Ledger is great as the Joker, but everyone involved in creating the madman, from the costume designer to even the movie poster artist, deserves some credit also. (Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.)

For any fan of comics and movies, or just the never-ending battle between good and evil, they all know that a story is only as effective as its villain.

A film can do everything right, but can still feel underwhelming if the hero doesn’t have that natural counterpart to his or her courageous undertakings, i.e. “Batman Begins.” However, insert a villain or two with memorable dialogue, sincerity in their actions, grandiose costumes, pages upon pages of lore and fanfare, and the skills of a few talented actors, and you just may have an instant classic on your hands.

Why so serious!?

When the late Heath Ledger was announced to play the latest incarnation of the Joker, possibly the greatest comic book villain of all time, a resounding “Huh?” was heard throughout the movie-going community. What had Ledger ever done that would lead any of us to believe that he was the correct choice to accept the torch from Jack Nicholson’s brilliant portrayal from the late 80s? Sure, Ledger is a fine actor, but the role of the Joker comes along only once every couple of decades. After the first movie trailer for “The Dark Knight” was released which featured Ledger’s performance, I can’t imagine anyone who didn’t think Ledger was born for the role.

It’s been said before, and I’ll say it again: Ledger’s performance is mesmerizing and lifts every scene in which he appears to another level. This is another case of a movie being very good, albeit not perfect, but with an actor’s performance being so transcendent that a movie’s faults are almost written off.

His appearance, body language, dialogue, and voice all complete the enigma that is the Joker. His voice actually sounds somewhat sweet, but his words are anything but. Ledger reportedly holed himself up in a hotel room for an entire month to perfect the Joker’s body language and maniacal voice. Close your eyes and try to speak like Ledger’s incarnation of the madman, and you will understand why it took so much exhausting work on his part, and why fans are reacting the way they are.

Give credit where credit is due, however. First and foremost, the make-up artists, costume designers, and the screenwriters should not be left out of the discussion when talking potential posthumous Oscar honors for Ledger. They provided the vehicle for Ledger to drive, which he did at breakneck speeds.

Believe it or not, that is Heath Ledger under there, the same actor from "10 Things I Hate About You," and of course, "Brokeback Mountain."

The interesting part of Ledger owning the movie is the fact that he doesn’t seem to be in the movie nearly as much as Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent or obviously as much as Christian Bale. It falls back to the old adage that less is definitely more. The same is true in a monster movie; if the monster is shown too much, the allure wears off quickly. In “The Dark Knight,” the Joker is used somewhat sparingly and elevates the pace of the film each time he is dropped into a scene. And the scenes in which he appears will stick in audience’s heads for the remainder of the summer, namely a scene in which the Joker dons a nurse uniform at the local hospital and creates, well, a bit of a stir.

Another aspect that makes the character so captivating is the fact that the Nolan brothers, the director and head screenwriter, didn’t provide any sort of back-story for the Joker. It seems as if the Joker simply shows up in Gotham one day and chaos ensues. The lack of any explanation of where he came from creates an air of mystery about him, leaving fans guessing if he really is just a man or something different. This goes against almost all other comic book movie villains as they are almost always shown as an everyday person who is later scorned by society and then enacts revenge on the superhero. The Joker has none of that; he is simply the bad guy because as he says, Batman needs him, just as he needs Batman. The “Dark Knight” clearly benefits by leaving the Joker’s origins up to audience’s own interpretations.

This is one of the first images of Heath Ledger as the Joker, providing Batman fans a lot of hope as to the direction Ledger would take the character.

I always wondered what it would have been like to see the original Star Wars Trilogy for the first time on the big screen as many of our parents did, or even The Godfather, strictly because of the feeling one gets when realizing he or she is watching an instant classic, a piece of cinematic history. Every scene Heath Ledger appeared in with his matted green hair, faded white face paint, violet trench coat, crimson lipstick, and cackling voice and laugh, I felt that way, and clearly I’m not alone. Aside from older generations of movies and actors, such as Jimmy Stewart, Marlon Brando, and Orson Welles, Ledger officially cemented his legacy with this role, one that might go down as one of the greatest and most entertaining performances ever, but definitely as one of the best of the current generation.

Then there is the rest of the film.

“The Dark Knight” comes across as more of a crime drama then a superhero movie this time around, which is a refreshing take on the genre. “Batman Begins” obviously told the story of Bruce Wayne’s transition from boyhood to adulthood, and from business tycoon to caped crusader.

While watching Heath Ledger's performance, don't forget Batman is the main character.

“The Dark Knight” is obviously a play on “the dark night,” as Gotham City has never been in more despair than the picture painted in the latest film. Crime runs amuck in Gotham City, as usual, but this time the threat is even more believable as the ubiquitous mob has its tentacles in all aspects of the city, from the police, to the banks, to the district attorney’s office. Hence, the three characters the film centers on all have their own motivations as to how to act in an unstable city.

The film is about a city with three very different individuals vying for control, and the implications of their actions on the city. Two are on opposite ends of the spectrum, while one’s fate flutters in between.

This film cuts immediately to the turmoil of Gotham City, inserts the Joker, and introduces the new district attorney, Harvey Dent. The film can arguably be described as centered around Dent, with two separate sides battling for his control, and himself battling over his own integrity and morality. A major scene in the movie transforms his motives, as well as his own physical being. It should be noted that while Ledger as the Joker will be the talk of everyone exiting the theater, and rightfully so, Eckhart fills his role just as comfortably. Eckhart almost plays two characters, as the actions of Batman and the Joker changes him in various ways. His performance should not be overlooked because he is the glue that holds the story together.

"The Dark Knight" is a real treat on the eyes, with plenty of great special effects.

Christian Bale is exactly what we all expect: charming, humorous, and confident - he is simply a great choice as Batman. Many people have criticized his sharp, grizzled voice as his superhero counterpart, and I tend to agree. Batman obviously needs to hide his true persona by changing his voice, but Bale may have gone a little overboard as it does come off a cheesy at times, especially when considering much of the movie tries to stay based in reality, aside from of course the larger than life characters.

The beauty of the film is the interactions between the three main characters: how they manipulate each other, how they react to each other – it is all just flat out fun to watch. Every role is acted anywhere from well to perfectly, including the supporting cast. The story, the cast, the cinematography, the special effects: everything about “The Dark Knight” is clearly topnotch, which is why it has done so well financially and critically.

If you haven’t seen “The Dark Knight” yet -- judging from the box office numbers, you probably have -- don’t wait for the DVD or Blu Ray; see it in the theater. The opportunity to see a movie like this comes around only once every so often – the opportunity to see an instant classic, and a classic performance for the ages.

Rating: 98%