Who's afraid of the big black bat?

There was an enormous amount of hype surrounding The Dark Knight, elevated by the bizarre and unfortunate happenstance of actor Heath Ledgers' accidental death. Much was said about the relationship he had with prescription drugs in connection to the rigorous emotional and mental toll taken by his portrayal of the infamous Joker. With that said I think the movie lived up to a certain amount of the hype. Maybe I am just jaded by the praise of the critics on Ledgers Academy Award worthy performance, but I don't believe I can genuinely offer the same sentiments. I, unfortunately was not gripped by the movie in a way that would satisfy my indulgences. Despite the long two and a half hours of run-time I would say that The Dark Knight delivered an entertainment value far exceeding most superhero franchises. Though, for me, the acting didn't blow my wig clean off my skull, The Dark Knight is worth taking the time to view.