It’s hard to believe that The Dark Knight is now ten years old. I don’t mean that in a “whoa, time goes fast!” sort of way. The fact that it’s officially a decade since its release is so hard to believe mainly because the year leading up to it, and its release, remains so vivid in my mind. I wanted to write about the film in some way, though wasn’t quite sure what to write about. I mean, by this point, everything that can be said about it has, and chances are you will end up reading quite a bit about it this week anyway.

     In thinking about it, I found myself reminiscing about everything else around it, and how exciting it all was. I stand by the fact that even now, ten years later, The Dark Knight may have one of the best modern marketing campaigns for a film ever, made by 42 Entertainment. Things were kind of quiet, at least compared to how they would be. People loved and welcomed Batman Begins and were looking forward to the sequel, which was revealed to be named ‘The Dark Knight.’ Then Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker, which was met with some hesitation as it seemed to be quite an odd choice for a role that didn’t seem to be the kind of thing he would do. I was excited anyway, as I would be for any Batman after Batman Begins. But still, everything was on a pretty standard path for a sequel.

Until May 2007.

     That was when a website launched dedicated to the political campaign of Harvey Dent, adorned with the “I Believe in Harvey Dent” line. Then one day it was vandalized, obviously by the Joker, who “believe(s) in Harvey Dent too”. Soon enough, fans were able to send e-mails to a location that, pixel by pixel for each e-mail, revealed the first look at Ledger’s Joker, still clad in darkness but with enough to show just how different an interpretation this would be live-action wise. Things started picking up, and the hype train was officially in full speed. I was more hooked then I thought was possible.

     The image eventually disappeared, teasing December as a possible trailer month. The San Diego Comic-con led way to a scavenger hunt that revealed a new site which unlocked the teaser. It was a very simple teaser, mainly dialogue, but it was enough. By this point, with the level of marketing we received, the movie couldn’t come soon enough. Unfortunately, there was still a year to go.

     With the scavenger hunt came a website that you could sign up to receive e-mails that were essentially copies of a Gotham City newspaper. From there, more websites were unlocked. In the fall, we were treated to a pumpkin with a burning candle (reminiscent of the one The Long Halloween is usually known for, making sense as the film used it as an influence), and the pumpkin eventually rotted away at one side of its ‘face’, signifying Harvey Dent’s fate to come.

     Then came the trailer and the Imax showings of the opening scene. I sadly couldn’t go but some of my friends did, and received a physical copy of an installment of the Gotham newspaper. Needless to say, their words were glowing. The trailer itself was amazing, legitimately worthy of everything that had been leading up to it. By this point, I was ecstatic. Everything looked fantastic.
     Then, sadly, Heath Ledger passed away. I remember being in a quiet shock, finding it hard to believe. It was so unexpected and sad, especially at this point of what was already shaping up to be one amazing career. So young yet so talented, having already achieved so much in such little time. Unfortunately, given some circumstances and the way things like this can go, the sudden belief that the role somehow led to Ledger’s death began to circulate. It was ridiculous then and still is. People close to Heath and people on set put these allegations down. It didn’t matter. It put more gas on the fire that was expectations for the film, the chance to see the final full role of a fantastic young actor who left us way too soon, who had already been heaped with praise by those working with him for his interpretation of the character.

     In March we were treated to a second trailer, this one focusing on Harvey Dent. With the trailer came more viral marketing, as the ‘I Believe in Harvey Dent’ campaign going strong, with areas having individuals show up to rally for Dent’s spot as district attorney.

     After waiting for so long, July 17th finally arrived, and the midnight showing for the film. There was only one screen dedicated to showing it, until more and more people showed up and the theater was forced to open a second screen to accommodate everyone. The building was electric, people ready for the show to begin.
     From the moment the lights dimmed, it seemed like magic. The Dark Knight has been heralded for the fact that it didn’t feel like a comic book film, but an actual film that just so happened to have these characters in it. And that’s what it felt like. You knew you were watching something special, something that was worthy of the praise that had been coming from the critics in the days leading up to it.

     There are two specific moments I remember incredibly vividly from the screening. There’s a moment in the film where we see a broadcast on the news of a video that the Joker had sent in, where he was terrorizing one of the copycat Batmen, forcing him to answer questions as he filmed the man with a handheld camera. As the camera begins to shake, Joker starts laughing and the man starts to scream, and we are treated to a shot of the Joker as he turns the camera on himself before turning it off. Then, a quick cut to a quiet city skyline. You could have heard a pin drop in that screening. It was probably the most silent I have ever heard it during a showing.

     The second comes near the end, with Batman and Joker’s final confrontation. The split second where Batman flipped Joker off the building and he freefalls, laughing triumphantly, took the breath out of the screening. It was one of those moments where, I feel, it was nerve-wracking to see what the fate of the character would be, and seeing him plummet, cackling maniacally, left all tense. This changed back, quickly, to tension, with the phenomenal back and forth between Joker and Batman, with the neatly disorienting shot of Joker hanging upside before the camera turns him right side up. It was wonderful on the big screen.

     I have many fond memories of the showing. It was a great moment to have with my friends, which I find I don’t say that often about films anymore. The Dark Knight, more than anything, felt like a major event. That midnight screening, with everything leading up to it, had a very special atmosphere. You couldn’t help but feel as though it wouldn’t be replicated soon, if at all. It still ranks as one of the greatest movie going experiences I’ve ever had, one I remember fondly and hold close to my heart, and I’m incredibly happy that I was able to experience it with so many others.