What's so funny?

There's no denying it; I am a HUGE fan of Batman. It's more than the character that fascinates me, it's the entire world he exists in. Thus, I was monumentally happy that Christopher Nolan did justice to the hero and world I so loved when he directed Batman Begins. The moment I walked out of the movie theater, I was already anticipating a sequel. Nolan's follow-up, The Dark Knight “delivers”, in every sense of the word. This time, my friends and I emerged from theater shell shocked, asking each other “What just happened?” The world created in the first film is essentially exploded, stretching up and out, busting beyond the boarders of imagination. I felt physically and emotionally exhausted, fully psychologically challenged.

I had actually promised someone I'd wait to see the movie with him, but saw it on opening night instead. I thought about when I saw it again, except I realized that I would be able to watch it a second time as if I had never seen it before, simply because my mind had so much to process the first time.

Completing Nolan's vision are several spectacular actors who have done an amazing job showing the depth and growth of the characters they portray. Gary Oldman as James Gorden and Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/The Batman were particular strokes of genius in terms of casting. Once in a life time brilliance, however, came in Heath Ledger's part, in the role of The Joker. It was the subtleties in physicality that made his performance; the slight limp, the hunch, the incessant licking of the inside of his mouth, as if the scars on his face had just been cut and he still had the taste of blood in his mouth. Ledger's portrayal of The Joker was every bit as frightening as a psychopath who lives in Nolan's Gotham should be.

Many critics have said much of the same. I believe, however, that the most frightening aspect The Joker's character became a reality after the unfortunate death of Heath Ledger. Once Ledger died, there was no actor to stand for the role. In every interview, The Joker, rather than Ledger, is referred to as not to associate a tragedy with the film. With the absence of someone to represent The Joker, only The Joker can stand for himself, making it as if the character himself is real rather than a part played by an actor. Ledger's performance has a good deal of Oscar buzz surrounding it. It's a little ironic. Almost funny.