Greatest movie ...Ever?!

Rating: 10/10 (19 July 2008)

I was underwhelmed by all the hype leading up to me viewing this film, Ledger's last movie, trailer-propaganda, viral videos etc., etc. I know what hype tends to do to movies, even good ones. It makes it all that much harder to accept something positively when your hopes are set too high. I tried to ignore it all and appreciate it for what it is, not what everyone else wanted me to believe it was. I want to believe that I went into the screening with no expectations, no presumptions about the quality, my mind a blank canvas, if you want, ready to accept whatever message I would get, when the lengthy two and a half hours were over. Now on to the review. This movie is about messages, as much as it is about action and happenings. The movie tries very hard to identify itself as a medium for a battle, not between good and evil, but between the choices that you make and the effects or consequences of these very choices. Throughout the movie the characters are all presented with situations, all of great importance, which call upon them to make a hard choice each time. It does this masterfully; and you exit a wiser individual, than you were when you entered. I am certain in one thing if nothing else, this movie will have an effect on you, no matter who you are. It will change something inside you, some view, some concept you have about the world. I will just briefly mention that the actors take the preconceived image of their characters in a way that made me forget that they were actually acting. Presentation is what I've come to expect from an action-oriented film with a big budget; and in this regard it is a visual treat, one which must be experienced on the big screen to fully appreciate. No plot holes to speak of, no inconsistencies, if anything I was constantly bombarded with events that made sense and were easy to follow amongst the chaos, of what was happening on screen. I can confidently say that I enjoyed every aspect of the Dark Knight experience and the final product was a brilliant, priceless, black diamond, one every individual who enjoys movies in general, will undoubtedly enjoy. Maybe it wasn't the greatest movie ever made, but every aspect works so well with the rest of the sum, that you may just be forgiven if you say it is. Oh... and the Joker ...he was brilliant! RIP Heath Ledger. 10 out of 10!