I finally took my chance to go and see The Dark Knight yesterday, and despite all my anticipation, I wasn’t disappointed. Neither is everyone else – it is getting great reviews and has shot to the top of the IMDB 250.

Sure, Christian Bale is brilliant, bringing the darkness of Batman to the screen once again. Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhall, Aaron Eckhart and Michael Caine are superb – but it’s Heath Ledger they will all be talking about. The screen doesn’t seem big enough as he steals the show and hides it somewhere deep where you don’t want to look.

The story is pretty typical Gotham, with crooks and underworld vs the over run police and jurisdiction. Bruce Wayne sits astride the city passing judgement on right and wrong whilst his nighttime alter-ego fights against growing public apathy and unrest.

And then there is the Joker – the complete polar opposite of Batman, no rules, no ethics, no morals and most chillingly - no plan. His random acts of violence are quite disturbing, with the puzzles he sets for his hunted and hunters both brilliant and cruel.

The movie is a blast from start to finish, with the unease of Batman set against the wild simplicity of the Jokers violence. The conflict between the two men is the key to the film, the interrogation scene showing just how out of control Batman can be and how carefree the Joker is.  The climax of the film sets the people of Gotham against each other in a classic piece of game-theory, and writes large the crisis the Batman has – to protect himself and let others  die or turn himself over to the public, save lives but end his quest for justice as the Batman.

The picture above is from my favourite scene in the movie – Heath Ledger demonstrating what a talent he was, as the Joker rips through the streets of Gotham showering terror everywhere. I expect there will be a clamour for Oscars – and indeed this is an amazing turn, but I can’t help thinking that the Academy Aware never goes to a movie like this.

Marvelous, epic stuff that lived up to the expectations and hype – and not a flaw in its 154 minutes. I may have to go again.