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Movies / On DVD / The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight

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The Dark Knight (2008)

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Reviews Counted: 266

Fresh: 250

Rotten:16

Average Rating: 8.5/10

Consensus: Dark, complex and unforgettable, The Dark Knight succeeds not just as an entertaining comic book film, but as a richly thrilling crime saga.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for intense sequences of violence and some menace.

Runtime: 2 hrs 33 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:Jul 18, 2008 Wide

Box Office: $533,316,061

Synopsis: To say that Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT is the best comic book adaptation does the film a bit of a disservice. It may be a Batman film, but this isn't a kid-friendly action movie full of... To say that Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT is the best comic book adaptation does the film a bit of a disservice. It may be a Batman film, but this isn't a kid-friendly action movie full of the bams and pows of the original series. This is a pitch-black thriller with enough drama and tragedy to please even William Shakespeare, but it will certainly keep both comics fans and uninitiated audiences equally happy. THE DARK KNIGHT starts in the wake of BATMAN BEGINS: with the appearance of Batman (Christian Bale), Gotham City's criminal underworld is unnerved. They're also plagued by the new D.A., Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), who, in his quest for justice, remains above the city's corruption. Enter a new villain, the Joker (Heath Ledger), who wants to unite the criminals for a common purpose: to kill Batman. THE DARK KNIGHT is one of the most hyped movies to date, and a lesser film would be crushed under the weight of all that expectation. Some of the publicity stems from the early death of Ledger, who turns in an excellent performance. He provides moments of humor, but this Joker is terrifying, sharing more with classic villains such as Hannibal Lechter than with his comic book predecessors. Eckhart is equally good as Dent, and Maggie Gyllenhaal deserves praise for taking over the role of Rachel Dawes from Katie Holmes. Though there's more emphasis on plot and character development than in most comic book adaptations, that doesn't mean Nolan has skimped on any of the action sequences. Each set piece is done perfectly, leaving the audience breathless. THE DARK KNIGHT is filmmaking at its best; its subject matter may be dark and depressing, but it's tough not to feel exhilarated by its artistry when the credits begin to roll. [More]

Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Eric Roberts, Anthony Michael Hall, Nestor Carbonell, Michael Jai White, William Fichtner

Director: Christopher Nolan

Director: Christopher Nolan
Screenwriter: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan
Story: Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer
Producer: Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan
Composer: Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard
Studio: Warner Bros.

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Release:

Dec 9, 2008

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Reviews for The Dark Knight

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 >> >|
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Heath Ledger is Diana Ross and these other kids are The Supremes. Believe the hype, Mr. Ledger as The Joker is categorically brilliant. The late-great actor turned another Batman movie into a riveting film that will be Oscar worthy only because of him.

Full Review Source: BET.com | comment Comment
07/07/09
Clay Cane
BET.com

Despite its superhero trappings, The Dark Knight is more a piece of film noir.

Full Review Source: Cinefantastique | comment Comment
03/10/09
Steve Biodrowski
Cinefantastique

The Dark Knight is a good movie. It has all the ingredients to be a great movie, but it isn't one. I may grudgingly put it on my best-ten-of-the year list (a paltry group at this point), but it could have been so much more. It came so close.

Full Review Source: Fayetteville Free Weekly | comment 8 Comments
02/01/09
Tony Macklin
Fayetteville Free Weekly

Can one great character carry an entire movie? ....the answer is obviously yes. Ledger does it.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment 9 Comments
11/25/08
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

The film itself evokes the collision of an unstoppable force with an immovable object.

Full Review Source: Suite101.com | comment 6 Comments
11/19/08
Rob Humanick
Suite101.com

The symbiosis of good and evil is the film's philosophical core, and images of duality and cloaked identity are strewn through it like shards from a fun house mirror.

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
10/18/08
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lacks is a sense of humor and a notion about the essential silliness of this premise.

Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | comment 85 Comments
10/18/08
Jean Lowerison
San Diego Metropolitan

The movie is two-and-a-half hours of almost non-stop action, which while often enthralling, eventually gets tiring. It's just go-go-go.

Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment 42 Comments
10/18/08
Brie Beazley
Reel.com

An amazing piece of filmmaking that rockets the Batman legacy to heights never imagined, fueled by Heath Ledger’s amazing re-invention of The Joker.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment 56 Comments
10/01/08
Pete Hammond
Hollywood.com

In The Dark Knight, when mortals tangle in the affairs of the gods, they get burned.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment 61 Comments
09/24/08
Chris Barsanti
PopMatters

The Dark Knight delivered on many fronts.

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment 15 Comments
09/12/08
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

a riveting piece of work that will have us all mourning Ledger's loss but smacking our lips for a third entry

Full Review Source: Peterborough This Week | comment 11 Comments
09/09/08
Mike Sage
Peterborough This Week

I say this with a smile from ear to ear, there is too much of a good thing. The Dark Knight is the best adult superhero film of all time.

Full Review Source: The Scorecard Review | comment 12 Comments
08/27/08
Jeff Bayer
The Scorecard Review

The Dark Knight is the best Batman film ever made, the best superhero movie ever made, and the best movie of the year to date.

Full Review Source: Tsunami Magazine | comment 48 Comments
08/19/08
Clint Morris
Tsunami Magazine

This is without a doubt the best -- and most important -- picture of the year.

Full Review Source: Cinemaphile.org | comment 66 Comments
08/17/08
David Keyes
Cinemaphile.org

A big summer blockbuster dripping in characters.

Full Review Source: Blunt Review | comment 38 Comments
08/14/08
Emily Blunt
Blunt Review

This film is sure to surpass your wildest expectations. The summer film that is sure to be unforgettable and leave you craving for more.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Spectrum | comment Comment
08/13/08
Jolene Mendez
Entertainment Spectrum

...even if Ledger hadn't died, critics and audiences alike would still be buzzing about the star's turn as The Joker.

Full Review Source: Supercala.com | comment 23 Comments
08/08/08
Paul Salfen
Supercala.com

...we can have not just good comic book movies, but amazing comic book movies.

Full Review Source: Needcoffee.com | comment 74 Comments
08/03/08
Widgett Walls
Needcoffee.com

relatively high-quality pulp.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
08/02/08
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com
 
 
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Latest News for The Dark Knight

June 25, 2009: The Dark Knight Wins Big at Saturn Awards Opens in new window
The 35th annual Saturn Awards were held Wednesday night, with "The Dark Knight" earning a ceremony-high five awards -- including best action/adventure film -- and "Iron Man" and... More...

June 24, 2009: Academy Expands Number of Best Picture Nominees to 10 Opens in new window
With today's news that in February, the Oscars will field 10 best-picture nominees, the horserace that is the Academy Awards promises to look a lot more like - a... More...

April 28, 2009: Bale Crosses Fingers, Hopes Nolan Will Return for TDK Sequel Opens in new window
They've saved the juicy stuff for the print edition, but Total Film has posted a few bits and pieces of its recent interview with Christian Bale -- including some of his... More...

April 01, 2009: Michael Caine Talks Batman 3 Opens in new window
Michael Caine is out promoting his latest feature, "Is Anybody There," but he's perfectly willing to share his thoughts on the next "Batman" sequel -- fortunately for Collider,... More...

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