"The Dark Knight" is not just the best Batman movie ever made. Nor is it one of the best superhero movies ever made. It is without question one of the greatest crime dramas told in motion picture history. Hopefully it will be remembered by the Academy next year. The movie pulls you in from the opening scene and never lets loose. You can feel the tension ramping as the characters all struggle to stand up for what they believe in -- whether for the good of the city or it's certain destruction.
All of the acting performances in this film are perfect, but it's the late Heath Ledger who has gone beyond simply acting and became The Joker. I have seen lots of movies in my day and I struggle to remember if I have ever seen an actor transformed in the character they were portraying. Never did I think that was Ledger behind the streaky clown facade, but just a homicidial sociopathic freak whose only wants chaos to rule the city.
They will be hard-pressed to top this film with the next installment, but for the time being savor the film as great entertainment on a grand scale.