Wow. Quite unlike any other action movie I've been witness to.

Rating: 10/10 (5 September 2008)

Just got back from seeing The Dark Knight a second time, and unlike last time the theatre was packed (no seriously, it was). But I must say it was worth it TDK is a movie that is quite unlike many other movies I have seen, but to my surprise did share something in common with its predecessor "Batman Begins", that being that it gets significantly better on multiple viewings.
Dealing with themes of chaos, corruption, and morality was a much better angle for a Batman movie to take; and I can now say that I am a fan of Nolan's image, something "Batman Begins" had failed to sway me with. In fact I have now written off the old series, sadly, although Catwoman in Returns will not be forgotten easily (yes, if they introduce Catwoman in the next Batman Michelle Pfeiffer will be hard to top, having her cast again would be brilliant if Nolan decided to make Catwoman older).
Everything from Begins has been revamped and revived, the suit has changed, the voice has changed, and the whole goddamn city has changed. I can't remember being told the date between Begins and TDK but from what I gathered it must've been a year or two, for Gotham City has changed from the global scum that it used to be to something much more civilised. The explanation we're given is that the new District Attorney, Harvey Dent, has been cleaning up more crooks than Batman ever managed previously. Although this new clean look contrasts and masks perfectly the grim nature of the city of Gotham that slowly unsurfaces when the Joker "introduces a little anarchy". (Even the character Rachel has been replaced with whom I consider to be a better actress, although this is of much debate, and in this instance she doesn't leave much of an impression.) Considering "Batman Begins" was supposed to be a character piece on why Batman is what he is and does what he does it is odd that TDK overshadows it, no doubt about it. There is much more to learn about the Batman, and his villains (whom are far superior) in this film.
The sound has also been drastically improved, from the few dark tones in "Batman Begins" Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard have created an incredibly catchy and epic Batman theme. It really is a masterpiece.
Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker is surprisingly good. When I first heard it was going to be Heath I was disgusted, not because he wasn't a good actor, I haven't seen any of his films to be judge to that, but because he didn't look the part. Well a bit of makeup goes a long way. The Heath on screen is not Heath, it is the Joker, undoubtedly – he does not even share Heath's voice! The performance he has given is so unparallel to almost anything I have seen and as the film progresses you will laugh with the Joker as well as be horrified by what he does. Christopher Nolan has tackled the character perfectly, creating more of a force than a personality.
By film's end you will be blown away, questioning only why the CGI was so bad in places where you can be sure that it could have been much better. Such a minor flaw in such a grand epic does not stop TDK from being an absolutely brilliant film.
TDK is an experience that I will be glad to relive over and over on DVD.