Strong film; enjoyed it! But some flaws

Rating: Null/10 (20 July 2008)

I was impressed with this new Batman film...I found the first installment, Batman Begins, to be quite average but this film blew that one out of the water. The storyline was well crafted, some great work by the DoP and jaw dropping action scenes. I tip my hat to the Nolan brothers for creating the sequence that plays out on the two boats - spectacularly creative.
Everybody is talking about Ledger's brilliant performance as the Joker and these accolades are well deserved; he delivers here. Comparisons are not always the best tool for analysis, but I didn't believe it possible that someone could pull off a better Batman villain than Jack Nicholson. Congrats Mr. Ledger.
I am surprised to see the film listed as #1 on IMDb however, and I think this rating will drop over time. The film is much too long and this is reflective, with respect, of several creative choices by the Nolans. The Harvey Dent character was poorly developed and his transformation threw the pace and rhythm of the film into a deep chasm.
This cut-off the film's otherwise energetic flow as the Director ends up cutting away from the film's true gem (Ledger's Joker) far too often; dulling the suspense. I felt like I was watching an entirely new film/story! Different creative choices, should have allowed for more focus on the film's primary villain, the Joker, while setting up the third installment of the new Batman films (to appease the film's financiers now rolling in cash!) No doubt the scriptwriter was quite in love with the Joker; hence he has the best lines and scenes in the film. Bale/Batman seems to be taken over completely; not because he is a weak actor but because the Protagonist of this film is the Joker not Batman. I recognize the film deals with the Joker out-witting and psychologically torturing Batman, but did Batman have to sound so cheesy!? Batman's dialogue, particularly in response to Joker's antics, was clichéd and painful to the ear. I won't comment on how lame Batman's 'voice' came across! I know I am typically critical of most film's but I still found this well worth the watch. The CGI and action are spectacular, but battle/chase sequences are too difficult to adequately follow for average viewers.