Title: The Dark Knight
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, David Goyer
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Rating: PG-13

The rule of thumb for comic book movies is that the second film in the franchise usually eclipses the first. The first film has the baggage of setting up the characters, the world and the hero's origin leaving little time for good storytelling while the second film is allowed the luxury of hitting the ground running. Even though 2005's "Batman Begins" wasn't the first Batman film it's technically the first in this new series.

For "Batman Begins," Director Christopher Nolan cleverly sidestepped many of the familiar traps of the superhero origin film and was able to deliver an interesting, dramatic and serious story while also retelling the events of the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents and his training to become Batman. "Batman Begins" stands as not only one of the best superhero movies but also a quality film when held up to others outside the genre. "The Dark Knight," sequel to "Batman Begins" and also directed by Nolan, is better.

Christian Bale as Batman in "The Dark Knight."

Since the events of "Batman Begins" Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has been working hard to clean up the streets and establish Batman as a real threat to the criminals of Gotham. His credo from the first film was to become something more than a man; something that criminals would fear and Gotham's citizens would rally around. To some extent he has succeeded but the city is somehow worse because of it. The mob may have gotten its nose bloodied in the first film but organized crime has endured despite Batman's best efforts. And now his vigilante example has inspired lesser would-be crime fighters to don cape and cowl and venture into the night on their own to "help" Batman. It all still seems manageable until the Joker turns everything upside down.

The Joker was teased at the end of "Batman Begins" when Gordon (Gary Oldman) talks to Batman about the possibility of criminal escalation to match Batman's actions. This Joker, played with mischievous glee by the recently deceased Heath Ledger, is not just a common criminal with a taste for the theatrical he's, in his own words, "an agent of chaos." He steals from the mob in a daring, daylight bank heist that opens the movie but later approaches the mob bosses as a solution to the Batman problem. The Joker wants to upset the balance. He's like a comic book version of Tyler Durden complete with masochistic tendencies and a desire to shine a light on society's true face.

Heath Ledger as the Joker in "The Dark Knight."

Even before Heath Ledger died reports from the production were calling his performance remarkable. However after he died the talk of a posthumous Oscar nomination started up. The problem was that these rumors started before anyone had seen the film. It's a shame when a young actor dies but I don't think their final performance is made any better because of it. I went into "The Dark Knight" suspicious of Ledger's take on the Joker but I walked out a believer. Ledger's Joker is so much more than the dialogue and the makeup.

Everything about him puts you on edge whether it's the way he's hunched over and shuffles around, the way his voice goes from nasally whine to guttural growl in a single breath or the way he constantly licks his torn lips. What makes him truly terrifying is his intelligence. The Joker is always a step or two ahead of everyone else meaning his exploits are not the actions of a crazy person but the steps of a plan crafted by a truly devious mind. He's able to turn Batman's most powerful weapon, the fear he inspires, against him. The criminals know the Joker is capable of that which Batman is not and therefore become more afraid of crossing him than Batman.

The other new face in "The Dark Knight" belongs to Gotham's star district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) referred to in the film as the "white knight." Dent shares Batman's passion for justice and the extermination of crime in Gotham but has chosen the legal path of prosecution and incarceration. He knows that Gordon and Batman are working together and wants to help, opting to see past Batman's vigilantism and look at the big picture. With the rise of Harvey Dent, Bruce Wayne sees a day when Gotham may not need Batman any longer. The salt in the wound however is that Harvey Dent is also courting Bruce Wayne's old flame, Rachel Dawes (played by Katie Holmes in "Batman Begins" and now Maggie Gyllenhaal).

Trailer for "The Dark Knight."

The supporting cast of Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman all play their parts well but the real electricity on screen is between Batman and the Joker, as it should be. What sets "The Dark Knight" above and beyond most comic book films is the story. This is a film about our lines of morality and the circumstances under which we'd cross them. Will Batman cross his line and become what is necessary to deal with someone like the Joker? Will Harvey Dent cross his line and jeopardize his reputation as the city's savior? Will the people of Gotham embrace vigilantism and kill strangers to save their loved ones and even themselves? The Joker forces these questions on people throughout the movie. Rather than following the recipe for the superhero sequel to the letter "The Dark Knight" has its share of twists and turns. The film is dark, scary, dour and incredible.

Following "Batman Begins" Christopher Nolan and crew could have taken the easy road and made a by-the-numbers sequel. Instead they crafted a complex morality tale that improves on every aspect of the first film. There's a great deal about the movie that I don't want to write about for fear of spoiling the experience but I should warn you that other reviewers aren't being as careful. You don't need to know if you should see it, you only need to decide when you're going to see it. "The Dark Knight" is every bit as good as everyone keeps telling you it is.

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