'The Dark Knight' review

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Gotham City has stabilized thanks to new District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), who Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale) respects while wishing Dent wouldn't date his oldest friend/almost flame Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal, stepping in for Katie Holmes). But mob activity and police corruption persists, and the city explodes into violence and terror at the whim of a slithery, mysterious killer known as the Joker (Heath Ledger), whose flickering tongue makes him seem like a lizard surveying its prey.

Big question: Can "The Dark Knight" live up to massive hype in the wake of Ledger's death and top the good-but-not-great "Batman Begins"?

Catch it: Darkly funny, deeply thrilling and finally 100 percent Katie Holmes-free, "The Dark Knight" rockets above this summer's blockbusters as a terrifically adult, action-packed crime story that's much more than a traditional comic book flick. Featuring flawless work from Eckhart and an absolutely terrifying, award-worthy turn from Ledger, this morally complex and remarkably satisfying film is ultimately about the difference between petty criminals and pure evil, and between heroes and those just doing their job.

Skip it: If you're not impressed by Batman's ability to elevate a truck into the air or by Bruce arriving to a party by helicopter with three gorgeous women on his arm, just to make Rachel jealous. Well, what does impress you?

Bottom line: In times of fear and chaos, who will lead? Who can we trust? "The Dark Knight" takes comic book danger and drapes it over the real world, anchored by a Caped Crusader who won't quit and a demon who appears capable of anything, with neither actually possessing any superpowers. This blast of energy, which is about as good as comic movies can get, will have you panting with excitement and trembling over the questions it poses about a society sliding into anarchy as humanity hangs on by a thread.

Bonus: The Joker claims, "If you're good at something, never do it for free." Please be careful before telling your friends and family you will now be charging for playing pick-up basketball games and doing laundry.

Video: Watch the review of 'Dark Knight'

What do you think of 'Dark Knight'? Email me: mpais@tribune.com

[Check out Metromix's full coverage of "The Dark Knight."]

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