Some superheroes are borne of accident. There are those borne of necessity or circumstance. The latter ones make better superheroes in my opinion. This is the reason why I've always had a thing for Batman. With his athletic prowess and spectacular gadgetry, he did not need to be bitten by a spider, or rocketed from another planet as an infant. Apparently, I share this fascination with millions of moviegoers, as Batman fanatics nationwide break box-office records, with the film raking in $155.34 million during its opening weekend.

 Arriving 20 minutes before show time, with tickets purchased via Fandango.com (there are no available tickets at the box office), I had to scrounge for seats with the help of the theater manager and the usher. After some major finagling, ended up with two adjoining seats for me and my movie companion, seconds before the opening credits came on the screen.

"The Dark Knight", the second installment in the latest Batman franchise,  is darker and more intense than its predecessor. The film begins with the introduction of the Joker, coming off as a character from a Tarantino classic, seamlessly double-crossing his accomplices. Heath Ledger's visceral performance as Batman's archenemy gave the film its essence. The Joker stole the show repeatedly, making Batman to  seem more like an afterthought. Ledger turns the Joker into an brilliant figure of terror, not just as he holds Gotham hostage, but with every creepy move and subtle nuance.

The film attempts to explore the psyche of the characters, whether it be the Bruce Wayne/Batman yin/yang of light and dark, of  the Harvey Dent/Two-face duality of corruptibility and moral uprightness, while delving on the disturbing non-directional madness of the anarchist, Joker. 

Aaron Eckhart's  charismatic portrayal of Gotham district attorney, Harvey Dent, was  a surprisingly shining point in the film. The choice of using Maggie Gyllenhaal instead of Katie Holmes for the part of Rachel Dawes, Bruce Wayne's love interest, was splendid. She can at least act (thank goodness for "scheduling conflicts"!!!). Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Gary Oldman reprise their roles adequately(as Alfred, Lucius Fox, and Lt. Gordon, respectively).

On the other hand, Bruce Wayne/Batman's character seems a little underdeveloped. I expected Nolan to explore his position as a reluctant hero. His inner struggle was barely denoted. Christian Bale's depth and range, as was evidenced by his impressive performance in "The Machinist", was not fully taken advantage of in this film. In addition to this, director Christopher Nolan weaved an erratic, almost anticlimactic finale. I expected more from the creative genius of "The Following", and the cult classic, "Memento".

Overall, the film was entertaining and visually spectacular.  Nolan used IMAX cameras to shoot four major sequences, including the Joker's arresting introduction. The script, written by the director and his brother, Jonathan, is witty and smart. The film also brings to light the beautiful cities of Hong Kong and Chicago, and gadget freaks will notice the cameo of what appears to be Nokia's 5800 Tube (aka The iphone Killer).

Expect to participate in the dance (not battle) between good and evil...sort of a very unhealthy codependency. As Heath Ledger's Joker tells Christian Bale's stoic Batman, "I don't want to kill you...you complete me".