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Like I believe in Harvey Dent, I believe in "The Dark Knight." This film is a major groundbreaking achievement of translating themes and characters from a comic book to big screen. As sequel to already-amazing retcon of declining franchise, "Batman Begins", this movie soar beyond and into infinity with both light and darkness.

I was worried that overly assigned acting roles might gonna hurt the film. It did, just by very slight with less screen time and impacts from Morgan Freeman as Luicus Fox and Michael Caine as Alfred the Butler. No offense, they did great service to the movie, just bit subdued. Meanwhile, Christian Bale still got me believe that he's the perfect Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, Batman. Aaron Eckart really got me excited about his role as Harvey Dent after wathcing him in "Thank You For Smoking" and he certaintly delivered as a man who rose as a savior and he who fell as something he never wanted to be. I am also pleased that the actress who played Rachae Dawes does her character justice, better than Katie Holmes could ever wish. Jim Gordon, played by Gary Oldman, did amazing job, instilling his character a fresh breath of new life, adding rich layers to Gordon that really become an important part of the film.

The only actor that got me excited for the film, as well as anybody's, was Heath Ledger and his portyal of The Joker. After watching many of trailers, I can sense that this Jokeris far more menancing than what Jack Nickelson did, even if his acting is also fantastic. What I found in this film about the Joker is far more than what you could expect from him, he's satisfyingly more haunting, disturbing, and creepy and he did certainly deliver and exceed our hypes. What Ledger did is nothing short of amazing, translating this villian with his taste of psychotic values and beliefs, making him seemily unbreakable, no matter how many time one might torture or humilate him. He fought for nobody and he have nothing to lose for and he's very willing to play dirty and can even dare to twist your mind with taste of his own insanity. He might be the most famous villian to grace the screen since Anthony Hopkin's infamous portyal of also-disturbingly-creepy Hannibal Lecter.

I was also worried that the plot might go on too long since the film is 2 hours and 30 minutes in duration. It does felt long, but it was very thankfully excused by film's brilliant actings and plots and action sequences. The plots are captivating as many people hoped it to be, just as "Batman Begins" delivered. Chrisopher Nolan the director made clever decision to move away from Batman's origin and inspiration from his family into something very different and it quite paid off. The simple plot of good vs bad got all tangled up in various issues and metaphors of social morals and they're down-right disturbing when the Joker began to tamper with the very citizens of Gotham City. The characters do suffer in many different situation, proving that there are no happy ending for all. Powerful and effective and so very believable.

This film grab you by throat and rip life from you, leaving you saying just one word: WHOA.

"The Dark Knight" just became my favorite film of the year so far, besting out "Wall-E" by bit and some. My only complaints are why no Wayne Mansion ((being rebuilt after destruction in "Batman Begins" wink ) and why not bats??? Also, Gotham City looks like Chicago than decaying city... They're one of firstmost signature elements of Batman series. Oh well, "The Dark Knight" didn't really need them, but I kinda missed it. You must see it, Batman fan or not.

I believe in "The Dark Knight". You should too.

Grade: A+