Tuesday, July 18, 2023

The Dark Knight Was Released 15 Years Ago Today

 


15 years ago this day, Christopher Nolan's second Batman film in "The Dark Knight" was released by Warner Bros. Pictures in US theaters. It would be the sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins" and the second instalment of "The Dark Knight Trilogy" - seeing actor Christian Bale reprise his role as Bruce Wayne/ Batman as he continued to wage his vigilante war against crime and corruption in Gotham City. He allies himself with GCPD cop James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) to take down the mob once and for all. Unfortunately for them they fail to recognise the growing threat of a criminal mastermind known as The Joker (the late Heath Ledger) as he systematically takes down everything in Gotham through anarchy and chaos.


The Dark Knight - Original Theatrical Trailer
Considered a masterpiece and one of the greatest films ever made, The Dark Knight broke the mold in several levels - and ushered in a new perception for superhero movies thanks to its grounded crime film approach as well as Heath Ledger as The Joker - which would ultimately be one of his last performances prior to tragically passing away in January 2008. The actor would post-humously win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Clown Prince of Crime, and TDK would go on to win big in the Box Office and further heighten Nolan's status as a bigtime filmmaker - especially with his pioneering use of the IMAX format for big blockbuster films. 

The success of The Dark Knight would lead to a third and final film in Nolan's Batman trilogy in "The Dark Knight Rises" - ending Bruce Wayne's story and journey as Gotham's vigilante hero and defender.

Why So Serious?  Welcome To A World Without Rules. Happy 15 years, TDK! 

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