Wow. Where to start... I saw The Dark Knight in Imax last night. It more than lived up to my expectations. It was obviously inspired by equal parts The Killing Joke and Batman: Year One.
Whatever you think you know from the trailers... throw it out. It's a world without rules. Batman Begins was dark, but this movie makes it look like Mary freakin' Poppins.
INTENSE... That's the single best word for it. From beginning to end. So many twists and turns. There were so many scenes that had me tense up that I was physically exhausted at the end. It's a dark study in what makes us humans and how fragile our humanity is.
Ledger WILL get an Oscar nomination. I have no doubts. He really, really scared me. Not jumping out from the bushes scary, but really deeply terrifying. I have never seen a movie villain I could compare him to. Every laugh he got from the audience was tense laughter. An, "I'm not sure I should be laughing at this" laugh. Amazing what Chris Nolan allowed him to do with the character. I think my own misanthropic tendencies made me a little nervous watching what the Joker did with his. Terrifying.
Look for a special cameo by Sen. Patrick Leahy. No... really.
Four beeps.
Go. Buy your tickets. NOW.
