The Importance of Batman?

The summer movie season is well under way. Iron Man came and surprised the hell out of me. Indiana Jones took us for another fun adventure and The Happening...happened. Now the movie at the top my list is The Dark Knight. The sequel to my favorite “comic book” movie of all time Batman Begins. But this seems to be no ordinary sequel. Buzz around the net from early screenings is that this movie is simply a 'Masterpiece.”

Check out Dark Horizon's reaction:

“It really isn't a comic book movie, this feels more like a great Michael Mann movie - literally a film of "Heat" calibre.“

First Showing has this to say about the film:

“Not since Lord of the Rings: Return of the King five years ago in December of 2003, did I walk out of the theater so moved, so amazed, and so extraordinarily impacted by the movie I had just watched.”

Return of the King is, in my opinion, the single best movie in the past decade. I have never been as awestruck after a movie. To compare The Dark Knight to Return of the King? Wow. I was excited, but I never expected this. So are all these people blowing smoke? Part of me wants to not believe the hype and lower my expectations. It's just another summer movie sequel...a good time, but ultimately not a life changing experience. There must be something to these reactions. It's not an isolated incident. Perhaps Christopher Nolan has put together a great film. Could this movie be good enough to garner some important Oscar nominations? Okay, maybe THAT's pushing it. I'll try to keep my expectations in check, but this is absolutely at the top of my list.

In any case, at least Robin won't be joining the franchise anytime soon.

Christian Bale Rules Out Robin For Batman 3 (and beyond)