Loaded with a classic cast of seasoned yet fascinatingly fresh talents, Batman, “The Dark Knight” returns for the second installment of a gothic tale that chronicles the very wicked, and few good, of Gotham, a fictitious city that is soon to encounter its very first, and worst evil, the Joker (Heath Ledger).

Up until the rise of the Joker, the texture feel of the plot implies that the Batman (Christian Bale) needs little in a struggle to intimidate Gotham’s underworld on up to it’s very own high public officials as the iconic bat is feared by all.

Though vigilant, and just plain old weird, the Dark Knight maintains the trust of Lieutenant Gordon (Gary Oldman), soon to be Commissioner Gordon.

As a plot to murder the shadowy prolific hero threatens the everyday lives of Gotham citizens whose existence hangs in the balance between life and death when the Joker makes good his promise to terrorize the city until the bat reveals his identity.

The screen relationship between the two mortal enemies builds in intensity as true physical encounter is suspended for a while, giving the movie enough time to colorfully epitomize two other larger then life characters Rachel Dawes, Bruce Wayne’s love interest (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and Gotham City’s District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart).

Interestingly, District Attorney Harvey Dent is revered by Bruce Wayne.

Dent plays the incorruptible, media darling of Gotham whom Batman adamantly protects with the belief that Dent will change Gotham for good, to take his rightful place as predecessor of the bat.

Strangely enough, Dent is also the fiance of Rachel Dawes, which adds a sort of “Spider-Man” flare to the super hero love triangle.

Finally, the most intriguing super villain of the Batman chronicles, Joker, is at best description, a cross between Hannibal Lector and Jack Torrance (“The Shining”).

The interesting composition of energies that the Joker’s character entails will make you sit on the edge of your seat wondering just what the heck this guys problem is.

The late Heath Ledger does an excellent job at convincing you.

The most impressive cinematography here is that the director Christopher Nolan (“Batman Begins”) expertly pools the lives of all the characters in such a full and rich array of challenges, hopes, and fears that you realize the Dark Knight’s tale is actually art imitating life and getting it right this time.

This is a movie everyone must take advantage of and, in case you’re wondering, it never drags.