A few days ago I got the chance to see The Dark Knight. I had been looking forward to seeing it for quite some time and my expectations were pretty high. Add that to the fact that everyone who I know that has already seen it was hyping it up telling me how it was even better than people were telling me. They were right, it was better, it was in fact brilliant. It is rare to see a movie these days that can blend breathtaking special effects, mind blowing action, and superb acting. Oftentimes the director has to sacrifice one or the other, you often see awesome action coupled with so so acting. It is a delicate balance to achieve the type of film that can appeal to 14 year old boys and 40 year old women. Bravo to Christopher Nolan for figuring out the secret recipe.

Much has been said about Heath Ledger’s stellar performance and all of the praise he has received thus far is warranted, in my humble opinion. He was truly terrifying, something no other joker in the Batman films has managed to be as of yet, and also intriguing at the same time. Unlike the Jokers of the past, Ledger’s Joker is more mysterious, his motives murky and confusing. When he makes a threat you believe him every single time and you think that maybe, just maybe, he might be the only person who is truly able to unravel Batman.

That being said, Christian Bale’s performance was nothing short of spectacular as well. He is without a doubt the most believeable and complicated Batman we have seen on film to date. He brings a depth and a darkness to the character that not only feels real but necessary. I hope they make a 3rd and 4th installment of this new Batman franchaise because I will keep seeing them as long as they keep making them. Of course if they are still making them when Bale is in his mid sixties and they need to bring in a young actor to be the younger version of Batman I might start to get a little bored.

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