The Dark Knight
Dir: Christopher Nolan
2008
*****
Very few sequels are as good as the original, as much as Hollywood try. Christopher Nolan's 2008 follow up to Batman Begins, that doesn't even have the Superhero's name in the title, is one of those few. Nolan had dealt with Batman's origins perfectly, the last scene of the first film wiped the slate clean somewhat and lead the way for something new, something we hadn't seen before and that is exactly what is delivered. Nolan and David S. Goyer laid the sturdy foundations in the first film, in The Dark Knight they build a skyscraper of a film on top of it.
 Much of the story is taken from the comics and graphic novels, the realism is still firmly in place and many more interesting issues are raised intelligently and without bias. Apart from the whole ethical vigilante question, Nolan explores current political issues, The patriot act being the most obvious. There is an interesting Batman vs. Batman, Batman vs. Bruce Wayne vibe going on, Batman exists because of evil, Batman doesn't want to exist etc. It's a little more than the average non-comic reading cinema goer was expecting and they loved it. It's everything movie producers have avoided in the past, due to them thinking people wouldn't get it when it was in fact them that wasn't getting it. Although the film is riddled with bad guys, Nolan decides that a two villain per film ratio works best and it's hard to argue, especially when the villains aren't your usual two dimensional baddie. The returning cast including Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are on top form once again and Maggie Gyllenhaal was a brave but brilliant choice of replacement for Katie Holmes, the only weak element of the first film. Official word was that Holmes decided not to reprise her role as she wanted to make Mad Money instead but I don't believe a word of it, I can't help but her then husband Tom Crusie and his colourful behavior overshadowing the film, may have had something to do with it. Her character is beautifully written and is easily one of the best elements of the film. The big impact the film had was undoubtedly due to Keith Ledger's portrayal of Batman's most notorious foe; The Joker. This incarnation of the infamous villain is something completely different to that seen on screen and a little closer to the intensity of the comics. It was an amazing performance that Ledger lost himself to and one that he deserved the praise he duly received. As amazing as his performance was, it did seem a little unfair that it overshadowed Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent (aka Two-Face Harvey). This was the story line I really loved in the film and very much in keeping with all the better comics of recent years. Gary Oldman's Jim Gorden is also one of the film's main strengths that adds weight to the character's legend. For a film with so much going on it never gets complicated and never ceases to entertain. The Dark Knight works so well because at it's core is a really good thriller. It's intense, shocking, thrilling and explosive, just like the comics and just how it should be. I'll always choose Richard Donner's 1978 Superman as best Superhero/comic book movie of all time but Nolan's 2008 The Dark Knight is a very close second.