A Great Sequel

Rating: 7/10 (24 July 2008)

I would give this 7.5 stars. I watched this movie and tried to clear my mind of this being Mr. Ledger's last performance, and looked at it for what it is. A comic book action/drama. In this respect it is totally engrossing. Two-face's character is not very interesting, until he becomes a special effect; then I couldn't take my eyes off of him. Christian Bale is great as Bruce Wayne, but is a bit wooden as Batman; and what's up with the husky whispery voice when he puts on the mask? That part of his role was odd; and was one of reasons I didn't give this an 8 or 9. His voice does not changes when he costumes up in Batman Begins.
Heath Ledger is a very convincing psychopath. His henchmen are appropriately comic-book style henchmen; shallow but bizarre. Rachel Dawes character is finicky and seems annoyed most of the time. Her role was not fleshed out well. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are their usual excellent selves.
If you can remember this is a comic book movie, and ignore the reviews here that say it is "totally unrealistic" (again, hello! It's a comic book movie!), and just watch it as as story and not a social commentary, then you'll enjoy this movie. I surely did, and may even go see it again.
If you haven't seen Batman Begins, rent it first. This movie ties in very well with the first movie; even with the acting/direction inconsistencies between movies and Christian Bales character.