Couldn't have asked for a better Batman movie.

Rating: 10/10 (20 July 2008)

As a man whom looks up to our fictional super heroes and what they stand for, I can say that I am a fan of the Batman. A normal human being, with no "super powers", driven to do what is right and protect the innocent, at any cost to himself. Leading a double life, where he works hard on both fronts to dispel evil from from the city he loves. Yet where he originated from, in comics, we have the unbelievable villains, and the supernatural. This is where I feel the Dark Knight surpasses my expectations for a superhero movie, and truly draws me in. From the excellent story writing, to the stellar performances of key actors, this film leads me to believe that the events within are completely possible in reality. A film that is paced so well, as to never get "boring", and that delivers some true "shocks" at key moments, added to a bit of twisted humor at times, I can understand why the reviews are so high.
And I didn't think I'd be saying it, but Ledger's performance as the Joker is phenomenal. The whimsical, yet psychotic nature of the Joker isn't portrayed as i had expected. No, it is so much better than I had imagined. As a true being of chaos and madness, Ledger seems to have "become" the Joker, as I could just not picture the actor in the character. Scary, intimidating, horrific, funny to watch, but never to be taken "seriously", Dark Knight's Joker is a villain to indeed be afraid of, as he shows what a truly disturbed human being can be capable of when they have absolutely no moral compass at all.
And the idea of the "Dark Knight" opened my eyes to what a hero truly means to be. I now have a new outlook on some of our historical figures, and people in my life whom I can now see, have made such sacrifice and committed themselves to their cause, with no thought or regard for their own wants. And I think that is well portrayed through Batman/Bruce Wayne in this film with excellent writing, phenomenal acting, and a great pacing that pulls me in, never lets me get bored, and has me begging for more at the end.