DVD Region 2. pub: Warner Bros Z1 Y17658. 2 DVDS 152 minute film with extras. Price: £ 9.99 (UK) if you look around) stars: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Morgan Freeman.

check out website: www.warnerbros.co.uk

I'm never in the mind of thinking that there are any single great films, mostly cos I take them all on their own merit and can enjoy most of them. To do otherwise could mean a disservice to the others I enjoyed.

The second of the new run of 'Batman' films is very much in the Frank Miller era of Bat renaissance. The Batman is more firmly a man who will do what is needed to get the job done and in a world that contains an assassin/murderer/psychopaths such as the Joker, kid gloves aren't required but definitely leather metal-padded ones are. Then again, the same could be said of the police force as well.



From 1966 there have been three versions of the Batman outside of comicbooks which itself has had even more versions. The 1966 TV series was more a send-up of the comicbook tropes at the time or at least from the writers' who were brought up on it. The 1990s Tim Burton approach was a more stylised approach playing up on the visuals and tying in various bits to make a cohesive whole. With this century, director Christopher Nolan's take is bring something from Burton's style but much more darker and oppressive into the badlands that is Gotham City in something not too far off our reality. Then again, that's been common with more super-hero films of late, although unlike them, Batman doesn't parade around sans his mark for all to see.

In a continuation from 'Batman Begins', Batman comes up against the Joker. No falling into a vat of chemicals to give him his clown appearance in this film. Just make-up to cover some facial scars and make him look a little scary. It does make me wonder if the chemical bath will happen with his reappearance though. The Joker might not have created the Batman but he definitely had a hand in creating Two-Face out of district attorney Harvey Dent here.

Throughout this film, Bruce Wayne has doubts as to the effect of being Batman has on the people of Gotham City. From people who dress like him and getting killed to people like the Joker who sees it as a disguise to intimidate and joins in the fun (sic). The boundaries between law and order and vigilantism and villainy have never been more stretched.

'The Dark Knight' is also a very intelligent adult film. It's certainly not for children. Director Christopher Nolan hits all the right spots and even covers things that should have been remedied years ago regarding Batman's neck mobility against protection. After all, what good is protection unless you can turn and do something about it? It's a shame about the batmobile but leaves things open for another new version. In many ways there was enough material here to make two films. I hope developing a need for two villains at a time isn't going to become too much of a habit though. The indications are that the third film will lead more into Batman's redemption to both himself and the law.

It wasn't until I came to the extras that I discovered the Imax film was used. Granted my television might not be up to the current standard but I also suspect the eye adapts rather too readily to what it sees on the screen rather than analyse that aspect of what is seen. Look at how easily everyone has adapted to CGI these days. Nothing, outside of budget, is out of bounds for the visual imagination. We expect to see better rather than question where acting and physical effects stops and CGI wizardry takes over. We only get disappointed when we see the joins.

I was a bit puzzled why all the chase scenes were repeated in the extras. Granted some youngsters would want to flick through these time and again but that's a minor glitch. If you haven't seen 'The Dark Knight' and wondering what the fuss is about then getting this DVD is a worthwhile purchase.


GF Willmetts