A large portion of the audience at the premiere were die-hard Batman fans—they knew exactly what kind of villains he had faced over the years.
So the moment the Joker appeared, they instantly understood who Batman would be up against this time.
Although the trailers had already featured a few glimpses of the Joker, it was nothing compared to seeing him fully realized on the big screen.
What thrilled them even more was that this Joker was smarter, darker, and far more terrifying than they had expected. Watching him make off with the stolen cash and disappear into a convoy of school buses, the audience—no matter whose fans they were—had their eyes glued to this chilling new villain.
Then came Batman's first appearance. Through a rapid sequence of scenes and dialogue, the film effectively conveys his presence and purpose. The mere sight of his symbol was enough to make criminals back down—what power that symbol held!
But the very next sequence had many fans frowning. Batman appeared to chase down some crooks, which was exciting… until he was quickly knocked to the ground, utterly overwhelmed.
Wait—this is Batman?
Even if he was one of the few superheroes without any powers, that didn't mean he should go down so easily, right? Fans came to see their hero triumph—not crawl at the feet of criminals like a defeated stray.
If Laila intended to portray their beloved hero like this, then no matter how much they loved her, they'd have to raise their voices in protest.
Thankfully, the next scene quickly revealed the reason for the poor performance: that wasn't the real Batman!
The true Batman charged into the fray in his powerful Batmobile, and the crooks—who had just been beating the imposter with glee—instantly shriveled like kittens with their claws retracted. One by one, they were taken down.
"So cool!" fans cheered, finally satisfied.
This was the Batman they adored—strong, unshakable, and utterly badass. The gear, the Batmobile, the armor—every piece had them ready to scream with excitement.
In their minds, the next part should be the classic story: Batman battles his arch-nemesis, the Joker, and saves the world. Cliché? Sure. But that's exactly what they loved.
However, as the plot progressed, the audience gradually realized—this Joker…
How to describe him? He had something more—a charisma that transcended mere villainy.
It might sound strange to say a villain was captivating, but this Joker had an almost spiritual impact.
"This Joker… he's terrifying."
"He makes my hair stand on end just by speaking."
Some audience members whispered to their neighbors—only to earn glares from fans too immersed in the film to tolerate even a second of distraction.
The film was just that good. No one wanted to miss a single frame.
But—who was playing the Joker?! The performance was phenomenal.
Laila, sitting quietly, caught wind of the hushed discussion and shifted her gaze to Roy.
On-screen, the light from the projector made his face glow. His eyes shone intensely.
Looking at the bright, sunny man beside her, it was hard to believe that the same person had portrayed the Joker—a villain so cold, so monstrous, so vividly real.
His acting had improved to a terrifying level.
Sometimes, talent alone could be overwhelming. And when that talent belonged to someone as hardworking as Roy, the result was enough to make everyone doubt their own eyes.
—
The most stunned among the crowd, however, were the film critics.
By the nature of their job, they had to watch both good and bad films to gather firsthand material. Most were jaded about big-budget productions, seeing them as cash grabs that violated the very essence of filmmaking.
Of course, not all critics were like that. Many genuinely loved cinema and didn't look down on commercial films or blindly praise arthouse ones.
With the rise of the internet, the bar for becoming a critic had dropped. Now, anyone who has watched a movie could post a review on FB or other forums. To maintain credibility, critics had to remain fair and objective.
Plenty of critics and journalists had attended the premiere—not just those officially invited, but also those who had used backdoor connections to get a ticket.
Everyone wanted to see what Laila's first Hollywood film post-domination would look like.
The journalists in particular were itching to hear about Laila's "creative burnout" or a "box office disaster." Another commercial hit with rave reviews? That wasn't even surprising anymore—it barely made headlines. Readers were getting used to Laila's success.
But this time, they were disappointed.
Even though only half the movie had played, the critics had already seen enough.
Laila had flawlessly continued Nolan's work from Batman Begins, elevating the Batman legacy while crafting a villain destined for cinematic history.
Just the clash between Batman and the Joker alone was enough to cement The Dark Knight as a classic.
But even that was an understatement.
Laila wasn't satisfied with just a great hero and a great villain.
There were deeper themes—philosophical, emotional, moral—that the film was just beginning to explore.
—
But before any of that could unfold, the critics were already blown away by the performances.
Christian's portrayal of Batman was nothing like the shallow versions from previous eras. His Batman carried emotional weight—a man burdened by responsibility but still unwavering in his convictions.
And the true standout—the Joker.
A villain with intellect. He wasn't some bumbling stepping stone for the hero. He wasn't a caricature of evil who fell into defeat because of a simple slip-up.
"This performance is flawless," critics whispered, again and again.
Especially during the jail scene confrontation between Batman and the Joker—an explosive performance masterclass.
Every emotion was conveyed through voice, body language, and even the subtlest glance. Viewers felt drawn in, living the characters' emotions.
The critics had long since thrown away any prejudice about this being a "commercial film."
They were witnessing a feast of acting.
And in their hearts, they knew:
Laila Moran truly deserved her crown.
When it came to directing actors, she might just be the best Hollywood had ever seen.