Not To Brag, But...

***************************SPOILERS FOR DARK KNIGHT!***************************

After an hour and half long drive through rush hour traffic, this afternoon a group of four close friends and I received the ultimate payoff for enduring horn honking and middle-finger wagging; the chance to see "Dark Knight" on an IMAX screen. And while the drive down was set to the music of ABBA and the "Banana Phone Song", as we each stumbled out of the theatre, not a word was said except for, "Wow." This was my third time around seeing the latest and greatest of the superhero flicks, but being able to see every drop of sweat on The Joker's face and Tumbler tires the size of a mid-size building, I don't know if I'll ever be able to fully appreciate the film any other way again. I could spend quite a significant period of time here shooting my mouth off at the wonders of the IMAX screen; something I hadn't experienced since the disappointing"Superman Returns" some years ago, but I, as a moderate Batman comic fan, will give you my quick and brief thoughts as to my mildly educated prediction on what we may expect to see in the next installment.

First off, I would like to give my very minority-based opinion that in my deepest and most passionate dreams, there is no 3rd movie in this "Batman" series. Chris Nolan's Dark Knight has always been based in a very dismal and bracing reality, and for once, it may be refreshing to see a real-life ending here, without the victorious hero and true love's undying kiss. If we want the enduring and shining superhero, we can turn to Superman. Batman presents a unique opportunity for a conclusion where the villain lives on, and the warrior with the noblest and most moral of intentions is forced to flee. How much closer could you possibly get to reality itself? One of the most obvious and frequently asked of questions regarding the final minutes of "Dark Knight" relates to the mortality of Two-Face. Now, if this were a comic book, there would be no question that the fallen DA would rear his ugly eyeball in some future issue. On the page, no one is ever dead forever. At some point, an evil robot twin or deal with the devil will pop up and solve everything. However, in Chris Nolan's universe, Harvey Dent's character arc has safely concluded. We watched the White Knight tumble from the greatest of heights into the slime of crime and revenge. Yet, his legacy lives on. What more do we need to see? Well, if a frequent and observant viewer of some of Nolan's other work may tell you, "everything". Nolan has a penchant for repeating themes and ideas throughout his films; using repetition for foreshadowing and further development. Twice prior in "DK", we saw characters fall from a great height, such as the one Two-Face stumbled off, and live to tell the tale. Wouldn't it make sense if the same fate befell Dent?

If Two-Face has flipped his last coin, then in the next movie there is always the question of which villains will show up to the party. Rumors are flying around the internet about The Riddler and Johnny Depp possibly taking up the mantle. Now, I love the green question mark as much as the next BatHead, but I would really rather see a baddie who hasn't previously appeared onscreen. Watching Scarecrow work his mojo in the "Batman Begins" was a thrilling new experience, and refreshing to say the least. If I had my pick, I would greatly hope for either a Black Mask/Catwoman confrontation or to see the ever-creepy Mad Hatter. Black Mask is a suitably dark villain that could offer up a chance for a duel redemption from both Catwoman and Bruce Wayne. Plus, now that Rachel Dawes is out of the picture, there is always room for another woman in Batman's life. (And I'm not talking about Robin) I think the Selina Kyle that was seen in "Batman: Year One"- meaning the vengeful prostitute not the stuffed animal-loving assistant- would fill that opening nicely. Plus, there was the much talked about jest by Fox at the ability of Batman's new armor to protect against cats. Mad Hatter is (if possible) an even more twisted and corrupt figure than The Joker or Black Mask. His OCD could easily reflect upon our psychology-domineered modern society, but his trademark crime- pedophilia- may cross into territories too dangerous for a PG-13 franchise to explore. 

Finally, the question that has left everyone hanging (much like its subject), is whether or not  The Joker will live to bomb another day. Please no. Please please please please. No. Heath Ledger's beyond perfect interpretation of the crazed clown has already ingrained itself into our collective conscious as a culture. To cast another actor in the role would be blasphemy and a grave disrespect to Ledger's fans. Yes, they replaced Katie Holmes with the infinitely more talented Maggie Gyllenhall, but I don't need to tell you that Heath is no Katie Holmes. The Joker arrived in the movie out of a chaotic and random oblivion. It wouldn't be too far from his style to leave it the same way.