Let me begin with the adjectives: AMAZING, EPIC, ENGROSSING, EXCITING, COMPLEX, GRIM and simply OUTSTANDING. It’s hard to describe a comic-book movie unlike any comic-book movie before it. It has more in common with films like Heat, Godfather II, Silence of the Lambs, and the Bourne Series than it does with Spider-Man. The Dark Knight is choc-full of ideas and moral dilemmas that you almost forget you’re watching a kick**** action movie pitting the Batman (Christian Bale as a slick and conflicted Bruce Wayne/Batman) against the psychotic and truly scary Joker (Heath Ledger gets lost in character and makes you forget all about Brokeback Mountain). The most realistic depiction of Batman and his dark universe that propels the viewer from one harrowing calamity to the next all connected by the terror-inducing Joker and his quest to create chaos just for the sake of it.

The film picks up months after Batman Begins left off. While Batman’s presence has helped to deter crime in good ole Gotham City (a wonderfully disguised Chicago) the Joker emerges in the opening bank robbery sequence as a major wrench in the machine and displays his evil streak. You know off the bat (no pun intended) that this isn’t your goons-carrying-a-boombox-playing-Prince-songs kind of Joker. The Joker is as dead serious as Joe Pesci in Goodfellas.

He soon takes over the mob scene in horrific fashion and is determined to bring Batman and Gotham to his level. Bruce Wayne meanwhile is relieved and concerned that the new crusading District Attorney Harvey Dent (played with supreme confidence by Aaron Eckhart) is as committed to ridding the streets of gangsters as he is except he uses the courts and not a cape. The gung-ho D.A. is also dating Bruce’s longtime friend and unrequited love, Rachel Dawes (played this time by a more believable Maggie Gyllenhaal) and that creates a love-triangle of sorts. Bruce has to reconcile his feelings for Rachel while bolstering the effects of Dent so he could hang up his cape and utility belt. Of course all hell breaks loose and complicates everything.

As the action unfolds the Joker becomes more dangerous and more brazen creating murderous havoc to draw the Batman out and challenge everything he stands for. It is the line that gets blurred between hero and villain and how close will you go to serve justice. Choices befall everyone and the consequences sometimes turn deadly. How far will you go and what rules will you break to do the right thing, the necessary thing against someone with no rules and no morals? Questions arise about humanity and sometimes the lack of humanity. It’s Shakespeare with a heavy metal soundtrack.

Even the supporting characters help propel the plot with superb performances from Morgan Freeman (as his trusted gadget man, Lucious Fox), Michael Caine (as Alfred, his faithful butler and father-figure), Gary Oldham (as Lt. Gordon, as the trusty good-cop and police liason) and even the underrated Eric Roberts (as mob boss Sal Marconi).

Director/Co-Writer Chris Nolan along with brother and co-writer Jonathan Nolan has created a thick, deep script full of mayhem and complexity that separates it from your run-of-the-mill hero tale. The action sequences were filmed in IMAX so they engulf the viewer into the action. From Batman’s skyscraper plunges to the big rig flipping to the buildings exploding and collapsing it is all there in wondrous color and fury. No expense has been spared in bringing this dark tale to fruition. It is 2-1/2 hours of blood, madness and adventure well worth the price of admission. In fact you’ll consider it a bargain for all that you get in return.

The Dark Knight Trailer

So devasted in fact, I'm not going to be on the boards, listen to the radio, watch any sports reports, or pick up a newspaper.The Lakers had a golden opportunity to even the series and Boston just put the clamps on them in the second half and squeezed the very life out of them and all the fans. This is the worst loss I think I've ever witnessed. I mean it's one thing to lose in a blowout. At least that way you knew you never had a chance but when you dominate the first half and lead by as many as 24 points just to relinquish it and succumb to the suffocating defense of the Celtics in the second half it's just too much too bear.

I'd like to blame the Lakers but it's not that simple. I could fault the coaching staff, the players, the refs or even the ball boys but all the blame and credit goes to the Boston Celtics. In a night when the home fans came through loudly for the Lakers the Celtics silenced them with adjustments on defense and offense.

Suddenly the Lakers offense was stymied by aggresive defense and packing of the lanes that no one, not even Kobe had any room to operate. At one point the Lakers missed 20 of 26 shots. The pressure was too much. All the spacing from the first half had vanished. The court suddenly appeared to be the size of a studio apartment by the look of the crowded lanes and painted area. Shooters were no longer left open. Sasha, Radmonovic, and Farmar were contested at every turn. Odom returned to his game 3 form by missing layups and being tentative on the block. Garnett awakened and found his rhythm by getting to the low block and creating his shot against an overmatched Gasol. Ray Allen looked elusive and making plays and kept the Celtics momentum by attacking the rim and making crucial jump shots. Not to mention the final blow, taking Sasha off the dribble and scoring an easy layup in the final minutes.

I still can't believe what I saw. As a life-long Laker fan I was literally sickened by the turn of events. It is a sad day but my hopes turn to Sunday and my prayers for a miracle comeback will hopefully be fulfilled. For now though I am crushed. I'm going to my happy place for a couple of days.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/080610&sportCat=nba

After a day of bitterness and hateful anger for losing the latest round of the Fame and Fortune II, I have seen the light throught the darness and now I can give my full attention to the Lakers. Thank you to all that supported me by voting and good luck to Jason, the victor.

I can't wait to see the game tooo-night! Let's beat some green Boston arse.