The Dark Knight (2 hours, 30 minutes; rated PG-13): I judge my Batman by the Jokers. The Batman TV series rolled out Cesar Romero as the Joker in 1966. He was OK. Great laugh. Over-the-top campy. But he didn't scare me. In 1989, Jack Nicholson played the Joker in the first Batman movie. He was better. Very campy. Good laugh. A lot scarier than Cesar Romero. Then this summer, Heath Ledger nailed the part in The Dark Knight. Awesome laugh. Very scary. Ledger's version has such an awesome presence that you crave his moments on-screen.

Every once in a while a movie comes along bearing such high expectations, such a high degree of hype, that once it’s released it cannot possibly live up to audiences wishes.

Turning Godzilla into a giant, pregnant iguana in the American film version comes to mind, as does any of the three modern-day Star Wars sequels or .. dare we forget? Snakes on A Plane.

The Dark Knight (Rated PG-13, running time 2 hours, 32 minutes) could have been the next in a long line of genre letdowns.

Instead, it smashes expectations like a Vladimir Guerrero home run.

Buoyed by an explosive performance by the late Heath Ledger and superb backup from an all-star cast, The Dark Knight is far better than just one of the best comic-book movies ever made. It’s a top-level crime drama on the level of The Departed (but better, I say) and a deep meditation on life, love, and good and evil.

Just as we suspected: Meet Dave is another Eddie Murphy clunker. It appears the entire movie is a bathroom break. Read Hollywood75001's review to see where Eddie misstepped -- again.

Eddie Murphy's multiple personalities |  Meet Dave trailer

I recently was called out as being a nerd. It’s true. I am. There’s no denying it anymore. My latest move pretty much solidified it. That’s right. I, neither a teen, tween nor mother of a teen/tween, definitely made a conscious effort to make sure I set my DVR to record The Disney Channel movie Camp Rock. Honestly, I liked it. And I’m not afraid to say it.

Hancock (1 hour, 32 minutes; rated PG-13): When Hancock starts explaining his origin, that he's 80 years old and doesn't age, my mind starts racing. I recall an old Saturday Night Live sketch called "What If?" and how it posed hypothetical questions. The first: "What if Superman grew up in Germany instead of America?" In the sketch, Superman is now Uber-Man, and he's fighting for the Third Reich. Trust me, SNL made it funny. It got me to wondering how we could have Hancock help us win our wars and bring down these dadgum gas prices. OK, yes, so I'm still digressing here.

Get Smart! (1 hour, 50 minutes; rated PG-13): It’s never fun following a legend. That’s why no one has remade Jaws.

In an age where every other movie seems to be either a remake or a modern take on an old television show, it’s nice when a surprise comes along every once in a while.

Is there something in Eddie Murphy's contract that stipulates he play multiple roles in a movie? Just saw the trailer for Meet Dave, where he apparently plays a robot, the guy who controls the robot from afar and the little guy inside the robot who really controls the robot. This must've sounded like a great concept when it was storyboarded in some L.A. office tower or Hollywood backlot ...