Marvel Bedamned!

This is what Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, heck, I'll say it, even X-Men (forgive me) only wish about being and in reality should have been. Batman: The Dark Knight lives up to every single good review and ecstatic fan-boy AND fan-girl's dream. It is by far the best movie I've seen in a long time, at least a year (including Juno).

I worship at the feet of Frank Miller and Christopher Nolan. Without a doubt Heath Ledger should get a nom if not the posthumous trophy itself. Not one inch of print that has been devoted to Heath Ledger's Joker is unjustified. I was on the Jack Nicholson bandwagon and still am, but Heath's version brings to life the fear in all of us--a maniac without reason or possiblity of redemption and embraces the heart of darkness. Every character, every bit of the plot was perfect. Michael Caine's Alfred takes the role in a new direction. Morgan Freeman, typecast as the "savior" is fitting in his role as Lucius Fox. It's like coming home, if home were Gotham city.
Nevermind if Gotham is Chicago or New York City. Gotham was alive, the sinking cesspool that it is. Aarron Eckhart portrayal of Two Face is heart-breaking and inspiring--his character personifies the saying the higher they climb, the further they fall. Maggie G. wipes out the distasteful memory of KH and really makes the role her own; you believe that someone as complicated at Harvey Dent or Bruce Wayne could fall for a woman like that--not the one-dimensional simpering wimp from the first prequel. Christian Bale gave us a glimpse in American Psycho and Batman Begins, but I think you can go back to Little Women to see why he really captures the heart of the movie--it's not just Batman's strength but his vulnerabilities that make him a hero... a Dark Knight. And even behind that mask, the commitment to the role is unmistakable.

I cannot say enough good things about this movie. It's been a long time since I've held my breath during a movie, waiting to see what would happen. And everytime that one note held, you knew, KNEW, something was going to happen. Perhaps it was the oxygen depravation but I had a fantastic time at the movies. And it has been a really long time since I've been able to say that. I great up going to opening night and watching 2 or 3 movies a weekend. For awhile I thought I had finally outgrown my imagination (goodbye Neverland), now I know it wasn't me. To quote Norma Desmond, "It's the pictures that got small!" And even if the movie could have been edited down a bit, I'm glad it ran long... god knows, I'm definitely going to see it again and again, and can't even begin to explain how excited I am about the possibility of the next one... Pretty, please... with Batman on top.

Oh, and did I mention the Watchmen trailer. Yee! :) It was like Christmas and Birthday and whatever other holiday floats your boat, all in on.

p.s.: Having just read through what I wrote, I apologize for ALL the grammatical mistakes, but I really wanted to type as the thoughts came.