by Rolland Judd

Created on: December 27, 2008   Last Updated: August 15, 2010

2008 had a lot to offer in the way of great movies. Frost/Nixon, Seven Pounds, and even (I know this one wasn't for everyone, but I split a seam laughing so hard as I watched it) Pineapple Express were movies that got you more than your money's worth as far as great entertainment. But there is another movie I think we've all seen that really got you the bang for your buck, and that movie is The Dark Knight. Best movie of 2008, and possibly years to come.

The Dark Knight is a bright shining star in the vast array of comic book movies that have been ever so popular over the last decade. This isn't just another Batman movie. Good and evil go to the utmost extremes in this film and provide for not only an epic battle between the two but an engaging philosophical debate of morals as well. You watch characters of solid moral foundation question their beliefs and struggle with the internal debate that ensues.

Of course you get to see high speed car chases, stunning visual effects and well choreographed fight scenes in The Dark Knight, but that's all just icing on the cake. The real draw of this movie is the intellectual content which tends to be rare in the comic book movie genre. Where Batman represents morals and justice the Joker represents complete and total chaos. Anything goes for the Joker and Batman is constently trying to balance the scales of right and wrong.

And let's not forget Harvey Dent. It is almost as if he is the middle ground between the two extremes, and eventually becomes the virtual moral tightrope. Right and wrong be damned, luck prevails over morals and the toss of a coin decides the fate of others. His internal struggle with morality before he becomes Two-Face is a true testament to the human condition; moralities can be tossed out the window when something threatening or confusing knocks on our door.

The Joker, however, was the star of the show. Health Ledger gives the audience a preformance that is astonishing for anyone that has seen him in previous roles. I've seen First Knight and wasn't all that impressed. I'm Not There (a must see for any fan of Bob Dylan) was a great movie but Health Ledger's preformance was fairly stale. In The Dark Knight the Joker is such a convincing character that you don't even know who the actor playing the Joker is. You don't think about it. The Joker takes on a life of his own as the ultimate physical form of chaos and insanity leaving the audience wondering only how Batman will make his next move as the ultimate form of vigilante justice.

Something that this movie deserves the most credit for is what I like to call the Empire Strikes Back factor. Things don't necessarily end on a good note. The Joker doesn't win, but neither does Batman. Its a tie and only because Batman chooses a virtuous path that preserves the high morality of his character. The end of this movie leaves you questioning whether of not morality is absolute, or whether there are times when it simply becomes necessary to discard those morals and do what needs to be done for the greater good of humanity.

The Dark Knight has everything you could want out of a movie: intense action scenes, high impact stunts and special effects, but most importantly a plot and storyline that guide the viewer through a philosophical debate over morals. This film takes you on a journey through yourself and where you stand morally. It will make you question the principles that you hold dear. The Dark Knight is not just another comic book movie, it has all the makings of an Oscar contender. The best 2008 has to offer.

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