If so how was it? Was it as good as the hype that followed? love to get get everyone's opinions on it. I haven't seen it yet been to busy but i hope to go as soon as possible to the imax at sydney or if worse comes my friend can get me the dvd in a few weeks.
It is outstanding. Ledger is the definitive Joker, and TDK is the best Batman film of all.
It was so good that Mothy deleted his account here! ;)
Please post your opinions here.
As for me.....some of us won't see TDK until next week. So to enjoy the movie unspoiled by other opinions and such, I will be be offline until next thursday night (24th).
The movie won't open until August 11th here. :-\
Oh sorry i should have said first off "NO SPOILERS" my bad just wanted to know if it was really up to the hype..
Saw it.
Honestly, I can say it was good. Really good. Ledger outdid Jack.
However, it's safe to say that it really hasn't gotten past the overly self seriousness of the previous one or its inhability to have dialogue that isn't over splashed. Also, this film has finally drained the fun pop culture out of Batman and made it 'drag' of an experience. Great Batman film, lousy comic book movie.
B even.
Big argument this year was 'which film would be better?' Indy 4 or TDK? Though I would have likely given the award to TDK if I had seen it last week, but a few days ago I saw Indy 4 for a second time. I was less overwhelmed by the long Indy absence and discovered how much better it was in a second run through. Indy wins in my opinion for as flawed as it is, it still has a lot of fun. Something TDK can't get over itself long enough to do.
Quote from: Gotham Knight on Thu, 17 Jul 2008, 23:30
its inhability to have dialogue that isn't over splashed.
This is something I was, and still am, worried about. :(
I was lucky enough to go to a private screening of The Dark Knight late Tuesday night.
First, let me say that this film is a total masterpiece. Chris Nolan and his crew have out done what they achieved with Batman Begins. I was glued to the screen from beginning to end and I'm not sure how the heck they will top this film.
Now let's get started.
Batman/Bruce Wayne - Christian Bale is just as perfect in this role as he was the first time around. He plays Bruce Wayne as the rich pretty boy who still doesn't have a care in the world, except for fast cars and beautiful woman that is. Can you really blame him? Meanwhile, as Batman, he has more skill than he did in Batman Begins. His fighting style and techniques are fast, smooth and flow together very well. His equipment and gadgets have also improved dramatically and it only makes sense that they would. Batman is also seen by the audience more in this film than in the previous one, which is a good thing. 10/10
The Joker - Everyone thinks that Heath Ledger will at least get an Oscar nomination for this role. That is an understatement my friends, he deserves the damn thing! Health is brilliant as the Clown Prince of crime. Never before have I seen such a perfect portrayal of a classic villain. Heath is funny and maniacal all in the same scene, the audience didn't know wither to laugh or to cringe for his victims. His dialogue is also perfect and his mannerisms are right down genius. 10/10
James Gordon - What more can I say about the great Gary Oldman? He's Gary Oldman! The good thing about Gordon is that he has a much larger role than before. He plays a very important part the film and his speech at the end it very moving. 9/10
Alfred Pennyworth - Michael Caine's role seems smaller this time, but he still has great importance. He's Batman and Bruce Wayne's most trusted confidante and he's always looking out for Bruce's best interest, even if Bruce doesn't know it. 9/10
Harvey Dent/Two Face - Aaron Eckhart is spot on in both performances. His Harvey Dent is the marauding white knight District Attorney that Gotham needs, he's ready to do whatever is necessary to get the job done. As Two Face, he goes the distance to punish anyone he knows played a part in making him the way his is and maybe even a few people that he believes to be responsible as well. This character's transformation is probably the most tragic thing in the film. 10/10
Rachel Dawes - If this film has one flaw I would have to say it's Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes. Her performance was good, but I just don't get her purpose in the film. In Batman Begins it was clear, but this time around it seem like her role could have been given to any female. She's not really a love interest for Batman or Bruce Wayne and it seems she's just there to create friction between two of the film's strongest actors. Why not put Gilda Dent from The Long Halloween in her place? 6/10
So there you have it. I would like to thank Chris Nolan and cast and crew of The Dark Knight for giving us this amazing film. I would also like to thank 42 Entertainment for all the games they provided during the viral marketing. And I would like to thank Warner Bros. for the tickets to the screening. Here's to hoping that Chris Nolan and crew come back for a third film.
The film has some obvious strengths and some obvious weaknesses. I enjoyed it but, as someone else wrote, a sense of fun is sorely lacking.
As this is a no spoilers thread, I'll say this: if you enjoyed Christian Bale's Batman voice in BB, buckle up cuz you'll love it in TDK even more. If, like me, you thought his voice was a joke... well, you might want to invest in some ear plugs.
I walked out of the theatre with my head held high. Ledger wipes the floor with Nicholson and is the definitive Joker for now and forever. TDK is not only the best Batman film, but it is a good film in its own right. 10/10.
I finally after almost 2 years or so of waiting i got to see Dark Knight last night and after hearing nothing but great news and a hype big enough to blow away a city i went in expecting the greatest batman movie of all time and an oscar winning performance and i left exetremely dissapointed. People have been raving on about this for the last year and a half as if it was god coming to earth and when saw the rating for it on imdb i almost passed out now don't get me wrong this was a great movie but best movie of all time hardly. Bale while i have nothng agaist him failed to convince me as Batman again, Michael Caine was pretty great as always same goes for Morgan Freeman, Maggie Gyllenhaal was good with what she had and same with Gary Oldman. Now the hype around Heath Ledger and around his joker has been going on since the teaser trailer came out and now im heath ledger biggest fan but even i will come out and say it and prob get cruified for this but i don't care it was not Oscar winning he did a job that was nothing short of the word exellent but the way people have been putting it as the "definitive" Joker no i didn't see any joker in him at all no 1940's joker no 60's-70's, or even 80'-90's-00 joker while i feel that he did a top notch job that everyone can be proud of i fell that this whole oscar thing has come around with the HUGH hype that followed this movie combined with what i like to call the Brandon Lee problem even though an actor does a exellent job it will be overblown and anything close or better then it will be verbally bashed an no Jack was as great as Ledger he didn't get wiped but damn Ledger did a great job . All up this was a top movie without giving anthing away Aaron Eckhart was the one that surprised me he like Ledger was nothing short of exellent and should be given just as much or even more hype then The Joker he was one thing that made the film, this was a great film and i'll have to get the dvd asap so i can watch it again but it just seemed way overrated it was a great movie and exellent batman movie but i couldn't help feeling that 89 and even begins were better, the music was better in begins and sad to say (a slight spoiler) once again Nolan ruined the scarecrow. It was a great movie but that's my opinion of what i feel about the movie without being caught in the hype. It was great not the best some people loved it thats fine, some won't thats fine, some will just like it without going overboard but everyone has there opinion.
Quote from: Sandman on Fri, 18 Jul 2008, 23:55
I finally after almost 2 years or so
With all the love, I gotta say that was one hell of a run on sentence.
I want to see TDK again in theaters (a sentiment BB did not inspire in me) but I have to agree. Spoiler stuff here so hightlight to read. The Joker in TDK is not in any way the Joker from the comics. Unlike the Penguin or Catwoman, there *is* a character for the Joker and it was not exploited in this film. Much as they did with Ra's al-Ghul, Nolan and Goyer invented a character and applied an existing name to it. Ledger did a good job with what he had but the sense of animated whimsy and comedic flare the Joker should ooze just wasn't apparent in this depiction of the Joker. Sorry, but it just wasn't.
End of spoiler stuff. I'll see it again though. Who knows, maybe my mind will change.
thecolorsblend i read your spoliers and yes your 100% right i don't know how to use the spoiler bit so without giving to much away your right I went in looking to see the joker pulled out of the comic an placed on the screen and all i got was a Joker that acted strangely like Nick Nolte did in the hulk and being a hugh Heath Ledger fan i was extremely letdown, he was exellent in it but its not Oscar worthly and its sad for me to say that but its true even if im the only one that will say it. I think the hype was soo big that Nolan could have just shot batman watching tv and they would have called it a masterpiece.
Unlike some people, I'm not bitter. Heath was on-par with Jack for me. And frankly, everything Heath did, I could easily have seen Jack doing (but not at his age, obviously).
And that's the key. Jack's performance was my benchmark. Heath lived up to it. I'm not going to say "he shattered it" because he didn't. In the grand scheme of things, neither one is better than the other. Ledger was just more openly vicious, whereas Jack was more subdued but just as lethal. More theatrical, more refined. That's what I prefer in my Joker. Yes, the clown was diminished, but it's the same in the current comics.
The film was amazing. My only complaints: I prefer the more refined, prettied-up Joker, but it's not a knock on Ledger. And the other thing that bothered me is it was about 20 mins too long, and the third act is a little chaotic, which might have been intentional, I suppose. But all of the material was so good.
Bale finally fully won me over as Batman. Even didn't mind the giant melonhead mask. Everything about the movie was glorious. But I could only wonder, what if the same movie were made with Keaton and Nicholson? That would have been my dream come true.
In my list of all time favorite movies ever, TDK sits at #2, behind B89.
On my favorite Batman list? TDK sits at #1, tied with B89.
And am I the only one who was hoping Ledger would have said "Come to me, you gruesome son of a bitch!" when he first noticed Batman was gunning for him on the Batpod? Would've been appropriate AND a fitting tribute to Jack, a perfect Torch-passing, as Bale got a chance to do with "I'm Batman!"
No need for attitude i never said it was a bad movie or that i hated it. All i said was that it didn't live up to the hype that followed for me anyway. And i never said Ledger was worse the Jack or jack was worse then Ledger they both played them so differently that you can't judge who is better, alot of people were saying that The Joker in it was "definitive Joker" when there was only as much comic book joker in it as there was Jack's and Bale i have nothing against but his Batman is just to James Bond for my taste but i never said it was bad i just think 89 and Begins were better and that i was dissapointed by the hype that followed it.
This by far exceeded what I was expecting. It lived up to the hype as far as I was concerned. I went in knowing nothing past what I saw in the teasers and trailers. I wanted to be completely suprised by what I saw, I wanted to experience it as I was watching it without sitting there just waiting for the next scene that I already knew was coming. That was my problem with Begins, I knew everything before it happened and was waiting for a moment that would suprise me and it never came. That sure as hell never happened with TDK. I had the best reactions to this film, something I havent had since 1989.
I expected this forum to be the most critical on TDK because of our love for the Burton films. I am so past that myself. This movie is "of its time", just as 89 was. There were so many bits taken from the comics from the last 70 years and made to fit into this story that Nolan gave us. It was great.
Bruce/Batman...Bale brought a bit more obnoxiousness to the "public" Bruce this time around, imo, which really worked for the characterization they were presenting in this film series. The "private" Bruce was also more developed in his relationship with Alfred and also as this man with a mission. Batman was more vicious and aggressive this time around. He shows up, does what he has to do, and goes. His relatinship with Gordon was the best incarnation that has been brought to the screen. Bales Batman voice still leaves something to be desired for me, but this is the only flaw that I have.
Alfred....He's become so much more than just the concerned butler. He has become a partner, a friend, a voice of reason.
Gordon....Still the righteous cop wanting to clean up the city he lives in the best way he can with the resources he has available to him. He has accepted Batman as an ally ,and without giving any spoilers, this also is strengthened along with a greater trust by something that happens in the film. Defintely the best on screen Gordon we've ever seen.
Joker.....Wow. This aint Jack and it sure as hell isnt 'ol Ceaser Romero. We're introduced to a more maniacle, murderous Joker than what we've seen before. Ledger gave us a performance that deserves praise. He made me laugh when I knew I shouldnt have, he made me jump when I was suppose to. This was defintely a more modern take on the Joker character.
Harvey...I was really suprised by what Echart did with this. I would put it on par with what Ledger did with Joker. He nailed the crusading D.A. to a T and also showed us, even subtly, a hidden darker side that existed within him.
Overall, I thought the story was excellent. The characterizations were excellent. Batman 89 may still be my favorite, but for me, TDK is the best Batman film to date.
I am in total agreement with you shadowbat on nearly every point. I think The Dark Knight had the best script to date...I do long for a little more 'atmosphere,' though.
But the characterizations, performances, dialogue, action set pieces,etc., were all spot on. Completely blew me away. Not at all what I was expecting. Not at all.
Fantastic review Shadowbat, I wholeheartedly agree.
Dark Knight was amazing. Heath Ledger stole the show he was a fantastic Joker. Ledger's preformance blew me away really blew me away. I'm so glad we have a director like Christopher Nolan running the franchise. Aaron Eckhart did a awesome job as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. Maggie was much better then Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes. The whole cast was excellent and the story was incredible. There was so much happening in those 2 and a half hours. The structure of the Dark Knight was so well done. TDK deserves every cent of money it's making. Nolan and Co. have crafted a beautiful sequel to Batman Begins. I'm looking forward to Nolan's 3rd and last movie. He's a silent protector. A Dark Knight.
Saw TDK again. Gonna review it soon on here. Completely unbiased Review coming. It's the most mixed review I've ever written.
All in all, It's gonna get split down the middle.
Preview should give you a hint:
Ledger deserves the oscar yet this has to the most overblown movie in the last ten years.
Truthfully, I don't think Ledger deserves anything better than an honorary Oscar. Not putting his performance down, at all. Because I absolutely loved it. But I was just as impressed by other comic book movie performances.
And I don't think the Academy will give better than an honorary award, as some art house film will probably win the award anyway. If it's a comic book film, the Academy ignores it in the "honorable" catagories.
I wonder, given time, if the community will become even more polarised?
Quote from: raleagh on Mon, 21 Jul 2008, 22:17
I wonder, given time, if the community will become even more polarised?
That might be the case. I know for sure I prefered tdk less than bb even with my issues with it.
you didn't like tdk as much as bb? that's interesting.
I'm going to see it tomorrow.
To be honest, I'm a little worried that my expectations are too high. But, we'll see.
Although not as problematic as BEGINS, I'm hearing that the film is a little talky at the end?
Most of the complaints I've read don't seem to be that problematic for me. In fact, some of them make me confident that they nailed it.
But there were two particular criticisms that stroke me a little too familiar, one being a) "tragic heroes don't talk about how tragic they are" (i.e. a lot of talk again, this time about Bale's depressive state) and b) that at the end exposition makes an appearence in order to make sure the audiences get the characters' motivations (i.e. problem from BEGINS' third act again).
We'll see, I guess.
Well, Ill say it again. TDK exceeded all my expectations. The dialogue at the end of the film is fantastic.
As far as the thought of fans beating down the past movies because of TDK, well, thats gonna happen. Its gonna happen with any franchise that has a successful sequel/reboot/ whatever. Howver, ask yourselves, is fans love for the past movies going to bring unfair critisizm to TDK?
Quote from: shadowbat69 on Mon, 21 Jul 2008, 23:36
Howver, ask yourselves, is fans love for the past movies going to bring unfair critisizm to TDK?
That is true. I would say there are those on both sides. I personally find that most of the fustration from one camp is more to do with bashers from the other than the actual movies themselves - to a certain extent.
I went into TDK with pretty minimal expectations. I'm pro-Burton, I hate realism in superhero films and Bale's Batman voice is a travesty. All those things notwithstanding, I dug TDK.
I don't think the fanbase will become polarized. Quite the opposite, I think over time the weaknesses of Nolan's films will be viewed with greater objectivity. People are already doing it with BB. It doesn't seem to be as universally loved as it once was.
Quote
That might be the case. I know for sure I prefered tdk less than bb even with my issues with it.
Lol Same it's not as if i hated TDK far from it. But from everything i heard TDK was going to be the greastest batman ever and it turned out to be alot more like a James Bond movie, i think begins is prob the better movie of the two.
I personally liked TDK.^^ It was very good. I thought Heath Ledger did an excellent performance as The Joker,he even had me chuckle at a gew of his sadistic scences.^^ Although it did drag in a few scenes,but it was very good nevertheless. I'll give it a 4/5. I still love Nicholson's Joker as my very own personal favorite.^^
Fair enough. I find with Ledger's Joker, you aren't laughing at him like you were with Nicholson. With Ledger, you are laughing a nervous chuckle at his pure psychotic behaviour, and almost feel guilty for doing so.
What I love about Ledger's Joker is that he wreaks such havoc with a knife, a blade no bigger than one you use to peel an orange. He prefers the knife to a gun to "savour the moment.? When waved around by Ledger?s Joker, it is as terrifying as any other weapon in this bomb and bazooka laden movie.
omg, biased much?! I don't recall people laughing at Nicholson when he conversed with a fried corpse, revealed Alicia's scorched face, etc.
If anything, the dark comedy aspects of the character in the comics is sadly lacking in TDK.
Quote
Fair enough. I find with Ledger's Joker, you aren't laughing at him like you were with Nicholson.
Hummm well im just curious to what you mean by that?. Are you one of those that hate Jack's Joker?. With both Joker i saw bits that were scary and funny i laughed when heath did that pencil bit and i laughed when jack did that pen in the neck bit.
Nicholson was every bit as scary and dangerous as Heath the only difference being Ledger played it more of a scitzaphrenic at times
and Jack played it more...well like a Joker. And also what you have to that into acount is that Batman was made in 1989 and back then they couldn't pack it with violance like they can now eps in a comic book movie.
Quote from: Sandman on Tue, 22 Jul 2008, 04:14
Nicholson was every bit as scary and dangerous as Heath
I strongly disagree.
Quote from: thecolorsblend on Tue, 22 Jul 2008, 03:42
If anything, the dark comedy aspects of the character in the comics is sadly lacking in TDK.
I don?t think so. The Joker's twisting of clich?s - "I believe whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you stranger" and "Slaughter is the best medicine." Not only were these funny and disturbing at the same time, but they also showed the intelligence of the character.
I didn't think they were particularly funny or inventive. They simply make plays-on-words, as you say, from clich?s.
"Whatever doesn't kill you really freaking hurts".
http://www.quickstopentertainment.com/2008/07/20/opinion-in-a-haystack-the-dark-hype-bob-rose-72008/
All that article does in underscore how right I am. :)
Quote from: thecolorsblend on Tue, 22 Jul 2008, 05:22
I didn't think they were particularly funny or inventive.
I?m not surprised. I wouldn?t expect anything less from you. The Dark Knight qualifies as the first official comic book adaptation that really succeeds in being a great artistic achievement in its own right. Nolan has gone above and beyond the call of duty, and it's obvious there was a great deal of thought and effort put into this film. It's a shame you are blinded by nostalgia of the Burton films to see it.
Quote from: The Dark Knight on Tue, 22 Jul 2008, 06:45I?m not surprised. I wouldn?t expect anything less from you.
Easy now. This ain't BOF, no reason to get personal.
QuoteThe Dark Knight qualifies as the first official comic book adaptation that really succeeds in being a great artistic achievement in its own right.
Have you not seen very many comics adaptations??
QuoteNolan has gone above and beyond the call of duty, and it's obvious there was a great deal of thought and effort put into this film. It's a shame you are blinded by nostalgia of the Burton films to see it.
As it happens, I wasn't a huge fan of the Burton films until about 2004 or 2005. Up to then, I thought a happy medium between BF and B89 was the way to go. Nostalgia has little or nothing to do with this.
Quote from: thecolorsblend on Tue, 22 Jul 2008, 06:50
The Dark Knight qualifies as the first official comic book adaptation that really succeeds in being a great artistic achievement in its own right.
Have you not seen very many comics adaptations??.
Yes, and TDK beats them all out. As a Batman fan, I instantly favour it. As a Batman fan, I'm surprised you are not impressed by TDK.
I never said I wasn't impressed by TDK, I simply have issues with some of the characterizations. On balance, I find the Burton films highly superior in every way that matters. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy MOTP, TDK and other things as well. Batman's a rich, dynamic character and there's room for individual taste.
TDK, your sweeping pro-Nolan (sort of) anti-Burton statements are wearing thin. I know you loved TDK. I did too. But saying that it's the first or the only Batman film with artistic merit is snobbish and absurd. You need to add a lot more "IMO"s and less definitive statements. We do NOT want this place turning into SuperHeroHype.
Colorsblend, you're just as guilty of at-times being staunchly anti-Nolan in your comments. You need to add a lot more IMOs and less definitives, as well.
Why can't there ever be peace in this fandom? I swear to God, I'm so sick of both sides being so f***ing sensitive as to take the other side's comments up the ass, and likewise, I'm tired of the snobs on BOTH sides.
Quote from: DocLathropBrown on Tue, 22 Jul 2008, 07:36
You need to add a lot more "IMO"s and less definitive statements.
Fair enough, will do. I'm not going to censor myself in any case. I'm not a Burton basher, I just favour Nolan's universe.
Quote from: The Dark Knight on Tue, 22 Jul 2008, 07:42
Quote from: DocLathropBrown on Tue, 22 Jul 2008, 07:36
You need to add a lot more "IMO"s and less definitive statements.
Fair enough, will do. I'm not going to censor myself in any case. I'm not a Burton basher, I just favour Nolan's universe.
Exactly, and he isn't a Nolan basher either, as evidenced by his last post. It's amazing sometimes to realize that the person you were arguing with may not have been as crazy as you thought, all because you were too busy barking at each other to realize that if you were both being civil, there'd be no problem.
IMO, TDK is the best Batman film ever and will probably gain recognition from the Academy for it, as will Heath's performance. I'll copy my review from BOF as soon as spoilers are allowed, or a TDK review thread that allows spoilers is started here. In short, If I had to pick a favorite between B89 and TDK I couldn't right now.
I was skeptical of this for a long time, but this film definitely went above my expectations and blew Batman Begins out of the water! In my opinion, if Nolan improved this much since Begins, I eagerly look forward to what he brings to the table in part three.
I have watched it only once. Very powerful film. As countless others have said, what Ledger did is beyond words.
Quote from: BurtonBatman on Tue, 22 Jul 2008, 19:38
IMO, TDK is the best Batman film ever and will probably gain recognition from the Academy for it, as will Heath's performance.
Yeah, I completetly agree.