The Dark Knight in Gotham

This is the best movie I have seen in a long time. This movie was so good, it makes me want to call all my friends and family and tell them to go see it without delay-and I never get excited about a movie like this-because really when you have seen 1400+ films you have about seen everything. But I haven't seen anything lately as elegant and as well done as this film.

I like this series of Batman movies because they are elegant, cinematic, and more real-you can believe those characters almost exist somewhere beyond the comic book and screen. This movie is not a comic book movie, this is a real film based on a comic book. Dark Knight has entered a realm no other comic book film series has entered before.

Health Ledger gave a most excellent performance of Joker, and if the Academy doesn't give him a posthumous Oscar-then they don't know what good is and they should all turn in their voting rights. I don't know that I would have ended it the way they did, but it did work.

We are back in Gotham, and Batman has been doing his job so well that the new DA, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is able to put a lot of the criminals in jail and the mob bosses are starting to feel the pinch. Everything seems to be going well in the clean-up of Gotham City. Then enter the Joker, a psycho that plays by no rules, and wants nothing but chaos. Nothing but his slanted version of fun motivates him. He offers get rid of Batman for the mob bosses for half of their money. Knowing that they cannot begin to do their dirty deeds again until Batman is gone, they agree. And the Joker is off, killing and creating chaos in Gotham that Batman has to stop and clean up after. How many will die before the Joker is stopped and what will be the consequences? You will just have to go see and find out-no spoilers here.

The effects were fantastic. There were some great scenes-lots of fights, car chases, explosions. The flipping semi was particularly noteworthy. All of the scenes nicely done and coordinated-nothing over the top (too much). A lot of things you won't expect, they just happen and surprise you-I love that-I never get surprised anymore-but Dark Knight threw me for a few loops.

The acting was beyond fantastic. Heath Ledger's role was outstanding. I can't even imagine the place he had to go to pull this role off. There is nothing of him in the role-it is all Joker. Christian Bale is again excellent as the stoic Batman and the seemingly rich, fun loving, trust fund kid. I am a big fan of Aaron Eckhart and I thought he did an awesome role as Harvey Dent-watch out he will surprise you with the depth of this role. Michael Caine is the perfect Alfred. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a really good replacement for Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes. She plays the role very, very well and looks a lot like the original Rachel. I like how she is a strong character. She has some hard choices to make, and she allows herself to make them. I also really like the grit and strength she shows in some of the final scenes of the movie. She shows us that this character is not just another hero's girl, she has her own depth. Gary Oldman is once again solid as the Lt. James Gordon. He is the head of the police department looking but not looking for Batman. And of course who could forget Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Batman's Q. He makes Batman's toys. Freeman is always solid in any role that he plays.

Overall this is probably the best film you will see this year-go see it, its worth the full price movie ticket-I would go to the theater to see it again, and I am definitely adding it to my movie collection. I sat for two and half hours enraptured with this film and never once looked at my watch. I was truly entertained by this film. Run don't walk to your nearest theater to see this one.