The Dark Knight is an intelligent, gripping comic book film that lived up to the hype for me.

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2008)

At the time of writing this, I haven't yet seen Batman Begins, as Batman and Robin unfortunately had put me off further film adaptations of the caped crusader, but this has easily re-ignited my liking of, what I think, is the most interesting, conflicted and hugely popular superhero that I know. Batman's heroic status is in question so are morals, and even someone put on a pedestal can fall from grace.
Acting: One man steals every scene he's in with a brilliantly insane performance, and that's the late Ledger. He's anarchy personified and a twisted, puzzling villain who says earlier in the film 'what doesn't kill you makes you stranger' or something. He's definitely not your ordinary antagonist and brings complex sadism to it that truly disturbed me  the clownish makeup isn't so much theatrical as a reflection of pathological madness. This crazed makeup tells us the disorder The Joker craves in Gotham city. Bale plays both of the character's identities: Wayne's suavity and Batman's serious, tortured and savage superhero with ease and believability. My only annoyance was the deeply gruff voice he uses as Batman. Eckhart's Dent, although I was more interested in the Joker, his evolution into Two-Face was intriguing and a particular intensely suspenseful moment near the end had my crowded screening silent enough to hear a pin drop. He became quite chilling as Two-Face and certain flashes of evil in his eyes were creepy. When the audience sees what happens to his face to get that name may scare quite some children. Oldman was subtlety brilliant in his cop role  very natural and convincing. Maggie Gyllenhall and Freeman were good too in this ensemble piece but of course; don't get as much screen time as the main characters.
Pacing: I like the way Nolan's made a gritty, more realistic take on Batman and it knowingly brings more attention from even just your average cinema-goer to be more affected by events happening and relate it to our world today. The film is long, and that's mainly because so many subplots are happening, some don't get followed through as our focus is then shifted to the main event  Batman vs. Joker. The inclusion of Dent to me, as interesting as it is, is just a sideshow for the face-off main show, as said previously. There is a good balance of the action with the talking scenes and the action's very much essential to tell the story in many ways and not a flashy, shallow disconnected-to-the-plot-completely sense. A slight lack of emotional involvement as well when a character dies, but maybe that's just me.
Cinematography and SFX: Due to its dark nature, this is shown in its look too. A lot of brown and blues are used well, with good lighting, so you aren't squinting  it's beautifully shot. The bat suit, car and a key invention used by Batman to see people are well realised, explosions and action sequences are very well constructed. It's all staged in an epic, iconic way.
Music: I don't think I hear the known Batman theme really, but the score was simple but worked really good.
Overall: A dark, brooding and intelligent comic-book film that leaves the other two released so far this year (Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk) standing, left behind to gaze in awe. Quotes from characters can later manifest themselves in situations, and also, how ingenious the title of the film actually is when you see the ending. A psychotic villain tops it off an unsettling and tragic film. It's so much braver and inventive than any other comic-book film I've seen, probably ever. The only blockbuster film this year so far that lived up to the hype for me.
Last note: please parents, this is something too long and frankly complex for most kids under 12, so take them to a PG or U rated film instead - seeing three-year-olds in the cinema screening makes me despair for common sense. The 12A certificate clearly is meant for 12 and up - younger than that, and any complaints you get from your youngsters that it disturbs them is your fault. Consider yourselves pre-warned - 12A is NOT the equivalent of a PG, and even some PG's are not suitable for all kids.