The Dark Knight (SPOILERS)

[Fortis]

I'm not the biggest fan of Batman to begin with, but what Nolan did with "Begins", I became a believer.  I admit that the mid 90's versions jaded me and I really couldn't take the "Batman" name seriously until the last movie, which was superb.  Nor was I ever keen on the idea of Ledger being the Joker when I first heard he was casted for the role until I saw quality previews of him and am now convinced his performance will be epic.

All that being said, there's really not a god-damn reason why this shouldn't be the best movie I see all summer.

what you said

[SmilinJackRoss]

'Dark Knight' adds tribute to Ledger

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Heath Ledger is getting a fond tribute from his collaborators on "The Dark Knight."

The end credits of the "Batman Begins" sequel include a farewell note to Ledger, who died in January from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs; and to special-effects technician Conway Wickliffe, who was killed last September in a stunt-car accident.

"In memory of our friends Heath Ledger & Conway Wickliffe," reads the tribute included in the credits, which went up Thursday on the Warner Bros. publicity Web site.

Ledger plays the villainous Joker in "The Dark Knight," who begins a reign of terror on Gotham City that pits him against conflicted hero Batman (Christian Bale).

Arriving in theaters July 18, the movie reteams Bale with director Christopher Nolan and returning co-stars Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman. Joining the cast are Aaron Eckhart and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Beginning months before Ledger's death, his frenetic performance and demented-clown makeup have been a cornerstone of the marketing campaign for the film.

"I needed a phenomenal actor, but he also had to be someone unafraid of taking on such an iconic role," Nolan says in the production notes for "The Dark Knight." "Heath created something entirely original. It's stunning, it's captivating. ... It's going to blow people away."

[bettertomorrowamy]

Michael Bay's rejected Dark Night script
http://my.spill.com/profiles/blog/show?id=947994%3ABlogPost%3A355506

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

so.... excited.... can't.... wait... 

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

Besides "The Dark Knight," "Transformers" and "Spider-Man 3," I cannot remember too many movies where fans were so interested in every bit of marketing for a film, which is only weeks away from release. Posts about "Hellboy 2" and "The Mummy 3" are barely getting noticed, while the smallest pieces of news about "The Dark Knight" are being read by an astounding amount of people. So to keep up with demand, we bring you the latest on the "Batman Begins" sequel.

The upcoming issue of Entertainment Weekly has a cover which features the faces of Batman (Christian Bale) and The Joker (Heath Ledger). When looking inside, readers will find an article about Ledger's great performance and the tragedy that followed. Here are a few clips from the article:

"Robin Williams, Sean Penn, and even Mark Hamill were rumored to be on Nolan's short list (at least Hamill had practice, having voiced the Joker in various superhero cartoons). What nobody knew at the time, though, was just how short the director's list was. 'Heath was the only one on it,' Nolan insists. 'I knew he was it from the start.'"

"'I know there are these rumors out there that playing the Joker drove him to his grave,' [Gary Oldman] says. 'But I never saw anything of that. He was always on time. He knew his part backwards and forwards. I just thought he was a really sweet kid.'"

[mrbasehart]

There's an advanced review of the movie over at IGN.com.  They gave it 10 out of 10 and say it's the best comic book movie ever made.

[GLaDOS]

Yeah, I think that's the only movie IGN ever gave a 5/5 to.

[Variety of Cells]

I just read the American Cinematographer article on The Dark Knight, and it kept giving me goosebumps.  i've never seen anything in 70mm that wasn't a nature documentary before.  The depth of field will be so insanely shallow.... god I'm excited.  In the article they said all of the production design and all of the makeup had to be so intricate because there is so much detail in 70mm. 

Oh, and you know that semi that flips over in the trailer?  That was all real.

I've already ordered my tickets to see it in an Imax theater.  It sounds like the aspect ratio will change a bit when it goes from 35 to 70, but I have a feeling it won't be too jarring when they cut between the two.  And i don't think they are using all of the height of the 70mm frame.  It will be taller than the 35mm portion, but not by the full amount... i don't think.  Around 30 minutes of 70mm made it into the final cut, which includes the first scene and the last along with some big action scenes in the middle. 

You would be doing yourself an injustice if you're pretty sure you'll like the film and decide not to see it at an Imax.  70mm doesn't come along every day in Hollywood, for a good reason.  Those 30 minutes of 70mm made the film almost 4 times as expensive as it would have been normally.  This is not a film you watch on the subway with your 2 inch ipod screen and your crappy little earbuds.  This film is made to be watched on a 72 foot screen with surround sound that kicks your ass.

[GLaDOS]

I think it is quite possible this film will sweep the Oscars in every category.

[Shinigami]

Well, our IMAX theater got trashed in the flood, so I'll have to go to Rochester if I want to see this in IMAX, which it seems I might HAVE to.

[Variety of Cells]

Well, our IMAX theater got trashed in the flood, so I'll have to go to Rochester if I want to see this in IMAX, which it seems I might HAVE to.

You better, or else be prepared to face the full force of my measured and understanding criticism.

[Tripe]

I don't know, I've seen a few non documentaries in IMAX it always seems ill used adding not much more that a few more dollars to the ticket price.

Now I do have antimetropia  so that might be robbing me of the full experience, but I seem to enjoy the real IMAX movies OK.

[Variety of Cells]

I don't know, I've seen a few non documentaries in IMAX it always seems ill used adding not much more that a few more dollars to the ticket price.

Now I do have antimetropia  so that might be robbing me of the full experience, but I seem to enjoy the real IMAX movies OK.

What did you see?  I'm not too excited about having to keep moving my head to see everything, which is why i haven't bothered to see any films that originated on 35 in an IMAX.  However, it might provide for a more engaging experience, especially if there is the additional quality.  Plus, The Dark Knight was intended to be shown in an IMAX, so i'm assuming they will be putting a lot more care into the 70mm transfer.

The only film i know off the top of my head that was shot all in 70 mm was Hamlet, which I sadly never had the chance to see.  Were the films you saw printed up to 70mm, or were they shot on 70mm?

[Plastic Self-Cleaning Duck]

I think it is quite possible this film will sweep the Oscars in every category.

They'll hate it because it made money...it will sweep the Effects categories.

[Tripe]

I don't know, I've seen a few non documentaries in IMAX it always seems ill used adding not much more that a few more dollars to the ticket price.

Now I do have antimetropia  so that might be robbing me of the full experience, but I seem to enjoy the real IMAX movies OK.

What did you see?  I'm not too excited about having to keep moving my head to see everything, which is why i haven't bothered to see any films that originated on 35 in an IMAX.  However, it might provide for a more engaging experience, especially if there is the additional quality.  Plus, The Dark Knight was intended to be shown in an IMAX, so i'm assuming they will be putting a lot more care into the 70mm transfer.

The only film i know off the top of my head that was shot all in 70 mm was Hamlet, which I sadly never had the chance to see.  Were the films you saw printed up to 70mm, or were they shot on 70mm?

Superman Returns,

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

A few others, trying to remember them off the top of my head. Not sure about whether they were filmed intentionally for 70mm or not though.