The Dark Knight

Review by Jason Donner

Why is the Joker the greatest Batman villain?

Some say it's the dark comedy, others point to all of the men who have filled the role. Personally, to me at least, the Joker represents the anti-Batman - he's for everything that Batman is against and, when you've got two immovable forces, only delicious goodness can result. These two are never going to come to an understanding, they will never respect each other. The only reason they exist is to oppose each other.

They are the positive and negative, the yin and yang, God and the Devil.

It's that delicious opposition between The Dark Knight and the crowned prince of crime that fuels the yummy goodness of this movie. Batman vs. The Joker: it's a formula that you just can't loose on even when the material isn't completely understood by those making it (and yes, I'm talking about you, Tim Burton).

The Dark Knight is a triumph. Calling it a great movie is an understatement. It's a great movie that builds on another great movie, Batman Begins. It corrects its few flaws, it ups the ante set by the first movie... it's just great. It's hard to say it any other way... it's just great.

I cannot continue without saying something about Heath Ledger's Joker. This take on the famous bad guy is definitive, people. I used to think that Mark Hamil's Joker was the one and only, but this take on the character is it... there is no other way to say it. He's played as the insane genius that he's supposed to be. He makes jokes, but they are sadistic and evil... all to promote chaos. There are no joy buzzers and squirt flowers this time, it's just Ledger as a lip-smacking badly scarred terrifying minister of mayhem.

It's fitting that this role will be Ledger's triumph and sad that his biggest movie will be his last. I laughed off all talk of Oscars for Ledger's Joker, but now I'm a believer. Give this man a statue.

Bale, on the other hand, is one of the flaws I see in this movie. As Bruce Wayne, he's a fit - the pompous and reckless facade he manufactures for his alter ego is incredibly played, better than anyone who has ever played him. The bad news is, as Batman he's a little annoying and I'm talking about the gruff voice - almost like he's Nathan Explosion from Metalocolypse. He's hard to understand and it just sounds silly. In my opinion, Michael Keaton had the bat-voice down pact. Perhaps, though, Bale will finally get it right in time for the third movie.

I don't know what else to say except that this movie is everything I wanted it to be. Sure, there was some stuff that I wish was exploited movie and some things that I wish could be exploited in the future and, who knows, perhaps with some creative means they can be.

The Dark Knight is, by far, the definitive adult take on Batman in any medium. It's just amazing.