The most frequently posted film ever? (#3223)

Rating: 10/10 (7 December 2009)

As I just checked the number of comments that have been written and accepted for IMDb, I see there are 3222 for "The Dark Knight". Typing this at 12:44 am (EST), I wonder who will read this umpteenth musing on what is the monster hit movie of our era?
What makes this flick so awesome? I went to it the first time at an IMAX screening and was pleasantly shocked at how effective the full screen shots were (I counted at least 35 separate ones in the film overall). Seeing the collective jaws drop over this made me wish the whole thing had been shot in this format, but that would have made it criminally expensive. Is charging thirty dollars a ticket an acceptable way of getting another "Batman" sequel IMAXed?
I saw it a second time at the same theatre a few months later when it was brought back for a limited return engagement. This time there weren't any other people in the front section I prefer to sit in and the absence of a huge crowd helped me focus on the entire film. I liked it much more the second time, when it's relentless hype machine was finally taking a break.
The role of this superhero has been played by so many different men over the years, I have come to the conclusion I don't want to see anyone else in the part other than Christian Bale. He fits this part like the tight suit he runs around Gotham in fits him. It gets rather silly when the casting of such a world wide franchise is being shuffled like a deck of cards. Stick with one dependable person and be done with the games already! (Some folks think Michael Keaton almost had the kibosh put on his career when he didn't want to play this a third time. I don't know if that's true, but hope it isn't. He's a great talent and shouldn't be limited to something he doesn't have his heart in anymore.)
The role of the Joker is another matter entirely. I'm beyond angry Heath Ledger died such a stupid and preventable death. A little girl lost her father, a family lost their son/brother and we as his fans don't get to share in his unique gift anymore.
I got sick of all the pre-release publicity and then disgusted by the tabloid fest his demise became. Let the family and friends grieve in peace. Only now, after all the smoke clears, can I truly view his amazing performance and take it in as the brilliant acting it was. Not just the vehicle for awards driven advertising, but a sincere relationship between a star, their art and his audience.
If there's another "Batman" down the line, it'll have a hard time topping this. Too bad the price one pays for success is having to compete with their own legacy.