Just.............amazing

Rating: 10/10 (19 July 2008)

This is cinema at its best. Just an astounding piece of work really, something that rivals the likes of Lord of the Rings that was able to combine wonderful action with an incredible plot. What this movie has, however, that perhaps no other "serious" action movie has ever had is just top, top, top quality acting. I am not going to include any spoilers in this review because I honestly believe this is a movie that one must see to appreciate. Don't wait for someone to tell you all of the neat little tid bits, all the fascinating subplots. Go and watch it unfold on your own. What I will say is this, however. I believe that Christian Bale is one of the finest actors out there today, and the interesting layers he brought to Batman Begins last time was a joy to watch. He played the brooding Bruce Wayne and the "cover" Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy, with the same sense of passion. He moved in and out of each with perfect timing, and here he does the same thing. It never lets you forget who is behind the mask, and that a man, with real dreams and passions and problems, exists there, not some hocus pocus superhero that has no connection to reality. Bale makes it easy to believe that THIS Batman, HIS Batman could easily spring from the inner circle, the upper cust of the establishment if only the right set of circumstances were to come along. And then we have the Joker. Heath Ledger is brilliant in this, absolutely, positively brilliant. Going into this movie I thought that some of the talk about Ledger and a possible Oscar nomination could be attributed to his death and the natural reaction that comes from such tragedy. Ledger was a SUPERIOR actor, able to play a wide variety of roles, and an Oscar nomination for his last role would be fitting for someone that certainly would have stamped his name at the top of the nomination list many, many, many years. However, anyone who watches this performance and doesn't appreciate the stupendous job this young man did is just blinded by the notion that such lofty praise can only be afforded to a different sort of movie. Ledger fits it all into this role. He can be utterly amusing and funny, playing up his demented "jokster" role to a tee. But Ledger and director Chris Roth never, ever let you forget what a vile, villainous human being he is. The Joker perpetrates some of the most reprehensible crimes imaginable, and his complete disregard for sense of morality or compassion is actually unnerving at times. Whereas Jack Nicholson made his Joker so funny and quirky, one couldn't help but enjoy and maybe even privately root for him to succeed, you can't help but despise this Joker, even if he makes you laugh a few times with his mannerism. Also, while Nichlson's Joker was always laughing and joking, constantly making light of dark situations, this Joker is simply deranged. He doesn't laugh uncontrollably. He takes great joy out of watching others suffer and, because he obviously doesn't care much for his own life, the closer he comes to death the more heinous he becomes. The action scenes are marvelous to watch and some of the chase scenes are actually intense. But this movie would be done a great disservice if it were ever simply referred to as a major summer "action" movie or thriller. This is simply a high-intensity drama that should be nominated for Oscars beyond the one that Ledger should win for his portrayal. I will see this movie again as quickly as I possibly can.