For the first time ever outside the comic books, The Joker is actually portrayed as a violent sociopath rather than a silly prankster. Ledger deserves a Best Actor nomination. This movie is incredibly dark and thought-provoking. Had the current Administration presented its rationales for the "War on Terror" as effectively as the film does, there might have actually been some well-reasoned debate. This was the first film in years that, when walking out of the theater, I immediately wanted to turn around and go see it again right away. My only quibble is that Bale's Batman voice can be a little grating at times. If that's the only flaw in a 2.5 hour movie, I'd have to call it excellent.