Heath, Bale and Eckhart shine...

Rating: 8/10 (22 July 2008)

This movie is surely one of the most defining moments in modern cinema; it manages to break free of the somewhat lackluster 'superhero' genre. This movie doesn't raise the bar, it smashes it down and demands a new one in it's name.
Firstly, I'm going to comment Heath's performance. Well, I can't really praise it well enough. He brings the Cesar Romero prankster and merges it with Jack the Ripper. His alternating stories of how he got his scars, his unflinching murderous attitude and the way he crafts the entire plot is amazingly written by the Nolan brothers and acted by Ledger. He's the cause of Harvey "Two-Face", he manages to bring an entire city to it's knees, he is, quite possibly, the greatest villain to appear on screen in a long time, maybe ever. He's up there with the likes of Hannibal Lector and Emperor Palpatine, characters so well crafted and, more importantly, acted that simply their screen presence sends shivers up ones spine. Heath Ledger's Joker is iconic and has instantly become a cult classic. He is The Joker, in his purest, darkest form from the comics, with a new physical image that reflects the self-destructive nature of his character.
The rest of the cast shine, Aaron Eckhart especially. His portrayal of a mentally damaged fallen hero is a companion to Heath's reckless archaic monster, truly amazing to see both in the same scene. The pain that Harvey feels really comes across on the screen.
The movie is much more fantastical, but remains believable, and any loose threads from Begins are tied up here. The Begins suit, Scarecrow, and the Joker card from the evidence bag return, a nice nod that helps the two films feel as one. The music work by Hans Zimmer is amazing, the Begins theme elevated to a much more epic feel, really helping the movie along.
All in all, this movie has set new barriers for not only superhero movies, but for dramas, crime stories and action movies.