Ledger sublime, film over-plotted

Rating: 6/10 (22 March 2010)

This was a pretty good film. The production quality was magnificent and Ledger's performance as the joker was magnificent.
Overall, it opened strongly and for the most part, it was an engaging film with plenty of action and plot twists. However, there was something a bit "overdone" about the film. As another reviewer said, the ending felt as if it was built on as it was not born out of the main storyline.
Second, there were too many sub-plots that distracted from the over-arching plot of the film. Similarly, there were abnormalities and things we feel are important seem to drop in and out of the storyline.
Was Wayne still in love with Rachel? Was she still in love with him? Why did this fade in and out of importance? Was the joker trying to catch the batman for a share of the crime syndicate's money? Yes, no, but yes.... but ultimately no. Is Batman retiring? Yes!.... no! But why would he? Seemed the reason given was vague and confusing.
What happened to the Lau? The crooked accountant snatched out of Hong Kong? The transformation of Dent's character was a bit odd and the dialogue at the end about Batman being the "dark knight" was a bit dumb! I did like it, but the screenplay and plotting was overdone and not enough focus was given to the primary plots. So in the end, it came off a bit scrambled. Excellent performances all round, I must say.