Prior to Heath Ledger’s unexpected death, which took place in January this year, everybody kept on talking about “The Dark Knight,” which had been identified as a sequel to the 2005 epic “Batman Begins” that helped the lethargic Batman franchise raise from the dead. However, no one expected the Christopher Nolan-helmed movie to stir such buzz and become so popular.

The director quite outshone himself with this summer’s blockbuster, giving life to the most cinematically precise sketch of Batman, whose mysterious persona can be felt throughout the critically acclaimed film.

Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece depicts a mythical world where being a superhero does not assure a happy end. It is hard to imagine a “happily ever after” as the multihued visuals of bliss fail to pierce the murky smoke of the urban outbursts.

And while Christian Bale’s Batman is not the kind of joyful superhero that emanates happiness and contentment, The Joker, impersonated by the late Heath Ledger, is the most horrifying sort of villain. He is crooked without any significant reason. He loves the challenge and he enjoys most the thrill of the hunt, since his paradise is made of bedlam and terror.

The confrontations between the two helped “The Dark Knight” become what it has become. It has generated an entire craze, won rave reviews, made fans pack theaters and saw the second-best total domestic gross of all times, behind only “Titanic.”

Now, “The Dark Knight” (Warner Home Video) is out on DVD. Releases include a one-disc edition, a two-disc special edition, a two-disc edition Blu-ray, as well as a special edition Blu-ray package that features a statuette of the Bat-pod.

While the double-disc DVD set consists of only a few behind-the-scenes moments and alternate scenes, the Blu-ray disc brings a lot more elements, including a replication of the film’s original Imax framing.

Although the Academy Award nominations have not been made public yet, Heath Ledger is expected to be named an Oscar contender for next year’s ceremony.

In addition, the late actor was posthumously awarded with a best-actor prize at the 50^th Australian Film Institute Awards on December 6 for his performance as The Joker in “The Dark Knight.”

Heath Ledger’s father, Kim, mother, Sally, and sister, Kate, accepted the award at Melbourne’s Princess Theater, explaining that they were very proud of the actor, who was described by the Australian Film Institute as “an ongoing inspiration for actors everywhere.”

If he wins an Oscar for his role in “The Dark Knight,” Heath Ledger will become the only artist besides Peter Finch to be awarded with an Academy Award posthumously.