This was the perfect Batman film. They got everything right but the bat-crest on the uniform, and Bale's Batman voice grates a bit in a monologue. (I liked Batman Begins too, but I never knew much about Ra's Al Ghul).
Everything else - the Joker, his scams and escapades, Two-Face, the look and feel of Gotham, the tools and tricks... and the performances, most of all. Bale's a great Bruce and Batman, Maggie Gyllenhaal (sp) gives Rachel infinite more depth than Katie Holmes (granted, small feat), Eckhart is superb as both Dent and Two-Face, and Ledger is just absolutely fuck*ng astonishing as the Joker. His second scene (with the magic trick) floored me in a way I haven't experienced in years. And while Memento showed the world that Chris Nolan is a good director, this movie might cement him in the hall of Great Directors - at least, if he can follow this one up with something outside the bat-world that's just as impressive. There were a lot of little touches that made this film this good.
The only complaint I've heard is that Nolan has fucked with the backstory too much. On one hand, I agree, but on the other hand, I don't really give a rat's ass. He's made a better Batman film than Burton now, and much of it relied on that fuck*ng-around he did. He's improved it.
And now, after seeing this, I'm kind of disappointed not to have ever really watched a Heath Ledger movie before. Looking at his filmography, I can see why I skipped them. Anybody know of any performances he gave that would be of a similar caliber?