What can be said about this movie that hasn’t already been said? I saw “The Dark Knight” at the 12:01 a.m. showing nearest my house on Friday.

I can’t emphasize enough how nice it is to watch a movie at that time of night. Because at those times the people crowding the theater are those who really care about seeing the film. And they’re quiet, respectful, they don’t use their cell phones during the show, don’t bring kids who are too young for the theater, and, in the case of “The Dark Knight,” I don’t even recall anyone getting up to go to the restroom.

Heath Ledger has forever removed The Joker from the table for any other actor. No one will be able to do that character as well as him.

Christian Bale now owns the role of Batman. Hands down.

Gary Oldman is brilliantly understated as Lt. Jim Gordon. He has quiet heart and strength the perfectly complements the Batman at all times.

Aaron Eckhart brought Harvey Dent to life like no other iteration I’ve seen, animated or ridiculous (Tommy Lee Jones). I think of anyone, though, his screen time could have been cut down.

Harvey, in fact, is my only big quibble with this. I think Bruce Wayne and Batman, on several separate occasions, deferred to him too much. The Batman I’ve read for years and watched in several animated versions has always been the man. He doesn’t take a back seat to anyone. Now, I suppose the argument could be that this movie is still early enough in Batman’s career that he hasn’t fully developed the Batman persona, or that that’s part of the point as the movie develops, but it’s just a bit hard to accept.

My only other (hopefully original) thought is simply a note that Meryl Streep secretly must be some kind of supervillain. She has something against Superman and Batman. Her film “The Devil Wears Prada” came out the same week as “Superman Returns,” and now her “Mama Mia” is counter-programming the same week as “The Dark Knight” hit. She’s obviously evil. And I’m glad Batman did what Superman couldn’t: Totally overshadowing her.

This is a great motion picture, not “just” at superhero movie. It’s so much larger than that. Coming out of the theater, my friend and I had no words. We were still processing all that we’d seen. I still am two days later.

I must see it again … and again and again.

Director Chris Nolan should get an Oscar nod for this along with Ledger.