A breathtaking performance from Ledger as the Joker, matched by Bale as Batman, amongst the all-star cast all bringing their considerable talents to bear on a big summer comic book movie. However, the silliness you might associate with a ‘tentpole’ movie is not part of the package, this is a tragedy on a grand scale.

Packed full of story and in-camera (as opposed to CGI) action the two and half hours whizzes past leaving you begging for another film the same length such is the engrossing world of Nolan’s Batman. A triumph.