The Dark Knight

[karen]

Because it's a morality play, I think emotional detachment is appropriate. Batman's choice to rescue Dent over the girl was deliberately devoid of feeling...the Joker was so far removed from humanity he's anti-logical. I appreciated that I could feel the story's essence, if not for or about any of the characters involved...

 

[braininabox]

It may not be completely necessary given the circumstances around this particular film, but try to throw out spoiler alerts before revealing plot elements of any films

 

[REDking]

Originally posted by karen:
Because it's a morality play, I think emotional detachment is appropriate.

You couldn't be more off base, without emotional attachment the morality of the characters and the plot becomes meaningless.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Batman never chose Dent over the girl, the Joker switched the addresses. Right before he leaves The commisioner asks him who he's saving and he's says "Racheal" And yes this goes to my point that this was a 180 million dollar soap opera.

Again until Frank Miller makes the Dark Night Returns they'll continue to mis the point.

Who could play the older Batman in The Dark Night Returns? (In the comic Batman returns decades later as a 50-60 year old) Who could pull that off.

 

[Mike Jones of Green Sky Productions]

Bruce Willis lol... not really he is just the only older action stari could think of besides harrison ford or stallone. An older batman would be tough


Im going back for my round 2 of The Dark Knight tonight too. Im pretty excited to see if there is anything i missed the first time around

 

[karen]

And here I thought Rachael took one for the team. The theatre's bad sound system had me believing in the wrong plot spoiler (sorry!). Before I was emotionally detached; now I'm annoyed!!!

 

[REDking]

How about they wait another decade and bring Keaton back to reprise the role, so it's a return in the story and in pop culture.

 

[techie1902]

I really really enjoyed this movie...I saw it the Saturday of opening weeked and I've never seen a movie that held it's audience in such awe. Many of it's images still haunt me, especially the scenes that the Joker were in. Somehow Heath Ledger managed to mix horror and insanity, because when he did his *magic trick*, which normally would be considered appalling, we laughed. And the hospital scene was riddiculus too...the image of a madman in a nurse's outfit is suddenly both terrifying and amusing.

I did find Bale's Batman voice a little hard to understand at times, but I understand why he did it...

The only thing that bothers me is (and I may have just missed this), did the joker ever really say exactly how he got his scars? Because he gives two different stories but are both of them supposed to be true?

 

[karen]

I think not, which is why ***SPOILER ALERT*** Batman ignores the Joker's invitation to talk about the scars (I was expecting a third explanation) and gives him new scars to worry about. That scene would be my only criticism of Ledger's performance; I thought he underplayed the Joker's suffering at the end. Surely an involuntary wince would be expected from someone hanging by bat-hooks, not a provocative dialogue, unless the Joker doesn't feel pain?

 

[karen]

I would be curious to see Willem Dafoe as an ageing Batman. He could do the staged voice and he is pretty limber!

 

[Forsakenproductions]

Originally posted by karen:
I think not, which is why ***SPOILER ALERT*** Batman ignores the Joker's invitation to talk about the scars (I was expecting a third explanation) and gives him new scars to worry about. That scene would be my only criticism of Ledger's performance; I thought he underplayed the Joker's suffering at the end. Surely an involuntary wince would be expected from someone hanging by bat-hooks, not a provocative dialogue, unless the Joker doesn't feel pain?

well, if the interrogation scene was supposed to be any indication of how much pain the Joker felt, then I would say hanging upside down was nothing.

 

[Mike Jones of Green Sky Productions]

After my second viewing I would have to say the film only appealed to me anymore. I think it had to do with me knowing what was coming and seeing the confusion and panic of the characters that really pulled me in emotionally.

SPOILER AHEAD

Rachel's conversation to Dent was really really sad the second time around. The first time I watched I didn't KNOW she was going to die so her dialogue kind of just got lost, but not this time. There is a certain undertone to this piece that did something to me, it left me with a new outlook on the criminal mind and even on an everyday person. The line Joker said about really knowing someone right before they die was kind of true to me, underneath the whole sick and cold comment there is some truth... look at the guys on the boat people saying the criminals "had their chance" and that they are murders, but at the same time was willing to kill them in a heartbeat. When you think its the end the truth tends to come out. Crazy stuff.

 

[techie1902]

I think not, which is why ***SPOILER ALERT*** Batman ignores the Joker's invitation to talk about the scars (I was expecting a third explanation) and gives him new scars to worry about. That scene would be my only criticism of Ledger's performance; I thought he underplayed the Joker's suffering at the end. Surely an involuntary wince would be expected from someone hanging by bat-hooks, not a provocative dialogue, unless the Joker doesn't feel pain?

Yeah I was expecting a third explanation too...it bothers me because I feel like there's a hole in the story of the Joker since Ledger took the character to deeper level than anyone had done before.

 

[techie1902]

Oh and did anyone else notice that the credits weren't until the very end of the movie? I thought that was really cool

 

[karen]

One mark of a really entertaining picture is the stuff you don't expect...

** SPOILER ALERT **

...like the pop-outs (very well done) and the way Rachael's final conversation to Dent is cut-off mid-word. Powerful editing!

I think more directors should use a clip after the credits to keep the audience in the theatre, like for Iron Man. Otherwise, I can't be bothered to sit through thousands of names of caterers and assistants to the assistants.

 

[techie1902]

Yeah having the credits at the really make more sense in all aspects...It keeps the audience interested in the story, and it really made me respect Christopher Nolan as a director because it shows that he really cares more about telling the story than getting his named flashed as soon as he can...

 

[Roy Hatts]

Pretty good film. Has its share of problems but it ran much smoother than I expected. Despite the fact that it's about a man dressed as a giant bat it's not as ridiculous as the other Batman films (including Begins) and it's more of a heightened drama than your traditional superhero movie. Nolan took it in the right direction, but some things are still undeniably stupid, such as the Bat-Eyes and Batman's dumb voice.

Also, let's not blow this thing out of proportion anymore than it has been. I don't believe Ledger's Joker is oscar-worthy. It's really really good, but there are still 5 more months left of films and we haven't even hit awards season.

And if this film has already entered your top ten list of films ever, you should probably see more films.

 

[karen]

Today I will finally watch my recorded "AFI top ten films in ten different categories" or something, so I'll be sure to fill in some gaps. I don't know if I would see The Dark Knight a second time, but if Ledger's performance isn't worthy of at least an Oscar nomination, we have some AWESOME acting to look forward to in the next five months! It's now four days after I saw The Joker and I'm still conjuring up fantastic moments. I can't wait to see which clip they choose to air at the Awards Ceremony!

 

[braininabox]

I am really hoping that Brad Pitt/Benjamin Button wins.

I mean there is a strong argument to respect Heath by giving him the Oscar...but the Academy also really stands for honoring originality and advancement of the art.

We'll see.

 

[Roy Hatts]

The oscars are becoming more and more just a media game. I shouldn't watch them, since they're pointless, shallow and boring, but sometimes it funny to see upsets like the Eddie Murphy fiasco. His reaction to not winning was great. This year, although I think they actually picked deserving people this time, I still watched it drunk and didn't give a **** if the Coens won or not. Judging by their speeches, I'd say they didn't care all that much either.

Also, braininabox, have you seen an advanced screaming of Button already? That, along with Blindness and The Road are among my top anticipated films this year (and all 3 are literary adaptations, oddly enough).

 

[braininabox]

I don't think the advanced screenings of Button have started yet...they keep pushing back the release date

I probably shouldn't make a judgment call before the film is even out...but I am really anticipating Benjamin Button and so far it seems that Brad Pitt's role is much more encompassing and enriched than just a revision of a Jack Nicholson character from the 80's.

In my opinion psychotic, exaggerated characters are much easier to portray than subtle, natural characters with all their nuances. (such as Kevin Spacey in American Beauty or Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver)



And, Roy, I think I have much more faith in The Road than in No Country