OT: THE DARK KNIGHT

[X factor]

[She couldn't remember either. We had both pretty much tuned out by then.
Iron Man was way better.

Iron Man was little more than your average cookie-cutter superhero flick - raised only by Downey's cheeky self-deprecating performance.
Dark Knight has redefined the modern comic book film as we know it.

While I loved IRON MAN, and think it was a far better film than TNC gives it credit, I do think he has a point about the redefinitionof the "comic film". DARK KNIGHT is to comic movies what THE SEARCHERS was to westerns back in the 50's. It proved they could be something more than the sum of their parts and transcend their "pop" status.
I also won't say comparing the two is apples and oranges, as they ARE both comic films. How bout green apples to red apples? Tony Stark is the antithesis of Bruce Wayne, so naturally the films are going to have a different tone.

I liked em both. I've always prefered the marvel characters to the DC universe. But slight edge as the overall better film? TDK.

[Ehwmatt]

So good. So good. Can #3 not take 3 years to come out?

[Rick]

Damn, they didn't even spell Shrek right.

[S2M]

Damn, they didn't even spell Shrek right.

They should count ticket SALES, not gross receipts....Tickets cost more than 5, 10, 20 years ago.....

[Rick]

Damn, they didn't even spell Shrek right.

They should count ticket SALES, not gross receipts....Tickets cost more than 5, 10, 20 years ago.....

Excellent point.

[cudaclan]

Heath’s (acting) portrayal of the Joker was “accentuated” by his makeup. Jack Nicholson did an equally impressive role in his portrayal with the “timid” makeup. Movie was extended too long. The remaining footage could have been used in the next episode release.

I so do miss drive-ins, a forgotten American culture.

[Rick]

Heath’s (acting) portrayal of the Joker was “accentuated” by his makeup. Jack Nicholson did an equally impressive role in his portrayal with the “timid” makeup. Movie was extended too long. The remaining footage could have been used in the next episode release.

I so do miss drive-ins, a forgotten American culture.

They still have one in my hometown of McAlester, OK. The dumbshits built the thing where it is viewable from the extremely nearby highway, so they couldn't show anything with any skin or too much violence.

[X factor]

...to quote the VARIETY review:

"With all due respect to the enjoyable camp buffoonery of past Jokers like Cesar Romero and Jack Nicholson, Ledger makes them look like -- well, clowns."

I couldn't agree more.

[NealIsGod]

Breaking: Reports out of England say Christian Bale is being accused of assault by his mother, Jenny, 61, and sister, Sharon, 40. They went to a police station in Hampshire yesterday to file the complaint, stemming from a Sunday night incident, yet Bale attended the Dark Knight premiere last night in London. He's expected to be questioned today. Stay tuned on this one.

[AlteredDNA]

Breaking: Reports out of England say Christian Bale is being accused of assault by his mother, Jenny, 61, and sister, Sharon, 40. They went to a police station in Hampshire yesterday to file the complaint, stemming from a Sunday night incident, yet Bale attended the Dark Knight premiere last night in London. He's expected to be questioned today. Stay tuned on this one.

Batman actor Christian Bale arrested over assault allegation:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... ation.html

[NealIsGod]

Breaking: Reports out of England say Christian Bale is being accused of assault by his mother, Jenny, 61, and sister, Sharon, 40. They went to a police station in Hampshire yesterday to file the complaint, stemming from a Sunday night incident, yet Bale attended the Dark Knight premiere last night in London. He's expected to be questioned today. Stay tuned on this one.

Batman actor Christian Bale arrested over assault allegation:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... ation.html

The Joker's gotta be behind this.

[Rhiannon]

Breaking: Reports out of England say Christian Bale is being accused of assault by his mother, Jenny, 61, and sister, Sharon, 40. They went to a police station in Hampshire yesterday to file the complaint, stemming from a Sunday night incident, yet Bale attended the Dark Knight premiere last night in London. He's expected to be questioned today. Stay tuned on this one.

Batman actor Christian Bale arrested over assault allegation:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... ation.html

Damn it to hell! First Favre, now BALE!?! Damn, you Niggy!!

[The_Noble_Cause]

...to quote the VARIETY review:

"With all due respect to the enjoyable camp buffoonery of past Jokers like Cesar Romero and Jack Nicholson, Ledger makes them look like -- well, clowns."

I couldn't agree more.

I think each were great in their own way- even Romero with his white painted mustache.
Nicholson may be playing himself to a large extent, but I find him to be more more confident in the role than Ledger.
Nicholson's Joker, while comical, also displayed a brutal nasty streak, including scarring his own gf's face and attempting to do the same with Kim Basinger.
It wasn't all played for yuk-yuks.
Ledger was great, his best moment being the gang meeting with the "magic trick", I wish his performance was that psychotically magnetic throughout.
Rumor has it the director Nolan had plans for the joker to be in the third one before Ledger died.
If the character serves the story, I have no problems with him being re-cast.

[RedWingFan]

Ledger was great, his best moment being the gang meeting with the "magic trick", I wish his performance was that psychotically magnetic throughout.

A great scene. Really the only one that was memorable for me. Check that. The one with Batman and Joker in the interogation room cool too. Ledger was great there.

[The_Noble_Cause]

A great scene. Really the only one that was memorable for me. Check that. The one with Batman and Joker in the interogation room cool too. Ledger was great there.

I thought Ledger's laughing into the night shouting "You complete me!" as he was hung upside down was some pretty potent stuff, as well.
Still, you'll get little argument from me that he is physically wrong for the part.
Like Daniel Craig's Bond, some things simply can't be overcome by Juilliard scenery chewing.

[X factor]

A great scene. Really the only one that was memorable for me. Check that. The one with Batman and Joker in the interogation room cool too. Ledger was great there.

I thought Ledger's laughing into the night shouting "You complete me!" as he was hung upside down was some pretty potent stuff, as well.
Still, you'll get little argument from me that he is physically wrong for the part.
Like Daniel Craig's Bond, some things simply can't be overcome by Juilliard scenery chewing.

Oh spare me! Daniel Craig is the most subdued Bond EVER , and Ledger was not "chewing scenery". I've been an actor for the better part of 30 years, and I can honestly say that Ledger's performance is is right up there with the classic screen villians of all time !
And as for the Julliard crack, yeah it's HORRIBLE that our actors should be TRAINED isn't it?

Not meaning to sound like an ass- just have some VERY strong feelings about this performance and film. Obviously you do too, so c'est la vie...

[RedWingFan]

A great scene. Really the only one that was memorable for me. Check that. The one with Batman and Joker in the interogation room cool too. Ledger was great there.

I thought Ledger's laughing into the night shouting "You complete me!" as he was hung upside down was some pretty potent stuff, as well.

Funny thing about the movie though. I had pretty much tuned out. The following day as I'm reading the paper. It has a picture of Ledger's joker in there. I turned and asked my wife.
"What ever happened to the Joker in the movie last night?" She couldn't remember either. I don't know if it was the fact that it was 2am by the time the movie ended or what, but I just didn't give a crap.

[NealIsGod]

A great scene. Really the only one that was memorable for me. Check that. The one with Batman and Joker in the interogation room cool too. Ledger was great there.

I thought Ledger's laughing into the night shouting "You complete me!" as he was hung upside down was some pretty potent stuff, as well.

Funny thing about the movie though. I had pretty much tuned out. The following day as I'm reading the paper. It has a picture of Ledger's joker in there. I turned and asked my wife.
"What ever happened to the Joker in the movie last night?" She couldn't remember either. I don't know if it was the fact that it was 2am by the time the movie ended or what, but I just didn't give a crap.

Yeah, you hit on one of my main beefs with the movie.

[finalfight]

A great scene. Really the only one that was memorable for me. Check that. The one with Batman and Joker in the interogation room cool too. Ledger was great there.

I thought Ledger's laughing into the night shouting "You complete me!" as he was hung upside down was some pretty potent stuff, as well.
Still, you'll get little argument from me that he is physically wrong for the part.
Like Daniel Craig's Bond, some things simply can't be overcome by Juilliard scenery chewing.

Oh spare me! Daniel Craig is the most subdued Bond EVER , and Ledger was not "chewing scenery". I've been an actor for the better part of 30 years, and I can honestly say that Ledger's performance is is right up there with the classic screen villians of all time !
And as for the Julliard crack, yeah it's HORRIBLE that our actors should be TRAINED isn't it?

Not meaning to sound like an ass- just have some VERY strong feelings about this performance and film. Obviously you do too, so c'est la vie...

Subdued? Didn't M describe Bond as a blunt instrument in Casino Royale?

As with all art it really boils down to individual opinion and your acting credentials really don't afford you a more valued take on Ledger's performance then the average Joe ticket buyer. As it so happens I agree with you about Ledger's take on the Joker although in my opinion I found some of his vocal work to be very out of place and irritating.

[RedWingFan]

A great scene. Really the only one that was memorable for me. Check that. The one with Batman and Joker in the interogation room cool too. Ledger was great there.

I thought Ledger's laughing into the night shouting "You complete me!" as he was hung upside down was some pretty potent stuff, as well.

Funny thing about the movie though. I had pretty much tuned out. The following day as I'm reading the paper. It has a picture of Ledger's joker in there. I turned and asked my wife.
"What ever happened to the Joker in the movie last night?" She couldn't remember either. I don't know if it was the fact that it was 2am by the time the movie ended or what, but I just didn't give a crap.

Yeah, you hit on one of my main beefs with the movie.

That and as I watched it. All the action scenes, the chases, the Batmobile. I just felt like I'd seen it all before. People ask me what I thought of it and all I can say is Ledger was great, and it was A Batman movie.

[NealIsGod]

As it so happens I agree with you about Ledger's take on the Joker although in my opinion I found some of his vocal work to be very out of place and irritating.

Sometimes it sounded like Ledger was channeling Richard Dreyfus.

[RedWingFan]

As it so happens I agree with you about Ledger's take on the Joker although in my opinion I found some of his vocal work to be very out of place and irritating.

Sometimes it sounded like Ledger was channeling Richard Dreyfus.

And Batman was channeling McGruff the Crimedog. Annoying as hell.

[YoungJRNY]

Better the 2nd time. I can NOT get enough of Ledgers role. Shit, I didn't even want to see The Batman character. I was solidly in it for Ledger's Joker and could go a 3rd time as soon as tomorrow. I'm obsessed with it to be honest. That is one of those performances where it changes the way actors are portrayed, and put a new staple in cinema movies, especially super-hero movies.

If Nolan decides to re-cast the Joker in the 3rd installment..my take would be this guy. Joseph Levitt. Giving what Hollywood is capable of doing, there wouldn't even be a drop off between Ledgers appearance and Levitt's. I won't go as far as acting is concerned. No one will top Ledgers performance.

This guy can get the job done.

[X factor]

A great scene. Really the only one that was memorable for me. Check that. The one with Batman and Joker in the interogation room cool too. Ledger was great there.

I thought Ledger's laughing into the night shouting "You complete me!" as he was hung upside down was some pretty potent stuff, as well.
Still, you'll get little argument from me that he is physically wrong for the part.
Like Daniel Craig's Bond, some things simply can't be overcome by Juilliard scenery chewing.

Oh spare me! Daniel Craig is the most subdued Bond EVER , and Ledger was not "chewing scenery". I've been an actor for the better part of 30 years, and I can honestly say that Ledger's performance is is right up there with the classic screen villians of all time !
And as for the Julliard crack, yeah it's HORRIBLE that our actors should be TRAINED isn't it?

Not meaning to sound like an ass- just have some VERY strong feelings about this performance and film. Obviously you do too, so c'est la vie...

Subdued? Didn't M describe Bond as a blunt instrument in Casino Royale?

As with all art it really boils down to individual opinion and your acting credentials really don't afford you a more valued take on Ledger's performance then the average Joe ticket buyer. As it so happens I agree with you about Ledger's take on the Joker although in my opinion I found some of his vocal work to be very out of place and irritating.

Subdued in terms of character, not action. In other words, very little "scenery chewing" frm Mr Craig, imho.

We'll agree to disagree on the idea of my background affording me a more valued take on ther performance.
The acting credentials line wasn't meant to necessarily say that my opinion is more valid, just that I am coming from a place of experience when I see the performance. Of course you're right that art is all relative. If that came off snooty, it wasn't meant in that spirit.

[Rhiannon]

As it so happens I agree with you about Ledger's take on the Joker although in my opinion I found some of his vocal work to be very out of place and irritating.

Sometimes it sounded like Ledger was channeling Richard Dreyfus.

And Batman was channeling McGruff the Crimedog. Annoying as hell.

Word on that. Bale sounded like he woke up that morning and ate a giant fluffy glass pancake with battery acid syrup.

[NealIsGod]

I agree with this review:

It was way too long and, at times, it was way too slow. The much-touted intelligence of the film was way too overt.

And maybe the chorus of critics, one of whom compared the thing to Michaelangelo’s David, gave us expectations that never could have been satisfied.

Regardless, it felt like a laregly wasted three hours. Bale’s lead character had an incredibly annoying old lady smoker’s voice when he was playing Bruce Wayne’s alter ego. And, frankly, we doubt that there would be so much fawning over Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker if Ledger were still alive.

Ledger was very, very good. But not nearly as downright-freakin’-piss-in-your-pants-creepy as Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men.

[Don]

A great scene. Really the only one that was memorable for me. Check that. The one with Batman and Joker in the interogation room cool too. Ledger was great there.

I thought Ledger's laughing into the night shouting "You complete me!" as he was hung upside down was some pretty potent stuff, as well.
Still, you'll get little argument from me that he is physically wrong for the part.
Like Daniel Craig's Bond, some things simply can't be overcome by Juilliard scenery chewing.

Oh spare me! Daniel Craig is the most subdued Bond EVER , and Ledger was not "chewing scenery". I've been an actor for the better part of 30 years, and I can honestly say that Ledger's performance is is right up there with the classic screen villians of all time !
And as for the Julliard crack, yeah it's HORRIBLE that our actors should be TRAINED isn't it?

Not meaning to sound like an ass- just have some VERY strong feelings about this performance and film. Obviously you do too, so c'est la vie...

Subdued? Didn't M describe Bond as a blunt instrument in Casino Royale?

As with all art it really boils down to individual opinion and your acting credentials really don't afford you a more valued take on Ledger's performance then the average Joe ticket buyer. As it so happens I agree with you about Ledger's take on the Joker although in my opinion I found some of his vocal work to be very out of place and irritating.

I really like Craig as Bond, I also liked Dalton. Just go out their and F'kn kill people, that's what I like for that role, no emotional garbage, just do it. I have to say Dalton can be funny, he really tears it in Hot Fuzz.

[NealIsGod]

I really like Craig as Bond, I also liked Dalton. Just go out their and F'kn kill people, that's what I like for that role, no emotional garbage, just do it. I have to say Dalton can be funny, he really tears it in Hot Fuzz.

Most Bond fanatics pledge their allegiance to Sean Connery, but I love the Roger Moore era.

[Don]

I agree with this review:

It was way too long and, at times, it was way too slow. The much-touted intelligence of the film was way too overt.

And maybe the chorus of critics, one of whom compared the thing to Michaelangelo’s David, gave us expectations that never could have been satisfied.

Regardless, it felt like a laregly wasted three hours. Bale’s lead character had an incredibly annoying old lady smoker’s voice when he was playing Bruce Wayne’s alter ego. And, frankly, we doubt that there would be so much fawning over Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker if Ledger were still alive.

Ledger was very, very good. But not nearly as downright-freakin’-piss-in-your-pants-creepy as Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men.

When it came to the voice and piercing eyes, I think Michael Keaton really nailed it, just a shame he wasn't a foot taller.

[bluejeangirl76]

As it so happens I agree with you about Ledger's take on the Joker although in my opinion I found some of his vocal work to be very out of place and irritating.

Sometimes it sounded like Ledger was channeling Richard Dreyfus.

And Batman was channeling McGruff the Crimedog. Annoying as hell.

Word on that. Bale sounded like he woke up that morning and ate a giant fluffy glass pancake with battery acid syrup.

That annoyed me to all hell. When Bale does that it sounds so fake and forced that it comes off just plain stupid.

It was a little too long, or maybe it just felt that way because some parts were a bit slow. I DID enjoy it though.