One of the best Batman films to date...

Rating: 10/10 (20 July 2008)

The Dark Knight is probably one of the few examples where I am unsure how to rate it. It has awesome action sequences, rather deep plot, a charismatic villain and the charismatic hero... yet it has problem with pacing and editing. The action and suspense would come at you without pause, making everything seem erratic, and not in a good way.
Maybe to be specific... those who were expecting a direction and story-telling like Begins will be disappointed. Unlike Begins, The Dark Knight is not a story about Batman, but a story of Gotham in response to Batman's arrival. The theme of escalation, the classic notion of good versus evil, chaos versus order, and what a hero truly is, is present in the whole movie... but it was rather cramped in a way that it was somewhat difficult to understand it all with just one sitting.
Batman (Bale) has now been doing the job for over a year. His appearance had in fact inspired people of Gotham to be intolerable against crime... but not in the way he expected. Copy-cats ran around the streets, guns blazing and shooting criminals. Thankfully, there is a new District Attorney who is also rattling the cages as Batman is, except in the open, and with legality. The dark knight hopes that one day, Dent will finally make the difference that Gotham will no longer need its masked vigilante, and he would get back together with Rachel Dawes (Gyllenhaal, replacing Holmes for the role).
But things don't go according to plan. The mob, in its last corner, calls on the services of the Joker (Ledger), who unleashes forth a crime spree of unparalleled precision and destruction that drags in almost all pivotal characters towards the end.
What's the most amazing thing about this movie is how accurate the characters are portrayed in the spirit of the comics. Batman now is more involved in detective work (which other movies, even Begins, explored little to naught)... Gordon (Oldman) is now more active, and much more explored here more, portrayed as a desperate cop trying to clean the streets, but getting trapped in his own dealings... the Joker, who finally is represented right (even if he does wear make-up) not as a prankster criminal... but as a true agent of chaos.
Ledger had nailed him as a definitive Joker for the live action movies. How he acts, his 'plans', even his odd sense of humor. By the pictures, you see a grungy, dirty looking madman... you'd think he'd be so serious... but he is not. I could count how many times he made me, and the audience laugh. He tells Batman the duality of their nature and relationship, even wishing how he would want to do this forever... this is truly one of the best Joker portrayals in history. Disturbing, yet funny.
Another strong point of the film is past its first hour... there are intense action sequences here, showcased mostly with real sets, and not relying heavily on overused CGI. Have you seen a truck flip on its back? Beautiful. Even on its last leg of the movie, the finale was not some regular battle between the two antagonists, but one big hostage situation.
Trust me... it'll be a blast to watch it.
One of my main complaints is how choppy the editing seemed at times, though only for a few parts. Understandibly, they were used to push the suspense forward, but there are times where the audiences would be left off somewhat confused. Batman's voice was also somewhat grating at times (Bale should start thinking of a voice that he can use when he's doing conversations as Batman... not always growling). There was also some annoying parts where the lines were either said too fast, or muted by the music.
Overall, not a perfect movie... not even a true masterpiece. Its faults are often glaring at times, and even annoying, but its out-shined by the fact on how good it delivers in the middle to the end.
10/10 - You cannot go wrong with this movie. Watch it. Now.