Stand up and applaud the Joker...

Rating: 10/10 (17 July 2008)

This is a movie that goes beyond a lone superhero fighting comic book villains in a fictional city. Its a brilliantly directed masterpiece that will leave you gasping and starring at the screen when the credits roll. Like the first movie Christian Bale brings his strong persona to the billionaire Bruce Wayne who uses Batman as a symbol to bring justice in Gautham.However this movie isn't just about Batman, its also centered around someone else, someone far more complicated and dark. The Joker.
Nolan and the late Heath Ledger give the Joker a dimension I have never seen before in a villain. Ledger's performance is nothing short of brilliant, breathtaking and aw-inspiring; almost as if he is drawing upon the demons within himself to portray the Joker. He is the most believable villain I have ever seen on the Big Screen and he will scare you from the first time he appears in the movie. As brilliant as Christian Bale is in the movie he is over-shadowed by Heath Ledger as the Joker. Every time the Joker is on screen the movie has a feeling of its own. It moves away from being an action flick based on a comic and becomes something much more dramatic and complex. Like Batman you get lost trying to figure out the joker and reason behind his demented personality and his haunting crimes. If Heath Ledger doesn't get an Oscar for this role I don't know who will.
Other supporting actors also provide strong performances. Aaron Eckhart is very good as Harvey Dent/Two face and Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman as always do a great job as well. The only week link in this movie for me was Maggie Gyllenhaal, like Katey Holmes in Batman Begins she doesn't quite hit the nail on the head.
Nothing I can say in this short review will give you the true idea of how good this movie is or what its is really about. Its so much more that any of the previous Batman movies. Its a perfect balance of action, drama, suspense and quite brilliant acting and direction. This movie is a must see whether you are a Batman fan or not because the chances are that by the end of it, you will be standing and applauding.