The Dark Knight (SPOILERS)

[Doctor Who?]

I was the second person in line to see it at the first show yesterday and I got the best season in the house.

Did it live up to the hype? Yes.

Is Ledger the best Joker ever? No.

Ledger played the Joker as typical insane street thug that you could find in any other crime movie.  He still did a good job but it just didn't feel like I was watching The Joker.  The things he did were Joker type stuff but the thing that makes the Joker scary to me is that the Joker thinks the things he does are jokes and he laughs all the way to the bank I only heard a couple of laughs and his smile isn't really a smile.  Don't get me wrong it was very good work on Ledger's part but Nichlson in 1989 felt more like The Joker to me.

If you ask me the person who should get the Oscer nods is guy who played Two Face/Harvey Dent he was perfect and really put Tommy Lee Jones in his place.

Boy was this movie dark I don't know if kids should go and see this.  I can't believe they killed Rachiel or that they managed keep Two Face's involment in the plot a secret it shocked me when he turned up.

The intire cast does a great job it has great action and the ending leaves me thinking that the next Batman movie is going to be one of the biggest things ever.

This movie raises the bare for all superhero movies and it may even be better then the first Superman movie.

This movie is a classic that I will be going back to see again.

9.5/10.

[ScottotD]

breaking my decision not to read this thread to point out Nicholson's Panto/Al Pacino version of the Joker was SO unbelievably shit it made Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze look like a muti-faceted and nuanced character study.

...carry on, I'm busy booking tickets to see Dark Knight again tomorrow.

[Cosmic Muse]

I was the second person in line to see it at the first show yesterday and I got the best season in the house.

Did it live up to the hype? Yes.

Is Ledger the best Joker ever? No.

Ledger played the Joker as typical insane street thug that you could find in any other crime movie.  He still did a good job but it just didn't feel like I was watching The Joker.  The things he did were Joker type stuff but the thing that makes the Joker scary to me is that the Joker thinks the things he does are jokes and he laughs all the way to the bank I only heard a couple of laughs and his smile isn't really a smile.  Don't get me wrong it was very good work on Ledger's part but Nichlson in 1989 felt more like The Joker to me.

If you ask me the person who should get the Oscer nods is guy who played Two Face/Harvey Dent he was perfect and really put Tommy Lee Jones in his place.

Boy was this movie dark I don't know if kids should go and see this.  I can't believe they killed Rachiel or that they managed keep Two Face's involment in the plot a secret it shocked me when he turned up.

The intire cast does a great job it has great action and the ending leaves me thinking that the next Batman movie is going to be one of the biggest things ever.

This movie raises the bare for all superhero movies and it may even be better then the first Superman movie.

This movie is a classic that I will be going back to see again.

9.5/10.

You haven't read too many of the Joker's darker, earlier comic appearances have you? Heath's Joker is spot on to the original intent of who the Joker is, a deranged, thrill seeking murderer.

[ScottotD]

Heath's Joker is up there with Alex from Clockwork Orange as one of the most amazing nutters on film.


Honestly, this movie should be nominated for best picture at the Oscars.  It won't because the voters are laughably close minded and self-important but if unwatchable rubbish like Little miss sunshine, Crash, Master and Commander, Gladiator, etc can get it.

[Doctor Who?]

I was the second person in line to see it at the first show yesterday and I got the best season in the house.

Did it live up to the hype? Yes.

Is Ledger the best Joker ever? No.

Ledger played the Joker as typical insane street thug that you could find in any other crime movie.  He still did a good job but it just didn't feel like I was watching The Joker.  The things he did were Joker type stuff but the thing that makes the Joker scary to me is that the Joker thinks the things he does are jokes and he laughs all the way to the bank I only heard a couple of laughs and his smile isn't really a smile.  Don't get me wrong it was very good work on Ledger's part but Nichlson in 1989 felt more like The Joker to me.

If you ask me the person who should get the Oscer nods is guy who played Two Face/Harvey Dent he was perfect and really put Tommy Lee Jones in his place.

Boy was this movie dark I don't know if kids should go and see this.  I can't believe they killed Rachiel or that they managed keep Two Face's involment in the plot a secret it shocked me when he turned up.

The intire cast does a great job it has great action and the ending leaves me thinking that the next Batman movie is going to be one of the biggest things ever.

This movie raises the bare for all superhero movies and it may even be better then the first Superman movie.

This movie is a classic that I will be going back to see again.

9.5/10.

You haven't read too many of the Joker's darker, earlier comic appearances have you? Heath's Joker is spot on to the original intent of who the Joker is, a deranged, thrill seeking murderer.

Yes I have but again he was smiling and Laghing all the way.

Don't get me wrong ledger was amazing and everything the Joker did was something the Joker would do but The Joker is scary because he laughs while doing it and he has a smile on his lips.  A guy with a few scares and makeup on his face just doesn't look like the Joker to me.

Still this is the best movie of the summer and maybe of the year.

[Thorns of Crimson Death]

I was the second person in line to see it at the first show yesterday and I got the best season in the house.

Did it live up to the hype? Yes.

Is Ledger the best Joker ever? No.

Ledger played the Joker as typical insane street thug that you could find in any other crime movie.  He still did a good job but it just didn't feel like I was watching The Joker.  The things he did were Joker type stuff but the thing that makes the Joker scary to me is that the Joker thinks the things he does are jokes and he laughs all the way to the bank I only heard a couple of laughs and his smile isn't really a smile.  Don't get me wrong it was very good work on Ledger's part but Nichlson in 1989 felt more like The Joker to me.

If you ask me the person who should get the Oscer nods is guy who played Two Face/Harvey Dent he was perfect and really put Tommy Lee Jones in his place.

Boy was this movie dark I don't know if kids should go and see this.  I can't believe they killed Rachiel or that they managed keep Two Face's involment in the plot a secret it shocked me when he turned up.

The intire cast does a great job it has great action and the ending leaves me thinking that the next Batman movie is going to be one of the biggest things ever.

This movie raises the bare for all superhero movies and it may even be better then the first Superman movie.

This movie is a classic that I will be going back to see again.

9.5/10.

You haven't read too many of the Joker's darker, earlier comic appearances have you? Heath's Joker is spot on to the original intent of who the Joker is, a deranged, thrill seeking murderer.

Yes I have but again he was smiling and Laghing all the way.

Don't get me wrong ledger was amazing and everything the Joker did was something the Joker would do but The Joker is scary because he laughs while doing it and he has a smile on his lips.  A guy with a few scares and makeup on his face just doesn't look like the Joker to me.

Still this is the best movie of the summer and maybe of the year.

You weren't paying attention then.  He laughed PLENTY of times (at the very end, is he laughing because he wants to die, or because he knows Batman won't let him?).  And when he wasn't he had that eclectic tone to his voice which made it sound like he was joking and it was incredibly creepy.

As far as his "smile" goes, The Joker's past is all over the place in the series. Originally, he just shows up with no back-story.  Eventually somebody wrote in the chemical accident which is how Jack's Joker came to be.  Jack was a decent Joker but watching it again now, it's corny as fuck and he's not intimidating at all in comparison.

[Cosmic Muse]

Yes I have but again he was smiling and Laghing all the way.

Don't get me wrong ledger was amazing and everything the Joker did was something the Joker would do but The Joker is scary because he laughs while doing it and he has a smile on his lips.  A guy with a few scares and makeup on his face just doesn't look like the Joker to me.

Still this is the best movie of the summer and maybe of the year.

You see, this is just the kind of naivety the Joker would prey on. You don't think he's all that scary and intimidating until it's too late. Remember Joker's magic trick?

[Doktor Sleepless]

I'm just going to stop reading this thread now. Considering people actually believe Ledger did the best Joker, considering people are saying best movie of the year with them knowing they've only seen american films, and considering the fact people actually think oscar.  I'm out.

[Nick]

Goodbye. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Thorns of Crimson Death]

Yes I have but again he was smiling and Laghing all the way.

Don't get me wrong ledger was amazing and everything the Joker did was something the Joker would do but The Joker is scary because he laughs while doing it and he has a smile on his lips.  A guy with a few scares and makeup on his face just doesn't look like the Joker to me.

Still this is the best movie of the summer and maybe of the year.

You see, this is just the kind of naivety the Joker would prey on. You don't think he's all that scary and intimidating until it's too late. Remember Joker's magic trick?

The magic trick had people in the Imax theater I went to standing up and cheering, I was one of them.  That was classic Joker material.

[Cosmic Muse]

I'm just going to stop reading this thread now. Considering people actually believe Ledger did the best Joker, considering people are saying best movie of the year with them knowing they've only seen american films, and considering the fact people actually think oscar.  I'm out.

And a good riddance to you too sir. Considering I live here in the United States of America, American films are what they show in my theater you know.

The magic trick had people in the Imax theater I went to standing up and cheering, I was one of them.  That was classic Joker material.

I think the best thing about it was how the gangstas were acting all tough calling Joker a freak, clown, etc. etc. and overall not taking him seriously at all. That's when they made they're critical mistake, assume the twitchy, awkward looking guy in clown makeup was not a threat. The magic trick showed just how unpredictable The Joker really is.

[Courtney]

I'm just going to stop reading this thread now. Considering people actually believe Ledger did the best Joker, considering people are saying best movie of the year with them knowing they've only seen american films, and considering the fact people actually think oscar.  I'm out.

I'm really stoked for you psychic abilities you must have to know we've all only seen American movies.  What a burden that must be on your brain to be so much smarter than everyone else all the time.  Rough.

Just got back from the 9am IMAX and it was everything I hoped and more.  As the day edged closer I got worried that all the hype and buzz would be wrong, that it was just essentially capitalizing on the tragic death of a talented human being (which to some extent it was).  But it lived up to everything I heard.  This movie was amazing.  It was the film the genre so simply defined as "comic book movies" needed.  Dark, incredibly smart, thought-provoking, funny, sad, scary, everything.  Love love loved it.

[Compound]

Well, let me try the polite route.

What films would you consider to be the best films released so far this year?

[Relaxing Dragon]

It's not to me, but I'd say In Bruges (love that one).

Moving along, I loved this movie. I'm not much of a Batman fan, but this one still sucked me in. And I know everyone's said it a billion and a half times (give or take), it's all about the Joker here. Not the craziest or creepiest character I've ever seen, but probably the most fun one (and still quite evil). While I do agree about what Doctor Who said, about how Ledger wasn't quite 'true' Joker enough, but he took it in a direction that worked. It's not so much about the clown tricks (though bless the pencil trick, that was great), the constant laughter, or even actually smiling all the time. It's the general insanity, one that isn't visible right away, but sorta creeps up on you. Ledger went that way, and pulled it off beautifully. I'm not sure if he should win an Oscar for it, but there would be no complaint for me if he was nominated.

As for the rest of the film, it was good. Probably could've used some cutting to make it shorter (the Hong Kong sequence, for instance, wasn't really that necessary), but the pacing made it all seem better. Great movie, definitely one of the better ones this year.

[RoninFox]

I really think that the main reason Heath didn't seem Joker-like to some people was just about the face and not about the performance.  Once you really examine how he sounds, what he says, what he does he had the mentality of the Joker perfectly.  Everything he said that described himself (even when giving contradictory backstories) was pure Joker.  Nolan made the decision to make the Joker a man with horrible scars that covers it up with makeup because that makes more sense in the "hyperreality" he uses for this series than a man who is forced to smile after being dumped in a chemical bath.  For this movie, I think they made every decision about the Joker right.

And Two Face was just perfect...end of story.