In classic Nolan fashion, TDK builds on the dark undertones of BB while introducing cyclical motifs throughout the plot. The film succeeds because not only did it take the presentation of the franchise and up it on scale, but it took the message, themes, and morals to the next level.

What you have is the most iconic rivalry (Batman and Joker) solidified (finally) on film within the incredibly intricate characterization of The Joker. You might fear that since Nicholson steals the show in Burton’s Batman, Ledger might do the same in TDK…and, well, he does, but in a way that is brilliantly plot significant.

The usurpation of Batman by another is written right into the story; this other being a dark, twisted, character whose dark, tiwsted, anarchy works itself into the story’s themes in much the same way that batmans dark, serious, morality overflows at every turn. It forces Batman, and the audience to come to realizations few movies ever acheive. It is not just bad guy versus good guy. “It’s something more” Batman himself is forced “not to be the hero.” All you have to do is look to the movie, to see all this present.

“An unstoppable force meets an immovable object”

It’s complete exposition of duality represented in superhero form. How is that not just awesome? Two, iconic figures allegorical in their own right of larger societal themes battling eachother on multiple levels. AWESOME.

Does it stop there? No. Introduce Harvey Dent, the would be two-face and attack him as a character with the same treatment Batman and the Joker get. They are never just characters, but symbols for what their character stand for. This might seem superfluous in a superhero movie, but Nolan understands how brutally awesome it is.

Consider every and anything to do with Harvey Dent, throughout the entire movie can be related back to a coin toss and the “50/50″ theme which later engulfs his existence. Everything he does or says eludes to this theme and its woven right into the script. Right down to his girlfriend who may go with batman or may not, everything he is involved with is represented in some way as teetering on the line of the possibility to be reversed. When this all pans out in the Joker’s “choice” option he gives to Batman on who to save, and the eventual creation of Harvey Dent, its just a big whopping slam dunk of technical gratification. The movie just attacks so many levels it doesnt need to, by virtue of being a superhero sequel, but it does, and it does them perfectly.

TDK is better than BB because by design it attaches itself to the first, builds upon it, and then demonstrates how much “better” it is…. “Why so serious?” The movie poster’s reads, introducing the nature of the Joker Character, his rivalry with batman, and more importantly a quip to the the first movie.

“Why so serious?” The Joker and marketing phrase says, seeming to imply, “you think that was big…get ready for this…”

As fans you could only salivate at the assumption that you were in for some eye-candy Batman vs Joker glory, and while all that was achieved, what you could not have expected was a social/moral commentary so intuitively woven into the plot that it practically evokes Nolan’s prior film “The Prestige”, its rules of achieving magic, and its reveal of draw-dropping satisfaction.

Along those lines, consider where Nolan’s reach might gravitate this time having just completed inception. The hype might be too big to live up to, and we might be fooled into believing Nolan can pull it off. As said in the prestige

“Borden: … a real magician, tries to invent something new, that other magicians are gonna scratch their heads over, you know?
Cutter: Right, then you sell it to him for a small fortune?
Alfred Borden: Alright…
Cutter: I suppose you have such a trick?
Alfred Borden: Actually, I do. ”

Lets hope Nolan has more tricks up his sleeve, because this audience, “wants to be fooled.”

Like I said, I need to rewatch The Prestige.

And I would appreciate Tom comments, for sure.

For me, the Prestige is his most pleasurable movie.

By the way, Tommy K reads this blog but is too chicken shit to comment. I’m calling him out right here.

Why? It’s a movie about Batman

::end trolling::