Thank Heavens for "Dark Knight"

Ok, don't judge me -
I'm now joining the likely millions of fans who are going online to talk about the amazing film that is "The Dark Knight."
I'm not going to bore with mere plot summary...there are plenty other places you could go to get that information if you really wanted it (or rather, just go watch the show!). What I really want to express is my appreciation for and gratitude toward the minds behind this phenomenal show.
Now, I'm all for a fun summer blockbuster. I own all the Spidermans, the Pirates, and even Transformers (though that last one is largely because of my husband), and I enjoy them all. But as much as I love a good, fun movie, I've been getting tired lately of the near-mindless action movies that are all about blowing people up or swinging around buildings. The ones that leave you pumped up and wanting to try out your own Chuck Norris moves as you leave the theatre.
I've always appreciated movies that make you think or evoke some emotion from you...I feel like I get a lot more for the 2+ hours of my time that I just devoted to sitting down and watching the film...and my goodness, "Dark Knight" delivers exactly what I need.
A few years back when "Batman Begins" came into theatres, I went to see the movie with uneasy anticipation. I had never been a huge Batman fan (and I hadn't seen all of the earlier films), but reviews had been good and my friends wanted to go - ah, the unavoidable peer pressure factor.
I remember partway through the movie thinking, "Wow."
I loved where they had taken Batman. And I loved what Christian Bale was able to do with the role - to bring the many layers of Bruce Wayne to the forefront.
And now, with "Dark Knight," everything's been umphed. So much action, but with so much emotion driving it. So much impact, with such a message. And yes, one of the most amazing portrayals of a superhero "bad guy" I've ever seen. The high-strung tension throughout the film, and the undeniable squirminess you feel in your seat everytime the Joker comes on screen, is impossible to ignore. And an underlying message of the ability of even the purest symbol of good to so easily be tarnished...and the overwhelming need the general public has for that symbol....hits home for everyone in the theatre.
Thank heavens someone out there still wants us to feel something when we go to the theatre. Thank heavens for the minds behind, and the actors in front of, "The Dark Knight."