Entertaining enough, but essentially mediocre

Rating: 5/10 (26 July 2008)

It pains me to see this shoot to the top of the best ever films. Yes, I'm well aware that as time goes on this film will find a more deserving place in these tables... but averaging 9.4, even now?
This is by no means a bad film. It was mediocre and far, far too long. A neat ending point could have occurred around 1.5 hours in and I, and most of the theatre from what I heard afterwards, were a little bemused as to how the sparse plot managed to be dragged on for so long. Had this film been appropriately cut, I believe I would have actively enjoyed it.
Heath Ledger(RIP) was by far the shining star in this film. His performance as The Joker is spot on: deeply sinister and almost nauseating at times, yet very funny at the right moments. Caine and Oldman are, as always, perfectly engaging. Bale, as much as I admire his other performances, really didn't seem up to scratch in this film as the caped crusader: he seemed far too much of a caricature. As Wayne, he was better.
When it comes down to it, performances aside, this is an action film with minimal plot and little else to speak of that drags on almost endlessly. See it if you're bored- otherwise I wouldn't bother. Certainly don't expect a comparable follow up to 'Batman Begins'.