The Dark Knight is the audacious sequel to 2005's Batman Begins. Where many writers and directors might have been tempted to follow a relatively safe formula for this second film, Christopher Nolan has created a film that is almost as wild and daring as The Joker. Profoundly written, beautifully choreographed, and brilliantly executed, The Dark Knight is a masterful creation that should keep you on the edge of your seat, and leave you filled with both hope and despair.

Most of the cast and crew returns for The Dark Knight. The Rachel Dawes character is now played by Maggie Gyllenhaal rather than Katie Holmes, and there are a few new characters, but Christian Bale returns as Bruce Wayne, Gary Oldman returns as Lieutenant Gordon, Michael Caine still plays Alfred, and Morgan Freeman again portrays Lucius Fox. There is even a surprising cameo to help re-introduce Batman!

One of those new characters is getting most of the attention. People may be overpraising Heath Ledger's contribution to The Dark Knight, but just barely. Performances from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, and the rest of the returning cast are all also very strong. Ledger's performance might be just the work of one fantastic actor among many if not for his untimely death. The wide premiere of this film is likely to reignite the question of how much Ledger was affected by his role as The Joker; it is easy to see how playing the role could leave anybody in a very odd frame of mind.

The Joker's introduction to Gotham's crime bosses is horrifying, and the shock of that scene — and that pencil — remain throughout the entire film. You truly never know what The Joker might do next, and you tend to expect the worst. More often than not, the worst expectations are satisfied. No real backstory is ever given for The Joker. In character, he explains how his mouth came to be cut and scarred in his permanent smile, but he explains it two different ways, so neither is likely true. He is simply a destructive force of nature. "I think you and I are destined to do this forever," The Joker tells Batman. Also, "You complete me!" spoofing Jerry Maguire. The Joker character has long been a favorite villain, and here he is everything and more. He really just wants to create chaos and panic, and has spent enough time thinking about it to know what panics a city and what doesn't. The Joker isn't perfect — there wouldn't be much of a film if he were — but his plans work so well that it is hard to see how he will be stopped before Gotham burns to the ground.

Aaron Eckhart's character, Harvey Dent, is one of the more enigmatic and tragic characters in Batman's world, and his transformation into Two-Face is terrible to watch. That the white knight of Gotham City could so quickly become an ardent disciple of chaos is heartbreaking, and only makes Batman's work harder. Previews for the film included the Gotham City district attorney stating, "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain," and while Dent wasn't speaking of himself, the foreshadowing is ominous. Director Nolan twists everything we've ever known about these characters from their previous incarnations, and when we finally see Two-Face, (Nolan is briefly coy) it's startling to realize that he has managed to create an image more horrifying than any Two-Face seen before.