the buzz log

Swedish pop counterprogramming sounds like a good idea, but it's safe to say that "Mamma Mia!" (PG-13)—and the "DVD-destined "Space Chimps" (G) combined—won't have the throngs that a long-awaited, much-searched comic-book thriller will amass. In any other week, making the top 2,000 searches would be respectable, but a singing Meryl Streep probably won't attract the disappointed dregs who couldn't score Batman tickets. Then again, there could be spontaneous singing in the ticket lines, if the rising interest in "abba lyrics" (+239%) is any warning.

A darkness, however, has shrouded the Buzz Multiplex, to the hysterical delight of audiences. The question isn't whether "The Dark Knight" (PG-13) will sweep past "Iron Man" (pre-premiere searches for the Batman movie searches just edged past what the Robert Downey Jr. vehicle commanded before its May 2 opening). It's whether Nolan's vision will blow Spidey records, a feat perhaps limited only by running time (152 minutes) and number of theaters (4366).

From the mind of "Memento" director (well, also his brother and the guy who wrote the "Blade" series) comes a comic-book noir thriller that, among other things, delves into America's war on terror and a what-if ethical dilemma called the Trolley Problem. Nolan and titular actor Christian Bale may have resuscitated Batman but it is the late Heath Ledger who breathes life into this big-screen outing. His online appeal surpasses that of the entire stellar cast combined, including Bale, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Cillian Murphy, and Gary Oldman. Although Ledger reaps most of the rapturous accolades, his villainy is not the only one: People have also been looking up "dark knight two face" and "batman scarecrow."

All this frothing adoration has yielded a not-unexpected dark side: The few film critics who dare to sound any low notes, most notably New York Magazine critic David Edelstein, have suffered fanboy attacks. Others who may need a protector include those from the Washington Post ("Ledger the only bright spot in a dull tale"), the Sacramento Bee (the movie "never reaches Ledger's level" or that of "Batman Begins..."), and the Wall Street Journal ("muddled plot"). If it's any consolation to these professionals, people have been seeking "reviews," perhaps likely to confirm that this is indeed the most lauded movie of 2008, if not of any big-screen comic-book adventure.

"The Dark Knight" is sure to be among the select few films to linger in theaters. Still, given the fervor, latecomers might want to get advanced tickets for the next few weekends... and learn a few lines of "dancing queen" (+25%), just in case.