A Magnificent Superhero film, crime film, ensemble piece, and all around great film

Rating: Null/10 (20 July 2008)

This film was incredible. It was two hours and thirty minutes, but it felt half as short. I loved every minute of it. It was gripping, shocking, moving, funny, and clever. Christian Bale took his strange persona he had in BATMAN BEGINS and ratcheted it up a notch and a half. I can't imagine a better Batman. Maggie Gyllenhaal did an even better job than Katie Holmes did and managed to make me forget that she was Maggie Gyllenhaal. Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman were all top notch as they usually are. Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker was absolutely chilling and incredible. He was like a deranged combination of Jack Nicholson, Cesar Romero, Brandon Lee in THE CROW, Malcolm McDowell as Alex DeLarge in A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, and Tadanobu Asano as Kakihara in ICHI THE KILLER. I'd say that his performance was worth an Oscar, except that Aaron Eckhart as Harvy Dent was just as incredible. I don't want to spoil anything, but his performance will most certainly be remembered as one of the most emotional and unforgettable performances in a superhero film. He does just as good a job as Heath Ledger, who already did an immense and perfect job. I hate to call the film a superhero movie though, because it is much much MUCH more than that. It is an ensemble piece. This film is just as much about Batman as it is about Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Dent. All three characters are explored to such an incredible depth that it doesn't feel at all like a superhero movie. That's not to say that the film doesn't have it's fair share of action, because the action scenes in this film are extraordinary. The actions scenes in this film are not only satisfying, but they are also incredibly intense, unpredictable, and, they actually move the story. As if the film isn't perfect enough, it also manages to accomplish even more. The film feels like a crime saga in the vein of something like THE UNTOUCHABLES, THE DEPARTED, and, yes, even THE CROW. This is a magnificent film and a gem and it deserves to be remembered as a milestone in the realm of great superhero movies. This is a great film and I highly recommend it.
PROS:
-everything that was great about the original is multiplied.
-extraordinary performances by Aaron Eckhart, Christian Bale, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Heath Ledger
-perfect visuals, action scenes, fast pace, and story
CONS:
-Obviously, some suspension of disbelief is definitely required for a superhero movie.