Movie review
July 16, 2008 · 152 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
This 2008 Batman sequel is a straight-up crime thriller about order versus chaos in Gotham. The story follows Batman teaming with cops and DA Harvey Dent to take down mobsters, only for the Joker to unleash pure anarchy and force impossible moral choices. No identity lectures, no diversity messaging, and no social-justice framing appear in the plot, dialogue, or character arcs. It’s all vigilante action, ethical dilemmas, and a clown-faced terrorist—nothing an average viewer would flag as modern activist content.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Dark Knight.
Woke representation / casting
Standard 2008 comic adaptation with solid actors; Morgan Freeman’s role is incidental, not framed as diversity statement.
Woke political dialogue
Some moral philosophy on order and sacrifice, but generic and pre-dates modern identity politics.
Identity-driven story themes
None; arcs center on heroism, corruption, and chaos, not race/gender/queer identity.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Light take on corrupt cops and DA system, but not woke-style systemic oppression lectures.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Complete absence of any “too woke” or forced-agenda criticism.
Creator track record context
No alignment with identity/activist filmmaking.
Production
