The Dark Knight

Chris and I went to see The Dark Knight last night, at a late showing, which meant I was up until four this morning. It's a compelling film, with a master performance by Heath Ledger, but the Batman himself is curiously absent, even from the scenes which feature him.

I can't understand why Batman Begins is such a forgettable film, or why Christian Bale is such a nonentity in The Dark Knight. He's an amazing actor, especially in a film I loved, The Prestige.

The two roles are even similar in that he plays a reserved man with an enormous secret in both movies. He's heartbreaking in The Prestige and he's not really there in The Dark Knight. It's baffling.

But even so, you should go and see The Dark Knight. Heath Ledger alone is worth the price. He's like the embodiment of the Trickster archetype. Coyote and Anansi would be proud.