This action thriller explored the moral fibers of the "good guys" and the "bad guys." As Batman ponders whether to hang up his wings, the villains rage and threaten to take Gotham City over for themselves. The Joker, given a new, intensely dark persona by the late Heath Ledger in what will likely be considered the best work of his career, challenges Batman to look inside himself and see if they are not, after all, more alike than not. He also manages to combine scenes of evil with dark humor. Great action scenes, intense but not graphic or gratuitous violence, and entertaining dialogue come together in the end to create a great movie deserving of the hype from critics and fans alike.