Christopher Nolan tells the Batman origin story as if it's not just a comic book story, but something grounded in reality, and inhabited by characters who deserve being developed. We, the audience, are thankful for a filmmaker with vision who actually wants to
give us smart popcorn entertainment. Christian Bale is fantastic as Bruce Wayne/Batman, and the
rest of the team is perfect on down the line, from the tech credits to the high-powered cast,
including Michael Caine as the definitive Alfred, Gary Oldman as a recognizably human and
decent Lt. Gordon, and Morgan Freeman lending charm and gravitas as mentor Lucius Fox. If this
was only the warm-up, then it's already safe to say The Dark Knight is one of our
favorite flicks of 2008.