best film of the summer

possible Oscar nomination for Heath Ledger

there will be "set-up" for a 3rd film

best "superhero" film released so far.

Sounds about right. :thumbsup:

Fanboys will whine about the Bat-suit.

Fanboys will whine that Maggie Gyllenhaal is "funny looking".

Fanboys will whine that The Joker didn't fall into a vat of chemicals.

Best "superhero" film released so far.

Am I wrong in remembering that Batman Begins performed respectably, but not up to expectations — especially considering it got solid reviews?

Speaking of reviews, The Dark Knight will have to be exceptional indeed to surpass WALL-E for best film of the summer. The latter is currently at 97 percent at Rotten Tomatoes, with 130 total reviews counted; it has only four negative notices. But hey — I'd love to see a Batman film as good as that!

I am expecting TDK to be one of the standout films of the summer, any way you slice it.

Qapla'

SSB

"Best film"? or best box office? Iron Man just KILLED at the Box Office, so that's a tall order. Right now "Batman Begins" is the best superhero movie of all time. Maggie whatshername IS funny looking.

Batman Begins did indeed do a "reboot" to get the franchise out of the campy rut it was in. Even though Batman had promise, the subsequent films drug it right back into the world of silliness.

Now we have a Batman who is truly a Dark Knight defending Gotham and I expect this new film to surpass even Batman Begins. I think Heath Ledger's Joker will now be the defining role for what a psychopathic criminal/killer will be.

Best FILM of the summer, hands down..even surpsassing Wall-E.

as long as there is not a Robin....

Personally, I hope they trash the suv in this film and bring something better in the next film. I rather liked the car in the first Batman film.

I think it's silly that the driver has to take a nose dive in the car just to shoot the weapons.

Personally, I hope they trash the suv in this film and bring something better in the next film. I rather liked the car in the first Batman film.

I think it's silly that the driver has to take a nose dive in the car just to shoot the weapons.

Ah, but the necessity of that nose dive will be revealed in this movie. Granted, the Anton Furst Batmobile is a much sexier design - but having a full blown "thematic" Batmobile at hand just as Batman is "beginning" wouldn't make much sense -and this franchise is all about "making sense" as much as possible. Maybe Bruce Wayne will have time to get the car customised by the third movie. I mean, the man's got a lot on his plate!

I predict that dozens of fans who post here will pick this movie apart 'til the ugliness starts! :p



Seriously, tho, I'm looking forward to it and predict that at least *I* will enjoy the heck out of it. I really liked the first movie and think that Bale brings a lot to the role. Add in what I felt was a very tight script for the first movie, an excellent supporting cast and you've got Batman Begins.

I predict I will go and see it. But who can tell the future.

The Tumbler is the only movie-mobile not designed by a gay fashion designer.

The Tumbler is the only movie-mobile not designed by a gay fashion designer.Not that there's anything wrong with that. :p

So all designers are gay, or just the better ones? :confused: :rolleyes:

Not that there's anything wrong with that. :p

So all designers are gay, or just the better ones? :confused: :rolleyes:I think that when he said "movie-mobile," he meant movie Batmobile.

Qapla'

SSB

A quick look at Ledger's performance:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080627/ap_en_ot/film_dark_knight_first_look

Sounds very good.

Our local Children's Museum has a huge comic book display currently. Among the many exhibits is one of the screen-used tumblers. Pretty impressive in person. Unfortunately, we could only see it from one angle since it was roped off in a batcave enclosure.

http://www.fire-house.net/jheilman/tumbler.jpg

as long as there is not a Robin....
Bold prediction for a sequel/cross-over - Batman and Hancock

Our local Children's Museum has a huge comic book display currently. Among the many exhibits is one of the screen-used tumblers. Pretty impressive in person. Unfortunately, we could only see it from one angle since it was roped off in a batcave enclosure.

http://www.fire-house.net/jheilman/tumbler.jpg

Still gotta be one of the most bad-ass, don't-mess-with-me vehicles on screen in a long while.

Maggie whatshername IS funny looking.

Yeah, but at least you remember she's unconventional looking, and a great actress. As opposed to Katie Holms, who I can barely remember being in Batman Begins.

What's the beef with Maggie? I think she is quite attractive. She's got the girl-next-door look like Sandra Bullock has. I'd much rather see her on screen than "I'm in every other movie coming out this year so you'll be over-saturated with me" Angelina Jolie (Not that I mind seeing her either, I just think she is over rated )

I predict I will be using the words of others, using select editing of course, to verbalize my feelings of extreme excitement about this movie:

I predict I will go and see it.

I'm looking forward to it and predict that at least *I* will enjoy the heck out of it. I really liked the first movie and think that Bale brings a lot to the role. Add in what I felt was a very tight script for the first movie, an excellent supporting cast and you've got Batman Begins

Yeah, but at least you remember she's unconventional looking, and a great actress. As opposed to Katie Holms, who I can barely remember being in Batman Begins.

What's the beef with Maggie? I think she is quite attractive. She's got the girl-next-door look like Sandra Bullock has.

Though I also predict that "The Dark Knight" is a play on words. It doesn't just describe Bats but the dialog used in the trailer hints of a "dark night" for either Gotham, Wayne or both.

Hey jheliman, is the red that you see on the front of the tumbler really there or is it reflecting a light source?

Beauty, as the man says, is totally subjective. I'm sure I find some women really attractive that you guys don't. And Vice versa. Hence Ms. Gyllenhall.Katie Holmes is not drop dead gorgeous either. Which leads us to Mrs. Pitt.....

Hey jheliman, is the red that you see on the front of the tumbler really there or is it reflecting a light source?

That's the lighting. You can see it on the tires too.

As of today, Iron Man is the #1 film for 2008 (based on box-office reports, which is all the studios seem to care about), with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull coming in at #2. If The Dark Knight is as good as the early "buzz" says it is, I'm guessing it'll be #1 before long.

Fanboys will whine.

The faithful will rejoice.

Heath Ledger will knock the smug smirks off the faces of the critics.

Oh, and I will have a blast!

From Kevin Smith's MySpace blog:

"I caught an early screening of "The Dark Knight" yesterday evening.

Without giving anything away, this is an epic film (and trust me: based on the sheer size and scope of the visuals and storytelling, that's not an overstatement). It's the "Godfather II" of comic book films and three times more earnest than "Batman Begins" (and f***, was that an earnest film). Easily the most adult comic book film ever made. Heath Ledger didn't so much give a performance as he disappeared completely into the role; I know I'm not the first to suggest this, but he'll likely get at least an Oscar nod (if not the win) for Best Supporting Actor. F***ing flick's nearly three hours long and only leaves you wanting more (in a great way). I can't imagine anyone being disappointed by it. Nolan and crew have created something close to a masterpiece."

I'm getting really psyched up about this movie. Saw the latest trailer at Hancock. My prediction is, this will be the biggest, easily the best film of the summer. Midnight showing anyone?

The Los Angeles Daily News recapped films still to come this summer, and they said that The Dark Knight was a masterwork of writing, of acting, and of filmmaking technique.

And, there's already buzz about giving Heath Ledger a posthumous Oscar nomination. Yes, that was in the paper, too!

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dark_knight/

Based on all early reviews, this should be THE film of the summer.

From Nick Nunziata's review:

<<When in costume he's also extremely effective but his gruff vocal take on Batman comes off a little too forced and sometimes goofy to totally work. There are moments where he's nearly unintelligible, and the same sort of suspension of disbelief one needs to be watching a film like this in the first place needs to be in play regarding the voice of Batman. I understand that there's a secret identity to protect but I'd rather the audience split hairs over whether it sounds obviously like Bruce Wayne than make fun of his tough guy Batman voice. Still, Bale is the perfect Batman. Great at the physical work, terrific out of costume, and someone who allows other actors to really bring their best work out without having to carry what is essentially the straight man of the piece.>>

I can relate to this point. Bale's Batman voice in the first movie was sometimes a bit too much. It was really the only thing I can remember that nearly 'took me out' of the movie. I found it bordering on the 'comical' in some scenes. it would appear that this will be a short-coming of the new film as well.

That said... if this turns out to be the only criticism of THE DARK NIGHT that I can point to, this will be one awesome film!

- GJS

I never found the "voice" to be distracting. I viewed it as more theatricality to use fear as a weapon.

"I swear to God I don't know"
"SWEAR TO ME!!"

Seeing it in 10 days!! WOOHOO!!

Just conjecturing here....

Joker will run wild focusing on Anarchy as the antithesis to the order of Batman, Maggie Gyllenhall's character is brutally murdered. Harvey Dent who is dating her will be scarred during that incident thus transforming him into Two face. Bruce Wayne will face his own inner demons spurred by his wanting to leave Batman behind and pick up with what's her name (I cannot remember her name because Katie Holmes was that unmemorable) because he is seeing what a 'normal' life she is having with Harvey Dent. Then facing the murder of Maggie Gyllenhall's character he finds his own personal limits that separates him from the criminal element he hunts as Batman.

About that gruff voice - I totally buy it after a quote from Bale I read a day or so ago. That cowl was a heavy, constricting things with a helmet molded into it, that had to be bolted down. Bale said that the thing frustrated him the point of anger, and he channeled that into Batman's rage - in other words, it was real.

Puts a new spin on his line readings!

wow....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20080709/en_movies_eo/30c380360188_4d68_93b8_e631a6db4a87

Looks like a killer opening. I hope it lives up to the hype.

:roll:

I just bought my tickets. Can't see it before Saturday, but it's the first showing on that day.

I think the movie will do well but not Oscar quality. I think more people (Outside the comic world) are wanting to see this movie with it being Heath ledgers last movie.

Best FILM of the summer, hands down..even surpsassing Wall-E.Well, having seen it, I'd say it is very well-done. Better than Wall-E? I don't know; they're so very different that comparing the two is pointless. I didn't enjoy it more than Wall-E, but it is easily my favorite Batman film and ranks right beside Spider-Man 2 and The Incredibles in the favorite superhero film category.

While Heath Ledger did a great job, there's something about the part itself that almost seems like an unfair advantage of sorts. I was equally impressed by Bale, Caine and Oldman in this one.

As for reviews, FWIW -- from RottenTomatoes.com ...

Wall-E 96 percent "Fresh," with "Top Critics" at 97 percent.
199 reviews counted; 192 "Fresh" and 7 "Rotten."

The Dark Knight 94 percent "Fresh," with "Top Critics" at 90 percent.
246 reviews counted; 232 "Fresh" and 14 "Rotten."

Any way you slice it, they're two superb movies.

Qapla'

SSB

Here's the all-time box office grosses adjusted for inflation:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm

Looking more deeply, accounting for number of years in the game, it looks as if Titanic beat Star Wars in gross-per-year.

I just pay little attention to "all-time" gross figures if inflation is ignored.