The Dark Knight
Superheroes have been one of the biggest things to happen to pop culture since their rise in popularity during ( roughly ) the 1930s . Since then , the concept of the superhero and the characters themselves have gone through gradual but at long last tremendous change . Naturally , it was only a topic of prison term before superheroes adapted and branched out into the medium of film as well .
There has been one character and one movie , in particular , that has been placed high over the rest , even still today . The Dark Knightrevolutionized not just the superhero literary genre , butalso determine a wide body of films that followed . The whole trilogy is nifty , but here are 15 reason whyThe Dark Knightspecifically is still the best superhero picture ever .
update on June 6th , 2022 by Guillermo Kurten : Matt Reeves’The Batmanis now available and has show in a long - awaited , thrilling crime - noir rendition of the quality in live - natural action . However , Nolan ’s sophomore movement is still a mellow bar to clear , as evidenced by these incredible aspect of the moving-picture show .
Two-Face As The Heart Of The Dark Knight’s Conflict
Joker takes the Leo the Lion ’s portion of the spot , but one of the sterling affair about the writing inThe Dark Knightis how it made Two - Face – not the Clown Prince of Crime – the heart and somebody of Gotham ’s resilience or demise . Harvey Dent as Gotham City ’s " White Knight " is what was hold the city and its citizens together , as it point that the systemcouldwork if its public heroes were incorruptible .
It turn the motion-picture show into an enthralling plot of chess between Batman , Gordon , and Dent ( for a time ) against the Joker . This made Harvey ’s fall from state of grace that much more soul - crushing , with Joker – literally – make dependable on his hope of but being an " broker of chaos " and the D.A. ’s portion the true keystone to the kingdom . Likewise , it made Batman as Gotham ’s Dark Knight a dissimilar sort of incorruptible , but yet necessary and tragical hero .
A Perfect Villainous Duo
As justifiably revered as the Joker was as a baddie , Two - Face prove to be the perfect accompaniment to the Clown Prince of Crime . For the sake of the plot , it takes clock time to orchestrate the fall of Harvey Dent to attain a maximum emotional wallop , but they were both electric even when not directly interacting with each other .
Perhaps the acclaimedDaredevil ’s third time of year take a page from this , as they both work as excellent examples of thrilling amusing Bible supervillains sharing a screen without taking away from each others ' purposes . Two - Face was excitingly erratic but did n’t take the spotlight offThe Dark Knight ’s fundamental opposer .
Outside Influences
Comic book influence like the acclaimedThe Long HalloweenandThe Killing Jokewere pivotal toThe Dark Knight ’s story , but Nolan integrate some tasteful influences from non - genre motion picture as well . Most notably is Michael Mann ’s criminal offence - dramatic play thrillerHeat , starring Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro .
Mann ’s heroic poem was a thrilling , ground Salmon P. Chase picture show where Lieutenant Hanna ( Pacino ) is on the trail of a group of thieves led by the elusive Neil McCauley ( DeNiro ) . While wildly different case , Nolan managed to apply that template by couch Batman and Gordon in the character of Hanna , while Joker takes that of the unpredictable and ingenious McCauley . More importantly , Nolan take the groundwork ofHeatand seamlessly reworked it into a superhero - themed saga without feeling silly or derivative .
Delivering On “Escalation”
Batman Beginswas a great origin fib for a Caped Crusader of a new cinematic age , and the end like an expert sowed the seed forThe Dark Knight ’s payoff . The former was an immersive narrative that can stand up on its own two foot , but then - Sergeant James Gordon ’s concern over " escalation " inBegins ' closing scene proved premonition .
The Dark Knightmakes good on that theme without undo the good thatBeginsaccomplished . The Joker , on top of being an anxiousness - inducing and exciting villain , served as the perfect embodiment of the ramifications of escalation .
Tension Beyond Compare
Superhero film almost always impersonate some kind of battle that spills out into the city streets with stupefied onlookers watching as the character battles a nerveless supervillain . The destruction is helter-skelter and over - the - top but feels completely without penalty or backlash .
The Dark Knightportrayed destruction in a way that made hearing feel both uncomfortable , and unsafe . The slaughter was not only naturalistic but plausible . see a infirmary being razed to the ground with bomb is just one instance of the real - reality tension provided by the plastic film , and that made audiences invest more attention and cultism to what was materialize on screenland .
Supporting Characters Who Actually Support
Many superhero movies centering around one person be given to have an raiment of patronize characters to embellish the scenery , allow some exposition , or act as gateway for the audience to understand the hero considerably . Few of them actually showcase these characters doing much besides work as commodious plot devices .
The Dark Knightput its supporting case front and eye , and they were integral to the tale . Gordon and Harvey Dent play active roles in use up down the Joker , while Rachel , Lucius , and Alfred each did their part as full - fledge crony capable of holding their own . This made it a story about a collective mathematical group , as opposed to one military man .
Real-World Hiccups
Theiconic first origin storyin Nolan ’s trilogy make Batman far differently than the comic strip or old film did . He faced all of the challenges and technical hiccups that came with make his suit and gadgets , from a bad run of face masque to imperfect body armor that left him susceptible to damage .
The Dark Knightcontinued that theme by bleeding Bruce Wayne into the mix in a way he never expected . An employee of the companionship even launch out that Bruce Wayne was Batman and intended to blackmail him . Lucius Fox ended up secure that exceptional cakehole , but it was one of many that a plausible superhero would have to contend with . It also addressed a glare plot maw about the persona .
No (Conventional) Happy Ending
The Dark Knightis not one ’s typical superhero movie , nor does it take on out like one . The middle act of the moving-picture show shows Rachel Dawes being murdered by the Joker and Wayne ’s newfound ally Harvey Dent suffering horrid facial and psychological wounds that jump him as a person .
This act comes back to frequent Batman in the final moments of the cinema , ending off a triumphant but bittersweet night with a taste of virgin ash tree , have it one ofthe darkest superhero movies ever made . There is no happy conclusion , at least not in the schematic sense , which is a direct slap in the face of most superhero moving-picture show that came before , and that ’s the perfect style to shake things up .
The Silver Lining
exposit beyond the semisweet and unconventional conclusion , The Dark Knightdoes ultimately have a Ag lining in its punishing end . Batman fall on his steel at the finale and atone for Two - Face ’s offense is a grim way to shut the drape , but the open - ended nature and ambiguity of the ending has a shred of optimism in it .
What humanity showed at its effective and at its worst throughout the moving picture shows that the psychology of citizenry and their alignment are n’t black and white . Therefore , as bleak as the answer to stopping Joker ’s carnage was , deep flawed people ( including the titular brooding superhero ) can ultimately overcome and do what ’s necessary to permit the greater trade good to persevere .
A Powerful Message
Many superhero moving picture play up the fervor and good feelings that add up with saving the world and rescuing the kitten from the tree , all on the same day . The Dark Knighttook a far dissimilar approach with several narration arcs and thematic factor woven into one overreaching content .
It indicate that when faced with a crisis situation , mankind ’s best and worst traits would come forth in their extremum . This was demonstrated during the nail - pungent boat scenery where an ultimatum was given to the passengers on both vessels , and also in the final enactment when Batman is brand a villain and made a scapegoat for the anger of Gotham ’s populace . Christopher Nolan stab deep into the material of humanity , and our conduct in times of great peril .
The Best Take On What A Real-Life Superhero Would Look Like
One of the reasons whyThe Dark Knightholds up today as the effective superhero pic ever made , even in the case of Marvel behemoths likeAvengers : Infinity WarandEndgame , is because it is the most grounded and smart as a whip take on a real - life interpretation of , not justBatman , but a superhero . Of course , this entry could also practice to the film in the trilogy that preceded and succeeded it , Batman BeginsandThe Dark Knight arise .
This sophomore entry in the trilogy deprive its patch , humanity , and character of any supernatural elements to deport the most potential naturalistic representation of a superhero . The only thing grant to the character of Bruce Wayne were immense riches , intellect , forcible artistry , and finding .
The Dark & Gritty Tone
Not every superhero movie needs to be to a fault grim , gritty , or serious , butThe Dark Knightuses these element in the upright possible room . For an example of this not fully working , Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justiceserves as a prime case of " dark " and " gritty " tones going too far .
Before this trilogy , andThe Dark Knightespecially , the most notable superhero film were not particularly as dreary in such a grounded way , specially in the precede X . The Dark Knightdoesn’t take things too far likeBatman v Supermanbut far enough to be believable and enthralling .
The Best Portrayal Of The Best Supervillain
This entry , unlike the previous one , can only apply toThe Dark Knight . This is by no means a smash on the other two celluloid in the trilogy as they had potent portraying of other iconic supervillains in Batman ’s Rogues Gallery . One could reason that Joaquin Phoenix put up an even upright carrying into action in last year’sJoker , but Heath Ledger ’s portrayal is fabled .
Ledger ’s functioning in the 2008 film set a unexampled and extremely gamy measure for how the character could be shown in a realistic world and gear up .
Directed By One Of The Best Modern Directors
While there are a number of highly critical roles behind cinema - making , there is a grounds why the reveal of the manager is big news . gratefully , The Dark Knight Trilogyhad one of the most talented directors of innovative film - fashioning in Christopher Nolan .
Not one of his preceding task , or pic that amount after this trilogy , has been received poorly . Nolan has an unbelievable runway record and will most likely preserve the confirming trend going onward withTenet .
Christian Bale Played The Best Live-Action Batman
There has been a solid smattering of actors who have played the live - action persona of Batman . Some of them have definitely been adept representation while there have been plenty of duds , to say the least . Michael Keaton was a good , solidBatman , but his interpretation probably would n’t restrain up in modern - day . Ben Affleck also put up a good execution as The Caped Crusader , even if the character had his problems .
Christian Bale , meanwhile , properly encapsulates what a modern - day Batman would look like . Even beforeBatman Begins , people roll in the hay that Bale had the acting chops necessary to convey a sure dignity to the role . While he is great as Batman , Bale also the right way sells Bruce Wayne ’s fictitious character as a broken person .
Realistic Problems
A set of the problems and/or crises face up by superheroes span massive levels . They are n’t just problems that would be big for the average person , they ’re often so big that they are literally inexplicable . These job are invest on such giant story that they imperil planet and world . grant , these can still forge very well if the story is separate well , butThe Dark Knightfunctions on a relatively smaller scale .
Despite this , the story told and the villain involved bring off to make the stakes feel even more daunting than most other superhero films . The fact the protagonist face these issues does n’t have superhuman capabilities also help .
It’s Inspired By Some Of The Greatest Batman Stories
WithThe Dark Knightbeing about comic Holy Scripture , one of the expert strategies in creating a catch superhero story for the alive - natural action picture show is to take brainchild from some of the best stories ever severalize about the fibre . Naturally , that would stand for looking to theBatmancomics and the traditional knowledge they demonstrate .
The Dark Knightwas inspired by two of the most important plot line for the character : The Long HalloweenandThe Killing Joke . The former was an excellent mystery thriller that showcased the superhero ’s detective science and explore the inception of Harvey Dent / Two - Face . The latter swear out as one of the most chilling tale about Joker .
Imperfect Heroes
Technically every superhero is imperfect , but the nature of the Batmancharacter stool those imperfections feel even more of import than with other superhero characters . Again , this draws back to this lineament ’s tendency for realness , which is very much on display inThe Dark Knight .
The Dark Knightexposes Batman as a hero who can fail , with his failure to save both Harvey and Rachel being a prime example . Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Dent are also exemplar of frail characters .
A Brilliant Villain Origin
While Heath Ledger ’s Joker steals the public eye , The Dark Knightdoes a wondrous job of providing a proper origin narration for another iconic scoundrel . Harvey Dent and his eventual fall and rebirth as Two - Face is done in a way that emphasizes the eccentric ’s tragical nature .
Harvey Dent was ab initio presented as Gotham ’s " White Knight " who citizen looked toward to aid lick the Joker ’s reign of chaos . This made Dent ’s eventual genial equipment failure , after losing the erotic love of his sprightliness and being physically scarred by the Joker , that much more of a tragedy and loss .
It Has Some Of The Best Acting In Superhero Movies
As with any film , TV series , and a lot of modern video games , getting the right actors is crucial . Of naturally , mess of other superhero / comic Christian Bible films have gotten splendid actor , butThe Dark Knighthas among the estimable well - attack cast of characters of top - notch actors .
Of course , Bale as Batman and Ledger as Joker are the most obvious performances to note , but Gary Oldman , Aaron Eckhart , Morgan Freeman , Michael Caine , and the criminally underused Maggie Gyllenhaal all put their best foundation forrard as well .
NEXT:6 Villains That Could come along In The Batman ’s Penguin Spinoff
