This film more than lived up to all he hype. Ledger was incredible as the Joker, pulling off a psychotic criminal mastermind to a tee. Bale was better in this than in Batman Begins, but Ledger stole the show. Maggie Gyllenhaal played Rachel Dawes much better than Katie Holmes did in Batman Begins and it was obvious to see what Holmes is lacking in her acting arsenal is ever present in Gyllenhaal's. I loved seeing Anthony Michael Hall as the news broadcaster because I haven't seen him in anything since The Dead Zone. Ledger is the centerpiece to this incredible cast who all performed incredibly well. Christopher Nolan did a wonderful job directing this cast and the fight scenes were great. I highly recommend this film.