The Dark Knight: Something to die for

Runtime: 2hrs 30 mins
Genre: Thriller/Action
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Aron Eckhart, Maggie Gynelhall



"Madness is like gravity...all it takes is a little push" exclaims the joker with aplomb. And it's the joker who you wait for to come on screen to make the exciting look nerve wrecking, to make the evil look brutally devilish, to make the clinking hear like maddening thunder.

It's Heath Ledger all the way. His portrayal of joker has got written an Oscar all over it. No remorse, no cry...just being at diabolic best is what comes out splashed all over the screen with Ledger delivering such a towering performance. He scares Gotham not just in the body but in the spirits. And Batman, the do-gooder can at best watch helplessly as the Joker trundles his way to make the entire Gotham hostage to his undying zeal to cast the evil over the city.

The movie starts with a heist in the Gotham city. Naturally, Batman (Christian Bale) being the protector, gets after the criminals. And who better than Joker to assure all the dons that if they eliminate Batman, Gotham city would be ruled by them. But then, Gotham has got crusaders like Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), a highly talented lawyer, who is hell bent to put behind bar all the criminals. With Batman aka Bruce Wayne, the industrialist, realizing that Gotham needs a crusader with a face rather than a caped crusader like him, throws his weight and might behind Harvey Dent. Dent manages to put behind bars all the criminals, but not the Joker, who is busy executing his menacing plans. Judges and Police chiefs are blown up, the entire Gotham city is getting empty, and people have started loosing trust in goodness....all that joker wanted. And yes, Joker also manages to transform the good fellow Harvey Dent into a hardened soul, who is out to kill those he think are responsible for his miseries. However, the good (Batman) has to triumph over the evil, and so he does with Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) and Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine) as his trusted aides.

The movie is full of face-offs between the the Joker and the Batman. Like when joker crashes into the party and declares to the scared gathering, "Ladies and Gentlemen! We are the entertainers tonight." And in the prison cell where the Joker teases and plays with Batman.

Rock solid direction from Nolan...not even a moment is dull...absolutely riveting stuff. Christian Bale also delivers a good performance with Maggie Gyllenhall delivering goods in a supporting role. Morgan Freeman and Michale Caine are of course legends and do not disappoint. But in the end, it's the Joker root for. Too sad, Ledger has left...but this is the best parting gift any actor worth his salt could give.