Armchair Commentary: Best DVDs of November 2008: "The Dark Knight"

Best DVDs of November 2008: "The Dark Knight"

by David Horiuchi on October 31, 2008

What it is: Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is Gotham City's new district attorney, charged with cleaning up the crime rings that have paralyzed the city. He enters an uneasy alliance with the young police lieutenant, Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), and Batman (Christian Bale), the caped vigilante who seems to trust only Gordon--and whom only Gordon seems to trust. They make progress until a psychotic and deadly new player enters the game: the Joker (Heath Ledger), who offers the crime bosses a solution--kill the Batman.

Why it's Significant: Forget the massive box office (over $500 million in the U.S. alone) and the tragedy of Ledger--The Dark Knight is simply a great movie. In addition to pitch-perfect casting, outstanding writing, and a compelling vision, it bypasses the normal fantasy element of the superhero genre and makes it all terrifyingly real.In his last completed role before his tragic death, Ledger is fantastic as the Joker, a volcanic, truly frightening force of evil. And he sets the tone of the movie: the world is a dark, dangerous place where there are no easy choices. Director-cowriter Christopher Nolan (Memento) follows his critically acclaimed Batman Begins with an even better sequel that sets itself apart from notable superhero movies like Spider-Man 2 and Iron Man because of its sheer emotional impact and striking sense of realism. --David