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Rottenwatch: THE DARK KNIGHT

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SpeedingUptoStop said:
....he screamed it a bunch of times?

yeah it was different. He seemed really pissed off in the trailers to another level. The movie cut just wasn't the same (although I think I've watched the trailer a little too much :D ).
 
Ninja Scooter said:
they just mentioned the $18 million thing on Fox News. Also said that pretty much all showings for the whole weekend are selling out. This is going to make some crazy money, and i bet it'll do amazing with repeat viewings when word spreads about Ledger's performance. Reminds me of Pirates of the Carribbean in a way, the way a lot of people went just cause of Depp.


funny you say that. my cousin went to a midnight show last night and when he got back all he could say (besides how amazing it is) was how ledger gave a depp like performance. when i asked what he meant he was like how POTC was depp, TDK is ledger.

then he said they have to choose depp for whichever villain they decide to go for in the 3rd.

depp as the riddler?
 
alr1ghtstart said:
yeah it was different. He seemed really pissed off in the trailers to another level. The movie cut just wasn't the same (although I think I've watched the trailer a little too much :D ).

and i liked the "i loveeee this job" in the trailer or in one of the clips. in the movie, it was "i like it, i like it"
 
effzee said:
funny you say that. my cousin went to a midnight show last night and when he got back all he could say (besides how amazing it is) was how ledger gave a depp like performance. when i asked what he meant he was like how POTC was depp, TDK is ledger.

then he said they have to choose depp for whichever villain they decide to go for in the 3rd.

depp as the riddler?

I was thinking after watching TDK how I'd love to see Depp go for broke and give a batshit insane performance like Ledger as the Joker. Depp as the Riddler. I can dig it.
 
Wow, that certainly was an interesting experience. With The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan manages to fix all of the major problems I have with Batman Begins. And yet, despite those BB issues (inconsistent – the first act of the film is so much better than the middle and final acts; bad fight choreography and badly filmed action scenes; some ham fisted cheesiness), as far as first impressions go, I’m going to have to take the road less traveled and say that I preferred BB to TDK. I recall vividly when the credits hit the first time I saw BB that I was genuinely gleeful (despite the flaws). When TDK faded to black, I wasn’t hit with those same emotions. I enjoyed it lots, but it didn’t click with me like its predecessor did.

One of the major things that stood out for me is that BB felt like a Batman movie, and it really nailed the tone and aesthetic of the world. TDK by comparison felt like a crime drama that just so happened to have some Batman characters dropped into it. Both movies were ensembles, but TDK feels so much more so, to the point that our protagonist, Bruce Wayne/Batman feels like a supporting player, and his arc isn’t anywhere near as well developed or satisfying as it was in BB (which really delivers a nice emotional punch). I guess I just preferred the more intimate and smaller scale storytelling in BB over the grand, sweeping yarn TDK spins.

TDK does erase the flaws present in BB, though. The action scenes are much better both in terms of scope and in terms of how they were shot, and the movie keeps a much more consistent (and fairly brisk) pace. The acting overall is better in TDK – Bale and Caine seem conformable in their roles now (although Bale’s Batman voice is even worse this time around, if that’s even possible), Gyllenhaal delivers the emotional stuff like Katie Holmes never would have been able, and Gary Oldman is better than he has been in a few years. As for Heath Ledger’s supposedly Oscar-worthy turn as the Joker, I don’t see it. Don’t get me wrong, he is very good in the role, but its nothing mindblowing, and if anyone from this production deserves acting accolades, it has to be Aaron Eckhart, whose turn as Harvey Dent has been met with little fanfare.

In the end, it’s quite good. I don’t think it’s the second coming it has been championed by many as being, but in terms of my own personal taste, I think it slides nicely into the top 3 of the genre, behind Spider-Man 2 and Batman Begins. Despite the reservations I’ve mentioned, The Dark Knight still definitely gets a recommendation from me.
 
Solo said:
I think it slides nicely into the top 3 of the genre, behind Spider-Man 2 and Batman Begins.
Ouch. Thanks for the review. I'm going tonight with a group of friends, and will keep my expectations in check.
 
Solo said:
Wow, that certainly was an interesting experience. With The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan manages to fix all of the major problems I have with Batman Begins. And yet, despite those BB issues (inconsistent – the first act of the film is so much better than the middle and final acts; bad fight choreography and badly filmed action scenes; some ham fisted cheesiness), as far as first impressions go, I’m going to have to take the road less traveled and say that I preferred BB to TDK. I recall vividly when the credits hit the first time I saw BB that I was genuinely gleeful (despite the flaws). When TDK faded to black, I wasn’t hit with those same emotions. I enjoyed it lots, but it didn’t click with me like its predecessor did.

One of the major things that stood out for me is that BB felt like a Batman movie, and it really nailed the tone and aesthetic of the world. TDK by comparison felt like a crime drama that just so happened to have some Batman characters dropped into it. Both movies were ensembles, but TDK feels so much more so, to the point that our protagonist, Bruce Wayne/Batman feels like a supporting player, and his arc isn’t anywhere near as well developed or satisfying as it was in BB (which really delivers a nice emotional punch). I guess I just preferred the more intimate and smaller scale storytelling in BB over the grand, sweeping yarn TDK spins.

TDK does erase the flaws present in BB, though. The action scenes are much better both in terms of scope and in terms of how they were shot, and the movie keeps a much more consistent (and fairly brisk) pace. The acting overall is better in TDK – Bale and Caine seem conformable in their roles now (although Bale’s Batman voice is even worse this time around, if that’s even possible), Gyllenhaal delivers the emotional stuff like Katie Holmes never would have been able, and Gary Oldman is better than he has been in a few years. As for Heath Ledger’s supposedly Oscar-worthy turn as the Joker, I don’t see it. Don’t get me wrong, he is very good in the role, but its nothing mindblowing, and if anyone from this production deserves acting accolades, it has to be Aaron Eckhart, whose turn as Harvey Dent has been met with little fanfare.

In the end, it’s quite good. I don’t think it’s the second coming it has been championed by many as being, but in terms of my own personal taste, I think it slides nicely into the top 3 of the genre, behind Spider-Man 2 and Batman Begins. Despite the reservations I’ve mentioned, The Dark Knight still definitely gets a recommendation from me.

so basically they have the 3rd movie to fix all these things and combine the best from the 2?

awesome. i really hope nolan makes 3 because it should be a great challenge.
 
In a sense, yes, lolz. What Id almost like to see is Nolan forego the "realism" and bring back Rhas. He is immortal in the comics, right?
 
Solo said:
One of the major things that stood out for me is that BB felt like a Batman movie, and it really nailed the tone and aesthetic of the world. TDK by comparison felt like a crime drama that just so happened to have some Batman characters dropped into it. Both movies were ensembles, but TDK feels so much more so, to the point that our protagonist, Bruce Wayne/Batman feels like a supporting player, and his arc isn’t anywhere near as well developed or satisfying as it was in BB (which really delivers a nice emotional punch). I guess I just preferred the more intimate and smaller scale storytelling in BB over the grand, sweeping yarn TDK spins.

Batman Begins was the origin story though, so it's only natural it would focus almost exclusively on Bruce Wayne/Batman and how he got to be who he is. Batman, if you think about it, isn't a terribly interesting character. Most comic book heroes aren't. It's the villains and other characters that provide that interesting dynamic and bring the best out of the heroes. So I think it's natural that TDK would focus just as much on The Joker as it does Batman (much like Burton's Batman). Harvey Dent's story was critical to the plot as well.
 
Those are fair points, but am I really asking too much to have more Batman/Wayne screentime in a Batman movie? Its not a huge issue, but it was a little disappointing. I felt like Bruce's arc was the second or even third on the ladder in terms of importance, not the top one as it should be.
 
GreekWolf said:
Ouch. Thanks for the review. I'm going tonight with a group of friends, and will keep my expectations in check.

Why is that an "Ouch" statement? Spider-Man 2 is a great film, Batman Begins is a great film and apparently The Dark Knight is a great film. Can't they just live in fucking harmony instead of this constant scale that NeoGAF seems to be obsessed with.
 
Preach, brother! I really enjoy the hell out of all three of them. Those 3 I listed are leagues ahead of #4-wherever that list would end, in my books.
 
Solo said:
Those are fair points, but am I really asking too much to have more Batman/Wayne screentime in a Batman movie? Its not a huge issue, but it was a little disappointing. I felt like Bruce's arc was the second or even third on the ladder in terms of importance, not the top one as it should be.
I thought this as well but it didn't bother me due to the great performances all around and having a film like Batman Begins have the complete origin/character setup.
 
Care to elaborate? I dont mind getting called out or having smilies posted at me, but when you dont say why, its a bit hard for me to figure out.
 
Solo said:
Care to elaborate? I dont mind getting called out or having smilies posted at me, but when you dont say why, its a bit hard for me to figure out.
He said your movie doesn't have any BALLS. Now the whole world will know.
 
The movie was amazing, period. I'm still in a state of shock so I'm going through the two Dark Knight threads and making sense of some loose ends I missed. I can finally highlight spoilers :D

I was surprised by my audience, nobody was a moron. They were all so captivated by the on-screen action I think they forgot how to talk ;)
 
SanjuroTsubaki said:
Dark Knight makes the front of CNN.com. The weekend tally may be more massive than expected. 1989 all over again.

So fucking ecstatic. So glad a comic book movie with actual heft and weight and sophistication can beat the living shit out of all the piddling fucking comic based garbage out there.

THERE IS HOPE.

YES WE CAN.
 
Although the movie was fucking great, I REALLY wish I wouldn't have watched all those trailers and TV commercials, kind of ruined some of the moments for me.

For example when
Gordon died I was like "He can't really be dead, the part from the trailers where he's talking about the Joker in jail and when he breaks the bat signal didn't play yet."
 
SnowWolf said:
I was surprised by my audience, nobody was a moron. They were all so captivated by the on-screen action I think they forgot how to talk ;)

Haha, same here. I've never been in an audience that sat and stared at the screen with such raptured attention as when I saw TDK. Nobody even went to the bathroom that I noticed during the entire running time, and you know you always see those assholes in your peripheral, distracting you. :P
 
I'm not really seeing the complaint about Bruce's arc. The film ends on a very personal note for him, and it continues what was set up from Batman Begins brilliantly. The arc doesn't really stand on its own, but that's a strength for me.

I am listening to the OST right now. HOLY CRAP there is some stunning stuff here. This is such a fantastic composer teaming.
 
SpeedingUptoStop said:
:D Now you see?


also, spoiler tag that shit!
Doesn't need tags, really.

Anyway, now that the effect has worn off, no I don't see. It wasn't the greatest film ever, not even close. :lol A very good film, and it doesn't deserve to be called a superhero movie. I was wrong on that front.
 
Greatness Gone said:
Doesn't need tags, really.

Anyway, now that the effect has worn off, no I don't see. It wasn't the greatest film ever, not even close. :lol A very good film, and it doesn't deserve to be called a superhero movie. I was wrong on that front.

god why do you suck so badly at everything you do
 
Spotless Mind said:
I'm not really seeing the complaint about Bruce's arc. The film ends on a very personal note for him, and it continues what was set up from Batman Begins brilliantly. The arc doesn't really stand on its own, but that's a strength for me.

I am listening to the OST right now. HOLY CRAP there is some stunning stuff here. This is such a fantastic composer teaming.


Well, its like I said - there doesnt feel like there is enough Batman in a Batman movie. That reduced screentime coupled with a less personal, compelling arc is my reason for not digging it as much.

But I guess youre damned if you do, damned if you dont. Because if Bruce had gotten the screentime I wanted, then Harvey's, Joker's, and Gordon's arcs would have all fallen by the wayside.
 
Solo all I can suggest is that you give it a second viewing. I felt much the same as you did on my first viewing, which is why I said it wasn't as intimate as Begins and keeping the feeling of Begins. On second viewing you truly appreciate that there's no way in hell you would care about Harvey's character if more screentime were given to Bruce. You also accept that Begins acted as necessary viewing as opposed to a forgotten chapter - its as if Begins was the launch of the overall narrative and The Dark Knight is hitting the ground running. I still think there should have been something to remind us that this is the same Bruce from Begins despite the returning characters that surround him. As I said in the other thread
Thomas Wayne's stethescope that Bruce retrieved from Begins could have been placed on a mantle in the background of Bruce's penthouse or something
- just anything to remind us this Bruce is one in the same.

On second viewing you notice Bruce's arc is more important than you initially think - at least I did. He has an arc, no its not as intimately detailed as Begins - but whilst the character isn't better for it - the film is better for it. The overall characterisation of everybody throughout this movie is stronger than Begins - yet the characterisation of relationships BETWEEN characters isn't.

If anything I would've liked Goyer to revise the screenplay - if only because he had a penchant for making events feel complimentary and timed perfect. Not the events themselves, just how they're played out - this wonderful sense of balance. An example is in Begins when Gordon is stuck in the Narrows and says 'We need backup! Everybody is down!', only to have the commissioner reply 'Gordon, all teams are on the island with you. There's nobody left!' *cue the tumbler tearing across the bridge gap.

That said, The Dark Knight is a better written film in terms of its content - its tight even, just not nearly as tight in it's execution as begins' script - which imo is one of the leanest script ever written.

Overall though, The Dark Knight is a better film.
 
Solo said:
Those are fair points, but am I really asking too much to have more Batman/Wayne screentime in a Batman movie? Its not a huge issue, but it was a little disappointing. I felt like Bruce's arc was the second or even third on the ladder in terms of importance, not the top one as it should be.
I think Batman already had most of the exposition he needs in the original. Gonna spoiler tag the rest of my response so I can be a bit more liberal.
I think the point of this movie was to show how Batman has affected the city. So in a sense it is still Batman's story arc...but it's how Batman has become more than himself. And how Gotham is being reformed in the image he created, and not in the image he wanted. I think the next movie...if there is another...can swing the pendulum back towards Batman in order to explain perhaps how he can deal with this. To me this seems like an effective way to explore the possibilities of the series.
I recall vividly when the credits hit the first time I saw BB that I was genuinely gleeful (despite the flaws). When TDK faded to black, I wasn’t hit with those same emotions. I enjoyed it lots, but it didn’t click with me like its predecessor did.
I think this may have something to do with the fact that this one doesn't really end on a hopeful note. Things start bad, and they end worse. I felt the ending was stronger here, but I also didn't leave in glee so much as shock.
I guess I just preferred the more intimate and smaller scale storytelling in BB over the grand, sweeping yarn TDK spins.
I can understand this. I disagree, mainly because I think we've already explored the emotional side of Batman well enough that we don't need a retread, but I can't fault you for feeling this way

(although Bale’s Batman voice is even worse this time around, if that’s even possible)
What would you have him talk like? He obviously can't use his normal voice...and I think that the "Bat voice"...if he were real, would be a quite fitting way to inspire fear in those he is trying to scare. It only sounds silly because we're not the ones he is trying to intimidate.
As for Heath Ledger’s supposedly Oscar-worthy turn as the Joker, I don’t see it. Don’t get me wrong, he is very good in the role, but its nothing mindblowing, and if anyone from this production deserves acting accolades, it has to be Aaron Eckhart, whose turn as Harvey Dent has been met with little fanfare.
More or less completely disagree here.
The joker, starting at the magic trick, had me pretty freaking disturbed. I honestly don't recall being affected quite that way by any performance ever. This is obviously partly due to the writing, which was absolutely top notch, but the delivery is what sold it. He went beyond "being a good Joker" and was just outright terrifying.
 
Solo said:
Wow, that certainly was an interesting experience. With The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan manages to fix all of the major problems I have with Batman Begins. And yet, despite those BB issues (inconsistent – the first act of the film is so much better than the middle and final acts; bad fight choreography and badly filmed action scenes; some ham fisted cheesiness), as far as first impressions go, I’m going to have to take the road less traveled and say that I preferred BB to TDK. I recall vividly when the credits hit the first time I saw BB that I was genuinely gleeful (despite the flaws). When TDK faded to black, I wasn’t hit with those same emotions. I enjoyed it lots, but it didn’t click with me like its predecessor did.

One of the major things that stood out for me is that BB felt like a Batman movie, and it really nailed the tone and aesthetic of the world. TDK by comparison felt like a crime drama that just so happened to have some Batman characters dropped into it. Both movies were ensembles, but TDK feels so much more so, to the point that our protagonist, Bruce Wayne/Batman feels like a supporting player, and his arc isn’t anywhere near as well developed or satisfying as it was in BB (which really delivers a nice emotional punch). I guess I just preferred the more intimate and smaller scale storytelling in BB over the grand, sweeping yarn TDK spins.

TDK does erase the flaws present in BB, though. The action scenes are much better both in terms of scope and in terms of how they were shot, and the movie keeps a much more consistent (and fairly brisk) pace. The acting overall is better in TDK – Bale and Caine seem conformable in their roles now (although Bale’s Batman voice is even worse this time around, if that’s even possible), Gyllenhaal delivers the emotional stuff like Katie Holmes never would have been able, and Gary Oldman is better than he has been in a few years. As for Heath Ledger’s supposedly Oscar-worthy turn as the Joker, I don’t see it. Don’t get me wrong, he is very good in the role, but its nothing mindblowing, and if anyone from this production deserves acting accolades, it has to be Aaron Eckhart, whose turn as Harvey Dent has been met with little fanfare.

In the end, it’s quite good. I don’t think it’s the second coming it has been championed by many as being, but in terms of my own personal taste, I think it slides nicely into the top 3 of the genre, behind Spider-Man 2 and Batman Begins. Despite the reservations I’ve mentioned, The Dark Knight still definitely gets a recommendation from me.


You pretty much summed up what I wanted to say about the movie without having to deal with the "greatest movie of all time" crowd. The only thing I will say about the movie is that Heath Ledger really stands out and makes the Joker character work for this 'reenvisioning' of the Joker.
 
Scullibundo said:
Solo all I can suggest is that you give it a second viewing. I felt much the same as you did on my first viewing, which is why I said it wasn't as intimate as Begins and keeping the feeling of Begins. On second viewing you truly appreciate that there's no way in hell you would care about Harvey's character if more screentime were given to Bruce. You also accept that Begins acted as necessary viewing as opposed to a forgotten chapter - its as if Begins was the launch of the overall narrative and The Dark Knight is hitting the ground running. I still think there should have been something to remind us that this is the same Bruce from Begins despite the returning characters that surround him. As I said in the other thread
Thomas Wayne's stethescope that Bruce retrieved from Begins could have been placed on a mantle in the background of Bruce's penthouse or something
- just anything to remind us this Bruce is one in the same.

On second viewing you notice Bruce's arc is more important than you initially think - at least I did. He has an arc, no its not as intimately detailed as Begins - but whilst the character isn't better for it - the film is better for it. The overall characterisation of everybody throughout this movie is stronger than Begins - yet the characterisation of relationships BETWEEN characters isn't.

If anything I would've liked Goyer to revise the screenplay - if only because he had a penchant for making events feel complimentary and timed perfect. Not the events themselves, just how they're played out - this wonderful sense of balance. An example is in Begins when Gordon is stuck in the Narrows and says 'We need backup! Everybody is down!', only to have the commissioner reply 'Gordon, all teams are on the island with you. There's nobody left!' *cue the tumbler tearing across the bridge gap.

Great response! Don't worry, I definately will be giving it at least a second viewing (Ill probably end up seeing it in theatres 3-4 times before its all said and done), although Ill be waiting for the weekend to end before venturing to the theatre again.

You make some really good points. I too missed the absense of Thomas Wayne. His presence in BB is one of the things that really grounds things and makes it feel real. On a similar note, I liked the old-fashion feel of the world of BB as opposed to the very modern look of TDK's Gotham. Its like they werent the least bit concerned with maintaining a visual style. Where the hell did the Narrows go?

I also love that moment in BB you reference. Perfectly timed indeed!
 
Solo said:
As for Heath Ledger’s supposedly Oscar-worthy turn as the Joker, I don’t see it. Don’t get me wrong, he is very good in the role, but its nothing mindblowing,

O_O

I seriously can't see why you would think that.

irfan said:
Reading through that .. and you liked Casion Royale? :lol Okey dokey ..

Okay, but you're worse. You sound like a tool when you go "lol THAT'S your opinion and yet you liked... a GREAT movie that most people love?!? :lol "
 
Sean said:
Although the movie was fucking great, I REALLY wish I wouldn't have watched all those trailers and TV commercials, kind of ruined some of the moments for me.

For example when
Gordon died I was like "He can't really be dead, the part from the trailers where he's talking about the Joker in jail and when he breaks the bat signal didn't play yet."

Thankfully, I never saw that/didn't remember. They honest to God had me and my friends going, that when
he popped back up
we gasped and cheered (along with the rest of the theater).
 
WHOAguitarninja said:
I think Batman already had most of the exposition he needs in the original. Gonna spoiler tag the rest of my response so I can be a bit more liberal.
I think the point of this movie was to show how Batman has affected the city. So in a sense it is still Batman's story arc...but it's how Batman has become more than himself. And how Gotham is being reformed in the image he created, and not in the image he wanted. I think the next movie...if there is another...can swing the pendulum back towards Batman in order to explain perhaps how he can deal with this. To me this seems like an effective way to explore the possibilities of the series.

I think this may have something to do with the fact that this one doesn't really end on a hopeful note. Things start bad, and they end worse. I felt the ending was stronger here, but I also didn't leave in glee so much as shock.

I can understand this. I disagree, mainly because I think we've already explored the emotional side of Batman well enough that we don't need a retread, but I can't fault you for feeling this way


What would you have him talk like? He obviously can't use his normal voice...and I think that the "Bat voice"...if he were real, would be a quite fitting way to inspire fear in those he is trying to scare. It only sounds silly because we're not the ones he is trying to intimidate.

More or less completely disagree here.
The joker, starting at the magic trick, had me pretty freaking disturbed. I honestly don't recall being affected quite that way by any performance ever. This is obviously partly due to the writing, which was absolutely top notch, but the delivery is what sold it. He went beyond "being a good Joker" and was just outright terrifying.

Another great response! You also make some great points. I agree that this one is more about how Batman has effected the city in ways Bruce hadnt intended.

The endings are definately different (hope vs. dispair), but I really like both for what they accomplish. Hell, I like the idea of a BB3 with Batman
on the run
.

As for the voice, I get the idea of masking your real voice and all, but I just dont like the way he does it. I dunno, hard to explain really.

I really liked Heath, as I said, but I simply preferred some other performances.
 
I don't see how anyone could prefer BB over TDK. The second half of BB was completely mediocre and the scarecrow as a villain doesn't even come close to the joker / harvey. TDK had a lot more going on but it was easily the superior movie, its barely debatable.
 
Bruce Wayne/Batman may not have been the obvious lead protagonist as in Batman Begins, but the character's actions infect every second of screen time. The Dark Knight was about Batman's influence on Gotham, its major players and its minor ones; and vice-versa. You can't begin to deal with how a post-Batman Gotham can affect Wayne/Batman without actually exploring that post-Batman Gotham, and that's naturally where much of the film's development is spent. All of it though, is connected back to Batman. "[He] changed things, forever."
 
jsg1p1.jpg


I need to repost this. It looks almost identical to me leaving the theater. Without the batsuit of course.
 
woodchuck said:
i love batman masking his voice, but i don't like the times when he does it.

does he have to do it when talking to gordon/rachel/lucious?
You can never be too careful.

Gordon: he doesn't know it's Wayne, and that knowledge would only endanger both of them further...

Rachel: they were on a public street...

Lucius: someone at Wayne Enterprises already figured it out, so why take more unnecessary chances?
 
Dan said:
You can never be too careful.

Gordon: he doesn't know it's Wayne, and that knowledge would only endanger both of them further...

Rachel: they were on a public street...

Lucius: someone at Wayne Enterprises already figured it out, so why take more unnecessary chances?

damn. you're quick :lol i stealth edited out "gordon"

i guess i can see the rachel/lucius arguments.
 
I agree with you Solo on Eckhart's performance to a degree. Since seeing it the other night I've continually posted that I hoped people didn't forget to acknowlege Eckhart in the wake of the joker. The
TELL ME! scene made my heart sink and couldn't have with another actor. That said, the Joker really unnerved and scared me - not in the scenes that most people describe. It's Joker's ability to take the power we thought and Batman thought he had - and deem it useless. The scene which really showed this and actually gave me chills was when BATMAN started going to town on Joker's face after he revealed that Rachel was in peril. After every blow you just see Joker's smile get slightly bigger - without being too obvious. It was subtle. The fact that for all of Batman's strength and training and will - it means nothing to the Joker. Think about how any other actor in the world would have played Joker. I keep trying to think of people who could play it reserved and subtle and go over the top - without looking cartoony - and I can't come up with one. When one of the mob bosses says he's insane and Joker says 'No...I'm not..', it sounds completely genuine as opposed to trying to be scary and creepy for the sake of creepy.
 
Scullibundo said:
I agree with you Solo on Eckhart's performance to a degree. Since seeing it the other night I've continually posted that I hoped people didn't forget to acknowlege Eckhart in the wake of the joker. The
TELL ME! scene made my heart sink and couldn't have with another actor. That said, the Joker really unnerved and scared me - not in the scenes that most people describe. It's Joker's ability to take the power we thought and Batman thought he had - and deem it useless. The scene which really showed this and actually gave me chills was when BATMAN started going to town on Joker's face after he revealed that Rachel was in peril. After every blow you just see Joker's smile get slightly bigger - without being too obvious. It was subtle. The fact that for all of Batman's strength and training and will - it means nothing to the Joker. Think about how any other actor in the world would have played Joker. I keep trying to think of people who could play it reserved and subtle and go over the top - without looking cartoony - and I can't come up with one. When one of the mob bosses says he's insane and Joker says 'No...I'm not..', it sounds completely genuine as opposed to trying to be scary and creepy for the sake of creepy.

I agree with this 100%.

I really...really can't wait to see this a second time.
 
Eckhart's character is the tragic one, so it's no shock that he'd invoke a more emotional response than Ledger's Joker. That's not really a comment on either performance. They both excelled at what they had to do in significantly different roles.
 
SanjuroTsubaki said:
jsg1p1.jpg


I need to repost this. It looks almost identical to me leaving the theater. Without the batsuit of course.

That STILL is my face!

I almost watched it again today... but I gonna watch it the second time tomorrow with a couple of friends instead.
 
Eckhart's role was obviously much less "showy" than Ledger's, but yeah, there is definately room for both in this. I dont think there really was a weak link in the cast this time.

Well, Eric Roberts sort of sleepwalked through a typical Eric Roberts performance, I guess, but otherwise, things are fine.
 
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