Hollywood’s usually tedious awards season will spin hype in every direction until the 81st Academy Awards on February 22. One topic for wagging tongues is how many Oscars may go to a standout cartoon-inspired movie, The Dark Knight.

Starring Christian Bale as Batman and the late Heath Ledger as the Joker, plus Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman, The Dark Knight collected five People’s Choice Awards earlier this month. At the Golden Globes, it reached the winners’ podium again.

Grim, tense and surprisingly entertaining, The Dark Knight easily ranks among 2008’s best movies. A few of its scenes, with Batman chasing a gangster, were shot in Hong Kong near the world headquarters of Cairns Media Magazine.

After a screening in North America, our reporter reckoned that the plot left something to be desired and that some characters stayed comic-book shallow. But visually, the movie pleased him. As for the dialogue, he jotted down some memorable lines.

“Batman has no limits.”

“It’s simple. We kill the Batman.”

“That’s the point of Batman. He can be the outcast. He can make the choice nobody else can make.”

“I’m no hero. Gotham’s finest – they’re the heroes.”

“I’m not a monster. I’m just ahead of the curve.”

“Do you want to know why I use a knife? Guns are too quick. You can’t savor all the little emotions.”

“I’m a man of simple tastes. I enjoy dynamite, gun powder and gasoline.”

“It’s not about money. It’s about sending a message. Everything burns.”

“Madness is, as you know, like gravity. All it takes is a little push.”

“The world is cruel, and the only morality in a cruel world is chance.”

“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself a villain.”

“Sometimes the truth isn’t good enough. Sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded.”

Most superhero tales on movie screens fall short of expectations. Typically, they’re contrived, lame and humdrum. But The Dark Knight soars high enough to deserve its awards.

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