There’s no doubt about it – The Dark Knight is the undisputed movie of the year, surpassing other powerhouses like Iron Man, Sex and the City the Movie, Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and Hancock. On its opening weekend alone, it already grossed a whopping $155 million – and they’re still counting.

The Dark Knight’s story continues from where Batman Begins ended. Batman and the authorities are slowly but surely cleaning up the streets of Gotham City, and in doing so, they’ve attracted a whole new kind of villain in the form of the Joker – one who wasn’t in it for the money or the glory, but just for the fun of it. This movie is, by far, one of the most awesome depictions of human nature, as well as the whole concept of good and evil.

We all get to enjoy stunning performances from Christian Bale (the best Batman slash Bruce Wayne - ever), Aaron Eckhart (couldn’t think of a better actor for his role), Gary Oldman (he’s the man), Michael Caine (a natural), Maggie Gyllenhaal (did a far better job than Katie Holmes), and, of course, the late Heath Ledger as the very scary and incredibly evil Joker. Rumor has it that he’s being considered for a post-humous Oscar, and though critics are dismissing this as nothing more hype for his untimely demise, it’s really a more-than-worthy performance. This is definitely the best Batman movie ever made. Ever.

Inevitably, a score of Batman memorabilia are now flooding the market today. It’s amazing how a good movie can easily influence commerce. From video games to statuettes to comic books to t-shirts to Batman cufflinks – you name it, and you can definitely find it. Serious movie fans are definitely not going to pass these things up.

Whether you’re a serious collector of movie memorabilia, or just need a present for someone special, a pair of Batman cufflinks or two is a definite shoo-in. Wear it with a smart suit and go watch the movie, and you’ll feel very Bruce Wayne-ish indeed. Just don’t overdo it and start donning a cape. That’s another story.

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