[attrition] review: Movie: The Dark Knight

[lyger]

http://attrition.org/movies/darkknight.html

The Dark Knight
2008
Czarina

I wasn't sure if I would see The Dark Knight, primarily because of Heath 
Ledger's death and all of the hype surrounding movies that are released 
after the death of a key character. "Final Performances" are usually 
overrated as if saying anything else would trample on the deceased 
thespian's grave. However, the acclaim and accolades of this movie, 
particularly Ledger's performance, are well deserved.

Christopher Nolan's recent iteration of Batman is probably the darkest 
screen rendering of the comic book series, far more sullen than Tim 
Burton's version. Here, we see an uncompromising, rugged, and solid film 
that substantially exceeds the expectations of a comic book movie. There 
is no simple good-vs-evil formula here -- no simple story of a city 
fraught in crime waiting for a their local superhero to save the day -- no 
predictable hero-vs-villian drama. Yes, there is a good deal of action and 
good special effects, but this movie escapes the archetype of a comic-book 
based film.

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