I can't wait to see The Dark Knight again.

First of all, the last time I saw a movie twice in the theater I was probably 12 or 13. It was probably Ferris Bueller's Day off or something. I may be wrong about the exact timing, but it's been a LONG while. That being the case, I can't wait to see the Dark Knight again. Soon.

I apologize to Dave and Scott if they read this because they have heard me say it all before, but I will list the ways that The Dark Knight kicks major cinematic butt.

1. The Joker. Heath Ledger is scary, insane, and hilarious at the same time. He does not play it as camp. He is a dead serious anarchist and it's freaky. He can turn a simple line like "Hi" (when visiting the DA in the hospital) and make it funny and frightening at the same time. Even sympathetic.
At no time do you think the Joker is Ledger.
2. There is barely any CGI. Like many of you I was exremely disappointed in the amount of CGI used in the new Indiana Jones. It wasn't necessary because we already love the characters anyway.
This movie uses actual stunt men performing stunts. The semi-truck flipping looks real and dangerous because it is real and dangerous.
3. Batman gets to play detective. He does this in the comic books and it was missing from the pre-Christopher Nolan movies.
4. The story made me think not just about good versus evil, but more about the fine line between good and evil. At what depth should we become somewhat evil to fend off the bigger evil? Is it OK to become like a terrorist to defeat terrorists? (Yes, lots of post 9/11 allegory in this picture).
5. Gary Oldman is a perfect Lt. Gordon. It's such a good performance you forget he has played a vampire, Lee Harvey Oswald, or a Russian terrorist in Air Force One. He is a spectacular character actor.
6. The violence in this movie is sudden and real. The action sequences push the plot and do not bring the movie to a halt for 20 minutes. Every sequence in this movie is plot driven.
When people get shot at they get injured or die. It's not cartoon violence in any way and feels more like a Michael Mann or Martin Scorsese movie than a typical comic book movie.
7. The setting does not seem overly post-modern or like typical "super hero" city in any way. This is Chicago. That's it.

I am guessing you all have seen this movie, but if not, sit back and enjoy. I will not be surprised if the Ledger, Nolan, and The Dark Knight as a whole receive Oscar nominations.