one of Batman’s long list of villains. The Two-Face look is really gross! Ewww.. Scary!

 

 

I think Two-Face will somehow be revived in the movie in future. I don’t think Two-Face will end like how it ends in the movie. And it is rumored that Philip Seymour Hoffman will assume the role of Penguin next. It should be interesting. 

 

Why so serious?

 

 

I’m planning to do a rewatch when I’m in KL next week!

 

p/s: Scarecrow made a cameo appearance in The Dark Knight. Edison Chen made a cameo too! Oh, less than three seconds appearance doesn’t count as cameo, even Stan Lee makes longer cameo appearance in his DC Comics Marvel Comics movies.