The Joker of "Ledgerendy" proportions

Rating: 10/10 (21 July 2008)

When people think comic book movie, they think cheesy stunts and lines with the "get the girl" ending; but not The Dark Knight. The late Heath Ledger truly brings something riveting to the screen that's enough to put even Hopkins's performance in Silence of the Lambs to shame.
The film eases into the plot slowly, but reaches a constant state of climax that keeps the viewer glued to the screen. Ledger's take on the Joker is much different than the one portrayed by Jack Nicholson in the 1989 Batman film. Ledger's Joker strikes a fear in the hearts of viewers because he is based more in reality than fiction, having depths and traits to his personality that are associated more with real-life psychopaths and schizophrenics than fantasy villains. It is for this reason that the Joker in The Dark Knight is considered terrifying, and Ledger delivers the character so beautifully that he steals the screen from Oldman and Bale.
All and all, this movie easily deserves a 10/10. It is also the first movie that I've seen where the hype didn't even compare to the quality of the movie itself. A definite classic for generations to come.