I think if anyone plans on going to see a ghost in "Dark Knight" they will walk away disappointed. There was no Heath Ledger on the screen. There simply was The Joker. Was it his best performance? I don't know. Is it worthy of the buzz? Yes. Not since "Fear and Loathing In Los Vegas" have I so completely forgotten who the actor was behind the character.

It was by FAR his best performance. Casanova? Brother's Grimm?? Brokeback? Knight's Tale?!??

nah, Claire is right...he became entirely enveloped in this character, a bit reminiscent of Kevin Spacey in 'Se7en' mixed with an understated Al Pacino in 'Devil's Advocate,' stirring in the creepy comic turn of Jack Nicholson in the first Batman.

Very enthralling performance.

The film was pretty much full at the midnight Broadway Faire screening (THE place to get in for sure on a midnight opening). Good screening, and we as a crowd broke out in applause for one particular action sequence in the middle of the film. I liked the film, but still can agree with the 'bad' reviews, even from the NY Post.

Personally, my favorite part was seeing the policeman outside after the showing at about 2:45am chastising (and maybe more?) the parent who brought his 3 and maybe 5 year-old kids to the movie. That movie is NOT appropriate for little kids. Someone called the cops on this parent, and thank GOODNESS for that! The cop was saying "Look, it's past 2am, these are little kids, that's not a good movie for them..." and then he went on to threaten child neglect or abuse charges. YAY!

I'll be honest, I was/am not a Ledger "fan". I had/have a lot of respect for him as a man and an actor,though. What I saw I appreciated.
However, I didn't bother with Knights Tale or Casanova. Everything else he's been in ( is it sad that I love 10 Things I Hate About You?) I can recall him being very natural. There was something at ease with him in which one forgets that one is watching a screen when he is on it. And perhaps that is one of the most frightening things about his Joker. He's so natural in movement and line delivery that one forgets there is the screen seperating the character from the audience.
I was appalled at the number of very small children in the showing I attended. This is NOT a children's movie, by any stretch of the imagination. I did not take my EIGHT year old to it (then again I am one of "those" parents. You know, the kind that believes in preserving childhood innocense)... they're serious with that PG-13 rating and that's being kind. Was it Bently (?) who wrote that it actually FEELS more like an R rating, even though visually it's a PG13? Anyway, that's very accurate.

I saw the movie at 9am Saturday at River Park...and I was by myself and there was one seat left in the back, so I was set. There were little kids and I mean 5-8 in my theater, and I existed just behind the dad and the 2 young kids...they were excited about what they just saw and were seemingly not effected in anyway. Smiles from the youngest as he was talking about various scenes he enjoyed. BUT that being said an adult should know the maturity of the children, thats the key. I loved horror films...when I was 9 I saw THEM about the giant ants it was FUN...of course even now when I hear that noise of what sound like machinery and whatever when the ants came (we have an A/C at work that reminds me of it) I still recall the anxiety I had as a kid from that sound. Growing up scary movies were fun. (by todays FX standards they are hokey now, but not then)...Incredible Shrinking Man, This Island Earth, Invasion of the Body Snatchers,etc. Never had nightmare from movies...BACK TO THE MOVIE...It was great and Ledger stood out. (note: they showed his face once without the clown make up towards the end) and his acting was best because he CREATED his character. Twisting his tongue, breathing heavily as he talked, his twitch of his neck, his swagger as he walked, brushing back his hair to make himself look better when he sees the D.A. at the party, and even his remarks. Once scene where he was in a holding cell and everyone started clapping and the camera showed the Joker clapping perhaps sarcastically was according to the director an ad lib by Heath that the director wanted left in the movie......IMAX made the experience better, too and all the parts were played well. The movie cost $150 million dollars to film, I think they will get that back within the week. All shows after my 9am show were sold out too...so get there early or buy at the box office machine in advance or on line...you best bet of getting a ticket for awhile, unless you like going at 10pm...

I was able to see Dark Knight for the midnight showing and it was well worth the long wait in line. Ledger's Joker has to be one of the creepiest villains ever, if not the creepiest. Just how he was portrayed, I wouldn't even want to be in the same room as him. Ledger did an awesome job and it's sad to think he probably didn't even do his best work before he died. It was at least equal to Javier Bardem last year who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for No Country for Old Men.

As for the whole parents taking their children thing, if they are mature enough, I don't see the problem. I've been watching horror movies since I was four and never had problems. I knew it was fake and I didn't have nightmares. So since I liked to watch them, my parents let me since I could handle it.

(show: Friday 10:50 Edwards 21 --I had to buy my ticket in advance (around 7:00p same day) Totally packed house from what I could see, --huge line (once in theatre) --but able to get a great seat (approx 1/3 up centre theater.)
--PS: there were no parents with kids or (youngish) kids in this showing (all 'teens and up.')

This thing is LONG (I know, I know pot calling the kettle black.) I don't know if it could have made it to two separate films, I just know that if you drink a soda as it starts? Make it a small one or you're in real trouble...

It got very involved with itself, (fine,) really seemed to sort to 'remember that it had a movie to end, so let's hurry up and start ending it.' --chop-chop, enough indulgence, do quick character explanation,' kind of stuff,

---and had a lot of obvious 'gee, I wonder WHERE and WHO they're going to get the characters for the NEXT installment.

And, just like when Nicholson played 'Joker,' the movie is more 'Joker,' than anything else...
--But I think people in the theatre (based upon their reactions to the characters) --were there to see 'the movie,' (not) 'just one character who happens to be dead.'

I think Ledger really now owns this character, (or, if the hype is true, it now, sadly owns him.)
-But it was one of the more straightforward and believable depictions of somebody who is this twisted that I've seen in a while.
-Like any great sociopath, you found yourself laughing along with him, --and then uncomfortable that you were,
--you also realized that anyone, even those closest, even you, could be 'next,' (and were grateful for the 4th wall.)

Very relevant character, and I wonder how many people understood what he was saying about
'it's all about messing up the plan,' (how that there are some members of society that are 'supposed,' to die (soldiers gang-bangers)--cause that's part of the plan, --but take out one member that doesn't 'fit,' the plan -and everybody gets upset... (very Shirley Jackson's 'Lottery,' there, folks.)

--And I couldn't help but laugh, to finally see someone demonstrate actual 'anarchy,' -when it gets thrown around by such posers all the time.

Saddest thing was sitting there, watching somebody who was able to tap into and convey on this level, -and really get pulled in and appreciate the work,
--and realize, that such an excellent talent is gone,
--and you could never, ever, one day bump into them somewhere, and be like
'...Oh, you're Keith Ledger? dude, you're work is amazing, thanks...'

That was too bittersweet even for me.

I agree with Stephen (Did I just write that?) that it was far and away his best performance but that might need to be measured against the quality of the rest of his catelogue. With the exception of Brokeback his other films ranged from only pretty good to not so good.

Dark Knight is a very good film on many levels: writing, directing, cinematography, humor and secondary cast. As if the main characters weren't chewing up enough scenery we had two of my favorite scene stealers, Eric Roberts & Tiny Lister. Plus, the simple but creepy "joker" music was perfect.

I Fandangoed my ticket and arrived early for a Sunday Noon show at Manchester, anticipating a sellout and lines, but was surprised to find only 50 or 60 people. The theatre was about 3/4 full by showtime with only a few little kids, several of whom ran around the theatre throughout the movie.

But again Ledger was the brightest aspect of the Dark Knight.

There are no five and six year olds 'mature' enough to see a movie like Dark Knight, there are five and six year olds who are desensitized enough to endure a movie like Dark Knight. It's a horrible thing.

(claire) I totally agree with you.

-I clearly recall sitting in a theatre watching 'American Gangster,' where the openning scenes are of a PuertoRican Gang leader being burned alive, (quite realistically.)
-and there being kids sitting there (young ones,) with their parents in the theatre.

-What I think is the situation here, is that you have a lot of folks who are
a.) too broke to afford a sitter
b.) take 'family,' everywhere and think nothing of it (regardless of the situation,)
and
c.) are from cultures that view 'adult themes,' way differently than you or I do.

-When I have eight and nine year old kids running around my neighborhood,
-and they have hand and face tattoos? (where most tattoo artists are very hesitant to do hand/face work on adults??) you know some folks see 'acceptable childhood experiences,' differently.

Claire, you just became my hero. When I read the comment I wanted to respond, but nothing cohesive came to mind. You did it for me...thanks.

The truth is, I love a good disturbing movie. Since I've had my child, I can't handle graphic so much. And real realistic things are out of the question. However, a good mind is a good day at the movies for me. I do tend to gravitate towards more of the unreal (graphic novels, Del Torro, etc.), it's not as if I'm AGAINST scary films. I just wish that parents would understand that a child needs to realize how bad bad can be, to have some empathy... actually, to let their natural empathy become fully developed, before exposing them to frightening images.