Following on from Batman Begins, director Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale reunite for The Dark Knight. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and newly appointed District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker.
Directed by
Christopher Nolan
Written by
Jonathan Nolan (screenplay); Christopher Nolan (screenplay); Christopher Nolan (story); David S. Goyer (story); Bob Kane (characters).
Starring
Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne / Batman); Heath Ledger (The Joker); Aaron Eckhart (Harvey Dent / Two-Face); Michael Caine (Alfred Pennyworth); Maggie Gyllenhaal (Rachel Dawes); Gary Oldman (Lt. James Gordon); Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox); Monique Curnen (Det. Ramirez); Ron Dean (Detective Wuertz); Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow); Chin Han (Lau); Nestor Carbonell (Mayor); Eric Roberts (Salvatore Maroni); Ritchie Coster (The Chechen); Anthony Michael Hall (Mike Engel). Please contact SFC to add other cast members and characters.
Important: the following essays and comments are authored by Soul Food Cinema readers. Whilst the Editor prays for the spiritual integrity of all content of this site, it should be noted that these represent personal opinions and carry no official endorsement. If you consider any content to be a misrepresentation of Catholic teaching, please contact SFC. May God bless you and enlighten you in your reading.
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Articles, Essays and Reviews
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Readers' Comments and Opinions
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Violent and diabolical content with no clear redeeming message
Mark Banks (United Kingdom)
Opinion: Not Recommended
As I came out of the cinema last night I was searching to identify what exactly the overall message was that The Dark Knight was communicating. I couldn’t identify that message then, and I’m still struggling to identify it this morning. That is never a good thing in a film, but for a film laden with brutal and intense violence as well as diabolical personas and demonic actions, it’s made all the worse. Click here to read my extended review on this film.
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Maturity Test: How does a child view the joker ?
Matt Miller (United Kingdom)
Opinion: Limited Recommendation
Like all similar Superhero films I enjoyed this film because it shows the triumph of good over evil and because it is really just a bit of "escapism".
However, the test as to whether you should let a child see it should really be how they are going to react to Joker as a character.
Heath Ledger gave a first class performance as a manipulative and evil joker. If a child can identify that Heath Ledger was playing a very manipulative, crafty and evil man and identify the Joker as a "bad role model" who they should not mimic in their behaviour then they are mature enough to see the film. If the child is a manipulative and crafty one who likes the thought of being sly like the Joker in real life then they are not mature enough to see this film. In that case it is upto their parents, peers and teachers to try and change that person for the better. i.e. to teach them respect towards others.
