With a record-breaking opening weekend in America tucked under its utility bat-belt, Christopher Nolan's dark, brooding sequel swoops on to these shores amid a storm of hype and feverish anticipation.

Not only is "The Dark Knight" the best film of 2008 thus far, it's the best film I've ever seen. I'm one of those guys who has been watching the Internet for any little bit of news surrounding this movie.

By Anthony Quinn FILM OF THE WEEK THE DARK KNIGHT (12A) Christopher Nolan (152 mins) *** STARRING Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal Those suffering from a fear of heights should have a care on entering the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, for its opening shot looms with a precipitous shock that could make you queasy.

By Geoffrey Macnab First Night THE DARK KNIGHT ODEON, LEICESTER SQUARE LONDON **** THE DARK Knight is a film for troubled times.

By Carla Meyer, The Sacramento Bee, Calif. Jul. 18--To answer your first question: Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker in "The Dark Knight" is something to behold, electrifying and terrifying in its ingenuity.