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ashaman5 wrote:

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better than iron man? i really enjoyed that one...

and for a more direct comparison, did you like it better than batman begins (2005)? i loved that movie!!

Dear Friend, Ashaman....
Yes... IT IS even better than Iron Man and I as well thoroughly exnjoyed and greatly valued that accomplished work of cinema.
Sorry, Deas, but I'm going to [attempt to] beat you to the punch with regard to offering a comprehensive review on The Dark Knight.

From the opening of the First Scene [a shocking, both coldly calculated and brutally haphazard bank-heist] it begins: an inexorable slide into the barbed, cold iron grip of terror... that slide is assisted through numerous subtleties -- one subtlety does this, particularly well: the measured, building draw of violins and strings on a single, constant and jarring minor key (I believe E or F sharp): we soon come to realize ... This IS the Joker's Theme.
With that first scene -- the establishment of just what kind of ... Fiend... the Joker really is -- with a bank-heist that is both structured and NOT (ultimately giving defferance to the forces and whims of Chaos),
I realized that all the [preparatory] official /legitimate commentary by the film's production-team (most especially by the writer/director Christopher Nolan himself), the fan-based debate across the entire net (in ardent JUSTIFIED defense of) and rummor of glowing anticipation and stratospheric hope about Heath Ledger being chosen to portray the Joker and that this indeed was undoubtedly ".... the greatest performance of his life.... " were not only proven but were shown to be paltry understatements!!!

You will forget to breathe at times, when you see him in this ... MASTERPIECE.

The palette for the backdrop is clearly shown to us: Gotham is under Seige and it's just barely holding its own. When the Joker rather quickly (and viciously) takes center-stage as the prime-orchestrator --- at first brought into the loose "alliance" of the criminal underworld, a desperate (mistakenly presumed) temporary measure, as the gangs and syndicates attempt to rally against the Batman's devastaing campaign against them --- the plot moves to an even HIGHER Tempo (which was NEVER slow to BEGIN with) of malice and mayhem... Gotham is BROUGHT to it's KNEES!
Even Bruce Wayne and the Batman -- I deliberately make the distinctiion to emphasize the clearly contrasting and oppositional aspects of the mind of [one of] our Hero[s] --- at points are put into great strain and challenge.
"... Some people aren't looking for anything Logical -- they can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with... Some people, just wanna watch the world BURN."
When Batman actually interrogates the Joker, it taxes his resources and resolve ... on almost every level.
That's all I can say -- I dare not say more, for risk of SPOILING. Christian Bale in nearly every aspect of criteria topped himself in this sequel, compared to his portrayal of the Hero as he started his Crusade, within Batman Begins.
As for the other actors and their work... Bravo and Brava!!!

>Aaron Eckhart should at the very very least get an Oscar nomination! His rendering of Harvey Dent and Two-Face was ... gripping and at times... harrowing!

>Maggie Gyllenhaal was entirely convincing and (refreshingly) 3-Dimensional ... At least two years ago, out of some misplaced sense of pity for Katie Holmes, I was internally doubtful and even resentful of the selection of Ms. Gyllenhaal over Katie Holmes who was summarily dropped. My reservations, doubts and the last whispy and faint embers of disapproval were completely rubbed out.

>I was truly delighted to see Gary Oldman --- one of my personal favorites ever since 1992; he was one of the two actors that actually made F.F. Copola's Dracula even remotely viewable, IMO --- was finally allowed to exercise his substantial skills as an actor, exploring his character Jim Gordon, who actually rises to Comissioner (through the worst of ways) in this chapter of the saga.

>Morgan Freeman... he was Superb, deftly expanding the scope of Lucius Fox while refining the character's innate, subtle (but razor keen) wit -- there's a scene within the first third of the film, I believe clearly demonstates what I infer.
I would spend the ENTIRETY of this weekend watching The Dark Knight again and again and again [on the opening day of Batman Begins I watched three -- yes 3 -- times] but my weekend belongs to dire assignment, though I'm home. I've diverted enough time/energy (for now ^_^) upon the VERY MUCH PRAISEWORTHY Dark Knight... So... as the cliche goes I've given my two pennies on the ruly MONUMENTAL and RIVETING...

But one more thing on that note -- I must warn you: be well rested prior to viewing the film and have ample time afterwards...
You will be EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED... It's That ... POWERFUL.