The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is possibly the darkest Batman movie, yet at the same time possibly the most humorous (in a creepy way) thanks in large part to the late Heath Ledger. Almost lost in his unending hijacking of on screen attention is the stellar work of Christian Bale who continues to be the most outstanding actor to slip into a bat cowl. The underworld in Gotham City is crumbling thanks to the exemplary work of D.A. Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) who keeps thwarting criminal activity prosecuting those charged due to the fine police work of Lt. James Gordon (the returning Gary Oldman) aided by the caped crusader - although bad impersonators of The Batman are now interfering with this war on crime. Dent’s assistant and love interest Rachel Dawes (enter Maggie Gyllenhaal, bye bye Katie Holmes) is the former paramour and confidant of The Batman’s alter ego Bruce Wayne. The Mob finds itself looking for alternatives ways to conduct their criminal business when The Joker (Ledger) enters with a simple solution – Kill the Batman. He offers to take on the job for half of their holdings, but pure psychotic evil is his real motivation. This Ledger imparts brilliantly and the quality of the work that he brings to this project at the very least may win him a posthumous Oscar and possibly James Dean status. The screenplay flows like a great crime drama while CGI effects are kept in check giving this surreal event a dose or reality and making The Dark Knight the best Batman movie ever! The summer box office looks bright for The Dark Knight.