Comic books are a never-ending source of inspiration for the cinematographic realm. There is no doubt that this year has been pronouncedly influenced by the adventures initially depicted in comic books. When translated from comic books’ pages to the silver screen, the adventurous plots are augmented with new twisted storylines and, obviously, eloquent visual effects. This is how “Hellboy II,” “Wanted,” “Iron Man” or “The Incredible Hulk” (the latter wasn’t that incredible, however the movie is worth being mentioned on the list) became main theatre attractions.

We’ve foreseen from the beginning that comic book translations would become a cinematographic trend. However, what is truly outstanding about this cinematographic pattern is that movies’ messages have become deeper and deeper. Forget about those days when you used to watch heroic movies with your kids; lately productions approach deeper themes, which are conveyed through shattering scenes. The first movie that walked out of the reeled-off pattern was “Iron Man,” however, the climax is, without doubt, reached with “The Dark Knight.”

Picking up where the superb “Batman Begins” left in 2005, “The Dark Knight” outstrips every bit of imagination. This second chapter of the translation of DC Comics franchise still bears the signature of director and co-writer Christopher Nolan who succeeds in living up (and more) fanboys’ expectations. For the writing part, Nolan teamed up with his brother Jonathan, Bob Kane (characters), David S. Goyer (story).

“The Dark Knight” depicts a Gotham City paralyzed with fear, whose once superhero is not only confronted with his inner doubts, but also with the citizens’ frowns. Cheap copycats, pranksters and outlaws wearing similar Batman costumes undermine the real hero’s credibility. Batman has turned from the hero trusted by the entire town into a decrepit hero who himself doubts his mission there. He is the incarnation of both the superhero and the villain.

In the meantime, Gotham City redirects its hopes to a new hero: district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), who is prepared to eradicate corruption and crime. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is seriously considering leaving his place to Dent, now that he is also the love interest of Wayne’s former girlfriend, assistant D.A. Rachel (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, a better replacement for Katie Holmes).

But Batman, Dent and the entire Gotham City are shattered by the appearance of the most callous outlaw: the Joker. Embodying supreme evil, transforming his ruthless plans into even more ruthless actions, careless of anyone and of himself, too, the Joker makes terror omnipresent in the city.

Unlike any other evil character, the Joker has no motive for his wrongdoing and in the same time, he is set to accomplish his ultimate goal: chaos. His painted face – white complexion, dark eyes and blood-crimson mouth – expresses nothing more than he is: ruthlessness.

The Joker asks Batman to unveil his face, else he will make the streets of Gotham red with blood; for the first time in a movie of the genre, audiences will fear that the protagonist, epitome of the good, will be defeated.

The Joker questions everything, making those representing good doubtful, he is determined to demonstrate the futility of rules. The Joker wants chaos and anarchy and he has the intelligence and the means to make them rule even from behind the bars of a prison cell.

Most probably, you have already found out that the Joker is played by the late Heath Ledger. It is by far his most outstanding, impeccable performance, and it would have been as impressive if he still had been alive. Watching the movie, you understand why Ledger said that the role was so consuming and why he stated that he loved it so much at the same time. Even though Batman is the protagonist, all eyes are on the Joker. The character is so outrageous, his cruelty so shattering that you won’t be able, not even for a single moment, to diminish his impact.

The Joker is obviously not a premiere presence, the character has been present in previous movies focused on the adventures of Batman. But what Jack Nicholson or Cesar Romero realized is far from what Ledger played. Their characters were clowns, mere pranksters in comparison with the great cruelty of Ledger’s Joker. The same greatness of performance made Christian Bale the most suitable actor to play Batman - the hero’s perfect embodiment.

Batman, Dent and Lt. Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) try to form a triangle of good, attempting to protect Gotham City from the evil Joker. Only that one of them leaves the initial path (no spoiler).

It’s interesting that both Wayne and the Joker have become who they are due to what happened to them during their early years. While “Batman Begins” is full of flashbacks depicting young Wayne, constituting a means of explaining why the playboy became Batman, the audiences are made familiar with Joker’s childhood only via his words.

Most probably, Batman and the Joker are so equally powerful, as they have the same determination to be what they are – their childhood experiences, only that one responds to the past with the decision to do good, while the other is eager to harm.

Nolan has focused so much on the characters, and all of them are so fully-developed that the movie needs no other diversion to be gripping. There was no need for computer-generated stunts to make it jaw-dropping, however, hi-tech effects were used, but only to complete the puzzle. The movie was set in Chicago, mostly shot at night - the images of skyscrapers are incomparable and LaSalle Street is the shelter of some remarkable moments.      

Wayne’s butler, Alfred (Michael Caine) is the only person who has the ability to understand Wayne’s (and Batman’s, too) inner conflicts. Therefore, Alfred is still a central figure in the movie, a developed character to play a weighty part in the plot.

There are scenes so bloody that they make the PG-13 rating inappropriate. Terrorizing the children of Gotham or putting a grenade in a bank manager’s mouth makes the 152-minute long movie unsuitable for kids, even though it is most probably them who will draw the parents to theatres. There are scenes that make you want to close your eyes, but you will find yourself unable to – as we’ve mentioned, the Joker’s cruelty is hypnotizing.

By far, “The Dark Knight” is the hottest movie of the summer. It is full of drama and adventures, a gripping thriller that will keep you still in your chair and will give you enough food for thought to find yourself eyes wide open at night, thinking. That doesn’t mean it is scary and it is definitely not a drawback, on the contrary, it is the movie’s great strength: it is so challenging and thought-provoking that it might make you go and see it again.