The Dark Knight

What Daniel Craig did for James Bond, Christian Bale has done for Batman, though it seems apparent that he had a little help. Or, rather, inspiration.

A few days ago, the TV series for Batman came out on DVD, and anyone who remembers the series (or has seen re-runs) cannot help but laugh at the Looney-Tune antics of the caped crusader, like carrying a giant, cartoon bomb over his head. The character of Batman rediscovered his roots in Michael Keaton’s portrayal in the 1990s, but the serious aspect of the story quickly degenerated into out-of-this-world scenarios and laughable costumes over the subsequent films.

However, the writers of the most recent “Batman” movies have revamped the story, and now the series has taken on a darker edge. Like the new “James Bond” movies, the “Batman” saga has acquired a new intensity (and at times, severity) and honestly, the story is better for it. Fans of the character (who have seen the previous portrayals of Batman) will notice a marked similarity between Christian Bale’s demeanor when he is in the costume and the performance of Michael Keaton, which makes this viewer believe that Mr. Bale used the best Batman performance he knew to model his character.

No review of “The Dark Knight” would be complete without mentioning the performance of Heath Ledger, who died shortly after filming. As famous as Jack Nicholson is for his sly smile and quirky eyebrows, he has lost his mantle to Heath Ledger in regards to the best portrayal of the Joker. (Sorry, Jack.) Ledger, pardon the pun, seemed very out of character from his usual roles, and provided a depth to the Joker that is unparalleled in any previous film. Characters in films are very seldom frightening to me, but the intensity of the Joker’s personality created a tension that was palpable, and for once, Batman had a villain I really wouldn’t want to meet on the street.

For some reason, Mr. Freeze really didn’t seem intimidating.

At two and a half hours, “Batman: The Dark Knight” is thrilling, scary, and very surprising. Though not all viewers will be thrilled (some prefer Mr. Freeze), the latest Batman installment, with its depth of emotion and realistic portrayal, has been too long in coming. At last, the series is continuing along the path originally set by Tim Burton (a previous director).

Get ready to enjoy a new Batman for a new generation.

Rated: PG-13

Watch out for: Intense action scenes, violence, and occasional language