Stunning

Rating: 9/10 (1 August 2008)

In my opinion, the best Batman movie and the best comic-book adaptation ever. Mature, engaging and complex. Shades of Frank Miller's work and nods to Batman's darker origins as envisaged by Bob Kane.
I love the character contrasts in this movie. Alfred is a great foil for Bruce Wayne. Gordon is a great foil for Harvey Dent.
The movie has its roots in comics, so I can forgive the occasional lapse in realism - the 'skyhook' rescue - and it all looks spectacular and I never expected realism in the first place.
Performance wise, the movie is hard to fault. From 'Zeus' as one of the prisoners - surprisingly good, to Eric Roberts - again, surprisingly good, through to the leads. A million other people will comment on Heath Ledger, so I won't go on too much about him, but he is stunningly brilliant. A twitching, clicking, off the wall performance. My favourite scene? The Joker leaning out the cop car window and all you hear is the wind rushing past him. Absolutely captures the Joker's anarchic world.
Christian Bale captures the struggle of Batman's dark side and his faith in humanity wonderfully. Tortured but ultimately good.
Christopher Nolan wisely chooses not to overplay the gore. There is plenty of violence but not much blood. Sometimes things are best left 'suggested' rather than graphically displayed. This may have been done for rating purposes, but for me, it works.
A superb piece of cinema.