The joker is just scary as hell. Aaron Eckhart plays the fallen champion of justice outstandingly. Christian Bale grows into his role as Batman in this movie more so than BB. It is just one of the greatest movies I have seen in a long time. I literally had to drag my girlfriend to the theater to see this opening weekend. She liked BB but she didn't think it was all that great. The long lines at the theater didn't help her mood either. She pretty much just went because I wanted to see it, she had no desire to see it at all. After the credits rolled she told me that this is the first time that she has left after seeing a movie and felt completely satisfied. She could not believe how good it was and neither could I. Amazing.