People planning to attend tonight's midnight showing of The Dark Knight may be greeted by moviegoers dressed as the Joker, Batman or even Alfred Pennyworth.

Courtney Fickes (freshman-political science/history) and her friends will attend the midnight show tonight dressed up as Batman characters. Fickes is excited for the film's premiere because she has been a huge fan since she was little, she said.

Robert Ricker, general manager of Premiere Theatre 12 in State College, said he has told his staff to wear all of their Batman gear, and he expects people to walk into the theater in a variety of costumes. One customer already informed Ricker he bought a Joker costume online for $300.

"It's been unbelievable," Ricker said. "Without question [it's] the movie of the summer, maybe the movie of the year."

The Dark Knight will likely rule the night, when it opens at midnight in theaters nationwide to swarms of fans ready to experience the film Roger Ebert says will redefine comic book movies.

"Batman is the legendary iconic hero," Fickes said, adding she is interested in seeing how the late Heath Ledger's performance will differ from Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the Joker.

The reception of the film has been overwhelmingly positive, with the fact it is Ledger's last performance as one of the driving factors. Ledger died in January after an accidental prescription drug overdose, Ricker said.

Though tickets are sold out for the midnight showing at College 9, they are still available at Premiere Theatre 12, Ricker said as of press time yesterday. Brian Maynard (freshman-interdisciplinary digital studio) will be attending the midnight showing dressed as the Joker, although he admitted he was not a huge Batman fan.

"I'm a big Christopher Nolan fan, and the cast for the new Batman series is fantastic," Maynard said.

Jonathan Cavallero, professor of art of cinema, said he was not crazy for previous Batman films until Nolan's first installment Batman Begins was released.

"I show Batman Begins in my class. It's a good film that gives insights on how the individuals in the film act and the characters are developed more," Cavallero said. "It raised the bar of complexities of the characters that only Christopher Nolan could do."

The hype for the film is mainly about Ledger's performance, Cavallero said.

"The mythology is that this is the role that killed him," he said.

Cavallero added he's read Christian Bale, the current Batman, said the speculation on whether Ledger killed himself because of the role is a "fundamental misunderstanding of his acting in the movie." Maynard's friend T.J. McHugh, a State College resident, said he bought tickets a week ago for the midnight showing.

"I'm both a movie nerd and a comic nerd, so this is like my nirvana," McHugh said.

Jesse Hicks (graduate-creative non-fiction) said there was some level of morbid curiosity about Heath Ledger's performance, but he would see the film no matter who was in it.

Hicks added it is difficult to have other comic book characters with the range of interpretations Batman has had through the years, from Tim Burton's Batman to The Dark Knight.

"Superman will always be Superman," he said.

The Premiere Theatres are the only ones showing The Dark Knight because of film industry rules limiting competition of theaters in close proximity, Ricker said.

For people planning on going to see the movie opening weekend, Ricker suggested getting to the theater at least a half hour early, and planning on waiting in line for tickets.

"Get there early," he said. "Without question."