The Dark Knight

How could I watch anything else after Inception? Honestly, if I could only watch movies by Chris Nolan from now on I'd still be happy. The Dark Knight is a massive achievement. Such a smart, exciting, character based movie. Such a grown up movie. And it's about a bloke who dresses as a bat. Yet not once do you even think to question the authenticity of what you are seeing, such is the sense of reality that the film is grounded in. It's cinematographer, Wally Pfister, is as much of a hero as the writer/director. Gotham looks and feels like a real city and at times, if you could look past the Batmobile and the maniacal villain, it's almost like an urban thriller from the 70s.

On the subject of villains, I have to join the familiar bandwagon and praise Heath Ledger's performance. It really is exceptional. I love the little things he does, like the way he flicks his tongue out when he speaks just like a snake - to get the measure of his prey or a threat. I can't think of any other character quite like this version of The Joker. It's a completely convincing portrayal of someone motivated only by the need for chaos and anarchy. It's so well written too. When he describes himself as being like a dog who chases buses but wouldn't know what to do with one if he caught it - I really get that.

What else is good? Just about everything really. The film's score is exciting and moody. The supporting cast are brilliant (love Gary Oldman's integrity stuffed Police Chief Gordon). But it's the story though that will keep you gripped to the screen and make you want to watch it again and again. It twists and turns like, well, like that snake I was going on about earlier. There is no way you could second guess where it takes the characters and the journey to the (hugely satisfying) ending is full of awesome action sequences and and memorable images. The Joker's exit from one building in particular is just about my favourite scene of the last 10 years.

I couldn't be any more excited about the third Batman film. Not even if they told me that I was going to be cast in the main role and would be paid a gazillion pounds to chase after a scantily PVC clad Cat-Woman for 2 hours. I couldn't do that gruff voice anyway. Bruce Wayne must have shares in Fisherman's Friends I reckon.