On this week 10 years ago, the long awaited sequel to Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" was released and forever changed the landscape of superhero films as a genre in Hollywood (alongside the release of the very first Marvel Cinematic Universe film in "Iron Man" on May of the same year). The aptly titled movie called "The Dark Knight" became more than just another Batman movie and follow-up - it was considered "The Godfather" of superhero movies and dared to challenge the perception of the Caped Crusader and his world by grounding them into a very realistic tale where a man working outside the law as a vigilante is challenged by an agent of chaos.
Christian Bale of course returned as Batman - more experienced and savvy in his role as Gotham's protector following his victory against the League of Shadows. He partners with his steadfast cop friend Lt. James Gordon and new ally in District Attorney Harvey Dent in trying to eliminate crime and the mob from every corner of the city. Unfortunately it's the unpredictable arrival of a crazed criminal mastermind known as "The Joker" - played by the late Heath Ledger - that backs everyone in Gotham to a wall, pushing Batman to his very limits and challenging his fight against injustice by threatening everything he loves and has worked for.
Of course the impact of The Dark Knight in pop culture and movies cannot be overstated. It changed how films of its type are perceived and considered for the Academy Awards - with Ledger's Joker winning posthumously a "Best Supporting Actor" award that is well deserved. It is indeed the film that we needed and deserved, and it also helped popularize the use of IMAX cameras in filming - which is why it is being brought back (according to Variety) to celebrate a decade of the superhero film's mark in film history.
Happy Anniversary, The Dark Knight!
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