I will admit that I am not a huge fan of the Comic Books to Movies genre that is making millions at the Box Office, however, Batman: The Dark Knight is one that will leave your jaw sore and unhinged.  We all know that this is the late Heath Ledger’s final performance and let me tell you, what a phenomenal note to end on. 

For those of you out there who do not know, there was a second series of the Batman collection that deals with Bruce Wayne’s life from a deeper, darker and emotionally raw perspective versus the almost comical series of Batman comics of the 1980’s and 90’s.  While times have changed and technology is growing by leaps and bounds, the things that Graphic Artists and computer techs can do is literally amazing and more realistic.  With the last Batman, (Batman Begins), they introduced Christian Bale as the young emotionally struggling multi-billionaire orphan who is still dealing with all his anger, rage and feelings of helplessness over his parent’s death and how to plot his revenge against the forces that did this to him.  It ended with the burning of the Wayne Mansion. Dark Knight takes off and now Bruce Wayne has the best Penthouse in Gotham city—but it's not like he uses it all that much. 

Dark Knight focuses on the forces of corruption in Gotham City and opens with a very strange bank job with a twist, it’s the Mob’s bank and the one doing the job is The Joker! With a face like the puppet in the “Saw” movies, he gives an eerie twist to the classic character, and it's not all that pretty.  After meeting with the Board at Wayne Enterprises, Japanese Accountant Lau (Chin Han), decides to secretly take out the funds from all mob associated banks across town, load them on a barge and take them back to Hong Kong, away from American jurisdiction and Batman.  In a group meeting crashed by The Joker, they decide that in order to get their money back they need to get rid of Batman to which The Joker volunteers—for half of the money. 

This Batman movie could not have been made ten or even five years ago since we now have technology available that would not be so out-of-the-ordinary or unimaginable.  As with “Hannibal” in comparison to “Silence of the Lambs” there are technological advancements every day that amaze you.  Secondly, the evolution of our current computer imagery capabilities have raised the levels and expectations that were unheard of back in 1990.  While Director Tim Burton made the caped crusader visible back in 1989, Christopher Nolan has made the Dark Knight series a reality.  You might find yourself comparing Jack Nicholson’s Joker vs. Heath Ledgers’, or Katie Holmes and Maggie Gylenhaal as Rachel Dawes but you will find yourself right at home with both  Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman as the true Keepers of the Secret you have come to love and admire.  Also, the character of Lieutenant Gordon’s (Gary Oldman) gets a ballsy make-over you will like. 

Within the city of Gotham, they have now received their White Knight, in the form of Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) who is willing to personally put all mobsters and related people in jail.  With the help of his girlfriend Rachel (Maggie Gylenhaal) the District Attorney now has many enemies and is in constant danger.  Everyone from the Mayor (Nestor Carbonell) to Italian Mob Boss Salvatore Maroni (Eric Roberts) warns him, and thinks this is a very bad idea.  Harvey is on a mission to clean up the streets and wants to become the hero Gotham needs, even if it means giving his life and the lives of people associated with him. 

Finally, everyone has secrets.  Secrets about themselves, secrets kept about others, and some that if let go, cause direct pain if discovered.  Would you like to know who your current beau’s secretly pining for?  How about their true feelings after they have died?  Would you give away the identity of richest and most powerful man in the world who nightly beats up criminals who also happens to be your boss? In death, would you rather be remembered as a hero or a villain?  Do you really want to know the truth? So what’s your secret?