I went into the movie trying not to believe all the hype and left with the feeling that it wasn't hyped enough.
There was a lot to swallow, but the plot moved along swiftly and seamlessly. I especially dug the realistic tension between Gotham's cops, District Attorney (Aaron Elkhart) and Batman (Christian Bale).

We are living in a Bat World.

Can we talk about Bale for a second? He brings sophistication to Batman/Bruce Wayne and nails the character's struggle. I feel like he got a little lost in the shuffle at times during the movie, though.
Eckhart suprised me. He really stepped up the game as Gotham's fallen golden boy. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman added both comic relief and class to the film. Maggie Gyllenhaal was a great replacement for Katie Holmes as Rachael Dawes. Gyllenhaal looked enough like Holmes to carry over from "Batman Begins" but she added a little more attitude to the role. It was ridiculous how great the supporting roles were in the movie.

Much love for Ledger

Let's talk about the elephant in the theater: Heath Ledger.
He was absolutely amazing. He totally immersed himself into the role of the sick, twisted Joker. This movie demonstrated his talent and would have launched his career into the next stratosphere. It's sad that he isn't around to hear all the praise. It might be a stretch for him to get an Oscar, but I think it's possible for him to get a Best Supporting Actor nomination.
"The Dark Knight" wasn't without it's cheesy moments and silly stunts. It's a superhero flick, after all. It's allowed to be overindulgent. At two-and-a-half hours, it was a little long. The special effects were decent. It was indeed the thrill ride I wanted with extraordinary acting as an added bonus.