I don't care anymore. But I'm going to keep trying until the reach the magical combination of information and interest for people.
Plainly put its a really good movie but a really long movie. Go to the bathroom before because you'll be there for two hours and thirty minutes. Plus the time it takes for you to get a good seat because this movie was sold out at my theater since wed morning. I'm not kidding.
It's really, really good. Go watch it. There is enough action and intensity that my friends who usually sleeps through movies actually stayed awake for this one.
Right if you cannot guess this movie is about Batman. It also has the Joker as well. I'm pretty sure the commercials and trailers showed Harvey Dent so it shouldn't be much of a surprise to see him in this.
Now to the nitty gritty. This isn't a movie about fists and explosions although this movie has plenty of both. This is a movie about beliefs and of words. It is about the nature of human beings. If you don't believe this is true just go play planescape torment and ask yourself one question. "What can change the nature of a man?"
The Joker, quite frankly, was played brilliantly as a psychotic villain and it frigging shows throughout the entire movie.
Now for the major spoilers. So pretty much stop here at this point if you want something not spoiled.
The Joker is a villain. Villains lie.
Some characters will say things so loaded with meaning that you can't help but to either laugh, moan or bang your head because you know it will come up later.
Character shields are down. I repeat. Character shields are down.
People die. Some quite horribly.
You will have moments where you will say OW.
You want more I'll say more. But I think this is enough for now.
I'm not gonna be able to see this until next week, unfortunately...
But I am psyched as hell! I have been waiting for this since Batman Begins, and from what I've heard I will not be disappointed!
You won't be. But now I'm wondering about the next one (there will be- this is the best paying movie of the summer, hollywood won't let this fish go). I'm hoping for Riddler.
Quote from: Pagan on July 19, 2008, 01:13:39 AMBut now I'm wondering about the next one (there will be- this is the best paying movie of the summer, hollywood won't let this fish go). I'm hoping for Riddler.
Unfortunately, I don't think that a handful of Batman's villains will work in the Nolanverse (if that isn't a word yet, it should be): Mr. Freeze might very well be the hardest (and B&R might have ruined him in the eyes of movie viewers everywhere), Poison Ivy could work (maybe an environmental terrorist who prepares plant-based toxins beforehand and uses a kind of poison lip-gloss or something like that to create a signature crime) but then there's the whole B&R thing, Catwoman and Penguin have been done (yes, so has the Joker, but that took some work), and I can't think of any other really famous villains. I can imagine the Riddler working in this new world, maybe as someone buried deep within a criminal organization who uses riddles hidden in crimes he pulls off to lead the police around to capturing some nutjobs. Would it be spoilerific to ask if we have Two-Face on for the next movie?
Maybe some remnants of the League of Shadows will return in the third movie united around a new leader. That might work, but somehow I think it wouldn't.
If there's gonna be a third movie and if its going to remain a trilogy. I go with Ra's Al Ghul and bring the Lazarus pits into the story.
Penguin can work as a traditional gang boss/minor villain... [I am hoping for his return... he really havent gotten any good breaks despite bing one of Batman's true nemesises in the early days alongside Joker] but Black Mask may be a better candidate for such archetype if they are going for some "new" blood.
Havent seen TDK yet... lotsa people... Im gonna try tomorrow if the crowds have thinned a bit.
It's been hinted that the Riddler is going to be in the next movie.
They also said that they probably wont include Catwoman or the Penguin. I think they said they wanted to focus on villains that haven't been in movies as much.
I saw the movie a few days ago. I loved it. I was delighted by several things but I'll hold off on saying anything until more people have actually seen the movie.
The projector broke 20 minutes before the end, however. I can only assume that Batman saved the day.
Quote from: Zina on July 19, 2008, 01:36:24 AMIt's been hinted that the Riddler is going to be in the next movie.
They also said that they probably wont include Catwoman or the Penguin. I think they said they wanted to focus on villains that haven't been in movies as much.
No offense to the Penguin and Catwoman, how but much can you do with them? The Riddler is one of Batman's most dangerous opponents because of his tremendous intelligence: if I can recall, he's one of the few villains to actually have figured out Batman's identity in the comics! Then again, since I don't really read comics, I'm only saying this from memory: maybe someone who does follow them can confirm or deny this?
Quote from: Zina on July 19, 2008, 01:36:24 AMThe projector broke 20 minutes before the end, however. I can only assume that Batman saved the day.
I've got a similar story. The first time I saw Star Wars Episode III, the sound and picture got knocked out of sync at about the point that Padme learned that Anakin had gone over to the Darkside. At about the point where Anakin and Obi-Wan where about to start their climactic showdown, it resembled that scene from
Singing in the Rain where the speakers got knocked out of sync and you had the kidnapped girl going "Yes Yes Yes!" and the kidnapper going "No No No!" It was actually kind of funny (well, I wasn't and shall never be a member of the FanDumb (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FanDumb), so I could laugh at it), and we all got a refund so that we could see the movie properly. On the plus side, the lightsabers sounded about right, but then again how are you going to tell in that circumstance?
Re: Riddler.
I wouldnt call him one of the biggest threats to Batman intellectually, he has the handicap of being subconsciously wanting to be found.
But Yep he figured out who Batman was... but got amnesia in the last Crisis and is now a good guy working as a legit Detective in Gotham. With entertaining results nonetheless.
Secretary: Edward, you have a visitor, you wont guess who it is!
Riddler: I dunno, Batman?
Bruce: Mr. Nigma, I am in need of your services.
There's also a new guy similar to him running around as well named Enigma, the M.O. doesnt fit, but the motiff is all too similar.
Dear lord I want to say whether or not whether two face is in the next movie or not. I really do. But I think that's a pretty big spoiler.
That said I probably should mention there is nothing after the credits.
Quote from: Gryphon on July 19, 2008, 02:33:02 AM
Dear lord I want to say whether or not whether two face is in the next movie or not. I really do. But I think that's a pretty big spoiler.
That said I probably should mention there is nothing after the credits.
So, did you sit through the whole credits to find out? Or (forgive my paranoia) was there something so heart-rending awesome after the credits that I'd have a heart attack from watching it?
I'm seeing it soon again anyway (multiple seeings planned, different groups of peeps). So I'll know if he's telling the truth about the credits.
I actually just saw it, and I can confirm that there is nothing after the credits.
I can also give the spoiler that Two-Face will not be in the next movie. And that is a hard fact.
Quote from: VSMIT on July 19, 2008, 03:43:01 AM
I actually just saw it, and I can confirm that there is nothing after the credits.
I can also give the spoiler that Two-Face will not be in the next movie. And that is a hard fact.
Oh... I'm starting to envision horrible scenarios of violence, death, and gore. I can't wait.
Yeah, Heath Ledger does the whole "psychotic killer" thing really well. But he still doesn't hold a candle to Jack Nicholson.
And if there is a third, they'll have to find a new Joker, again...
Quote from: VSMIT on July 19, 2008, 03:49:14 AMAnd if there is a third, they'll have to find a new Joker, again...
At least they can explain pretty much any differences in appearance as being the result of injuries in this movie.
The Joker didn't really endure any appearance altering injuries in the movie. He got knocked around a lot, but nothing that would change the way he looks.
I haven't seen the movie, but i'm planning to tomorrow...today (2am here).
I'm not much for Batman/Spiderman/Whatever movies, but i'm learning to enjoy them.
Quicke question: Is the Joker as psychotic in this movie as i'v heard, or is he not really/even more so?
Though really, anyone with the copious amount of makeup would look alike. The difference would be in voice (though that could propably be fixed) and acting. For the Joker, just to clarify.
I am personally rooting a well-done Poison Ivy. :B
Quote from: Amber Williams on July 19, 2008, 04:57:33 AM
I am personally rooting a well-done Poison Ivy. :B
Well, she's a well rooted character. And not in the way she wants...
Just saw the film with my mates. Pure gold it was, the mates are planing to see it again and again :P Damn shame Heath died cause it would have won him an Oscar for sure, still might :3 . As the Joker I rate him the best cause if you look back on the comics "The Killing Joke" in particular he's as dark as he can be funny.
A reviewer referred to Christopher Nolan as Christopher "Slowly Revealing Myself to be God" Nolan.
I cannot wait to see this movie.
Speaking of Christopher Nolan, I thought Memento was terrific, so I really do have high hopes for this movie.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
I went to the midnight showing of this and loved it. The tired day at the office afterward was soo worth it. Thought it made me want a bat-pod. I wonder what kind of trouble I can get myself into with a motorcycle like that... hmm.
I think of all the jokers I've been subjected to, this one has to be my favorite version. The one from the animated series is my second favorite.
I think Nolan has proved he can create incredibly good villains.
Thus, I believe he is capable of tackling the complex character, Clayface. Hopefully adapted from the cartoon backstory, which made him such a wonderfully tragic villain too. And of course, this means there'd also be evil industrialist Roland Dagget and the addictive, flesh-altering potion 'Renew U'!
I can see so much potential there. The cartoon episodes themselves could've been expended to feature-length, there was so much material.
Plus, he's never been in any of the movies, so it's his time!
Quote from: Xze-Xze on July 19, 2008, 04:40:03 AM
Quicke question: Is the Joker as psychotic in this movie as i'v heard, or is he not really/even more so?
Depends on the writer...
In the current story arc in Batman comics, he's pretty deranged. In the Justice League books he's more toned down in order to work with the other villians. In Batman: Confidential... he's pretty insane as well as this version mirrored Heath's version initially, in All Star Batman and Robin, Joker isnt even a laughing madman, he's a cool sophisticated villian.
Saw this the night it came out, with one of my best friends. Totally worth the two-and-a-half-hours, and the best $8.50 I ever spent. Like Spiderman 3, they squeeze 3 vilains into one movie (though the Scarecrow doesn't get to do much), but unlike Spiderman 3, it's a whole lot smoother and makes more sense. And doesn't have Tobey Maguire fail at being John Travolta. :P Jokesy is just as cool as they made him out to be, if not cooler; I was curled up in my seat, biting my fist at some parts and freaking out, only to find myself laughing ten minutes later.
On a side-note, as a notorious movie-talker, I tried to control myself, even going so far as to write . I was not the only one, turns out. Even my friend leaned over and talked at times. (I asked her later, on a scale of one to ten, how bad was I? She told me 5, then said my usual was 10. Relief.)
Quote from: Pagan on July 19, 2008, 01:13:39 AM
You won't be. But now I'm wondering about the next one (there will be- this is the best paying movie of the summer, hollywood won't let this fish go). I'm hoping for Riddler.
That's what my coworkers said too... Personally, I'm thinking that they'll do the multi-villain thing and throw Catwoman into the mix.
Movie talker? Hahahaha-heheehee. You know the loud guys up at the top of the theater that everyone hates? That's my friends and I.
Catwoman, god I hope not.
You were doing fine until you insisted on putting those damn bullet point in at the end. A review requires you to, you know, talk about the movie, not toss out random bullet points.
Go read IGN reviews, seriously, if you want to keep doing these without anyone cranking at you. Because, right now, several posts after yours are better examples of reviews.
Just got back from an early screening of ze Dark Knight.
I feel strangely compelled to write a review, but somehow, the inspiration is leaving me as I type this up. I'll just summarize my thoughts thusly:
GREATEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME MOTHEREFFERS.
Heath Ledger was amazing. Aaron Eckhart was amazing. Christian Bale was amazing. EVERYONE WAS AMAZING.
GRATUITOUS AMOUNTS OF CAPS LOCK
~Keaton the Black Jackal
If any of you follow the Nostalgia Critic (http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/), he just did a Bum Review of The Dark Knight. No real spoilers, but it's probably the most telling review I've seen yet.
Am I the only one disappointed in Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker? True, while he was perfectly psychotic, he was a bit over the top. It frankly took away from the rest of the Joker's personality that I grew up on. I mean, while the killing jokes were there, they weren't very Joker like. There was no gag killings, it lacked funny, it was just explosions, shooting and stabbing......Where were the gags, the acid spraying coat flower, the laughing death gas. In my opinion, this Joker was simply played as a maniacal mass murderer with makeup on rather then the whole "I'll kill you with a smile on your face, and mine" that I always remembered the Joker as.
The gag flowers and laughing gas doesn't really play in a continuity that strives for reality. It's the same reason why Ra's Al Ghul is immortal in name only (and there's no lazarus pits).
I thought the Joker worked well because everything, in the end, was funny to him.
Quote from: Darkmoon on July 20, 2008, 11:30:41 PM
The gag flowers and laughing gas doesn't really play in a continuity that strives for reality. It's the same reason why Ra's Al Ghul is immortal in name only (and there's no lazarus pits).
I thought the Joker worked well because everything, in the end, was funny to him.
I dunno, I thought his magic trick was pretty funny...
Until I realized what exactly I was laughing at, then I died a little inside.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
Dark Knight = made of win. I think it may actually become my favorite movie of all time - knocking off even Ghostbusters. We'll see, I'm still waiting for the initial "OMG" glow to wear off. :batman
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on July 20, 2008, 11:37:38 PM
I dunno, I thought his magic trick was pretty funny...
Until I realized what exactly I was laughing at, then I died a little inside.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
Yeah, that was one great magic trick.
It might have been a great magic trick, but I wouldn't want him to preform it at *my* birthday party.
I dunno, so long as it wasn't performed on anyone I really like...
Oooh, I like the way you think.
Best part of the whole movie.
The Joker played a lot of jokes and tricks. Most of them were only funny to him, though.
Example:
SPOILER
Tricking Batman into saving Harvey instead of Rachel? Joker, you card.
Just watched it over the weekend. Here's my view.
This is an excellent portrayal of Joker... not in the way how his psychoses is played out... but as an actual foil to Batman, many writers forget this almost symbiotic relationship between the two.
I am reminded heavily of the story "The Killing Joke" as the movie in itself is more of a battle of philosophies between the Joker and Batman. Joker out to prove that all it takes is just "one bad day" for a regular person to be like him, even in the final scenarios where it was Batman and Two-Face facing off... you still see that is actually an extension of Joker and Bat fight.
...In the end Joker won, The white knight is corrupted... and even if the rest of the world dont know... Bruce and Jim will never forget.
Quote from: King Of Hearts on July 21, 2008, 08:48:14 PM
I am reminded heavily of the story "The Killing Joke" as the movie in itself is more of a battle of philosophies between the Joker and Batman. Joker out to prove that all it takes is just "one bad day" for a regular person to be like him, even in the final scenarios where it was Batman and Two-Face facing off... you still see that is actually an extension of Joker and Bat fight.
Actually, my ex-boyfriend, who is a major Batman fanboy, gave me The Killing Joke in a .rar file after I saw the movie and told me about the similarities, so I completely see where you're coming from.
I'm extremely amazed someone else mentioned the similarities. XD
~Keaton the Black Jackal
Didn't they give Ledger and the writers a copy of The Killing Joke?
They did.
yeah, and one other comic that for the love of me cant remember the title... Heath wasnt a big Comic fan... but the Killing Joke was one of the best Joker material for him to learn from.
Nolan did great work in using comic flavors in the movie... Batman Begins IIRC was thematically similar to Batman: year One, which I would also recommend to anyone.
Another thing that I liked was how Joker was fluid about his origins, another nod to the comics as Joker himself doesn't remember clearly anymore.
Quote from: King Of Hearts on July 21, 2008, 10:10:14 PMAnother thing that I liked was how Joker was fluid about his origins, another nod to the comics as Joker himself doesn't remember clearly anymore.
I have to admit that when I first heard that, I was a little worried, but once I though about it it made the Joker all the more terrifying. He literally comes from nowhere, spreading chaos and terror in his wake. He's Batman's opposite in every way: we know where Batman came from, we know what he stands for, we know what drives him, and we know that he represents an element of order in the Chaos that is Gotham City. The Joker has and is none of that. And that is frightening.
Is it really that the Joker doesn't know, or is it that the Joker just likes to spin stories?
Quote from: Darkmoon on July 21, 2008, 10:38:21 PMIs it really that the Joker doesn't know, or is it that the Joker just likes to spin stories?
Well, as the Joker pointed out in The Killing Joke, if he had to have a past, he'd prefer it to be multiple choice. Maybe he doesn't know (or doesn't remember), but still enjoys spreading rumors and stories to give himself this enormous reputation.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x315/tsukiwriter/01joker.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x315/tsukiwriter/02joker.jpg
The current DC stand on Joker's origin...
I'd like to repeat once again that in the context of this movie the Joker uses words to mess with your mind. It doesn't matter if it is the truth as long as it puts his foes off guard and messes with people's minds. That said outside of the movie his past has been retconned, retold what have you. And quite frankly, as long as the story is good who cares?
You know who should be in the next Batman movie? Hitman. And not as a villain. As a counter to Batman. Seriously. He's the only person who actually shot the Joker, kneecap the Riddler and kill several inmates. All for beer and pizza money. Yeah.
There's some indication Joker may have a 'power' per say, in that in some of his remarks in the comic he seems to have an awareness of alternate realities and dimnsions, even after recons and crossovers.
He's the only character in the Batman universe to ever show a 'fourth-wall' awareness.
From Wikipedia: "In the Marvel vs DC crossover, he also demonstrates knowledge of the first Batman/Spider-Man crossover even though that story's events did not occur in the canonical history of either the Marvel or DC universe."
And: "On page five of "Sign of The Joker", the second half of the "Laughing Fish" storyline, the Joker turns the page for the reader, bowing and tipping his hat to mock politeness."
Also, it should be noted that he became sane during a period where all super-beings lost their powers. His insanity itself may be his super-power!
His intelligence and awareness may be so high it's pushed him into insanity as the rest of his brain simply can't keep it all sorted out. All those worlds, all those conflicting realities; it would make all existance seem like nothing more than a huge joke on life itself! And since he had criminal tendancies all along, no matter what background you go with, the insanity naturally became an intense criminal psychosis.
Quote from: King Of Hearts on July 22, 2008, 09:16:58 PM
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x315/tsukiwriter/01joker.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x315/tsukiwriter/02joker.jpg
The current DC stand on Joker's origin...
Now see, this is the Joker I love, the Joker I grew up with. Teh funny psycho clown as it were.
I just saw it last night and I thought it was great
I was truely glad they had brought back the scarecrow, even if only for a short scene
and I loved Ledger's Joker
there were some great joker pranks, The judge's directions, joker collecting his own bounty, and "He'd said he'd fill me with light... like Christmas" not to mention the slogen on the joker's semi
also I liked the fact that for the clowns Joker used clinically insane people as his henchmen
I hope Joker does show up in a future film. Perhapse something involving Harley Quinn. Voice changes could be covered by a prison accident something that damages his throat, an assasination attempt, or acid joke backfire.
also Joker fans might like this
Patient J (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4095303199635469669&q=patient+j&hl=en)
Quote from: Teroniss on July 20, 2008, 10:17:32 PM
Am I the only one disappointed in Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker? True, while he was perfectly psychotic, he was a bit over the top. It frankly took away from the rest of the Joker's personality that I grew up on. I mean, while the killing jokes were there, they weren't very Joker like. There was no gag killings, it lacked funny, it was just explosions, shooting and stabbing......Where were the gags, the acid spraying coat flower, the laughing death gas. In my opinion, this Joker was simply played as a maniacal mass murderer with makeup on rather then the whole "I'll kill you with a smile on your face, and mine" that I always remembered the Joker as.
While you have a point there, you can't really blame Heath Ledger for how the Joker was written. He just took the material he was given and turned in a darn fine performance with it.