49 Responses

1. Rachel

   July 18th, 2008 at 5:30 pm

   1

   Heath Ledger was beyond fantastic. Honestly, he stole the whole spotlight, and I even had difficulty focusing on the rest of the plot and characters. The experience of seeing him as the Joker was so much more than the previous actor provided. Heath showed the perfect insanity of the Joker, but also the twisted hilarity of him. Nearly every time the crowd laughed, it was at one of his lines, and his deliveries were great. Everyone was just waiting for him to appear in the scene; he was so anticipated.
   I’m going to see it about a thousand times over. IN theater. No telling how many times I’ll watch it when it comes out on DVD.
   Bale was good, too. It’s just hard to focus on his acting while Ledger is stealing the show. But the cast was impeccable; there couldn’t have been a better one.

2. redhollywood

   July 18th, 2008 at 6:58 pm

   2

   OMG!!!!!! Oh My F***ing God!!!! This movie was amazing!! Be ready for my joint review with stephanie like we did with Incredible Hulk I was seriously out of breath after this movie.

3. Stephanie

   July 18th, 2008 at 6:59 pm

   3

   AMAZING. And that’s all I have to say on the matter until Red’s and my reviews are up.

   Btw, I DID indeed pass out some flyers, JC. You would have been proud, haha!

   PS: Red, shoot me an email with your review when you’re ready—and what character you want for your name button. =)

4. Amanda

   July 18th, 2008 at 10:11 pm

   4

   I just saw The Dark Knight, and I am extremely AMPED! It was insanely awesome! I already have made plans to see it again tomorrow night, but there is an urge inside me to run back to the theater and see it again right now! I was expecting it to be good, but… yeah. I am speechless.

5. Stephanie

   July 18th, 2008 at 10:23 pm

   5

   Agreed 100%, Amanda. Despite how long this movie is, everything in it deserves to be in it—it’s not just filling up time at all. I’m glad it was that long. So for me to want to just go back to the theater right now and watch it again, despite the length … that’s saying something!

   I want to see this on IMAX next, though. It’s supposed to be unbelievable.

6. JC

   July 18th, 2008 at 10:30 pm

   6

   Hey guys, first impressions of this movie are about as split as Dent’s face.

   On one hand the story was good, a lot of twists in direction that kept the movie going well. Ledger was great as everyone says. Amanda was right, he did indeed steal the show.

   The mythos of the Joker was caught with precision by Heath, and the most enthralled I was while watching the movie were the scenes with Batman and the Joker interacting.

   On the other, the sound was pretty bad, the action sequences felt rushed and clumsy and at least I felt that Bale phoned it in a bit. Just a tiny bit though.

   There were quite a few forgettable scenes where it just seemed like the camera work and editing were keeping the focus off of complicated things like choreography. The shaky camera stuff just drives me nuts.

   Anyway, I also want to touch on the fact that there was TOO much hype for this movie. I felt no surprises, and it was really hard to get involved in the story when I had a pretty good idea of what was coming. Especially the police scene. I could not identify with the suspense that was being drawn out as the scene was already ruined by one of the first leaked photos.

   I really hope I find the time to add to our big upcoming review so I can extrapolate a bit. I know my feelings probably aren’t going to be popular. You should know though, in spite of everything I am going to be seeing it in IMAX this weekend. lol I know, I know….

7. Stephanie

   July 18th, 2008 at 10:47 pm

   7

   Hm, well, everyone’s entitled to their opinion. Can’t knock that. But honestly I don’t remember any shaky camera movements, or any camera shots detracting from the movie/drama.

   But I will admit that some things were spoiled for me, too—but despite everything I already had seen, either through clips or through pics (and I tried to avoid leaked pics), there was a LOT to make up for it. There was a lot I didn’t see coming, and all the thrills I had seen through even tv spots, the movie itself offered a lot more on top of that. So it wasn’t like some movies, where what you see beforehand is all you get.

   And I’m going to see it on IMAX hopefully next weekend (when my friend is in town). Whooo!

   Btw, do you want me to wait before posting the reviews until you’re ready, or do you just want me to go ahead once Red and I are done (probably post that Monday?) and then you can add yours in?

8. T.G. Swenson

   July 19th, 2008 at 1:11 am

   8

   This movie was fantastic. I knew it would be before even seeing it, but I did not think I would be this blown away.
   The Dark Knight has put a new bar for comic book movies. It will be very difficult to pull off for some films I think.
   And Heath Ledger… Wow. I am at a loss of words. His acting was phenomenal. I’ve heard rumors of him possibly getting nominated for best supporting actor and I think he deserves it. Angers me hearing people say that if he is nominated that the reason they are doing so is because he died. I can not say it enough, his roll in this film was so great.
   I seriously do not think any other film will have as good a villain as The Dark Knight.
   Standing ovations and two thumbs up.
   This is a film that I will be seeing many times until it is no longer playing in theaters.

9. Stephanie

   July 19th, 2008 at 10:47 am

   9

   Yeah, I think this is the best comic book movie.

   And that annoys me, too. He DESERVES it—not because he died. His performance with ridiculously phenomenal.

10. redhollywood

    July 19th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    10

    I honestly have to say that I would be perfectly happy if they made no more batman movies. It just can’t get any better and this is a great stopping point.

11. Stephanie

    July 19th, 2008 at 11:35 pm

    11

    It did indeed wrap things up in the way that it was so solid of a Batman movie in numerous ways, but at the same time it left things open for another film. And I think Nolan has one more great Batman film in him. I got the sense that there’s so much more he wants to explore, just by how he ended it. So I hope he gives us another.

12. T.G. Swenson

    July 19th, 2008 at 11:55 pm

    12

    I agree with Stephanie but at first I thought that two was enough. I think he’ll do a wonderful job if he did a third film.
    I don’t think he is going to allow another Spider-Man 3 happen.
    /reminisce utter shock and horror on that day
    So since seeing I saw the film I had to go get comics today. I heard on the radio about the grand opening of The Comic Book Super Market over in Gretna, NE and checked it out. Pretty cool place, check it out if you can. Well anyways, I bought some stuff but I was so lost. Haven’t gotten any comics in about a year. So I bought some random ones. Mainly getting back to Batman Detective comics, New Avengers, and Nightwing.
    I don’t know what is really good right now. If any of you have some great suggestions on what I should look into please let me know.

13. T.G. Swenson

    July 19th, 2008 at 11:56 pm

    13

    I hate grammatical errors.
    I suggest a way to edit comments that you’ve left. Haha

14. Stephanie

    July 20th, 2008 at 12:41 am

    14

    Nolan’s too talented and meticulous in his work to let something like that happen. I think a third Batman film would be in excellent hands. He understands that you have to concentrate on the film at hand, and I think he is smart enough to know when he’s stepping over a line, and then carefully back away and regain control. I think a third film would turn out nicely …

    (Btw, hehe, yeah. Only writers can edit comments, unfortunately.)

    Haha, not even people who have been reading the current Batman storyline know what the hell is going on. Grant Morrison’s story arc, “RIP,” is just ridiculous. But Detective, on the other hand, knows where it’s at. DEFINITELY get the latest issue: #846. It’s the first issue in a new story arc, and it’s setting things up nicely. Good issue, good recent Detective comics, check it out.

15. michael

    July 20th, 2008 at 10:28 am

    15

    Well, I think JC summed some of it up for me, but i’ll take a shot myself. I disagree that this was the best comic movie ever, or even this year. Maybe my Marvel prejudice is coming out, but Iron Man was better. Not a lot better, but still, better.

    I totally know what JC is talking about with shaking camera during choreographed scenes and it seems to be a symptom of modern movie making. It’s like the industry as a whole decided that when they show us a fight we want to see someones elbow and a bit of knee rather than seeing two people kick the crap out of each other. Personally the camera angles are too close for me.

    Ledger was the bright spot, his Joker was perfect, his acting was spot on, he deserves and Oscar nod that he will get and probably win(maybe for the wrong reasons but that will depend on who he’s up against).

    Eckhart’s Dent was good, his Two Face was better. He played the torn character very well, even showing the hand of Two Face a bit earlier before being stopped by The Batman. And call me a bad person, but Gordon’s kid, after watching him in The Mist a few days before I was kinda hoping ol’ Two Face would put a cap in the annoying little bugger, plus what greater motivation for his sister to become Batgirl??

    Bale’s Bruce Wayne is awesome. His Bats however… It’s pushed and forced and too over the top. He’s not menacing and it comes of as a bit whiny at times. I thought this in the first movie as well. I know many people will disagree with me, but Keaton’s Batman has been the best so far. TDK is far and away a better movie than Batman was, but Keaton is a better Batman than Bale. Again, this is my opinion, but I know of at least one other person who shares it(and no, it’s not Michael Keaton).

    Maggie Gyllenhal(sp?) was MUCH better than Katie Holmes(who sucks). I hated the way she was removed from the film, I thought it was good motivation, but I can’t say I liked it.

    To sum it up, Yes, TDK was excellent. Very well done, good solid comic movie. I will see it again, probably when I pick it up on video, but that’s because I do not make a habit of going to see movies more than once in the theater unless they are phenomonal.

16. Stephanie

    July 20th, 2008 at 12:21 pm

    16

    Okay, I definitely need to see this again so I can get a better feel for the movie.

    Like I commented back on my blog, Mike, Iron Man was more fun, in a light-hearted way—and of course, TDK was darker. But TDK had humor in it, especially with the Joker. And I liked it in a totally different way. I mean, not only the two movies (Iron Man and TDK), but the two sources, are just soo different, anyway. You have to handle them different ways.

    Speaking of Iron Man, does anyone know when that comes out on dvd?

    That scene with Gordon’s kid was very reminiscent of Year One, I believe: with Bats jumping to save him.

    As for Bats, I think he got overshadowed a bit. While this is still HIS film, the Joker just stole the show, so everyone else felt overshadowed somewhat. But I think all the character performances were great, and that Bale did a great job.

17. michael

    July 20th, 2008 at 2:37 pm

    17

    Yeah Stephanie, I see your point about the differences in the movies and the source material, and I honestly think that my enjoyment of Iron Man over TDK is really my comic bias coming out. I am a Marvel guy first and foremost, not that I dislike DC, I just prefer Marvel.

    Looks like October 1 for DVD! Yippee!!

    And I agree that the Batman was very overshadowed by the Joker, which is that way it SHOULD be. Batman stays in the shadows, Joker adores the spotlight. And oh god how I loved Jokers little “how I got this way” stories! Very “Killing Joke”. You know, for me the saddest part about the whole thing is knowing as I walked out of that theater that there will never be another version of the Joker that was done this well. Anyone else will just be copying Heath. I knew we had lost a good actor when he died, I had no idea we had lost an amazing actor capable of turning in one of the best performances I have ever seen.

18. Stephanie

    July 20th, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    18

    Iron Man and TDK are truly great comic book movies, and I loved both of them a lot. So yeah, maybe my preference for Batman is making me choose it over Iron Man just like your preference for Marvel is making you choose Iron Man. Lol! Who knows.

    Whoooo! I am SO getting that movie on dvd. Awesome!

    Hell yeah, very true, great point. And yeah, there was a lot that was very reminiscent of The Killing Joke. Awesome.

    Those stories (of his scars) were creepy! Man!

    I agree. Which is why I hope that if they do do another Bat-film, they don’t cast another Joker. Besides, I don’t think anyone would want to be the actor in that position.

19. mimi

    July 20th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

    19

    OMG I have always loved Heath Ledger and i was counting the days till the movie premiered ever since his death :(, In this movie i was always laughing when he showed up and when he said something he completely stole the show! My Favorite part is so funny but i know its totally gross but it was awesome! Its the part in the beginning where hes in the meeting with all the criminals and the one guy gets on his nerves and hes like “I’m gonna do a magic trick and make this pencil disappear” and he throws the guys head down on it I’m sorry but that just about killed me!! He was totally remarkable in this film and i bet he is honored and surprised on how well it is doing in the theaters! Best Wishes to the movie and Stars!

20. Stephanie

    July 20th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    20

    LOL, yeah, that part was absolutely hilarious!

21. Rachel

    July 20th, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    21

    Agreed, that part was the most hilarious thing ever!

22. JC

    July 20th, 2008 at 11:23 pm

    22

    Actually, speaking of that part where he confronted the mob you guys reminded of me of the moment when I knew Ledger WAS Joker.

    When the one dude said he was crazy and Joker looked at him and got a tinge of irritation and said emphatically but in a very low voice, “No… I am noT”.

    Just that hard “T” at the end, just screamed unstable to me.

23. michael

    July 21st, 2008 at 9:56 am

    23

    Oh yes JC, I totally agree. He perfectly played it. I emphatically believe that the Joker is not insane. And never has been. I mean, some writers will portray him as a unstable, but I don’t think those are lasting or very good stories. The Joker knows perfectly well what he’s doing and understands his motivation for doing it. He’s psychotic, a megalomaniac, a monster of the highest order, but he is in COMPLETE control.

    And yes, the pencil trick was friggin’ awesome! Although my favorite was “No, I’m supposed to kill the bus driver.” THAT was quintescential Joker!

24. Stephanie

    July 21st, 2008 at 9:58 am

    24

    Ohhh, yeah. They all kind of shut up about that after he said it, didn’t they? Heh. Awesome.

25. redhollywood

    July 21st, 2008 at 10:57 am

    25

    My favorite scene with the joker was the hospital scene.

26. Stephanie

    July 21st, 2008 at 11:27 am

    26

    Mike: That’s a good point, and I agree with it to an extent. He IS in complete control of what’s he’s doing—but he cares nothing about its destructive consequences. The Joker is indeed an anarchic megalomaniac—but he is indeed insane because he has no real motivation like all the other criminals. He doesn’t want money, he’s not doing it out of personal tragedy, he’s not getting back at society for something that happened to him or someone he loved—he’s pure chaos. Pure destruction. And something that absolute, that unshakable, is insanity. It’s utter pandemonium.

    Red: Haha, that was such an awesome scene! It just cracked me up seeing him in that wig and walking like he did. Man, that was priceless.

    And how he couldn’t get the whole building to blow up—lmao!

27. michael

    July 21st, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    27

    Now, see, I tend to disagree with you that he has no motivation. The motivation is the joke. The whole point behind anything the Joker ever does is the joke, it’s why his gang and his cohorts never really understand what’s going on, because to them, the loot is the point, but to him, the joke is his whole reason for doing anything. I also think of the Joker as less of a villain and more as a force of nature, something you really can’t fight. In that I agree with you, he is pure chaos but that doesn’t make him crazy any more than a tornado is crazy.

28. Stephanie

    July 21st, 2008 at 2:06 pm

    28

    No traditional motivation, is what I meant. Not money, or revenge, etc—like other criminals. But yeah, the joke and to show what a joke life is. He wants to show the flaws of society and people. Very Killing Joke, as we stated.

    Hmm, Joker like a tornado … like it.

29. mimi

    July 21st, 2008 at 4:17 pm

    29

    I loved the hospital scene too! I loved every scene he was in pretty much! I liked when Gordon Has him in the cell and when he walks in the office everyone is clapping cuz he finally caught The Joker! And Heath is clapping too! I LOVED IT!!! I was laughing so hard! On the 17th my brother got to watch it cuz of his work and was teasing me all day I was so mad!!! The next day he came home and gave me a Key chain with The Dark Knight symbol on it i put it on a string and now its a necklace i only take it off when i need to! I went with my sister and brother-in-law to see it on Friday and i was so HAPPY she surprised me and bought them at like 5:00! and when we got to the theater it was sold out! I felt so bad for most of the people but i saw it so i’m Happy!!!! P.S. I LOVE HEATH!!

30. mimi

    July 21st, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    30

    You know that one picture of him in the movie without his makeup scared me and i like him with his makeup! my mom thinks i’m crazy cuz i like The Joker so much But i don’t really care! He was awesome!!!!!

31. redhollywood

    July 21st, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    31

    He did steal the show but I was glad they let him because that is what the joker would do.

32. mimi

    July 22nd, 2008 at 9:13 am

    32

    yeah i know ur totally right! I need to see it again soon!

33. Stephanie

    July 22nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm

    33

    Yeah, it was pretty freaky that scene where he didn’t have any make-up. People are nitpicking because he’s not “perma-white” or whatever—but let’s face it, Nolan does what he needs to do to make it work in a realistic setting. Look what he’s done for the Scarecrow! The man knows what he’s doing—and that’s why the movie ROCKS.

    He’s done a great thing for comic book movies.

34.   New Comics for 07/23/08 + Tuesday Wrap-Up by ComicNerd: Comic Book Reviews

    July 22nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    34

    [...] First we had Iron Man, then the Incredible Hulk then Hellboy 2: The Golden Army and now we get The Dark Knight!  To top all of that comic movie goodness off, we also get the exciting debut of Uncanny X-Men [...]

35. mimi

    July 22nd, 2008 at 4:52 pm

    35

    yeah Stephanie i agree! I know in the org. Batman he puts like bronzer stuff all over him but that was then and this is now! We now have a new Joker who we can love now and we had one then that we can love. Now we have 2 and we all have different opinions but i think that Heath is the ultimate JOKER!!

36. Stephanie

    July 22nd, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    36

    Heh, that’s interesting you brought that up. It’s kind of the opposite in TDK—in a better way—isn’t it? In Batman 1989, the Joker is “perma-white,” but he uses bronzer or whatever to make his skin look normal during certain scenes. But in TDK, he puts make-up on and can take it off, and it’s more realistic and way more dramatic than Nicholson’s bronzer ever was. Pfft.

    Yeah, I think Heath does a much better job than Nicholson did. Don’t get me wrong, Nicholson’s was indeed good—and the best then. But this is now, and Heath takes the cake.

    Plus, there’s not that silly grin. Instead, the Heath’s Joker has scars that make him look like he’s smiling—accentuated by red lipstick. Waaaay more powerful and dramatic. This Joker’s designs are utterly fantastic. It would be ridiculous if they didn’t get an Oscar for his costume design …

37. Nina

    July 23rd, 2008 at 1:20 am

    37

    I just saw the Dark Night a few days ago and all I have to say is: WOW. Most of my awed stupor is thanks to Heath Ledger and his PHENOMENAL performance. Words cannot describe the excellence in which Ledger played the joker - no, more like became the joker. I have never stepped out of a movie theatre wanting MORE. I can’t get enough of this movie! I’m planning to see it again tomorrow, and I’m making it a priority to buy the dvd as soon as it gets out.

    Like many other people say, as soon as the Joker came out, he just captivated the audience. It was electrifying. And as soon as the Joker left the screen, I felt anticipated to see the Joker again. Sorry Batman - though you’re the main character, Joker did steal the spotlight. But the moments I loved the most were the confrontations between the Joker and Batman - amazing. It’s terrible that Heath Ledger had to die - I would’ve loved to see him on screen again as the Joker, or any other character in future movies.

    Overall, the movie was sophisticated, dark, entertaining, and the best comic adapted movie ever, in my opinion. It has its flaws, of course, but it’s great points outshine the not-so-good points.

38. mimi

    July 23rd, 2008 at 8:53 am

    38

    did u know stephanie that heath did his own make-up in this film! and ur right the smile in the org. batman was stupid! He looks like he had a bad plastic surgery job on him! Heath was way more realistic! I saw pictures of what he was going to look like on the internet and it was scary in a “wow thats so fake” way then like “OMG thats so scary” way! I’m so glad they used heaths costume if not than i don’t know what the movie would be like!

39. Stephanie

    July 23rd, 2008 at 11:28 am

    39

    Nina: Heh, oh yeah, the dvd will be at the top of my list. But that’s not for months, holy crap! ;D

    Mimi: I feel weird calling Heath’s costume a, well, costume. They did such a great job with it that it doesn’t feel like one at all. It just feels like … the Joker, ha!

40. redhollywood

    July 23rd, 2008 at 11:40 am

    40

    I love the fact that his suit was custom made.

41. mimi

    July 23rd, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    41

    Yeah u know ur both right! it was sort of like something well, i don’t know a psychotic clown would wear! but still u r right it was really awesome and it was like a costume but it was more like and alter ego type thing, you know?

42. Richard Lowry

    July 23rd, 2008 at 8:11 pm

    42

    I thought it was a well constructed movie which worked on many levels and I liked Heath Ledger’s take on the Joker (less the Clown Prince of Crime more of a complete effing sociopath). The pencil trick was truly awesome.

    However I left with a feeling that the movie was just missing something that would have given it a perfect score.

43. redhollywood

    July 24th, 2008 at 3:09 am

    43

    maybe free tickets to a repeat showing

44. mimi

    July 24th, 2008 at 9:48 am

    44

    Thats very funny red! and i don’t agree with richard i thought that the movie was perfectly played and filmed, and it wasn’t missing anything in my perspective!

45. Stephanie

    July 24th, 2008 at 10:01 am

    45

    Heh, seriously, Red. THAT is what’s missing, haha!

    As far as anything like that goes, though, Mimi and Richard—I have to see this movie at least one more time to get a better feel. But I loved it, and at any rate, I thought it was completely fantastic. There was soo much in this film, but it was all balanced so well.

46. mimi

    July 24th, 2008 at 10:29 am

    46

    yeah your right stephanie i wish i could see it again but i’m trying to convince my mom to see it but she wants to see mama mia! Bleh! i am not interested in that at all!

47. mimi

    August 9th, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    47

    I went to a drive-in theater last night and saw The Dark
    Knight again! YAY!

48. Stephanie

    August 9th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    48

    I just saw it again—on IMAX this time. AMAZING.

49. mimi

    August 9th, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    49

    u r so lucky i want to see it on imax! i was like half asleep when i watched it! it ended at like 1:30am! i still can’t get enough of it!