The Dark Knight

I haven't heard so much hype about a movie in quite some time. The viral marketing began well over a year before the film was released and used a website to send thousands of eager fans across the country which revealed more websites, clues, puzzles and generated much intrigue.

Shortly after the theatrical trailer was released, one of the main stars, Heath Ledger who plays the Joker died which gave the film international attention and increased scrutiny regarding his 'final role'*. Those who have watched The Dark Knight, critics included, have heaped praise on both the film and Ledgers acting, many of which have called for a posthumous Oscar nomination win.

With the movie currently standing at #1 film of all time on the Internet Movie Database and an approval rating of 94 percent with the critics, it's safe to assume that the film is indeed extremely good.

And it is.

There hasn't been a deliciously dark and complete comic-book adaptation of a Marvel or DC action hero and only Sin City based on a Frank Miller graphic novel can stand shoulder to shoulder in this respect and is also a very good film in its own right.

What we have is a more rounded and in-depth look at how Bruce Wayne/Batman works, a great developing plot keeping you on your toes, solid dialogue and fantastic acting with, like everyone else highlighting this, Ledger providing an unfortgetable Joker. Indeed, Ledger lived alone in a hotel room for a month, formulating the character's posture, voice and kept a diary in which he recorded the Joker's thoughts and feelings to guide himself during his performance. That's method acting and it's paid off big time.

Aaron Eckhart has the face and the talent to play both Harvey Dent and Two-Face to a tee and supporting performances from Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman reprising their roles are also faultless.

In fact, as a whole, I have little in the way of bad things to say about The Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan has made his second classic film with his second Batman movie (the other being the brilliant Memento). I'm not sure how it squeezed past the film board to get a PG-13 rating but I for one can't wait for the next installment.

I would give this film 9 lives of the Joker out of 10.

*It the 2009 release of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, a Terry Gilliam film. Poor Terry, he has such terrible luck with his films.