Dark Knight

Post by **Ghegs** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 3:46 pm

DC906270 · Post by **DC906270** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 7:05 pm

just saw it, tried reading this thread just now but got bored by udderdude's comments. this was a great film, and anyone who reads comics regularly will know that there are always so-called "plot-holes" that can be picked out in stories by those nerds who wish to do so. but as anyone knows, these can always be re-buffed by the editior/screenwriters if given a chance. there are a million-and-one ways in which the joker got the explosives into various buildings, ie by disguising the containers, substituting security guards/nurses/doctors etc with his goons etc., which always happens in comics/action films etc.
now, onto the film.. i mostly enjoyed it. my least favourite character was Harvey Dent/Two Face, as the character is pretty 2-D for the film screen ie he mostly appears , flips a coin about a bit, shoots someone (or not) and that's it (repeat). but i think the film just about survived intact and its a good thing he finished him off. i think the film set up well for a third installment, with batman being now being wanted/hunted by the cops. i also liked how the bat vigilantes from the Dark Knight Returns appear. Ledgers Joker was ok, but i think a touch overhyped. and he stole the lip licking from Sir Jack. some great moments in this film.
END OF REVIEW.

szycag · Post by **szycag** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:38 am

A lot of the complaints still get to me, and I'm usually content with letting people share their opinions even if I disagree. But particularly, the stuff people said about Maggie Gyllenhall really pissed me off. Yeah, she isn't gorgeous in the movie, but see some other films or press shoots, she can be very attractive obviously. The thing is she's not one of Wayne's supermodels. Her character is supposed to be this 12 hour day, 7 day week law enforcement figure. This is coming off like some feminist sentiment but it's more like me getting sick of Hollywood cliches and the disgust at how hardwired people are to eat that shit up. Then in the same breath they say Hollywood should this or that. Don't kid yourself, this is the best you are going to get out of Hollywood. Someone who deeply cares about the story AND is remarkably talented is at the helm. Her whole role just makes me appreciate Christopher Nolan more. Spoiler: It took a lot of guts to make her expendable, and there's no playing Hollywood's games about her being in the lead role, they didn't write any bullshit final words as she's dying to let the schmucks down easy. This is how the story goes and he wasn't going to make any concessions for the viewer for convention's sake.

I pretty much agree with DC on the rest, there's a bit of things borrowed, some mis-steps, stuff that could have been better. But I'd be selfish to ask for more. I'm glad this was a success, especially if it means Hollywood will put some more money behind truly talented people (but I'm not holding my breath)

D · Post by D » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:13 am

szycag wrote:........Then in the same breath they say Hollywood should this or that. Don't kid yourself, this is the best you are going to get out of Hollywood.........

+1
That's exactly what I meant.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:05 am

This just opened in Japan... ironically, I didn't see it there. But yeah, it rocked. I can't add anything to this thread really. The Scarecrow cameo at the first threw me off a bit.

It is funny to see a few people bitch and moan about it.

markedkiller78 · Post by **markedkiller78** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:43 am

I saw this at the Imax when it opened in the UK. Jesus, it was good.

I’d say about 10 mins tops was filmed specifically for the imax, but those scenes were just breathtaking.

Only complaint that I can make is leveled at the twat that OD & can’t star in the next movie

Following on from this I can’t wait until Watchmen is released in 2009. Going to be another Imax release, as is the next Harry Potter movie, but I think I’ll pass on that

Lordstar · Post by **Lordstar** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:32 pm

SUPER SPOILER ALERT!

ok so the jokers not dead I wonder how they will tackle that. put him in arkam asylum and make him wear a mask. I hear for a few bits they had voice actors replicate ledgers voice for the joker so maybe they could put a silence of the lambs mask on a doubble As i think there not done with joker yet.

Lordstar · Post by **Lordstar** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:33 pm

markedkiller78 wrote: Following on from this I can’t wait until Watchmen is released in 2009. Going to be another Imax release, as is the next Harry Potter movie, but I think I’ll pass on that

yeah im excited about that. Ive never been to an Imax. I may pop up to watch that with you dude

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:52 pm

Just saw it this weekend. I can see how people say it's disappointing...

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:

This movie is not about Batman, or the Joker. It's about Harvey Dent. How virtuous he was, how he falls, and is reborn as Two-Face. I liked the design that echoes that of the animated series. (Though his eye would dry out and hurt without an eyelid.)

Unfortunately, that also makes Batman get reduced to a 2D character: he doesn't do a lot of detective work, he doesn't do a lot of ass-kicking, and the only peek we get at the inner turmoil Bat/Bruce is dealing with, is the "Hmm, now that Harvey is going to clean up the city, I get to stop being Batman" moment. No new Bat-Gadgets, No spectacular fights, no epic showdown with the Joker. Batman is relegated in favor of Dent.

The Joker. Ledger made an awesome job bringing a believable Joker to life: A real, factual Joker, a psycho who wears makeup, as opposed to the animated or Nicholson one. He needed more moments like that with the pencil. More Joke-themed behavior, IMHO. (What can I say? I love Hamill's Joker in the animated series. Best Joker Ever.) That being said, I liked AND disliked how the Joker goes a little Jigsaw (From Saw) with the way he set up Dent and What's Her Name with the explosive drums, and the evac boats. It's awesome because of how it was set up (Like the traps in Saw) and it sucks because it doesn't fit the image of the Joker some of us have (Again, spoiled by TAS.)

The plot twists were pulled by characters other than Batman (Gordon faking his own death, doing incredible detective work, and promoted to commissioner, Dent putting himself on the line to lure the Joker into kidnapping and attacking him.) again relegate him to a side figure.

That being said, the movie was good. Great Joker, good Dent, good setups by Clown Prince of Crime. It's just that it needs more Batman, since it's a Batman movie. Iron Man felt a little better, superhero-wise. Were you to replace Batman and the Joker with other hero and villain, the movie will still feel the same. Just a good superhero movie, that doesn't fully exploit the Modus Operandi of the main character it's supposed to be about.

zinger · Post by **zinger** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:49 pm

Udderdude wrote:Basically, the movie's major scenes felt so forced and set-up that I couldn't save my suspension of disbelief for even a second.

Although I haven't read the comic, I felt the same way pretty much. I hated how in both Begins and The Dark Knight, the mystical and mythological image of Batman was traded for realism, with sorry explanations for everything in order to somehow seem more intellectual? No need to analyze the film with a magnifying glass; films are illusions and this one simply didn't convince me. It doesn't match the framework that this movie had set up for itself.

Another gripe for me was this one: Batman is never ever cool in this movie. That voice, those clothes, that... Lego Bionicle car? Silly, I can't believe they blew it that hard.

Anyway, the Joker is what saved the movie. I still think it was alright to watch, but I'd never recommend it to anyone.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:06 am

Another gripe for me was this one: Batman is never ever cool in this movie. .

He brought three bitches to a fund raiser. Such a pimp. It doesn't get any cooler than that!

In all seriousness, I don't think Batman is supposed to be cool. Throughout he constantly sacrifices. I don't think they wanted him to look cool (other than the motorcycle thing).

It was about Harvey Dent

The three main characters in the movie have a lot of development... plenty. Harvey Dent's just sticks out b/c he starts good, ends bad, isn't on the movie poster, and Two-Face isn't really on the bill so to speak.

I guess the complaints so far I've found rather lame. Yeah, the movie is over the top... it's based on a comic book for fuck's sake.

I can't believe they blew it that hard.

You've clearly never seen the Spiderman movies.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:18 am

markedkiller78 wrote:I’d say about 10 mins tops was filmed specifically for the imax, but those scenes were just breathtaking.

Six sequences were filmed with Imax cameras - the bat pod / tractor trailer scene was one, and I think parts of the bank scene are another

Anyway, the movie is clearly about all three main characters and how they represent various angles of the justice / freedom dilemma. This is easily backed by comments from the actors and directors themselves.

Batman is what the people want(ed) justice to be, and vigilante justice is both helpful and a hindrance here.

Harvey Dent is law-abiding at the start (with shades of the peculiar random chance / fuck up people who hurt you part foreshadowed early in the movie).

The Joker is an anarchist in the mold of The Professor from The Secret Agent with more physical courage. There still could be some self-loathing manifested more as self-deprecating humor and also the mutilated face (it's not clear who actually did it; it's possible the Joker himself did).

Anyway, this is so rudimentary as to offend my sensibilities. ;(

GaijinPunch wrote:
I can't believe they blew it that hard.
You've clearly never seen the Spiderman movies.

Amen. Spiderman 1 had some of that corncob mom & apple pie populism in the immediate wake of 9/11; the focus on OMG RELATIONSHIPZ is pretty silly. Spiderman 2...I think I watched it some time ago on the small screen, blarrgh

markedkiller78 · Post by **markedkiller78** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:48 am

markedkiller78 wrote:I’d say about 10 mins tops was filmed specifically for the imax, but those scenes were just breathtaking.

Ed Oscuro wrote:Six sequences were filmed with Imax cameras - the bat pod / tractor trailer scene was one, and I think parts of the bank scene are another

Off the top of my head: The Bank, The Base Jump in HK, Bat pod Tractor & the Final Joker scene in the building site (with the SWAT guys) were all shot for imax.

The Bank scene & HK one stand out by miles, probably because they are shot in daylight.

GaijinPunch wrote: He brought three bitches to a fund raiser. Such a pimp. It doesn't get any cooler than that!.

It's an improvement over the 2 he brought in the Lambo in Batman Begins. Now that was PIMP

JoshF · Post by **JoshF** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:13 am

You've clearly never seen the Spiderman movies.

Topher Grace.

nlen83 · Post by **nlen83** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:38 am

J-Manic wrote:Went to the midnight premier. Saw it again 5 days later. Best Batman movie yet. And best superhero movie to date, right next to Ironman.

Not trying to be a total asshole or anything but this is exactly why Batman was overhyped etc...You are entitled to your opinion however, I have to say, Ironman was in essence a total pile of shit. (How many times are we gonna see the same boring, absolutely predictable, all special fx nothing more movie...) *Please understand I thought Ironman was a watchable film but come on...

This is why everyone loves Batman. 90% of people out there are happy to watch a mediocre movie and somehow build it up in there mind that it was an amazing experience. Is it because we are paying $10+ for a ticket now? Who knows..but wow..I promise you these movies are in no way classic/ground breaking.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:16 am

an amazing experience.

To me it was the director. Christopher Nolan has yet to do a bad movie. Even his debut on an $8 budget was good. This was just great. Action, characters, and minimal cheeseball 1-liners which are rife in these type of campy films. Throw in the "2nd-act of a play" downer note that it ended on which never happens in Hollywood for the win.

I promise you these movies are in no way classic/ground breaking.

Nor do they have to be to be great films. I'm curious to see what you think a classic is. I'll reserve any finger pointing and name calling until then.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:46 am

More bats versus outlaws, and it's on film

JoshF · Post by **JoshF** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:37 pm

Hey who's that one commentator who said this movie presented a strong case for neoconism and domestic wiretapping?

nlen83 · Post by **nlen83** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:22 am

GaijinPunch wrote: Nor do they have to be to be great films. I'm curious to see what you think a classic is. I'll reserve any finger pointing and name calling until then.

Hey, sorry...wasn't trying to ditch but I've been really busy at work etc. Umm...I guess I could name a couple of my more favorite films. Obviously it's kind of hard to pick one single movie but a few that come to mind as "classic" (when I say classic I mean something that seems like it will stand the test of time years down the road)

The Last Samurai (even though tom cruise may be crazy now)
Terminator 2
The Big Lebowski (amazing acting...)
3:10 to Yuma (remake..newer movie but I did enjoy it)
Amelie (french movie w/subtitles but quite good)

there are all kinds of others too...but thats what just popped in my head...

I'm kind of all over the place with movies. If it's good I will definetely check it out. Also, I'm not trying to say people aren't entitled to there opinions because if you really loved batman etc thats cool...i'm glad. I just have no desire to ever see it again. AND I've said it before, I may just be crazy/have no clue etc maybe I'm just weird.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:02 pm

Hmm... well, to each his own. Never understood what everyone liked about the Last Samurai. Perhaps b/c I spent most of my professional life in Japan it seemed horribly fake to me.

Big Lebowski...excellent, but I don't think it's quite the Coen Brothers' best, but it's good.

DC906270 · Post by **DC906270** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:18 pm

The Last Samurai (even though tom cruise may be crazy now)

CLASSIC? no

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 2:09 pm

GaijinPunch wrote: Big Lebowski...excellent, but I don't think it's quite the Coen Brothers' best, but it's good.

Wut?

szycag · Post by **szycag** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:21 pm

It's a tough decision what the best Coen brothers movie would be, one I probably couldn't make. Fargo and Barton Fink are just two other shining examples of classic films.

Last Samurai was a decent movie but hardly stuck with me once I got home from the theatre. It was a lot of flash in the pan really. So many movies I'd hold above that. We could start with some actual Samurai movies, for example.

nlen83 · Post by **nlen83** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:17 am

Well I guess I was wrong. All the Batman lovers win...The Dark Knight is rated the number 1 movie of all time on yahoo movies.

The best film in the history of humans...sounds about right...

Oh and Ironman is second.............................WTF

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:22 am

JoshF wrote:Hey who's that one commentator who said this movie presented a strong case for neoconism and domestic wiretapping?

http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB1 ... 82821.html

Some guy who writes scummy mystery novels lol

right-wing artists own

Big Lebowski is indeed a total classic, one of those movies that you'll show to your kids

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:24 am

CMoon wrote:
GaijinPunch wrote: Big Lebowski...excellent, but I don't think it's quite the Coen Brothers' best, but it's good.
Wut?

Big Lebowski...excellent, but I don't think it's quite the Coen Brothers' best, but it's good.

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:18 am

Dark Knight = Superbly overrated.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:23 am

Skykid wrote:Dark Knight = Superbly overrated.

Please name one of your classics. If your list is as bad as nlne83's, I'm never locating another game for you again.

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:40 am

nlen83 wrote:
GaijinPunch wrote: Nor do they have to be to be great films. I'm curious to see what you think a classic is. I'll reserve any finger pointing and name calling until then.
Hey, sorry...wasn't trying to ditch but I've been really busy at work etc. Umm...I guess I could name a couple of my more favorite films. Obviously it's kind of hard to pick one single movie but a few that come to mind as "classic" (when I say classic I mean something that seems like it will stand the test of time years down the road)

The Last Samurai (even though tom cruise may be crazy now)
Terminator 2
The Big Lebowski (amazing acting...)
3:10 to Yuma (remake..newer movie but I did enjoy it)
Amelie (french movie w/subtitles but quite good)

there are all kinds of others too...but thats what just popped in my head...

I'm kind of all over the place with movies. If it's good I will definetely check it out. Also, I'm not trying to say people aren't entitled to there opinions because if you really loved batman etc thats cool...i'm glad. I just have no desire to ever see it again. AND I've said it before, I may just be crazy/have no clue etc maybe I'm just weird.

you rate t2 higher than the original.....thats questionable

the dark knight=awesome

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:33 pm

GaijinPunch wrote:
Skykid wrote:Dark Knight = Superbly overrated.
Please name one of your classics.

Dr. Strangelove