‘Dark Knight’ breaks new ground

To many people, comic book characters are little more than children’s fare, modern versions of Robin Hood, the Lone Ranger and other pulp heroes. After seeing Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight,” those critics will change their views.

Nolan’s film is nothing short of a cinematic achievement, finally showing on the big screen what comic fans have known for years — these characters are as deep, complex and compelling as any seen on film or in writing.

Calling “Dark Knight” the best comic book-based film ever made would be an understatement, and it wouldn’t be ridiculous to call it one of the best crime dramas in recent memory. Every plot twist, every revelation and every new character serves a purpose.

Nolan co-wrote the film with his brother, Jonathon, and their hard work shows, as they draw from Batman’s nearly 70-year history to take the audience into the minds of its three main characters, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) and The Joker (Heath Ledger).

Many comic book fans may notice homages to the comics and the popular 1990s animated series (The Joker’s pack of dogs, for instance), but they aren’t obvious like the ones seen in many recent comic book adaptations, notably Spider-Man 3, so they don’t distract from the story at hand.

Any conversation about the film’s performances begins with Ledger, who is already garnering Oscar buzz for his performance as the psychotic Joker. Ledger truly becomes The Joker, forcing the audience to forget about the actor’s tragic death and focus instead on his scintillating screen presence.

Even though it’s getting serious Oscar talk, Ledger’s performance doesn’t draw comparisons to anyone else. The closest analogy that comes to mind is the character of Alex in “A Clockwork Orange,” but even that is a stretch.

Nolan wrote the character as a menacing, deranged killer with a sick sense of humor, and Ledger presents a character that is at once frightening and funny, evil and philosophical. The film doesn’t focus on the character’s origins, as Nolan realizes the character’s strength is simply in what he is, not what made him what he is.

This is a Joker who, as Alan Moore wrote in “The Killing Joke,” prefers to have a multiple choice origin.

Though Ledger’s performance is, indeed, all it’s cracked up to be, his fellow actors are more than up to snuff.

Bale actually finds a way to improve upon his performance as the title character from “Batman Begins,” showing a hero struggling with both the ramifications of his heroics and the temptation to violate his moral code.

He is also the first film actor to ever capture the essence of Bruce Wayne’s dual personalities. As Wayne, he’s arrogant, pompous and even jealous. As Batman, he is brooding, menacing and determined, almost to the point of obsession.

Eckhart is the film’s revelation. His Harvey Dent is a man just as determined as Batman, with perhaps an even stronger commitment to right. Eckhart completely erases memories of Billy Dee Williams and Tommy Lee Jones’ respective performances of the character.

At times in the film, Dent is even more likeable than Batman, and Eckhart portrays a good, honest man hiding some fragility.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is a vast improvement over Katie Holmes in the role of Rachel Dawes, former love interest of Wayne and current love interest of Dent.

Her presence creates an interesting love triangle with her two lovers, and her presence serves as the catalyst for several of the film’s key transformations.

Gary Oldman reprises his role as Lt. Jim Gordon, and he picks up where he left off in “Begins,” giving the audience a glimpse of a regular good guy fighting against a wave of freaks and anarchists.

Wayne Enterprises technology expert Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) and butler Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine) provide the film’s comic relief, though also some of its most thought-provoking dialogue.

Eric Roberts, Tommy Lister, Anthony Michael Hall and Michael Jai White all provide excellent supporting roles, and Hans Zimmer’s score provides a chilling mood.

Despite its title, this film is not merely a Batman movie. It certainly uses him as its linchpin, but it focuses just as much on the stories of Dent and The Joker, taking the audience to places it doesn’t expect to go.

Despite a running time described by some as too long, the film never slows down, never becomes boring.

“The Dark Knight” is the best film of the year so far, and it succeeds as a crime drama, character study and summer blockbuster rolled into one.

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“The Dark Knight”Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace
Run time: 142 minutes
Rating: Four stars out of four