The Dark Knight returns!

Rating: 9/10 (15 June 2005)

I saw the midnight showing on opening day and I was thrilled to see that Batman has returned as a menacing vigilante, not as the cartoonish parody of Batman portrayed in the last film in the old franchise. Gotham City is a dark, crime-infested hellhole, filled with feelings of hopelessness and despair, just the way I remember from the Dark Night comics. Dr. Crane's first transformation from the mousy, Milquetoast-ish psychiatrist into the delightfully sadistic Scarecrow is equally impressive. Christian Bale's performance as Batman is adequate, perhaps a little forced. I give it 9 out of 10 stars only because of the somewhat silly, cartoony plot of the villains to destroy Gotham City.