The Dark Knight

I've seen this film more times than I can remember since it came out. And when you've watched a movie as many times, its easy to forget how fucking good this film really is. Lets get the obvious out of the way, Ledger's Joker is epic and overshadows a lot of other masterpiece performances and story beats in the movie. Bats is in a stage where he's struggling to comprehend the role and consequences of his actions and the effect its having on the city. Gordon warns him at the end of the last film, criminal escalation. Alfred reminds him constantly and so does Fox. But Bat's is conflicted on his own efficiency and role, part of him wants to be the hero or so it seems and Joker here is a destabilising agent, turning people agains't each other, systems on itself. Relying on the predictable corruption of the police and monetary incentives of criminals. In a way Joker here, continues the thread of Ra's ah Ghul - bringing down and dismantling the city. Gotham is more a character here than Begins but less so than in Rises. Gotham is the damsel in distress. And Gordon, Bats & Dent are it's Knights. Dent is near perfect. A chiseled force of good, motivated by doing the right thing and belief in the law BUT also someone who is used to being in control - like Bats - he takes calculated risks but that backfires on him or rather the Joker uses his own ideals agains't him to turn him into a monster - by taking away everything from him. Jeez this is just that good of a film, shot beautifully, sharply edited, the score is memorable. Fucking perfect.