Heath Ledger Shines in The Dark Knight

Christopher Nolan's Sequel Tops Expectations

As the movie was filming, word got out that Ledger's performance would be a new, darker, dirtier version of the clown prince of crime. When the late actor passed away at the beginning of the year from an accidental overdose, it only increased speculation about his final role.

Ledger is electrifying, making every scene he's in crackle with energy. From the first moment we see the Joker robbing a bank until the time the credits roll, he is terrifying, funny, creepy, and manic. Christian Bale returns as Batman/Bruce Wayne, and as was hinted at in the final moments of 'Batman Begins', his appearance in Gotham City has caused an escalation in the criminal community.

No longer is the criminal underworld made up of mobsters and gangs, 'freaks' like the Joker have emerged to take on the masked hero. As the Joker leads Gotham's mobsters in an attempt to 'kill the Batman', the dark knight turns to Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) and new District Attorney Harvey Dent (a wonderful Aaron Eckert).

The Joker carves a path of destruction across Gotham City while Bruce Wayne battles with the sacrifices of being Batman, which includes possibly losing the love of his life Rachel Dawes ( Maggie Gyllenhaal taking over for Katie Holmes) to Dent.

All of this is told through the steady hand of Director Christopher Nolan, who has created the definitive super hero movie. When Nolan rebooted the franchise with 'Batman Begins', he was praised for creating a realistic universe that was dark and took itself seriously. 'The Dark Knight' continues that path, but takes the series into ever darker territory.

This is not Adam West's Batman. There is murder, betrayal, physical and emotionally scarring accidents around every corner, and the film hardly ever lets up. While there are moments of humor - mostly coming from Bruce Wayne's most trusted confident Alfred (Michael Caine) - the movie is shrouded in a sense of foreboding and dread.

The Dark Knight's Action

The action pieces are incredibly well done, ranging from Batman gliding through the skies of China, to multiple fights, from a breathtaking chase scene involving numerous car explosions to the introduction of the 'batpod'.

When all is said and done, this movie will be remembered most for Ledger's performance. The two best scenes in the movie both unsurprisingly include the Joker. His one-on-one interrogation by Batman is breathtaking, and a scene between Harvey Dent and the Joker in the hospital and in a costume of a different sort is brilliant. Every facial take, hobbled step, maniacal laugh and lick of the lips is perfect, and no one, from Jack Nicholson on, will be able to match it.