The Dark Knight

The Caped Crusader returns to Gotham City to aide Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent fight organized crime. Just as they corner in on the head crime bosses a new threat arises, a criminal master mind known only as the Joker.


Ok so this has to be one of the most anticipated sequels since Star Wars. I had tickets to the midnight showing--I got there about 10:45 PM and people were already lined up for the 6:15 AM screening. WOW!

So for all those poor saps that are still waiting in line to see this film...well I think that they will enjoy it for the most part. However at two hours and thirty two minutes, the movie runs about forty five minutes too long. The plot gets bogged down towards the end and I found myself losing interest. Also Morgan Freeman, who was a favorite of mine, from Batman Begins is completely underused. OH! not to mention the fact that Christan Bale's Batman constantly sounds like he is growling when ever he speaks. Totally annoying.

The story itself is a tad too convoluted. For those of you that are familiar with the comic book series there is a little plot twist that won't come as too much of a shock to you, but again with the running time it is dragged out way too long.

Nevertheless!! As most people have suspected Heath Ledger was amazing. His psychotic ruthless portrayal of the Joker makes Jack Nicholson's look like a creepy circus clown. The script is defiantly dark and Ledger steals every scene that he is in. Every line is delivered with such malice that you can't help but love him. Over all this movie isn't something that I would run out and see again--although the Joker does make it tempting--he is way fun. The movie has had so much hype due to Ledgers death that many people may overlook the excessive length, the hodgepodge ending and once again Christian Bales incessant growling. Seriously though, they couldn't have paid for more effective marketing.

I don't know that I would go as far as to say that Ledger deserves an Oscar for this performance--I mean lets face it, if he didn't die this would be just another comic book character that although was perfectly executed would have been completely overlooked by the academy--Still his performance alone is worth your ticket.

*** Must See

Rated PG-13 (for extreme violence and menace)