Movie Review: The Dark Knight

Checked out The Dark Knight tonight with my brother.

Before I go into the movie review (without spoilers), I must say I have never seen the Legends 14 Theater packed like it was with The Dark Knight. This might be the first blockbuster movie since KCK's new movie theater opened. Revenge of the Sith came out before The Legends opened. I have never saw that many people in that theater.

Other than parking at The Legends remaining a disaster, it was freaking awesome. The audience was pumped for it and the movie lived up to the hype. I give it a 9/10. Yes, I rank on 10. I did not go to the Roger Ebert Movie Review School, so I will just go point by point real quick.

• Heath Ledger: Awesome, and not just because he died. He was great as the Joker, so good that not once did I think "hey, this guy died" when I was watching. He owned the movie. The Joker was dark, humorous and pure evil all at once. Ledger captured the Joker well and this was his movie. I am not sure it was Academy Award winning, so do not go way into the hype machine. But he was great. Joker has a ton of quotables: "Why so serious", "Kill the Batman," and the "magic trick with the pencil" was outstanding and hilarious. He definitely was the crowd winner based on reaction from the audience I was in. Whenever Joker was on scene, I thought someone would die a very horrible death. Looking back, this will forever be Ledger's movie and legacy. He lived up to the hype.

• Aaron Eckhart: In a way, I feel bad for Eckhart. If it was not for Ledger, this would be his movie. His performance should not be overlooked as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. It was great and once the transformation occurs, his performance gains steam. As great as Ledger was, Eckhart came close at times to stealing the show. I felt Two-Face did not get enough face time in the movie and I was a little disappointed at that. If it was not for Ledger's death, many would probably give Eckhart's performance top spot in this film.

• Christian Bale: A little weird. I love Bale as Bruce Wayne. He definitely does a good job out of the suit and he carries the rich guy, playboy image well. However, I am still not quite as sold with him as Batman. There is something that does not click well with me with Bale in the Batsuit. Still a good performance and a step up from Batman Begins. Maybe I just need more time.

• Maggie Gyllenhall: Did not stand out, was not horrible – an immediate improvement over her predecessor.

• Michael Caine: A good Alfred, but nothing really remarkable.

• Morgan Freeman: A good supporting acting job by Freeman. Other than the Ashley Judd movies he is in with her, is there really a bad movie Freeman is in? He was good and played a more prominent role than the first movie.

• Gary Oldman: Guy brings it in this film and takes command of a few scenes in the middle of the movie.

Not once should the audience feel the movie "slows down" or "drags on." It was a very twisted plot and there is never a time to rest for the audience. While I had issues with the ending, it did not take away from the greatness of the movie.

Highly recommended.