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Rottenwatch: THE DARK KNIGHT

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Freedom = $1.05 said:
I feel the same way. What bothered the hell outta me is Batman's neck. The man needs to be agile yet he can't turn his head in any direction :lol
They fixed that in The Dark Knight :)
 
traveler said:
The score is a step up from BB, but it's still Zimmer's usual overly bombastic fare. I'm not particularly impressed. I guess the dude's stuff just isn't for me.

Speaking of BB, I rewatched it last night for the first time in a while and I gotta say I really recall it being better. I dunno why, but for some reason, the writing really bothered me this time around. There are tons of over dramatic lines in the thing and I hope TDK's dialogue feels more in keeping with the semi-realism of the universe.

I also saw the other commonly tossed around criticisms- weak last act and indecipherable action- when they hadn't bothered me before. I can't explain why, but I just came off with a much less positive, hyperbole feeling than I did originally. I'd even go so far to say, in retrospect, I liked Spiderman 2 better whereas I had thought BB was the best of (excluding The Incredibles) all superhero movies before.

Despite all this, the TDK still looks really good and I'm glad to see that some critics praising even acknowledge some of these flaws in the original and go on to say that TDK evades/gets rid of them. Next Friday can't come fast enough.


Have you listened to the soundtracks outside of the movie on the OST? They are not half bad, and the TDK score has some more somber (and also more melodic) moments than the last. It's still an action movie score after all. Bombastics need apply I guess.

I rewatched BB for the first time in a long while last week and found it to be even better than I remembered it. Given that I was ready for all the cheese and weaker 3rd act. The first half of the movie is really awesome, and some of the plot set up is strong. Couple things that bother me though.

Batman's tumbler rolling over shingles and houses without falling through the roofs.

Batman escaping the cops simply because he slammed through a median in the road and drove through a gate. (These tell-tail signs are easily followed to a short dirt road and then a chasm and waterfall) ...hmmm what did we see that vehicle doing again last night? oh that's right FLYING ON ROOFTOPS! Let's go inside the waterfall =D"

"It's not who I am underneath, but what I DO that defines me."

"...........Bruce?"

OH SHIT I said too much, bail out! *jump*

"That's right under Wayne Tower!"

Yeah anyways, I still found it highly enjoyable, and even believable to some extent. It's not a great movie, no but still very watchable and entertaining. Liam Neeson is great in it too. I also noticed that Batman can move his head, when he waiting for Gordon to come outside his house, Batman turns his head a pretty great deal. Thought it was kind of weird, so I don't know if they had a different outfit in that shot or if it was just hard for him to do.
 
Extollere said:
Have you listened to the soundtracks outside of the movie on the OST? They are not half bad, and the TDK score has some more somber (and also more melodic) moments than the last. It's still an action movie score after all. Bombastics need apply I guess.

Yeah anyways, I still found it highly enjoyable, and even believable to some extent. It's not a great movie, no but still very watchable and entertaining. Liam Neeson is great in it too. I also noticed that Batman can move his head, when he waiting for Gordon to come outside his house, Batman turns his head a pretty great deal. Thought it was kind of weird, so I don't know if they had a different outfit in that shot or if it was just hard for him to do.

That might be the problem. I've always thought of BB as a great movie- (and I still think it's one of the best popcorn flicks out there) superhero summer film or not- and going back into it with that mindset kinda made me cringe at a lot of the lines.

And, yeah, I've listened to both soundtracks in their entirety outside the movie. I didn't make the call based simply on how I remembered them being in the film. TDK is definitely an improvement, though, thanks to those more melodic tracks.
 
traveler said:
That might be the problem. I've always thought of BB as a great movie- (and I still think it's one of the best popcorn flicks out there) superhero summer film or not- and going back into it with that mindset kinda made me cringe at a lot of the lines.

And, yeah, I've listened to both soundtracks in their entirety outside the movie. I didn't make the call based simply on how I remembered them being in the film. TDK is definitely an improvement, though, thanks to those more melodic tracks.

yeah for sure. Of course I'd love to see an even more original sound track (original being different and ground breaking like the OST for There Will Be Blood, not similar in sound though.) but it is after all a summer blockbuster, and not entirely an artistic expression. =\ At least we have an orchestrated sound track by one of the best in the biz as opposed to a pop sound track or something worse.

BB is just slightly better than a popcorn movie if only for the fact that it's the first Batman movie to (more) accurately express and explore Batman's character and background. At least that's my opinion as a fan of the character and not just a movie critic.
 
I agree with much of what you have said Traveler. I think I enjoy them maybe a bit more due to my love for the character throughout my life and the manner that Nolan took for the films. In a day in age where the studios need to please everyone (ex. Put this in for the comic fans, put this in for the 89 fans, the fast furious crowd) yet he included them in a way they didn't effect his ultimate vision of how he wanted everything. From the reviews I have read for the Dark Knight it sounds like the studio took a step back and trusted Nolan to the fullest extent.

The soundtrack I adore. I think it is great. We are also just rating it without having seen the product yet which is one thing to note. However it doesn't differ from the original much but expands on the themes in a way you don't see much in films like this. Majority of the hero films recycle the theme and add new themes for each character where in this case it doesn't seem much like it. You have a Joker and Harvey Dent track but neither one seems individual as it loops in and out of the other themes throughout the album. Plus I believe there will be a few more surprises and themes wanted on the soundtrack after the film is done.
 
From JIM LEE's Myspace Blog:

"So this weekend looks to be very busy for me...this weekend has me traveling to LA for business, then I head to NYC for the Dark Knight premiere on Monday night. Shown in IMAX, it's gonna be AMAZING. I say that with 100% confidence as I already saw it last week and boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen...this is THE DEFINITIVE BATMAN movie. Few movie sequels are better than the first but this one is riveting and gripping from start to finish. Heath's performance is Oscar nod worthy and frankly, the direction is too. It's lean, explosive punchy storytelling with a realism and grit unseen before in the superhero genre. I'll write up a fuller report once I see it again."

*splooge*
 
http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/dark-knight-predictions-130m-weekend/

It's understandable even if ridiculous that Warner Bros keeps trying to lower everyone's expectations for this behemoth blockbuster of a Batman Begins sequel. My sources at the studio keep insisting that Dark Knight will "only" make $90 million to $100 million for its opening 3-day weekend. I can't believe they're seriously suggesting that Dark Knight will make less than Iron Man. But the WB insiders point to all the increased competition at the megaplex now as opposed to the beginning of May. Whereas my box office gurus are predicting domestic gross as high as $130M for the wildly anticipated Christopher Nolan/Christian Bale film because of all those record-breaking early ticket sales at North American runs, including IMAX. That would put it 3rd in terms of all-time opening 3-day weekends -- behind Spider-Man 3 ($151.1M on May 4-6, 2007)and Pirates Of The Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest ($131.6M on July 7, 2006). One worry mitigating the Heath Ledger fanboy factor which Hollywood has mentioned is that the pic's 2 hour and 32 minute running time will limit showings. But that isn't an issue anymore since many theater managers/owners plan round-the-clock screenings during its midnight July 18 mega-debut. Heck, even the staid New York Times is gushing all giddy about the pic in its news pages, even citing meaningless polls that moviegoers are so hot for the pic they'll take the day off next Friday just to see it. (Hey, not everyone who frequents the cineplex asks on the job, "You want fries with that?")
 
I just got a call on my cell... it was a jumbled mess... I could barely make it out. Someone asking for help, mention of the Gotham National Bank being robbed... the Joker's laugh...

Did anyone else get this? It's noisy here at work, so I wasn't sure what was going on specifically as I couldn't hear it too well.

EDIT: http://www.superherohype.com/news/batmannews.php?id=7466
I just got a phone call from a person being held hostage in the Gotham National bank. there was some interference and I could here the GCN Traffic update talking about police activity around the bank. There was alot of static and I could here people screaming and pleading for mercy. The person who called said "Hello, can anyone hear me? Please help". There was another voice but it was muffled out by static. When the phone call ended the Joker's laugh could be heard.
He's also defaced the front page of their website - http://www.gothamnationalbank.com/
 
Priz said:
I just got a call on my cell... it was a jumbled mess... I could barely make it out. Someone asking for help, mention of the Gotham National Bank being robbed... the Joker's laugh...

Did anyone else get this? It's noisy here at work, so I wasn't sure what was going on specifically as I couldn't hear it too well.

What the fuck is wrong with you? Ring the police!
 
2 more reviews on RT

Associated Press (+ve)

An epic that will leave you staggering from the theater, stunned by its scope and complexity. It's also, thankfully, a vast improvement over his self-serious origin story, 2005's Batman Begins.


Newsweek (+ve)

Nolan wants to prove that a superhero movie needn't be disposable, effects-ridden junk food, and you have to admire his ambition.
 
Aargh! Friday AND Saturday IMAX showings are sold out. I'm not allowed to order until my brother gets back from his vacation this Sunday to find out whether or not he's off that day, which means Sunday will likely be sold out as well. So, GAF, wait a week or two to see it in IMAX or see it opening night in 35mm?
 
traveler said:
Aargh! Friday AND Saturday IMAX showings are sold out. I'm not allowed to order until my brother gets back from his vacation this Sunday to find out whether or not he's off that day, which means Sunday will likely be sold out as well. So, GAF, wait a week or two to see it in IMAX or see it opening night in 35mm?

opening night 35 mm
 
Straight from the set of
The Dark Knight™, see The Bat-Pod and Tumbler as the crime-fighting transports make their
exclusive Canadian movie theatre appearance at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto.

The Bat-Pod and Tumbler will be on display on
Friday, July 11th at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
from 9:30am – 2:30pm and again
from 6:30pm – 11:00pm
Bring your cameras as this is an experience you do not want to miss!

JESUS CHRIST! IM GOING RIGHT NOW :D :D :D
 
To everyone going to the IMAX, what row are you sitting in. Unfortunately I only got a certain row (I am not saying to avoid the inevitable disappointment!), not the front row though, and it is dead centre
 
traveler said:
I'd even go so far to say, in retrospect, I liked Spiderman 2 better


Preach! Ive being saying this for years now. S-M2 hasnt been topped yet in my eyes. Although BB is probably the closest thing to doing so. TDK should be the movie that tops it, but anything can happen.
 
Mecha_Infantry said:
To everyone going to the IMAX, what row are you sitting in. Unfortunately I only got a certain row (I am not saying to avoid the inevitable disappointment!), not the front row though, and it is dead centre

They give you specific seats at your IMAX? I always thought it was kind of a cluster fuck and first come first served.
 
Mecha_Infantry said:
To everyone going to the IMAX, what row are you sitting in. Unfortunately I only got a certain row (I am not saying to avoid the inevitable disappointment!), not the front row though, and it is dead centre

fuck that shit, first come first serve
 
Scullibundo said:
29look4.jpg

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dark_knight/
Five days till release.

Currently at 100%
Reviews Counted: 15, Fresh: 15, Rotten: 0
I realize I'm exceedingly late to this party but is there a high-res version of that? I'd really like to make it my desktop.
 
Skiptastic said:
They give you specific seats at your IMAX? I always thought it was kind of a cluster fuck and first come first served.

Indianapolis IMAX doesn't have numbered seats/tickets. But I guess some theaters treat seating like at a football stadium (numbered seats).

I do like how I can choose back and center, anything else is robbery.
 
Why are some of the reviews making it sound like batman begins was a bad movie? I thought it was awesome and easily the best superhero movie out there.
 
spider-man 2 isn't a bad movie, it's just too long, too self-serious and too heavy on the dawsons creek romance.

fucking kill mary jane with fire. with. fire.

movie would have been soo much better if they had developed peter and doc ock's friendship and mutual appreciation for science etc. imo (even if that's not a comic book storyline, it's more interesting than fucking mary jane)
 
Full Recovery said:
Indianapolis IMAX doesn't have numbered seats/tickets. But I guess some theaters treat seating like at a football stadium (numbered seats).

I do like how I can choose back and center, anything else is robbery.
did you get my pm?
 
Teh Hamburglar said:
What purpose does the batarang serve? Is he trying to kill criminals now? Has alot of very sharp edges...
I just watched an episode of TAS where instead of punching this random henchman, he decided to throw a batarang at his face.
 
Full Recovery said:
I've only been to the westside IMAX, did they just construct the southside IMAX recently?

Nah, that one premiered with Spiderman 3 I believe. It's been there for a while. I saw I Am Legend there so I could see the prologue. That's why him saying they had assigned seats was weird, cuz I've been to the IMAX on the South Side, the White River museum IMAX to see 300, and the Navy Pier IMAX to see Batman Begins, and none of them had assigned seating.

BTW, the new one is the one up in Fishers near Deer Creek (aka Verizon). That's Hamilton 16. I live up on the north side so that's the one I'm going to Thursday night. I wish I knew where all the IndyGAF people lived. The only other time I remember having so many in one thread was when we somehow started talking about Yats. Which now I am hungry for, dammit. :(

DMczaf said:

Spoilers? lol
It's a clip, of course there are! I saw the title of the clip and I immediately closed the tab. I'm four days away from seeing the movie, I must remain strong!
 
FUCKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I just reallized I could´ve watched this movie yesterday(11/7) ... :(((((

one week... well at least there´s E3 to entertain me...
 
GREATER VANCOUVERITES:

any way of buying tickets online for an IMAX showing? the only showtimes they have listed at all are the single 12am ones, which i cant even make, and they cant be bought online.

i'll see the movie on friday, regardless, but there's a few of us going and i'd like to secure some seats
 
I can't believe they had to go ahead and spoil that awesome part. Pfft.

(Good thing there are many others just as awesome)
 
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