The Dark Knight (SPOILERS)

[Chaos]

I loved the killing joke. That's a great line from it. I'm pretty sure that at one point in the comics (maybe also in TKJ) Joker says that even he can't remember his past.

[RoninFox]

I loved the killing joke. That's a great line from it. I'm pretty sure that at one point in the comics (maybe also in TKJ) Joker says that even he can't remember his past.

Yeah, its actually the beginning of that same line.

I mean, what is it with you?  What made you what you are?  Girlfriend killed by the mob, maybe?  Brother carved up by some mugger?  Something like that, I bet.  Something like that.  Something like that happened to me, you know.  I...I'm not exactly sure what it was, sometimes I remember it one way, sometimes another...If I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!  Ha ha ha!

[Hebs]

I loved the killing joke. That's a great line from it. I'm pretty sure that at one point in the comics (maybe also in TKJ) Joker says that even he can't remember his past.

Really?  I wasn't about it, myself.

I really loved Ledger in this movie - I mean, wow - a few things:

A. He is almost ageless

B. The humor was injected at the perfect moments (i.e Nurse Joker, "Um can I just have a few minutes?" when he's going to take off Bats' mask, and "Well, that TV over there says"... as he points to Lau... "We only have 1 opening in the group" ....)

C. I just didn't like Harvey's burned half, I mean I know it was wonderfully realistic, but I just felt the CGI eyeball and accidental flame-to-face... I don't know.  I guess I'm being silly.

D. I'm not a big fan of Maggie Gyllenhall, but she is perfect for this role.  Rachel (if there should've even been one) needs to be someone not totally glamorous but quietly lovely and understated.

Did anyone else dig Maggie's Katherine Hepburn wardrobe?  Loved the whole 30's thing.

[Tripe]

Did anyone else dig Maggie's Katherine Hepburn wardrobe?  Loved the whole 30's thing.

Seeing it tomorrow but that's something to look forward to, I like nice tailoring me

[Courtney]

anyone else think Maggie Gyllenhaal is a goddamn ugly mutt?

I vote no

No from me too.

Its kind of strange, I almost forgot they had replaced Holmes for this role.  I just didn't think of it once while watching the movie.

No from me too.  I think she's uniquely beautiful.  I love that she's not just a typical pretty face, and considering that's really all Katie Holme's Rachel Dawes was, it was a perfect casting change.

EDITED for prettiness:


But perhaps I'm biased as she's tied for number one on the list of girls I'd go gay for (Eliza Dushku's the other number 1).

[mearnest]

Just got back from seeing it for the second time and it was even better this time around.  Just wanted to post a few random thoughts.

I'm not going to worry about spoilers but will tell anyone who hasn't seen it yet not to read any further.

1) Dawes being killed didn't take me by surprise because Eckart screwed up in an interview a while back and pretty much gave it away.  I don't feel like looking up the link right now, but it's out there.  I didn't post about it on here earlier since I didn't want to spoil it for anyone else.

2)  Ledger was amazing.  The magic trick, his recruiting methods, his one phone call, etc.  The Joker was superbly written and acted in this.  It's the Joker I've been waiting to see pretty much all my life.  I love the tip of the hat to Killing Joke with the multiple choice origins.

3)  I am a little disappointed that they didn't go into the Dent/abusive father angle and that they didn't leave his finale open for him to come back.  He is after all one of the best villians.

4)  "I'm not a hero.  I'm what Gotham needs me to be."  Brilliant.

I'll probably have more to add later, but I'm still letting it sink in.  I would like to add though that the audience today was far superior to the one Thursday night.  In that show there was a lot of talking and an unbelievable amount of people text messaging.  But that was in Kennesaw which is filled with spoiled rich kids.  Tonight I saw it in a lower income area with a predominately Black/Latino crowd.  They were great.  Very energetic, laughing, gasping, applauding (especially at the end).  I would hazard to guess that it's because being lower income, going to the movies is a pretty big deal.  They were clearly there to watch a movie (not chitchat or text message).  The right audience makes all the difference.

[Tripe]

Ok, personally I think the looks in the Gyllenhaal family went to the XY example of the current generation, but really different strokes for different folks.

She's a significantly better actress than "Kate" as Ms. Holmes diminutive hubby likes to call her.

[Steve-O]

Maggie can look naturally beautiful or she can look very, very homely.  Which is true of most people, I find.

The author of wwtdd.com refers to her as a "sad cartoon turtle", and I can definitely see where he's coming from:

[mearnest]

Personally I think Maggie Gyllenhaal is very attractive.  Also a much more believable assistant D.A. than Katie Holmes.  Sure, she isn't super-model material but I like my women to look real.  I've been with around the block a few times and I'll take natural over silicone and cosmetic surgery any day.

[wurwolf]

Okay:  *cracks knuckles*  a few things.

A. IT WAS FUCKING SWEET.  About 30 minutes too long, BUT FUCKING SWEET

B. In Issue 1 of Batman (I'm totally nerding out here) the Joker DOES actually masquerade as a cop
- and it's super awesome that they recreated that.    It's nice to know that they are looking at his totaly history as a character, not just from Frank Miller + Dave Mazz on, you know?

C. Harvey's burned side bothered me.  I know I'm being reeeeaaalllly aaanal but the fact that he DOESN'T have an eyelid, would suggest that he cant blink so his eye would be all white and dead - which would've been cool.  But whatevs.

D. Was totally surprized Rachel got all 'sploded.    AND totally surprised that they faked Gordon's death.

E. Ledger's scenes were fab - every time he wasn't on screen, I waited for him to come back. 

We went to go see it for the second time today, and I was bothered by point C, too. I kept thinking the entire time, doesn't he need to blink or something?

[RoninFox]

Okay:  *cracks knuckles*  a few things.

A. IT WAS FUCKING SWEET.  About 30 minutes too long, BUT FUCKING SWEET

B. In Issue 1 of Batman (I'm totally nerding out here) the Joker DOES actually masquerade as a cop
- and it's super awesome that they recreated that.    It's nice to know that they are looking at his totaly history as a character, not just from Frank Miller + Dave Mazz on, you know?

C. Harvey's burned side bothered me.  I know I'm being reeeeaaalllly aaanal but the fact that he DOESN'T have an eyelid, would suggest that he cant blink so his eye would be all white and dead - which would've been cool.  But whatevs.

D. Was totally surprized Rachel got all 'sploded.    AND totally surprised that they faked Gordon's death.

E. Ledger's scenes were fab - every time he wasn't on screen, I waited for him to come back. 

We went to go see it for the second time today, and I was bothered by point C, too. I kept thinking the entire time, doesn't he need to blink or something?

What you didn't see was him dousing himself with three bottles of Visine between each scene.

[mearnest]

I thought the Two Face make-up was great.  Personally I'll allow some suspension of disbelief over the exposed eyeball.  At least it wasn't the lame ass Batman Forever version.  And let's face it, there were a couple of other things in the movie that required a great deal of suspension of disbelief (namely Rachael and Batman's fall from the top of a skyscraper with both emerging unharmed).

[FBX]

this movie was glorious

[Thorns of Crimson Death]

I thought the Two Face make-up was great.  Personally I'll allow some suspension of disbelief over the exposed eyeball.  At least it wasn't the lame ass Batman Forever version.  And let's face it, there were a couple of other things in the movie that required a great deal of suspension of disbelief (namely Rachael and Batman's fall from the top of a skyscraper with both emerging unharmed).

You're absolutely right in everything you've said about this movie.  I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

[daltysmilth]

Personally, I think think that if they never made another Batman movie after this, I would have no regrets.  I have no idea how or if they can top this film.  To do that, it would have to be not only the greatest movie ever, but the greatest thing ever.  I'm not saying any further sequels would be bad, I'm just saying Nolan and company have a very difficult task ahead of them.