I wasn't sure what to make of Heath Ledger's potential for his role, wondering if he'd fallen victim to typecasting (hadn't seen Brokeback Mountain), and having to follow Jack Nicholson to boot. I didn't even recognize him behind the face paint in this film. His performance was absolutely magnetic, and the story thrived because he was part of it, giving great tension opposite Christian Bale's Batman. There are plenty of plot twists, and a great cast (some of whom you don't see in the trailers). The action scenes and special effects are outstanding, but the drama is definitely carried by the quality of the acting.