Dark Knight

I've never been one for the comic book movie. But after all the raves and all the friends who'd seen the latest Batman installment, when the chance to go this afternoon popped up, I decided, "why not?"

What I didn't expect was to really be moved, and aside from being moved also see so many spiritual themes. The battle between good and evil is an obvious one, but this movie takes it to a deeper level, exploring the human condition, the state of our hearts, and rising to find the much-needed hope of a community of people.

It was hard for me at times to not stop and appreciate the genius I was seeing on screen. Heath Ledger as the Joker really is definitive. Horribly creepy and unsettling. He makes your skin crawl. The constant flicking tongue, the haunting eyes, that voice... had I not known it was Ledger I'm certain I wouldn't have recognized him. Gone was the signature husky voice and the twinkle in his eyes... it was replaced with a slow, deliberate cadence-like speak and his eyes held the hollow-emptiness of the Joker's sad life. I went in knowing of the Oscar talk and thinking "He'll just win because he died." I came out of the theater knowing that it would be a shame if he wasn't nominated. His performance is brilliant.

I don't want to spoil anyone, so I won't write anymore. (Although it's killing me... so many great questions to ponder. But I can't without giving anything away!) It's best to go into a movie like this completely spoiler-free, to be shocked at the turn of events... to relish in the unpredictability.

I highly recommend going to see it. I will be surprised if I attend a better movie this year.