The definition of a good film is hard to agree on. Some believe that it takes “perfect casting” to accomplish the feat. Others argue that a great atmosphere, story, and the film’s technical elements (cinematography, sound design, color) matter more. It is rare to find a movie that accomplishes both feats in the technical and performance/casting aspects. It is also more difficult to cast so well that it is nearly impossible to recast in the future.

Christopher Nolan’s 2008 film The Dark Knight, meets all the requirements and cemented its place in cinematic history. A tight storyline, perfect casting, great performances, and a cast and crew helmed by a legendary director combine to create a film that redefined a genre.

The Dark Knight is the 2^nd film in Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy that features the titular character Batman and others from classic comics. In this movie, Bruce Wayne (Batman) attempts to protect the City of Gotham from The Joker and other criminals. Wayne’ goal is to bring justice and order to the city, while the Joker craves only chaos and destruction. The two battle over their different philosophies and in the end, one of them claims victory.

In terms of filmmaking and design, the movie is among Christopher Nolan’s best directorial works. He uses perfectly blended practical effects, editing, and cinematography to bring a realistic and dark tone to the film. One of the most memorial instances of this is the scene that features batman flipping a cargo truck in the middle of Gotham City. To accomplish this, Nolan flipped the truck using well placed hydraulics among other effects. Using a piston and a detonating TNT charge, the crew flipped the semi-truck cab first. The use of practical effects rather than CGI occurs regularly to the movie and add to the tone.

Finally, a great story featuring legendary comic book characters is not complete without actors suitable for the task. Luckily for Nolan and the studio, Christian Bale (Batman) and Heath Ledger (The Joker) deliver great performances. Bale is perfect as the brooding and intelligent Wayne. He brings a heroic and noble feel to the character while still allowing the intimidation to shine. Ledger is the perfect antagonist the Bale’s Batman. He is unhinged, chaotic, and terrifying in the role. Even though chaos is the best word to describe The Joker, ledger portrays an intelligence and nobility to the role. It is almost possible to agree with him in certain situations. The Dark Knight is full of great performances, but these two carry the show.

There was a time where superhero movies weren’t seen as legitimate film. Critics labeled them as gimmicky and corny. The Dark Knight came at a time where superhero films began to gain traction. Nolan along with his cast and crew contributed to the modern-day comic book boom. The impact of this film is undeniable.