Bob and Tim just went off to see The Dark Knight.

I just sat down to my laptop which was still open on a search for TDK reviews. Some new items had been posted since I walked away.

Warner Brother's says TDK will definitely break the previous opening weekend numbers.

And several more reviews saying how outstanding the movie and Heath Ledger is.

And this from Blog Critics Magazine by Chris Beaumont...

The Dark Knight is a complex film. It does not offer up any easy answers, but instead adds layer upon layer of depth. The characters grow, breathe, change, develop, and become more than mere characters. All of the primary players take on important roles in a play that reaches Shakespearean heights, as they are forced to make more difficult decisions than they had ever had to make in their lives.

...

By now, you have probably read your fill of praise for Heath Ledger's performance. Critics must be sounding like a broken record, and let me tell you that the praise being doled out is much deserved. Heath Ledger is a force of nature; he commands your attention, he draws you in with a maniacal charisma. You dare not look away lest he turn his sights on you.

Hey! I thought Jensen Ackles is the force of nature! Oh well, I guess Heath can share the limelight a bit here. [SAA Moment Tagged.]

More from Beaumont...

The jaw-dropping performance, the way he commands attention, the way Heath poured himself into this role, everything points towards Oscar for Heath Ledger. It is a career defining performance, one that would have definitively placed him on the Hollywood map.

Another review I read this morning (can't remember where or which one) said that Heath just disappeared from the film...he *was* The Joker. I remembered thinking the same thing once or twice while watching the film.

Not to forget the other great performances in this film, Beaumont continues...

Christian Bale turns in yet another strong performance. He is fast becoming the definitive Batman. He has the skills and the presence to portray the conflicted Bruce Wayne, the emotionally tortured soul whose very existence is a battle within himself. Not only can Bale portray the emotional gravitas, he is more than capable of delivering the fisticuffs

....

Aaron Eckhart leads the charge as Harvey Dent, the new, take charge DA who is not afraid of putting himself in the line of fire, although he too is a conflicted soul waiting for a push in the right direction. Then there is Maggie Gyllenhaal, who steps into the role of Rachel Dawes vacated by Katie Holmes, and delivers. She carries a lot of emotional weight with ease. Not to be left out are the returning players from the first film, Michael Caine as Alfred, who is always ready with words of wisdom as well as possessing the wisdom to know when to deal with certain items (you will see in the film), Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon in a performance that gets you personally involved, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Bruce Wayne's chief gadget maker and confidant.

And Beaumont's bottom line..

Bottom line. I cannot recommend this movie enough. It is unrelentingly dark, but it is also emotionally involving as it takes you on a cerebral and visceral roller coaster through the darkened streets of Gotham. This is the finest film to reach the screens thus far this year, and one that actually deserves all of the praise it has received. From top to bottom, this is an amazing experience and one of the few summer blockbusters to work on this high an artistic level as opposed to just trying to deliver an enjoyable summer cinematic experience.

I've never been a huge Batman fan.  I've seen all the movies and of course the campy TV show.  Haven't read any of the "real" stuff. 

Enjoyed the Michael Keaton versions okay and the ones that followed (can't recall who played Batman in those--a blond man is all I'm remembering--well they were ... okay.

I saw Batman Begins several months after it came out and I really enjoyed it.  So when I heard there was a sequel I figured I'd see it.  When I heard Heath Ledger was playing the Joker, I really wanted to see it.   Of all the previous Batman movies, the one where Jack Nicholson played the Joker was my favorite.  So I was very curious to see how Heath would do following up on that.

I never go to see big movies on opening weekends--too many people.  But I felt compelled to go today.

All this build up is just me trying to figure out what even to say about The Dark Knight...other than I'm blown away.  It was a long movie--but never felt too long.  There were, of course, plenty of action scenes, but there were also a lot of scenes without action--but they were just as riveting.

The storyline was terrific and gripping.

The special effects were marvelous.

The way a "comic book" character movie was used to delve into human character was awe inspiring.

The music was wonderful.

All the acting was terrific.  Every.  Single.  Actor--was terrific.

However--Heath Ledger and his portrayal of the Joker blew them all away.  He was mesmerizing.  And I don't think because this was "his last film."  He was just amazing.  What a great loss.

I just read a blog review which said:

Everyone should watch The Dark Knight (TDK) at least once. It matters little whether you are a fan of the Batman character -- this is a movie that transcends its origins and is recommended viewing for one and all.

Very, very true.

I guess this movie is blowing away the record books on attendance.  It's worth it.  The review above continues by saying:

A common review would be that TDK is the greatest movie based on a comic book, but that would be too-obvious a thing to say, and would also be doing the movie a disservice. The Dark Knight shines as a commendable work in itself. In many ways, the movie is the script. A script that is perfect, flawless, masterful, and drives the movie throughout -- this is one flick that doesn't have to rely on the crutches of action and explosions to carry it forward. The action serves to add to the movie's flavour, but it does not define TDK.

The actors are obviously inspired by the tight writing and exacting characterizations that the script offers -- everyone does a great job with his or her role, there isn't a single actor that brings the show down. And then there's (the late) Heath Ledger playing the Joker. Amongst all the good performances, the Joker -- ever the wildcard in the deck, steals every scene, every shot -- he is electric with his nuanced delivery, frightening through his expressions, hilarious in his body language, a presence through his makeup. It is a performance that is simply put, breathtaking. If there is a character that defines the dark soul of TDK, it is the twisted Joker. I pity the guy who has to fill Heath Ledger's shoes in future outings.

Since I'm unable to voice my own thoughts well about this movie.  I'll just point above and say, "What he said."

Oh and BTW?  There were a LOT of great trailers shown before the movie started.  Not just Watchmen, which I've already talked about.  But now I want to see the new Mummy movie, the new Bond movie and a few others that I can't even remember now.  Oh!  And I saw Sterling Brown briefly during the trailer for the new Dinero - Pacino movie, The Righteous Kill.  I leaned over to Emily to say, "That's...."  and she immediately said, "I KNOW Mom."  I guess I must be doing *something* right anyway.

I was in an all day meeting and completely offline and unplugged today.  fickleone called me to let me know about Heath Ledger.  Normally, the passing of actors/celebrities is not a significant thing for me.  But I do have a smallish number of actors who I really respect and Heath Ledger was one of those.  It's weird to me that someone who I'd really only seen in a couple of movies (Knight's Tale and Brokeback) has registered as so significant in my mind.  I think it was the different way I saw him between what I originally saw in Knight's Tale and then what I saw in Brokeback.  I enjoyed both movies.  I saw Knight's Tale because of my daughter and I really did enjoy it, but I admit that I saw it as a typical hollywood movie playing towards the young female demographic (i.e., my daughter).  That didn't mean I didn't enjoy it--but I admit that it was not a huge standout for me. 

What really made it stand out for me was when I saw Brokeback.  My appreciation for Heath Ledger rose ten-fold.  I was so blown away by his performance of Enis that it made me re-evaluate my shallow original response to Knight's Tale.  When I saw interviews with him later he further rose in my mind because he seemed so level-headed and down-to-earth. 

I guess I have this set of four categories of performers: 

1) those that are really just "celebrities" -- such as the Brittany's of the world.  These I don't think much about at all.  Not in the sense of "judging" them--but rather in the sense that I mostly don't pay any attention to them. 

2) Actors that are successful and "good" at acting--but seem to be either a "one-note" "same guy/gal" in every performance OR let acting get to their heads.  Such as the Tom Cruises of the world.  Again, I can enjoy their work (as long as they don't pass the line into truly weird)--but I don't have the same level of respect for them as I do for my third category. 

3)  I call these my Robert Redford/Paul Newman category.  Those actors who are really good, stay level headed, and don't let the Hollywood hype get to them.  They practice their craft, not their celebrity.  Like Redford, they start to work behind the cameras and are more than a one-note kinda actor.  In this category I place folks like Heath, Robert Redford, Paul Newman, and I really think Jensen Ackles--and I'm sure there are few others but I'm drawing a blank. 

Then I have to admit there is a 4th category:  People like Shatner, Nimoy, Jared Padalecki etc.  Those actors who have just contributed something to my enjoyment in something.  For example in something like Star Trek.  They may be very good actors or they may not be.  They are just someone I love because of one or more things they've done and/or who they are.  I don't think any less of these actors and may in fact appreciate them more to distraction in some cases than those in category #3.  They may migrate into category #3 as they mature and/or I see more of them.

There is one constant (I think) in both the #3 and #4 types--they all tend to be hard-working and level-headed--more about the work then the image.

So I rambled.  But back to Heath--such a major shame. So young.  So talented.  I really feel for his family.