J/K

I wonder how he gets the scar? I predict Batman gores part of his face(the rough scarring) and Joker tops it off within the Exacto Knife curls at the edges of the smile.

Bruce loses his pizza delivery job?

And Rachel Dawes dumps him/leaves the film to act in a Queen Latifah movie?

It is hard being Batman.

:)

Also, that comment above about Batman Begins being like a David Mamet film - that was joke, right?

Just kidding :P

Plus, it has penguins that shoot rockets from their backs!

Messi, Have You Even Seen Children Of Men, Or... by Buzz Maverik May 18th, 2007 06:03:58 PM ...Saving Private Ryan, or read the Punisher? And if you have, how much did you really comprehend? These are ridiculous connections. CHILDREN OF MEN was dystopian drama, it was todays headlines taken to the worst case scenario. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN was about the horrors of a war that has been nostalgized, progandized and glossed over for more than half a century. THE PUNISHER is a comic book full of revenge and power fantasies. It is for boys who wish they were men. There's nothing wrong with that. We all need that sometimes, but you're not talking about something truly dark and powerful, you're talking about a version of something dark and powerful for kids. THE PUNISHER was created in the 70s to capitalize on the success of such films as DEATH WISH and DIRTY HARRY. There's also elements of the DESTROYER and EXECUTIONER novel series in there. For comic books, it's very realistic and gritty. For movies...it's nothing special. That's why the movies bomb. Dig it, Stallone's COBRA sucked and a PUNISHER movie would be lucky to be as "realistic" as COBRA. I like violent movies. I think violence is necessary in some movies. Like Tarantino has said, I have no more problem with violence in movies than I do with dance numbers in movies (except for SPIDER-MAN 3). But at best, the PUNISHER isn't going to ever be more than an adolescent fantasy. That's okay. They make good movies, but not fine films. You want a realistic vigilante movie? TAXI DRIVER. The guy was nuts, a bigger menace than everybody he killed, a threat to society and no fun at all. Brilliant film. Put a skull on Travis' chest, let him outwit even one person and you'd have a straight to DVD Segal flick. Comic book gritty equals stupid on celluloid. People thought SIN CITY was a "dark, grim, gritty comic that brought realism...blah..blah...blah.." It was done the only way it could work. Currently, as written by Ennis, the book specializes in black humor. It works and black humor would work onscreen but if you make it three dimensional, it's automatically going to start being stylized and bigger than life. And no, panel for panel recreations aren't what I'd do. Hell, I was sick of the recreations by 300 and hope that any other Frank Miller movie is made without them. But I will say that there hasn't been a PUNISHER movie yet that matched either SIN CITY or 300, which you brought up. I think a better analogy for a PUNISHER movie would be...POCAHANTAS. Yep, the Disney cartoon. The filmmakers had to seriously consider why they were animating the story. There wasn't any magic or talking animals or much that lent itself to animation. Then, they did the waterfall dive sequence. Somehow, the dive became something that no real human could survive. Bigger than life. Like Marv's encounter with police cars in SIN CITY. Forget a CHILDREN OF MEN or SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. Won't happen. The thing to do is to avoid it being COBRA, or Steven Segal's MARKED FOR DEADLY TERRITORY or Van Damme's DOUBLE TWIN IMPACT. Or Dolph Lundgren's PUNISHER or even the last PUNISHER. This material needs a hook, needs visual power, needs a reason to exist or it's not going to be any good on its' own merits. It's neither realistic or fanciful by itself. Finally, since you keep bringing it up, I have to tell you, man, it's no big deal to me that I'm not echoing your opinion or a group consensus. When a guy's balls drop, he starts thinking for himself.

although that TB DID have a great point I made about one scene in Man on Fire being a Punisher scene.

and I'm done.

With Begins, whenever I've had the chance to see it again, I always skip past the first hour or so. All those scenes explaining where things come from... gak. I just don't want to see it. Credit me with a little imagination - I don't need to see Bruce Wayne test-driving the Batmobile or hand-crafting his ninja star thingies. I can fill in the blanks for myself.

That said, I'm looking forward to The Dark Knight quite a bit. My hope is they can forget all the exposition for the sequel and just get on with telling a good story. Also, I like the way they're going with The Joker. I've been wanting to see the character I remember from the comics - that crazy, sick bastard who beat Robin to death with a crowbar. There was a certain amount of fun in watching Nicholson camp it up, but he was never The Joker to me. Nolan seems like the kind of guy who would do something much darker and more menacing.

it felt like they were spending money left and right on every other thing, and the one thing that kept getting pared down more and more was the set for Town Square. and Burton wanted to be able to pan around and track wherever he wanted on the bridge, in the sewers, etc. but the tOWN SQUARE SCENES were pretty straight forward, so cut em up!

ended up looking fine for my eyes as a kid, but now as a film school graduate, I watch it and cringe...

Anyway, each to their own, FilmZ0mbie. I am excited about TDK, though (not the tapes this time). I like the casting of Ledger, mostly because he's not the comic type. You know they didn't give him the role because they're expecting him to camp it up and do a bunch of loony mugging (ala Jack Nicholson and Jim Carrey). Hopefully, they've cast him because he's capable of being scary crazy rather than silly crazy.

if you ever called me a bad name, I've more than forgotten it. (I drink a lot)

why do you ask?

I came to your defense recently AND copied and pasted a response to a post you'd made that I thought you hadn't seen.

but...if you hate any of the following we might have exchanged words:

Studio60
The West Wing
Aaron Sorkin
The Coen Brothers
David Sedaris

self-promotion< br>David Fincher
Steven Soderburgh
Sushi
Liberal ism
Ocean's 12
girls finishing BJ's with a handjob instead of swallowing
Diet Coke
snooze alarms
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Equal Rights
tongue kissing
sparefilms.com
c ollecting shells from the beach

are we good?

Also, is Christopher Nolan just little bit over-rated? Memento is one of my favourite films, but it seems like he's never going to do anything that great again. Insomnia? Ordinary. Batman Begins? Decent if unspectacular. The Prestige? Not bad, until it went all wrong at the end. I don't mean to slate the guy - he's never made anything shit, which is an impressive acheivement - but is he as great as people reckon?

Also, it is the best comic book film.

Pictures look great and shooting in 70mm IMAX must be insanely expensive....

Not Batman & Robin, though. EVERYONE hates that fucker. Even Hitler has his apologists, but not Batman & Robin. How does it feel, Batman & Robin? People hate you more than Hitler!

For me, they were on a hiding to nothing when they tried to 'be more realistic' simply because Batman is an inherently unrealistic character. It is, ultimately, a man fighting crime dressed in a rubber bat costume.

The big flaw of Begins for me is that it is so horribly unimaginative - and that it denies any imagination in its audience. That attention to detail you mentioned may be great in the 'making of' book, but it didn't do anything for me in the story they were telling.

Not enough films have swears in the title.

Oh dear, I've done that thing where you start out saying you like something (Batman Returns) and you veer off into slating something else. I actually like Batman Begins - it's one of the better recent comic films - but I think it's very flawed and I didn't dig as much as some of the other talkbackers. Mind you, I am a constant defender of Fantastic Four, so maybe you might want to take what I say with a pinch of salt...

Franklin T Marmoset - I agree, what the hell with the Rosie thread????? I do realize there's some really fucked up people in there discussing the merits of soldiers in Iraq, but c'mon, this is waaay more important than that pig leaving early. But I have to disagree with you on BB, but not because you like FF. I think.

Crazy!

Are you starved of oxygen, Mr Kusanagi?

Just kidding. You made me crack up real hard, Mr. Franklin T Marmoset. Thank you for making my day. :)

Now, back to the Abyss...

Trained Fucking Squirrels!

It was worth it just for that, although I admit the Willy Wonka childhood trauma bits were garbage.

Also, fuck off, GABRIEL GRAY SAYS. That is not an honourable way to push up the stats.

But... what next? Can Batman topple the mighty Transformers? Man dressed as bat Vs Robot disguised as car?

No cheers to GABRIEL GRAY SAYS. Way to ruin it for everyone, asshole.

oh Batman...Franklin first of all gott aagree with you, Batman and Robin is the most hated thing in existence of History, forget Hitler, forget Judas iscariot (he got his own gospel) Batman and Robin is the the most wretched piece of history.

as for TDK, everything I see about it is making me more and more curious as to this movie. I didn't see Begins in the theatres because, well frankly I didn't trust WB,I wasn't sure what we'd end up with but I didn't trust them. When I finally saw it on DVD i was very impressed, maybe because I went in with such low expectations, maybe it was because I was disappointed initally with the fact that Darren Afronksy(sp?) wasn't doing it after all, but I came away impressed.

Interesting side note, I had rememreed reading Year One when I was a kid at a local library, so I sought it out and found it and reread it again, still holds up but was surprised to find it in our Children's Section at the Library, almost as if someone said "oh it's a comic it goes here" not reliezing what it contained, which makes me giggle.

Anyway, That second pic is a tease!

The other one is cool. If you look at the shooting footage you'll know which is the Joker. This is why I as asking before about the clown theme pre-change to the Joker. No Red Hood? Clown mask and mannerisms existed before the chemical vat?

Gabriel Gay just likes getting pounded by men.

Elfman's Batman theme was and still is THE theme for motion picture Batman. In my mind, anyway. The score for Batman Begins is great in its own way, but no match for the actual heroic sounds of Elfman's theme.

just my 1.5 cents

I pretty sure Nolan and co. don't want a bunch of lawsuits on there hands for letting him send nasty links to the site.

Has anyone opened the other links that GABRIEL GRAY SAYS posted?

Are any of them safe to view?

Returns also was not really about Batman, can anyone think of a scene in it which actually explored who Batman was. It was just set in a world where it was not unusual for Batman to exsist.

Begins is actually about Batman and what it means to be Batman, why he does it, how he does it and what it says about not just his state of mind but also crime and punishment within society.

Batman is one of the only comic book characters who actually nade the choice to become what he is.

The juxtaposition of the two is brilliant.

Anyone else any ideas how this could be set up?

joker, yeah, awesome.

...

Probably less arguments over who got chosen that way.

I nominate Gabriel Gray ;)

On topic, I cannot wait for TDK. Regardless of the hate out there, I love Mista J's look and think Heath Ledger is a fine actor i.e. a brilliant choice. I love the casting on this film.

Batman Begins is now my favorite film score of all time. It is simply a masterstroke of genius to me. I actually like the score more than the flick, and I like the flick quite a bit. I hope Nolan does it right with this one and doesn't suffer a sophmore slump. Don't kill the Joker! Send him to Arkham.

Must take more notice.

They should geyt whoever does LOSTs theme, that makes the hairs stand up like no other theme.

I've never seen an episode of Lost. Ever. I'll take your word on the theme.

And I think the BB score complimented the material well.

I'm sure there are plenty of crap movies out there but that doesn't mean you stop watching movies altogether.

How can you say gold like The Simpsons, LOST, Family Guy, Extras, The Office (UK and US versions) are not worthy viewing?

It is set over a few years instead of just jumping straight in to the couple of weeks at the end of their undercover carreer.

It just doesn't let the characters develop as every 5 mins it jumps forwards a couple of months. I like the fact that in IA 1 it doesn't have any exposition, it just shows what happens and you have to watch it a few times to absorb all the detail.

The Departed feels like they tried to combine IA 1 and 2 but didn't really get the brilliance of either film.

As a film in its own right it is still great though.

Last of the Mohicans Gattaca Tron

I suppose I can relate to it more though as I have worked in a lot of offices here in the UK and it is spot on.

As far as drama I kind of agree, LOST is brilliant but sometimes it acts like a TV show with some parts (ie some of the more unimportant flashbacks) seeming like mass produced filler. Sometimes it even feels like a soap. In that way it will never have the same consistancy as a movie but that is due to them having to have weekly episodes.

I often think about how much better it would be if it where a few episodes shorter per season, not much but just enough so that every episode and scene is at its peak.

Gabriel on Criminal Minds never smiles or laughs and is obsessed with understanding twisted psyches. Peter Gabriel in Genesis was a schizoid lead singer taking on the persona of every character he sang. And the Biblical Gabriel is an angel of vengence. Jean Grey became the crazed Dark Phoenix. Meredith Grey is a self loathing manic depressive unable to stay happy. All the Gabriels are male, all the Greys female. And his favorite show and talkback is "Lost", the series in which every character has disturbing father issues.

Put the clues together. As a child - which he still is mentally - his father repeatedly f*cked him and when he told his mother, instead of helping him SHE LAUGHED AND LAUGHED, something the real GiGi is now incapable of ever doing.

Oh why must you torment him with your taunts, his time is running out. People like him always suicide out, they always leave long impassioned suicide notes and, here's the funny part, the person the note is addressed to or the person who finds it always destroys it unread.

He will be gone and forgotten soon, why not start now. Just ignore him. We are the only family he has left, when he realizes we are done with him it will be all over once his blood runs out. RIP GiGi.

Doctor Who

Stephen Kings Kingdom Hospital...HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA CGI Aardvark??? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.

I think Napolean is right about Gabriel Gray, the person is indeed crying for help. What can we do to help a stranger out?

What's sad is, most of you will probably, mock me and laugh at me for this post, but in all seriousness, how do we make this world a better place? Well, it's all about the power of one. Be nicer to the person next to you, smile to a complete stranger, remember to say thank you and please more often, trust me, it really can make someones day.

HUGS TO EVERYONE

This is a Joker TB and we are discussing the social well-being of the children of the world. WTF.

I have never seen anyone with money who is any happier than those without.

They sacrifice the important stuff like friends, family and art for just raising their bank balance.

She says I should take a leaf out of her husbands book, he runs his own contracting buisness and works 12 hours a day 6 or 7 days a week. I would never say anything to her but he never sees her or his kids because he is earning more and more money which they don't need or spend.

That is not happiness.

Although I think he is a case of someone who comes from a poor Irish background and would have had to work hard to feed his family. It just seems he forgot why he was working in the first place and when to stop.

Is it really not possible to block an IP? Clearly it isn't or AICN won't do it. Commence with the incoherant spamming. FAS poster child.

I see some people who have so many kids they can hardly remember their names let alone raise each of them as individuals.

I think at least 1 parent should stay at home if possible.

I never thought i'd want a child either, I'm only 26 and still feel like a child myself but now i've gotten used to the idea i'm more excited than waiting for a whole summer of Iron Mans and Dark Knights.

Is IMAX really all it's cracked up to be? I had an opportunity to see 300 on IMAX and passed? Is it really an enhanced experience or just "bigger"? I too think it's cool Nolan possesses foresight and is doing this. Sounds wise.

Chill out man, lifes to short to be a twat.

And I concur on the one child myth bullshit. It's all how you raise them and the knowledge you instill. Be well.

And then we go from that to the stuff at the end...which is quite touching. The hugs especially, that was sweet.

For the record, it is not called Superman 1. I dig that's an easy way to make clear you're referring to the first film, but it 's annoying, so please stop it.

I was supposed to watch Spiderman 3 on IMAX, but that didn't work out, so hopefully Dark Knight will be my first IMAX film ever, unless something else visually stunning grabs me before.

Unlike Gabriel Grays mom. Theres plenty of room in there...

Vistavision cameras are still used today for effects work because of the superior resolution. A larger negative helps reduce generational loss which occurs during the multiple passes an original neg might go through in order to get to a finished effect. But since most film goes through a Digital Intermediate (DI) these days, generational loss is not such a big deal.

It's worth noting that Nolan does not use a DI on his films. He does not like the look. He prefers to finish his films the old-fashioned way. Therefore, IMAX would be a good format for him if he wants a dazzling negative prior to putting his film through the post-production process.

I hope this has been of some help.

I'd love to see Batman in a 4 minute tracking shot fight against 40 odd people just like the one in Old Boy.

Or imagine how cool a Batman film would be with action like in the Casino Royale embassy chase. They should train Bale in Parkour.

Chris Nolan's Memento is one of my favorite films, Guy Pearce is a great actor, I love his work in Memento, Priscilla Queen of the Dessert, and L.A. Confidential....

But for the record, the three best comic book movies are: American Splendor, Superman: The Movie, and Ghost World, in that order.

You all must learn to show Harvey Pekar some effin respect.

One bit they actualy just ran accross the Millenium Bridge.

I could do that.

And I'm shit at running.

While I am excited to see how they realize the Joker, I am really pumped to see what they have in mind with the suit redesign.

Also any dodgy dialouge or plotting came from Goyer so brother Nolan should sort that out.

I love the fact that while most people think the action in BB is lacking they still love the film. Shows that the action scenes are not as important as character.

Ghost World and American Splendor are both fantastic films but I think when people say 'comic book' movie they really are reffering to movies dealing with Superheros etc. It's not like you would put Superman and Ghost World in the same catagory if they didn't come from the same medium.

Paul Verhoven for TDKR film!

Also he visits a bar called Abysinth in the scene which i used to frequent when I lived in Amsterdam for a short while.

also he will be given much more freedom now WB know that Batman is a viable franchise again.

Silverglade - I know what you mean, I made my mum watch BB and she hates comic films or any sillyness in a movie and she said it was brilliant. It really does transend the genre.

As for casting: Kurt Russel as Batman, Richard E Grant as the Joker and Paul Newman as Gordon.

Any sugestions for Superman?

Maybe someone unknown for Superman. I always loved the idea of Jim Cavizel for a younger supes but as for an older one in the style of TDKR I'm not sure.

It should be someone with massive stature and a great big jawline.

I also think it should be filmed on green screen and techniques used to make Bruce, Gordon and Supes all look like they are 7 ft tall. I loved how big Batman was in the TDKR comics.

Reinterpret The Thing if you must, but nothing will touch Carpenter's. I enjoyed the Dark Horse continuations as a kid and hoped for a sequel with Russell & David. Probably for the best it didn't happen via film come to think of it. Sweet mother that is a fine film. Just watched it again last month matter of fact. That score is AWESOME.

Sure, there are a couple of passing nods, but that's hardly the same as a complete freakin homage.

I think all our talk of hugging and being good to each other and raising children touched him.

flash forward to the present, and talking about the John Carpenter remake of The Thing. I loved it, it's one of my favorite films. I had heard about 2 years ago, that the Sci-Fi channel would be making a mini-series sequel to John Carpenter's The Thing... but I don't know what happened to it, because i havn't heard anything new about it forever....

McClane, I don't totally disagree about 7 Sam. Kurosawa was amazing. I love his work.

I never really complain about re-makes becasue there is room for many interpritations of a concept but this makes me want to stab someone.

HUGS TO EVERYONE

And the Vengeance Trilogy is just ridiculous - mmmm mmmmmmm, so good. J.S.A. (Joint Security Area) exceeded my expectations.

Sword of Doom anyone?

If you enjoy watching Japanime, I recommend the works of Hayao Miyazaki.

My personal favorite from Miyazaki is "Spirited Away". Check it out, or any of his work out if you have the opportunity

Korean cinema is probably the fastest growing film industry in the world. Did anyone see The Host.

Anyway it seemed like some sort of psychologically murder mystery, i.e. "Se7en". All I really remember about the film, is some people go into an elevator, and there's a garbage bag in the corner of the elevator, and the bag burts open, spilling forth blood and body parts.

If anyone knows what film this is, and could please tell me the title, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You

HUGS TO EACH AND EVERYONE

On second thought, let's just move on.

Produced by Paul Verhoven

Directed by Chan-wook Park (Old Boy)

Starring

Kurt Russell as Batman

Paul Newman as Commisioner Gordon

Richard E Grant as The Joker

Jessica Alba as Robin

Thats as far as I've got.

After that, I gotta say Nausicaa/Mononoke/Spirited tie three way style for me. My daughter loves my wife's Kodama sock hat i.e. it is now hers. Film's a little too severe for a three year old though.

I love the idea of getting the art book etc for the child too.

Does she watch it subtitled? It's just that I don't find the youngest girl to be half as cute (and she is the cutest onscreen child in the history of cinema)when dubbed and it would be a great way to get a child reading.

Neil Patrick Harris as Batman

Gary Coleman is Robin

Dennis Franz is Commission Gordon

Crispin Glover is Alfred

Howie Mandel is the Joker

Halle Berry is Catwoman

Martin Short is the Riddler

I feel queezy.

Wasn't Frank Miller interested in writing Robocop 2 or something?

Wasn't Frank Miller interested in writing Robocop 2 or something?.

http://tinyurl.com/2g5ktq

It was like that scene in Family Guy where Peter is in the video shop trying to decide which Ernest film to rent.

It's like a wierd Kurosawa curse or something.

Really good TB tonight, good to see all the love and hugs.

Laterz all.

Also, I think we have all decided that Batman Returns is the superior film (snicker).

........................

"Take her to the zoo, I hear retards like the zoo."

.......................

My daughter is thankfully no retard, but any time I mention the zoo that line pops into my sad, juvenile mind. Sigh.

We're bound to run into each other in the future. Certainly after 7/4/7. AICN may even implode around that time. Should be a riot.

Be well.

Regardless, despite the fact that I understand and see all the points/observations/critiques, I just can't fully subscribe to them regarding this film. I don't disagree with them all, I just don't share the same feelings so to speak. Point of fact, I thought the fight sequences were great. I have no issues with the so called shaky cam (Bourne, Gladiator, Man on Fire, Domino et. al.). But that's just me i.e. a simple man. I guess the whole point of this diatribe is that I love this site due mostly to the fact that there are so many viewpoints out there which are shared. You ladies and gentlemen bring many things to light that I would normally overlook which ultimately garners a greater appreciation of film for me.

I really hope the Nolan brothers knock this one out of the park. I really do. This looks to be something kick ass on all levels. As does Iron Man. Thanks for reading.

And the Bourne Ultimatum, if it's like the first two, will be great. For me, Damon is so great in that role, even though others on this site didn't buy him as an assassin.

Go on just for a laugh.

And don't let the wee one see any wanking chimps

No doubt about the TWO comic book films in one year thought. Suffice it to say, I will be shocked as shit if one or both fail. *crosses fingers*

Anyway, that made it pretty clear that Ninjas train somewhere else, because the only thing training in the Alps is Professor Moriarty and his robot patrol.

It' s not bad - definitely a more badass, violent type of Batman, which is what you'd expect from Frank Miller. I'm not a huge fan of that super-exaggerated macho thing he does, but Miller fans would probably have liked his take on the film. It's not for kids, though, and I'm not surprised they never made it. Who do you sell a film like that to? (apart from AICN types who always want everything to be R rated)