Without a doubt a great movie on first impressions and afterwards in thinking further it only grows. All the performances are very good and without the Joker character it would have still been a top movie but he really sets it alight. Ledger owns the movie and injects it with so much extra insane malice which justifies the existence and actions of the Dark Knight. For Ledger it is a powerful stellar performance from a very talented actor who excels when he is truly stretched and forced out of his comfort zone.