Here, finally, is the film to convince me that comic book adaptations can be worthwhile - although I'd still prefer it if the more comic book elements had been removed. The first thing to say is that Heath Ledger is incredible. His Joker truly is the performance of a lifetime and his untimely death will ensure that this film remains legendary for such an incredible embodiment of chaos. Unfortunately for everyone else, Ledger utterly overshadows the rest of the film, despite strong supporting performances from Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart and Michael Caine.
The biggest victim here is Christian Bale's Batman who drifts into the background, squeezed out by two many characters and Bale's rather dull performance. For me this is a good thing as, whilst Ledger's performance is believable and terrifying, the character of Batman is cartoonish and ridiculous - with his laughable 'scary voice', CGI motorbike tricks and sci-fi sonar technology.
The film is so rich because of the intelligent psychology that explores the codependent relationship between Batman and the Joker; justice and chaos. Elsewhere, the contrast is between the limits of masked crime fighting and the risks of public justice fighting embodied by the ambitious new District Attorney. These more pensive themes are surrounded by spectacular explosions and chases, which can start to drag as the film grows overlong, but all in all the film achieves the near-impossible of being a serious, weighty action movie.
It's only really Batman that spoils it for me, taking the film beyond an identifiable reality and into commercial fantasy. There are a few occasions when the film goes a bit far but on the whole it's a treat. I'm sure there are many people out there who aren't as cynical or elitist as me and perfectly enjoy comic books and all the extravagant adventure they offer. With 'The Dark Knight', however, even the people like me will be happy.
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