Let's Put A Smile On That Face!!

We have finally made it back folks, and for our first review it will be this summer's (and most likely this year's) biggest blockbuster The Dark Knight. Well into it's fourth week in theatres, Batman does not seem like he'll be slowing down anytime soon. Already making $395 million dollars at the Box Office, it's looking to be the biggest money maker this year and here's why...



Christian Bale returns for this brilliantly done sequel to "Batman Begins" as billionaire Bruce Wayne dresses up at night to fight crime as the Caped Crusader, Batman. It's been a year since this first movie and quite a few things have changed. This time with the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and the new District Attorney Harvey Dent ( Played by Gary Oldman & Aaron Eckhart respectively), Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham City for good. This proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known only as The Joker (Played flawlessly by the late Heath Ledger), who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante.

Christopher Nolan proved that sequels can actually surpass the original. Nolan took this one up a notch by putting together a great script and bringing in the actors to pull it off, namely Heath Ledger. If he doesn't get SOME kind of an award for his performance as the Joker I'd be very upset. He dove head first into this role and pulled no punches. He actually made me believe that someone could truly be this crazy. In all seriousness, this second trip to Gotham is a bit darker, but it's to be expected. Filmed partly in the great city of Chicago (yes, my home, sweet home), I found myself wondering if I were already living in Gotham City. I can walk around the Loop and go "that's where the Joker tried to kill Harvey Dent!" The sites were so beautiful that it makes me want to go out at night hoping to run into Batman.

Seen best at an IMAX Theatre, you can get the full experience of Gotham City, where we meet the new D.A. Harvey Dent. The city's white night, the other side of the coin (?) opposite the Dark Knight. He steps up to do what Batman couldn't. He takes down the biggest mob ring in history. Which ultimately puts a price on his head and gets him kidnapped by the new guy in town, the Joker. Painted up like a clown, his scarred face has a permanent smile on it. He's happy spreading anarchy and he wants everyone to know it (especially Batman). He robs mob bosses, blows up a hospital and takes two boat loads of Gothamites hostage in hopes that one will blow up the other simply for the fun of it. He enjoys finding out what the Dark Knight will do. And so did I. We later on get a new villain after Dent loses Rachel Dawes, the girl of his dreams (and half of his face in the process). With a little push from the Joker, Dent becomes the hideous looking Two Face. He then proceeds to kidnap Jim Gordon's (now the new Commissioner) family to seek justice, only to be stopped by who else but Batman.

This movie is so much fun that I've already seen it 4 times. Ledger's one liners alone keep me coming back. This movie is a treat for all Batman fans (and Joker fans alike). You will not see another superhero movie done this good for awhile.... at least until the Batman movie is released. Go and see this movie. I highly recommend it. This gets a solid 5 on my "Go See" scale. Go see it, see it again, then get the DVD when it's released.