Bluntly Speaking? The Dark Knight is a big summer blockbuster rich in characters. But like any rich treat, it too gets a bit overwhelming and you find your self wishing for a break before it's finished. Heath Ledger is fabulous as The Joker. He brings an alarming edge to the villain. But if he gets an Academy Award (as the winds of brouhaha are whipping about the town) it’s because they blew it before with all his finer works. He’s good but not golden statue good. God bless him.

Truth is, as a film, it's a tad bat-in-the-storm-gutter bloated and has a rising scent of guano. There's just a confusingly twirling plot and those oh-so-done action scenes to pre-recorded action music. And it’s very dark – as in lit – not mentally. Bruce is a semi-pussy and you find yourself waiting for The Joker to re-energize the canvas between Wayne's whining or pining.

Nolan’s no Burton in direction of the avante garde comicbook adaptations. Personally, I think he got lucky with Batman Begins. Sure the new Joker is much more frightening than the last (by Jack Nicholson) and Two-Face is more down-to-Earth than the last (Tommy Lee Jones in Joel Schumacher’s forgettable attempt Batman Forever). But in this turn at the spin – hype aside – the big dark hued bat ballad is just a bang-it-up summer movie that will be savored for Ledger’s fantastic finale and nothing more.

Story goes… The Batman aka Bruce Wayne (aka Christian Bale) is having relationship issues and Gotham City troubles. A new crime-infused joker (pardon the pun) has decided the city, “Needs a better quality of villain.” And this one’s got no other switch but full-throttle maniacal.

The local syndicate bosses are being offered The Joker’s services. And after a few examples of his, um, talents (and violent outbursts that shock even they), the mob finds them selves in a position of employer.

The bad guys quickly learn, as does Batman (though he has to be told in a Nolan-brothers' scripted character flaw), this ultra-bad guy Joker chap has no monetary drive. He’s in the crime biz for the buzz. Um, didn't Bruce spend all that time learning these things somewhere in the mystic east? Yet, here he's just flabbergasted by The Joker's big blue pulsing forehead vein of cruelty.

That cruel streak's not so good for The Joker's would-be victims neither. Oh, and the dude is actually insane. No storing the mask and cleaning up for Chablis-filled evening soirees among the normals for this loony. The Joker is like a rabid dog hell-bent on the postman's calf-meat.

Gotham’s also got another do-gooder on there cityscape horizon. It's District Attorney Harry Dent (Aaron Eckhart). He’s not afraid of crime and grime and Batman’s smitten; in a, "Wow! Someone else cares about this place!" way. Bat’s ex, Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is also smitten with Dent - but in the traditional, "Let's get naked and rumble!" way. Some girls like the bad boys, this chickbabe seems to be drawn be the scent of self-sacrifice for the good of many.

Things excel quite as expected; fights get fought and things go boom. And, naturally, when the chips are down, Gotham’s citizens, once again, immediately turn against Batman…that’s so old. Will the Bat save the day? Um, what do you think?

Christian Bale is so very handsome and talented. Since adding super hero to his acting resume he’s just yummier. But here he’s a bit unused talent-wise. Nolan has him all pout-y faced and neurotic. Last time as we learnt what drove him batty it worked. Here Bruce is a bore.

Gary Oldman, who shows again as Gordon, is so generic American 24-hour cop you forget this lad was Sid and Dracula. Eckhart finally gets a meaty super-movie role after years in Indie-land. His two-face is wonderful and you get his anger…

The star of the film is Heath Ledger’s Joker. Not just because of the horrible tragedy the lad faced in real life. But because Ledger was an intense talent in anything he was cast in. A Knight’s Tale (which sucked), 10 Things I Hate About You which sucked, and Ned Kelly, Brokeback Mountain and so on. He and his being will be missed by this Ledger admirer both for his Andy Gibb-like looks and his not fully shared acting talents.

Snack recommendation: Nadda. It’s too hard to indulge in sweeties while your mind switches periodically to the fact that before you Mr. Ledger is performing his remarkable last hurrah.