I’ve had the experience of rushing out of theaters after seeing much-anticipated sequels, ready to declare them the best in their series. This happened with the "Star Wars" prequels—I initially considered each one as good as the originals, but my perspective eventually evened out. Because of that, I try not to jump to conclusions so quickly, and I did so with “Dark Knight.” Even though my opinion is becoming more certain after watching a screening for Warner Bros. last night, "Dark Knight" works well on its own, regardless of whether you’ve seen "Batman Begins." The film clocks in at two and a half hours, which makes it an epic experience that doesn't feel long. A significant enhancement to the viewing was the inclusion of plenty of IMAX footage, adding greatly to the feeling of being taken on a personal—and disturbing—tour of Gotham City. Christian Bale delivers a remarkably complete portrayal of both Batman and Bruce Wayne, something previous actors who’ve played the role haven't managed to do. It still surprises me that Bale is British, given his convincing American accent. He has a noticeable lisp that he uses effectively, charmingly as Bruce Wayne and threateningly as Batman. Opposite him is the late Heath Ledger, whose Joker is so frightening and unsettling that I constantly felt chills during the film. What truly distinguishes this version of the Joker from Jack Nicholson’s performance is his complete unpredictability. It's clear that embodying such a character takes its toll, and it's certainly not easy to do. How can anyone possibly defeat him when he’s constructed an elaborate scheme involving hostages, explosives, or seemingly impossible illusions? I was initially concerned about how the character of Harvey Dent would be portrayed. I thought there was only one true representation of him, which I found in the "Batman" animated series from the early 1990s. While Tommy Lee Jones might have been able to handle the role in “Batman Forever,” he didn’t quite succeed, though his performance still stood out as a highlight in that movie. Aaron Eckhart takes on the part here and delivers an exceptional performance, easily matching the standard set by the animated series. It's important to understand that this masked hero represents the good of Gotham City that the police force and other authorities can’t provide—a kind of justice that operates outside of legal boundaries and procedures, except for one guiding principle. I hope we’ve only seen a glimpse of the Dark Knight’s future confrontations with the worst elements lurking beneath Gotham's surface. "The Dark Knight" earns a perfect rating of 10 out of 10 stars.

Source on TMDB