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Nolan Talks DARK KNIGHT Blu-Ray, A 100,000 Person Screening Of The Film (Featuring Live Q & A w/ Nolan), TDK Sequel, And More!!

first by moondoggy2u	Dec 5th, 2008 06:35:25 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO by moondoggy2u	Dec 5th, 2008 06:35:48 PM

haha, you two suck by Alkeoholic77	Dec 5th, 2008 06:36:26 PM
There can only be one first... now fight to the death.
Alright boys... by buffywrestling	Dec 5th, 2008 06:38:02 PM
No stalking now.
er...I take that back by buffywrestling	Dec 5th, 2008 06:41:21 PM
Can I stalk you? Bullet points, baby. Oh yeah. Drive that point home.
The next villains by mothandrust	Dec 5th, 2008 06:42:19 PM
should be completely new to the batverse, with cameos from the rogues gallery. The commentary thing sounds very cool. As if I didn't have enough commentaries I want to listen through as it is.
does anyone by pcassou	Dec 5th, 2008 06:46:59 PM
Has seen the batpod that comes with blue ray. Here in mexico the movie has been available in a legit way since last week, I just saw a blue ray that comes with a mask packaging, and one with a steel box, but no batpod, is it worthy?
Oh God No! by TheNorthlander	Dec 5th, 2008 06:51:16 PM
First, everyone had to make their own kick-ass website for their cats. Then we got the Bloggers. Then the Vloggers. We will now get Cloggers who bitch and moan about all the scenes in their favorite movies? Clog 15-minute celebrities? Let's hope not...
Hey have you heard my FULL METAL JACKET clog? by TheNorthlander	Dec 5th, 2008 06:52:40 PM
You should go in and listen to it man! Yeah... yeah no I'll do that.
BD Live...i dont understand you by Bouncy X	Dec 5th, 2008 07:01:51 PM
recording your own commentary? watching the movie through the net with other people? i just dont get the point of all these BD Live features for any movie. i must be in a small minority that just wants to watch the movies and the extras and thats it. if i wanted an "interconnected experience" or whatever the hell they wanna call it, well thats what the internet and chatrooms/message boards are for. i mean why make these extras only available by downloading or streaming when they can just put them on the disc itself and make it worth the money they charge? completely pointless and utterly retarded.
BBBBBBBBOOOOIIIIINNNNGGGGG by Turd Furgeson	Dec 5th, 2008 07:04:28 PM
I have nothing else....
Plant? by photoboy	Dec 5th, 2008 07:05:51 PM
Is this the first Blu-Ray plant? I mean it reads like a press release for BD Live. Plus it's not got the usual spelling and grammar mistakes of the usual person who writes in to AICN, yet it still tries to sound casual with lines "BD live is like Xbox Live or smth!" Anyway, I really can't get excited at the thought of people doing their own commentary tracks with a webcam. It will just end up with people doing commentaries about why you are seeing their balls/ass in close-up on webcam.
OH sure Mr. Nolan...There MIGHT be third film IF the story calls by Sequitur	Dec 5th, 2008 07:10:09 PM
BULLSHIT 1 Billion worldwide calls for it!!! Don't give me that artistic shit Moron
I can see by Turd Furgeson	Dec 5th, 2008 07:17:11 PM
them taking a break for about 5 years then releasing another one.. Give all the Batman bad guy stuff time to set in, get everyone rabid for another one.. That could be huge!!! They wouldn't even have to do a huge villan or recast joker because so much time would have gone by..
Every scene needs three reasons or it's out by jimmy_009	Dec 5th, 2008 07:17:12 PM
Brilliant. If only every director thought like that.
Okay, Harry... by Judge Briggs	Dec 5th, 2008 07:17:29 PM
TIME FOR SOME TALKBACK EDITING FEATURES... Jesus tap dancing Christ... it's 2008! On another note, 2nd more profitable movie of all time = sequel coming. I mean, there are dozens of EXCELLENT stories to choose from!
judge briggs by seanpb	Dec 5th, 2008 07:26:41 PM

judge briggs by seanpb	Dec 5th, 2008 07:27:48 PM
most profitable...no, thatd go to something that cost 5 eights of fuck all to make and went on to do mega business. this is a film that cost $180 odd million. still a great effort to make a billion though.
there is most assuredly going to be a third... by Warcraft	Dec 5th, 2008 07:31:14 PM
... batman film by nolan's crew. nolan's full of shit, lol.
he'll make a third IF the story calls for it by DonnyUnitas	Dec 5th, 2008 07:32:59 PM
But if it doesn't, the studio will make one WITHOUT Nolan, just to capitalize on the success of this one. Please, Mr. Nolan, PLEASE, the story TOTALLY calls for a third one. There are loose ends to tie up, and more places to take the character. Take some time off, but please, I beg you, come back to Batman one more time.
At leats Nolan's sequel aproach... by kaspianwithak	Dec 5th, 2008 07:33:32 PM
potentially rules out any harry potter level of mediocrity.
DON'T LET THEM RATNER US by DonnyUnitas	Dec 5th, 2008 07:34:23 PM
k?
So to be clear by BitterMan23	Dec 5th, 2008 07:40:32 PM
there were actually at least three reasons for the scenes with the attempted blackmailer guy?
photoboy I agree by Marker in the Sand	Dec 5th, 2008 07:42:49 PM
Reads like a press release
I can wait for the 3rd... by Citizin_insane	Dec 5th, 2008 07:47:07 PM
I loved momento and the prestige. I'd rather see what else Nolan can do besides another batman film. And as much as i love batman, i cant really think of a villian that wouldn't run the risk of coming off kitch... unless they gave them a big hot injection of realism. ie: having a KGB wepons dealer who's codename is 'the penguin'.......
Re: photoboy & Marker in the Sand by loquaciousmuse	Dec 5th, 2008 07:54:47 PM
you guys can check out my blog if you are curious to my status as fan - it's why I included the link. www.allthingsfangirl.blogspot. com and normally i'm not on the blu-ray train (ends up costing so damn much in the end) but i love the idea of getting to interact the way BD Live allows. not with strangers, true, but i'd watch my friends do live commentary if i was bored, haha, why not? but yeah, not a plant, hence the link to my blog. although i should get used to the accusations, i see them in talkback section anytime anyone sends something positive in. but i promise you this comes from someone who had finally decided on an xbox and is now effing torn again between that and the ps3 because of this presentation. le sigh.
Blackmailer guy by drewlicious	Dec 5th, 2008 07:58:17 PM
1. Establish that he knows who Batman is. 2. Eventually motivated to reveal his identity out of fear of a hospital blowing up. 3. Create chaos and destruction for the Joker to set Two Face loose. That's pretty much the gist of it and every element looks to be put to good use. Now the Batmen vigilantes.....that might have been a tad superfluous just because it seemed like Nolan just forgot about it by the third act.
Oh, yeah biring in Bane please. by drewlicious	Dec 5th, 2008 08:00:17 PM
Most of the mobsters in Gotham are dead. It only makes sense that an outsider would swoop in and take over. A mob war between Penguin and Bane would work.
Batman Copycats - 3 reasons by loquaciousmuse	Dec 5th, 2008 08:03:25 PM
the vigilantes not only provided the opening action scene, but they established the city's ostensible problem with batman - he inspires copycats, and provides the context for why the dead hanged batman is not the real batman.
Brett Ratner has been hired to film TDK sequel... by Leafar the Lost	Dec 5th, 2008 08:09:19 PM
...or do we call it Batman Begins III? Why the fuck is Nolan giving us a hard time about this? Does he really want the Rat-Fuck to direct the next Batman movie, because there will be another TDK movie!!! Why aren't the studios just handing Nolan their wallets and telling him, "We'll pay you whatever you want, and you can do whatever you want." I would guess that it is the idiot, greedy assholes in charge who would rather pay Rat-Fuck to direct a movie for half the cost just for the big opening weekend. Or, maybe Nolan is just fucking with us....
Blu-ray does not need to exist! by callowteen	Dec 5th, 2008 08:17:34 PM
Upon seeing the Dark Knight on bluray, I could have sworn I was watching a behind-the-scenes documentary rather than the actual film - honest to god! Seeing as I was attuned to all sorts of oversights (which would be an afterthought on real film), including Maggie Gyllenhaal's blemishes (party sequence), for one. Film needs filters to suspend what little we have invested in the movies of today - which is mostly not very much at all. I cannot imagine someone sitting through more than 15 seconds of The Dark Knight without conceding to the notion that you're watching something completely nonsensical. I say this as a purist and a fan of filmmaking. Leave the hyper detail to reality. Not the caped crusader.
Where were those 3 reasons . . . by adiehardfanwithalethalweapon	Dec 5th, 2008 08:23:10 PM
. . . when the Scarecrow and those fake Batgoons had an intro into the film, then disappeared for the remainder. Now there's a scene that should have seen the cutting room floor. Or at least a rewrite with relavance.
Nolan doesn't want to make his Jedi, Spides 3 etc. by performingmonkey	Dec 5th, 2008 08:25:47 PM
i.e. he doesn't want to make a SHITTY cash-driven third instalment of a trilogy. Everyone has to wait and see if the story grips him again sometime in the next few years. The Dark Knight Returns (or whatever they call it) COULD be amazing but TDK is so good Nolan must be afraid of not caring when making the 3rd flick because he knows he can't beat TDK. Ledger's death probably put him off the 3rd flick too seeing as The Joker was most likely in his plan for it. My story would be Talia al Ghul setting out to find Batman's identity and, with the aid of the Scarecrow and/or perhaps the Riddler or Penguin, taking her revenge on Bruce and Gotham.
I swear.... by Anna Valerious	Dec 5th, 2008 08:25:59 PM
Does anyone else think that the scene where Joker crashes the party could've gone on longer? I mean, ten extra minutes of him asking where Harvey Dent is, stealing people's food, terrorizing people that remind him of his father...come on...you KNOW you want to see that...
scarecrow scene had three reasons by DonnyUnitas	Dec 5th, 2008 08:26:02 PM
To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of the women.
This will be my first... by Animus	Dec 5th, 2008 08:29:12 PM
BR purchase.
Any word on why the DNR on Blu-Ray? by MaxTheSilent	Dec 5th, 2008 08:31:34 PM
Because some learned hi-def sites have been dismayed at the apparent application of Digital Noise Reduction to the Blu-Ray release of THE DARK KNIGHT. Now we all know that Warners are a DNR-happy bunch, but applying DNR to BD titles is exactly like the 'Loudness Wars' in music; an unnecessary process that dumb-asses in positions of power think the public 'wants'. I say for the inevitable double-dip of THE DARK KNIGHT they release the film with NO grain removal. Rant over.
HAH! Like he has ANY say over a third one by Emperor_was_a_jerk	Dec 5th, 2008 08:32:31 PM
I like how he says "nothing is set in stone or a given.". Yeah, tell that to Warner Brothers and DC. He is a fool if he thinks their won't be another Batman/Dark Knight movie. With or without him.
"Jim Gordan"? by Aeghast	Dec 5th, 2008 08:34:00 PM
What the hell, people?! Jim Gordan, Jim Gorton.. Don't you know what you're talking about?! ARGHHHHHH!!!
so does that mean the screen will enlarge during the imax... by iamnicksaicnsn	Dec 5th, 2008 08:37:15 PM
moments? I still haven't heard or haven't paid enough attention to figure that out.
re: iamnicksaicnsn by loquaciousmuse	Dec 5th, 2008 08:38:55 PM
yes, on blu ray it will expand in the imax scenes
p.s. the jim gordan thing - SPOILERS by loquaciousmuse	Dec 5th, 2008 08:40:15 PM
i'm wondering how the whole gordan faking his death thing works. how they knew a shot would be attempted and they could fake his death, etc. i've seen the film four times and still get a little confused by how it all works
Black Mask would be the most logical choice for a villain by RyanMurray	Dec 5th, 2008 08:44:46 PM
Seriously. The entire series has dealt with duality and morality in conflict with each other, so throwing Black Mask in would be marvelous.
Next up: Killer Croc and The Ventriloquist by BurnHollywood	Dec 5th, 2008 08:45:26 PM
Killer Croc is actually a tormented mobster afflicted with a degenerative, leprosy-like condition. He earns the name "Killer" due to his ruthlessness, even as his physical pain makes his cruelty seem explicable...think Dolarhyde in MANHUNTER. The Ventriloquist is the scene stealer, pretty much true to the highly underrated comic villain. Holy shit, is there ANY more baddie more relevant to fanboys everywhere than a wimp acting out extraneously through a proxy?
Max the Silent - yep, substandard Blu-ray quality. by half vader	Dec 5th, 2008 08:49:57 PM
For once, I'm in complete agreement. You forgot about the outrageous Edge "Enhancement" though. DNR's partner in crime. Xylon's grabs in the AVS forums reveal all. I don't think that Nolan has actually even SEEN the finished Blu-ray of his movie! I hope someone hammers him about the lousy quality at the online thing.
DNR is the scourge of high-def home entertainment. by MaxTheSilent	Dec 5th, 2008 08:55:47 PM
And it should be stamped out. Give me grain and film-like detail and texture or give me death!!
First, Star Trek. Now a intimate screening with Nolan by Shut the Fuck up Donny	Dec 5th, 2008 09:14:32 PM
How in the HELL is loquaciousmuse getting access to all these events?! Apparently she has better connections than the people that run this fucking site! P.S., Ms. Muse--Between this piece and the Star Trek piece you did a few weeks ago, you've gotten better at writing for the audience for this site. Kudos!
how bout save us this bullshit and just put the ad in a banner? by dr sauch	Dec 5th, 2008 09:14:56 PM
Come on.
I think some people are missing a trick here... by J.B.M.A.	Dec 5th, 2008 09:15:57 PM
with the whole commentary thing. If it's just Joe Schmoe ranting on about whatever then, fine, it's worthless. However - if, for example, a makeup girl or the sound recordist wants to take us through their sklillset at work on a movie then great - I get to learn something but nobody else has to pay for it or be bored stupid by commentary number 23 on the disc (which costs money to record folks). Question is; would the studios be happy with such folks giving out un-edited recollections?
re: JBMA by loquaciousmuse	Dec 5th, 2008 09:34:37 PM
Yeah, that's why it appeals to me. what if someone whose opinion we'd actually REALLY want to hear, but who would never make it to the dvd, made a commentary this way? I'm not even sure the people who came up with the idea realize the potential there.
You're missing something yourself J.B. by half vader	Dec 5th, 2008 09:40:47 PM
The whole legal shitstorm that would come down if anyone connected with the production DID do something like that. Jesus, all the endless disclaimers before the main feature don't give you an idea of EXACTLY how the studio/company would react? In answer to what is really a rhetorical question, nope. they would't be happy at all. Don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE to see that sort of thing, I'm not ridiculing your idea in any way. I just won't happen. That's all. A clue may be in the fact that Nolan is pimping the quality of the Blu-ray release when it's actually substandard, with halos/edge ringing all over the place. The preview on the Begins disc had NONE of that. It's company line all the way on this one I think.
really? The Ventriloquist by Citizin_insane	Dec 5th, 2008 09:44:02 PM
i dont think he could exist in Nolen's Bat-universe... Bat-villians exist to further the character arch of Batman. Bane could work, cause he cripples Batman- thus creating a comeback story. Killer Croc is a good character, but really, he's just a thug. I understand where Nolen's coming from. The two Batman movies have covered every great dymanic a Batman story can have. It'll be hard to create an original story that can give us something the previous two havnt...
P.S. J.B. by half vader	Dec 5th, 2008 09:48:33 PM
Meant to put a winky guy after the subject head before so you didn't take it the wrong way. Like I said, I'd love to see it. One thing I don't fully understand (as much as I love extras), is PIP commentary. Not only has it been done on standard DVD, what I want to know is WHY you'd be looking at them when it's supposedly still a scene-specific commentary and therefore you should be looking at the film. I do like the Pixar discs where you see the concept art in context but they never seem to have it accessible as separate full-screen full-rez galleries as well (and I thought this would finally make the art worthwhile as opposed to blurry indistinct SD images on DVD)...
I did actually say Half vader by J.B.M.A.	Dec 5th, 2008 09:51:03 PM
'would studios be happy?' I'm aware that such issues would be problematic. Not so much for legal reasons so long after completion and release, but rather more that gobshites don't get re-employed on the next movie...it's common sense. However you can find all sorts online with backroom folks discussing their work on past films. They jusy don't mention the sensitive stuff.
Thanks for the kind P.S. though! by J.B.M.A.	Dec 5th, 2008 09:54:10 PM

loquaciousmuse:: Gordan by The Dum Guy	Dec 5th, 2008 09:54:21 PM
My take on it was that he knew the Joker would try to kill the mayor, and guessed that shooting him was most likely (that's why he was standing next to him). The one thing that I'm not really sure of (although since the Joker is a genius) was how did he time the clock making the blinds come up, with him shooting? Of course, the biggest thing is how did Gordan keep it a secret from so many people?
If he didn't do a third, I'd almost be... by Ribbons	Dec 5th, 2008 10:07:29 PM
...pleasantly surprised. It's nice to talk about the integrity of the story and all, but you know that Warner Bros. is going to back truckloads of cash into his backyard to try and get him to come back. I like both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight quite a bit, but part of the reason for that is because they came from a filmmaker with these sensibilities. Still, I wouldn't really blame him if he did it for the money. Nolan gotta eat, etc.
Spellcheck is for Pussies. by buffywrestling	Dec 5th, 2008 10:17:15 PM
SifP 4 life
Gordon by DocBosch	Dec 5th, 2008 10:25:18 PM
My take is this: Gordon didn't plan anything. He dove to save the Mayor, got taken to the hospital, and then orchestrated the whole thing. He did it because he figured that all these high profile people (the commissioner, the judge, Harvey Dent, Bat-Manuel) were already targeted, so he is probably next. He beat Joker to the punch by faking his own death. If Gordon is already dead, then there's no reason for Joker to target him or his family. I could be wrong though. I don't remember exactly at what point in the movie it was implied that Gordon had been killed.
fe:: DocBosch by The Dum Guy	Dec 5th, 2008 10:50:39 PM
I disagree with your take, b/c the "death" came after the threat on the mayor, so Gordon could have thought out a possible plan that the Joker thought up, i.e. shooting the Mayor within a crowded area. And, let us not forget, that the ultimate plan for the Joker was to do something so 'evil' that he would have to be caught and arrested, so as to get to the Hong Kong dude (Lau?).
1. Gordon "thing" by HarryWannaBe	Dec 5th, 2008 10:56:27 PM
My take is that Gordon planned it with Batman and that was it, that they were the only two who knew about it... especially since there was tension between Gordon and Dent (where Jim wasn't sure he could trust Harvey yet). As for the timing with the egg timer hooked up to the window shade, perhaps Joker figured the police would fire at any type of action like that especially since there was a scope of some sort made visible in the window as the shade flapped up... so once Joker heard the police sharpshooter take a shot, he took that as his cue to try and take out the Mayor. As for Gordon reacting in such a timely manner? I'd chock that up to just good reflexes that he's developed over the years as a police officer in Gotham. (come to think of it, the one cop who checks on Gordon after he got "shot" might have been in on the ruse as well, since he acted as if Jim was actually dead)...
Black Mask would be the most logical villain for the next movie. by Prof. Pop-Cult	Dec 5th, 2008 11:05:13 PM
He would most fit in Nolan's more realistic take on the Batman universe. Like Batman, BM is a "masked freak". He would probably become the leader of the Gotham crime mobs, who would have their own freak. And the writers could redo BM's origins for the next movie and make it a mystery as to who he is. I see the Joker appearing in a Hannibal Lecter-like capacity -- locked up in Arkham. Batman visits him. Get Paul Bettany to play him (he was the first choice for the Joker). Make him look more like the "traditional" Joker from the comic books -- shorter, slicked back hair, dresses more refined, and he would wear his make-up more evenly. Thus, it could be said that Ledger played Joker as a young, more wild man. Bettany could then take over the role as what the Joker has become after spending a few years locked up in Arkham and being manipulated by Dr. Strange.
2. next villain(s) and/or character additions by HarryWannaBe	Dec 5th, 2008 11:05:57 PM
How about bringing in Talia al Ghul? She wants revenge for her father's "death" at the hands of Batman/Bruce Wayne, and she could get in under the radar as a potential love interest since Rachel is dead now. Clayface could be an interesting choice as well. Obviously, he wouldn't be a shape-shifting monstrosity, but perhaps more of a classic master-of-disguise criminal... which could be interesting now that they set up Batman as an "criminal" as well (i.e., Clayface posing as "Batman" and blatantly committing crimes around Gotham). Hush would be a good choice as well, given that he's human (fitting in the Nolan/Batman-universe). Being a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne, maybe he knew Rachel as well and he blames Batman for her death or something... there's a few directions to go with him here. And lastly, I was thinking it would be interesting to introduce Dick Grayson... not as Robin, but right off the bat (no pun intended) as Nightwing, someone Batman could see as an ally to help keep Gotham clean while Bats is on the run from the law? Not sure how they'd connect the two characters exactly, but it could work.
What about "The Reaper"? by br1947	Dec 5th, 2008 11:28:35 PM
Vigilanism gone to far, leading to grusome killings, once again calling into question what Bruce Wayne has done by becoming Batman. Any thoughts?
Ridder ala Zodiac Killer by enderandrew	Dec 5th, 2008 11:29:24 PM
Cast William H. Macy for a scary, realistic killer you'd never suspect, not some charismatic loony. Subtle and terrifying.
Can we all please just admit that by StrokerX	Dec 5th, 2008 11:34:27 PM
TDK would've been so much better if Bale didnt talk like in that lispy raspy voice? Seriously just took me out of the movie everytime he talked. Oh and the opening scene with the copy cats was very awkward.
oh and Part 3 needs to be straight by StrokerX	Dec 5th, 2008 11:36:57 PM
HORROR...lets focus on the scary. Manbat and Clayface....Nolan's batverse needs more fantasy elements if they ever expect to actually make a JLA flick. Seriously.
I want Nolan to NOT MAKE another BATMAN movie. by MaxTheSilent	Dec 5th, 2008 11:40:06 PM
He'll never top THE DARK KNIGHT and chances are he'll never come up with a way to 'redeem' Batman in the eyes of Gotham. THE DARK KNIGHT is a perfect ending to his BATMAN chronicle. Let's just leave it at that, shall we.
Definitely see it in IMAX! by Zardoz	Dec 6th, 2008 12:12:22 AM
It's so worth it! That is all...
Hear. Hear. by PTSDPete	Dec 6th, 2008 12:20:05 AM

damn You Michael Bay by MCMLXXVI	Dec 6th, 2008 12:31:01 AM
damn You Michael Bay
Clint Eastwood could direct and star in DKR by textual	Dec 6th, 2008 12:43:42 AM
I just think a time jump would be the best way to do another Joker story, if need be.
Joaquin Phoenix for Re-Joker, Guy Pearce for Black Mask/Roman Si by RyanMurray	Dec 6th, 2008 12:47:21 AM
The end.
I love the Batman voice. by thebearovingian	Dec 6th, 2008 12:53:18 AM
I love imitating Bale's Batman voice and saying, "You've been poisoned by a psychotropic hallucinogen", "I can't take two of your pawns?" and "I'm not wearing hockey pads!" Try it. You'll love it. You'll strain your vocal cords. "You'll have a dog-throwing good time!" Kudos to whomever said that way back in July.
Noland and Bale take a ten to fifteen year siesta by kwingjr	Dec 6th, 2008 01:59:15 AM
and Return for a literal adaptation. set your weapons for whack.
Will the commentary be available afterwards? by Greenleaf1	Dec 6th, 2008 02:25:31 AM
I'd love to listen to it, but what if I can't get in?
Saw him tonight at the Arclight by billypilgrimisunstuck	Dec 6th, 2008 02:45:12 AM
He was seeing Milk. I just stared at him as he looked at me cautiously. 20 minutes later, David Goyer comes into see Slumdog. What are the odds, huh?
Nice. Thanks for the detailed report, LoquaciousMuse by Mr Nicholas	Dec 6th, 2008 02:55:29 AM

There are deleted scenes... by jfp2007	Dec 6th, 2008 03:15:50 AM
Some are in the trailers and the Dominoes promo showed him running on top of police cars. There are also little parts trimmed from existing scenes as well. The sawing a bullet out of the wall sequence has more to it. There are a bunch of HA HA HAs above it pointing to the hole in the wall. There's also an interview somewhere mentioning Batman kicking Joker in the face after he tells him where Dent and Rachel are at. Bale's voice was digitally altered to sound like it does and is supposedly impossible for the human voice to really get that low.
more Gordon. by DocBosch	Dec 6th, 2008 03:22:00 AM
I'm not exactly sure what 'The Dum Guy' means. Just because Gordon COULD'VE thought up a plan before the shooting doesn't man he did. Or maybe you didn't understand what my theory. What I'm saying is, Gordon didn't plan to fake his own death. He was just there, standing next to the Mayor. Joker tries to shoot the Mayor, Gordon (being a cop) does his best to save the Mayor. Now, having just been directly involved in a shooting, Gordon is taken away in an ambulance. At that point he decides, "Hey, this would be perfect opportunity to fake my death, so that Joker won't bother coming after me or my family the way he has done with all the other major players in this movie...er, city." The only thing that can make me think different is if I'm mis-remembering the one cop's reaction that checks on Gordon after the shooting. Did he SAY or IMPLY right then that Gordon was dead, or did he just look really concerned? If it's made clear that people (are supposed to) think he's dead right then, after the shooting, then he must have planned it before hand. If not, i think it was something he came up with after the fact. And I really doubt Batman was in on it anyway. He seemed generally upset about Gordon's death and surprised about his not being dead.
My best guess for the next installment by Chuck_Chuckwalla	Dec 6th, 2008 03:56:58 AM
Batman won't show up until the very end after Gotham has gone to hell and ravaged by all the non-Joker supervillians. The Riddler, Penguin, Catwoman, etc. Bruce Wayne will use his wits to try to take them out without having to suit-up. Plus, others show up to take his place. Not the Batman imitators in DK but The Huntress, Batgirl, maybe Robin or Nightwing. But here's a better idea ... don't have Batman in it at all. Have it be a set-up for the fourth movie where he comes back kicking all sorts of ass. Unconventional, but a ballsy way to expand the Bat-universe a bit and make us really look forward to the next one.
TDK was so good that... by DC Films	Dec 6th, 2008 04:03:13 AM
I need a Bat-break before the next one - don't let the studio rush it to make ore money, please Mr Nolan. Go make a James Bond movie with Daniel Craig and IMAX scenes, then come back and do Batman 3. Give Heath's amazing work some time in the spotlight, before it's overshadowed by a superior, or inferior performance.
Enough of these sequel ideas! by theyreflockingthisway	Dec 6th, 2008 04:47:48 AM
Did you guys not watch The Dark Knight or something? The Riddley, Penguin, Catwoman, Mr Freeze ... ROBIN!!! We all seem to be talking like we want the next film to be like one of the Schumacher sequels! I think I can safely say that, if Nolan does a sequel, he will choose a villain to fit with the story, not write a story around a villain. Most super hero movies choose a villain and the story is simply about how the hero defeats that villain. In the Dark Knight this is different - the villain is not out to kill the hero, and the hero can't kill the villain. It shows that heros and villains arn't all black and white, that there are many levels to this and how, with the right push, the most heroic of us can turn and become the very thing we were fighting against. A sequel would most likely have to continue this to have any chance of holding up to The Dark Knight. But then we really want the same thing again? This is why it's going to be a very tough film to top and time has to be taken to write an amazing script. We just start throwing in villain names that would be cool and we're back in 90's for Batman films.
Watched it again tonight by Broseph	Dec 6th, 2008 05:00:43 AM
It's really a masterpiece.I wish had the extra doe to throw at a blu-ray player and a new hdtv but i'm happy i at least have a big screen and surround sound.I will definitely see the re-release
Great, now I can bore my OLEG brothers with my rubbish commentar by Stuntcock Mike	Dec 6th, 2008 06:36:09 AM

Y'now, if Nolan poo poo's a sequel.......... by Stuntcock Mike	Dec 6th, 2008 06:38:22 AM
Somebody else will make it. Too much dough was made for them not make another. That is not good.
i wish... by Obscura	Dec 6th, 2008 06:38:53 AM
they'd have an imax screen in every multiplex. i saw The Dark Knight twice on IMAX and once on a standard screen, and it felt like a different movie. its the visual equivalent of the difference between a gramophone and surround sound.
For those missing the good points about BD-Live by Johnno	Dec 6th, 2008 06:47:58 AM
How else can you get into a LIVE Q&A discussion with the director of the film while watching it? BD-LIVE, which admittedly will also open the doorways to a ton of crap will allow awesome stuff like the aforementioned... There could also be some other educational venues for learning about film if studios have more official sessions like this every now and then. If they had some special thing every month with one of the crew it's terrific marketing opportunities to sell more BDs. Many of you geeks flock halfway across the country to meet these people in public forums or at conventions. With BD-LIVE you sit right at home. They can even use it to promote the next film. 1 year later you'll be popping in your TDK BD to get into an exclusive fan Q&A for Batman 3. And you just know the masses will clear the stores of these things if a celebrity is involved. Whether actors, actresses or musicians. This is precisely that gimmick that BD needs to show that DVD won't cut it so long as studios recognize it! I bet it's pretty cost effective too! Of course this wil only be possible on BD 2.0 enabled players so if you have profile 1 you're gonna miss it. Should've just gone with the PS3... Anyway, once the Watchmen BD drops, you now all have the perfect avenue to go to and bitch about the squid right at Zack Snyder's face! You know this to be true!
This movie will single-handedly... by SeXX ED	Dec 6th, 2008 06:48:36 AM
... introduce the populace to Blu-Ray. I'm no fan of the power-play that Sony made on the HD video market. PS3 is a BR player with a game controller. C'mon, ya'll know the score!!!
Someone else needs to take the rap for Batman in the sequel. by Leafar the Lost	Dec 6th, 2008 07:06:03 AM
Okay, if we go by the story of redeeming The Batman, who has been falsely accused of killing the people that Two-Face/Harvey Dent killed, someone else needs to take the rap. Harvey Dent is the White Knight, and he can't be revealed as a bad guy...someone else in TDK needs to be arrested for those killings...so Batman and Com. Gordan can meet again by the Bat Signal...I don't know, it would have to be someone in TDK that was close to all of those people...anyone have any clues?
Nolan would have a hard enough time topping TDK. by CreasyBear	Dec 6th, 2008 07:10:43 AM
If they pull in a studio stooge like Ratner or an "auteur" who doesn't understand how to make a BIG movie, then Batman 3 is going to be hilariously bad in comparison.
CreasyBear by Ribbons	Dec 6th, 2008 07:14:50 AM
Hey, Nolan was an auteur who had never made a big movie before Batman Begins (unless that Insomnia remake counts as a big movie), and he seemed to do okay.
Nolan Has a Moral Responsibility to Make A Third..... by Mike Hunt	Dec 6th, 2008 07:23:19 AM
Because of the way TDK ended. It would be like not making Return of the Jedi after the way The Empire Strikes Back ended!
IMAX is such a difference by most excellent ninja	Dec 6th, 2008 07:49:35 AM
that first shot, the way you feel imersed in the film. What an experience. When Batman appears in the parking lot with that badass theme and then starts beating the shit out of criminals. thought it wasn't filmed in imax, hearing it and seeing that scene with the edits and the sound effects in imax makes your heart stop. THE DARK KNIGHT!!! AHHHHHHHHHH
Hey Zombies Here's A Newsflash... by thecomedian	Dec 6th, 2008 08:02:46 AM
NOLAN DOESN'T OWN BATMAN. So if he doesn't want to do a sequel to the biggest blockbuster in history then they can get someone just as competent who will(like DAVID FINCHER). And YES the other rogues can be done in this hyper-real world he's set up. Yes, Nolan is talented filmmaker. The Dark Knight is a good film. But it's not the Arc of the Covenant. Maybe on tuesday when you've all watched it again you'll realize that. It's good. Ledger is phenomenal whether he was killed by the Olsen twins in real life. Ekhardt gives a great performance. It's a great crime thriller. Kinda like Se7en with Batman in it. But it's not the second coming. Get some perspective.
The best way to do a TDK sequel... by ORGANIZED CHAOS	Dec 6th, 2008 08:23:26 AM
If Nolan wants to keep the same high quality level he got with Begins and TDK he can't, as someone here has already said, choose a villain and simply work the story around him. What I think should be interesting is to first show Bruce not long after the events of TDK and throughout the movie show us what his life will be like 30-40 years later. But wait, there's more: CLINT EASTWOOD as an older Bruce Wayne! If you don't think this is a great idea then please go watch the Gran Torino trailer and tell me that Clint didn't make you think of Batman a bit! This does sort of remind me of the narrative structure of Godfather Part II except that here it's the same character, not the father-son dynamic which IMO makes it even more interesting. Plus, if you think about it, considering that TDK is now a HUGE BO and critical success, if Nolan tries to go down the tired "Bigger, better" road that SM3 and countless others have (ie. more villains more of everything), he will fail tragically. Let us not forget that Nolan has already mentionned how he considered Godfather Part II as an inspiration on how to craft a great sequel. So this third movie could in a way, be the the Godfather Part III we never got, something more intimate, more sophisticated, but ultimately a better movie, something far more intersting than "just a sequel to a comic-book movie". And hell,imagine how cool it would be to have Eastwood as Bruce Wayne! I'm also thinking, as someone here has already said, save Batman 'till the end that way he'll make that much more of an impact when he finally appears. Also, if Nolan does something like this, choosing the villain won't be very important and that's the way it should be. I mean honestly, does anyone here think that there's a villain (or for that matter an actor) that could top Heath Ledger's joker?? I think not. I'm telling you folks this is the only way to do this. Nolan is a smart director: He'll either bow out or do something along those lines. Phew, sorry I've been rambling for a while, just had to get this idea of my chest! Thanks for your time.
You and I EVERYONE KNOWS by Weapon M	Dec 6th, 2008 08:59:35 AM
The Directors cut is coming! The Special Collectors edition whatever you want to call it. You know Warners Called this one! It's going to come.. And there will be more commentary. Hopefully the other outtakes with the Joker! More on HEATH LEDGER! I mean man he's a genius! I think he raised to a level like Daniel Day Louis!!!!!!!! You know based on one or two performances you can say he has the capacity to do great things on screen. He's done it. They NEED TO HAVE THE JOKER TRAILER that was shown at the comic con!!!!! THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST TRAILERS I"VE SEEN!! IT WAS HILARIOUS!
thecomedian: what do you think is a GREAT movie? by Emperor_was_a_jerk	Dec 6th, 2008 09:30:07 AM
I know you said The Dark Knight is good, but not great. I am curious as to what you think a great movie is? Can you name some? Thanks.
I have a lot of respect for Nolan by kafka07	Dec 6th, 2008 09:33:06 AM
Truly a great filmmaker
No deleted scenes my ass by alienindisguise	Dec 6th, 2008 09:44:51 AM
wait until the next edition of TDK on dvd. They'll magically appear on there, guaranteed.
Ras al Ghul returns uncredited as an ally/adversary by RandySavage	Dec 6th, 2008 09:54:55 AM
Sort of like Barbossa in the 2nd PotC.
Most comic book movies get obliterated by crazybubba	Dec 6th, 2008 09:57:54 AM
by bottom-line studio execs and directors that don't get it, so its understandable that fans would worry about the good ones not wanting to return to the genre.
somebody explain this from TDK by batzilla	Dec 6th, 2008 10:35:10 AM
That scene where Fox is telling Bruce about the cell phone he is going to leave in Lui's hide out and that is has a sonar device and bruce says "Kinda like a..." the Fox says "submarine Mr. Wayne. Like a submarine." and they are both smiling. I mean, in the context of the scene it seems like we missed something earlier in the movie that was obviously cut. They talked about this "submarine sonar" as if they had already been discussing it. Anyone else catch this?
Lau by batzilla	Dec 6th, 2008 10:49:00 AM
Sorry. Also, meant "THEN" Fox says "submarine Mr. Wayne. Like a submarine."
Re: what makes a movie great... by RandySavage	Dec 6th, 2008 10:49:22 AM
As far as popular entertainment (comic book films, summer popcorn flicks) is concerned, I think TDK easily qualifies as great. Since "greatness" in film is mostly subjective, I'm not sure how we can agree to objectively call a film great. There are probably a handful of films that 90% of TBers could agree should be considered "great"(think of the greatest living directors with at least 2 magnum opei): Spielberg - Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws Scorsese - Goodfellas, Casino Cameron - Aliens, Titanic Scott - Gladiator, Bladerunner Mann - Last of the Mohicans, Heat Weir - Master & Commander, Dead Poets Society Stone - Wall Street, Nixon Landis - Trading Places, Animal House Hughes - Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Vacation McTiernan - Predator, Hunt for Red October I leave a lot of directors off the list (Lucas, Donner, Jackson, Zemeckis, Avildsen) off the list because I don't think they've had multiple "great" films. I have a propensity for big-budget, popular epic movies. I can understand why many see the films of David Lynch, Sydney Lumet, etc. as being great, but I prefer the big, fun stuff. I think TDK is a great film and puts Nolan on the way to making the list.
batzilla by Ribbons	Dec 6th, 2008 11:04:15 AM
No, nothing was missed, or probably not, anyway. I'm pretty sure Wayne meant to say "Kind of like a BAT" (since bats use sonar to move around), and Fox cut him off and said "submarine" instead. It was just a joke about how, in the first movie, Fox said he didn't want to know what Wayne was up to so that he could plead ignorance, but he's not an idiot so he obviously knew that "the Batman," who just happened to have all of his equipment, was Wayne.
As for... by Ribbons	Dec 6th, 2008 11:11:38 AM
...the idea of NEEDING a sequel so that Batman can get back into the good graces of Gotham (if he ever truly was), well, that's kind of tricky. We're stuck in the dark night, but that doesn't mean dawn is coming any time soon. I don't know if there's really any better way to "end" the series than the way 'The Dark Knight' ended. It's not like Batman's ever going to vanquish crime from Gotham permanently and transform the city into a secular humanist utopia for the rest of its days. He can exist as a symbol, but he already does right now (he's the dark knight to Harvey's white knight), so I mean... I just don't think it's self-evident that the story needs to be "concluded," or if it even can be.
With this and The Prestige, Nolan has moved up in the world big by Greenleaf1	Dec 6th, 2008 11:14:57 AM
I don't think he's reached Peter Jackson level of fame, but the continued success of the Batman franchise, good cred from The Prestige/Memento, and a potential 2nd Oscar nomination (as well as a possible 3rd and 4th if he could somehow pull off best pic/director/screenplay nods). Whatever Nolan wants to do next he'll be able to get greenlit. Something tells me he and Warner Bros. will have a long relationship. Seems like they gave him a ton of creative space on these Batman films, so there's no reason for him to go anywhere else.
I'd like a 3rd to forget about TDK. Good god... by Flip63Hole	Dec 6th, 2008 11:30:07 AM
I fucking slept through 1/3 of it. What an overrated piece of shit. The James Cagney Joker act was retarded.
If you slept through TDK..... by Evangelion217	Dec 6th, 2008 11:40:38 AM
Then you probably have a bad case of ADD, or you were simply just too tried to sit through such great art. This isn't some trashy blockbuster, it's a Nolan symphony. And the Joker was mostly influenced by Alex from "A Clockwork Orange." Not James Cagney, and it wasn't retarded.
Greenleaf by Ribbons	Dec 6th, 2008 11:41:00 AM
Yeah, Warner Bros. would probably love to work with him again. It seems to me that the only reason he'd have to go elsewhere is if he's interested in an adaptation/remakening that belongs to another studio or Warner Bros. leans on him to make another Batman movie and he really, really doesn't want to.
I could live with myself.... by Andillformthehead	Dec 6th, 2008 11:45:16 AM
...If there wasn't a sequel. It would kill me if they brought in somebody else however. I would rather have a "ok" Nolan film to cap the series.
SO THEY CANT MAKE A QUIET IMAX CAMERA? by alice 13	Dec 6th, 2008 11:46:41 AM
i will see if i have one laying around ON MY SPACE STATION.
I can see how it's faithful that TDK be the last, to an extent by terry1978	Dec 6th, 2008 12:11:11 PM
In most incarnations, only a select few people, even those in the JLA, view Batman as a truly good guy, without any flaws or shortcomings. The rest of the planet knows that he has good intentions, but has a fucked up way of coming about them, which is why TDK ended the way it did. There is more story to tell, but I get why Nolan said he could possibly end it there.
Why 100k? by Dazzler69	Dec 6th, 2008 12:35:17 PM
Why is it not unlimited? Internet makes it possible right?
Hey Comedian, TDK was the Second Coming of... by Leafar the Lost	Dec 6th, 2008 12:36:44 PM
...of comic book movies, and I am not a fucking zombie, shit-for-brains! This movie is a masterpiece, and the only man who can direct the third Batman Begins movie is Nolan. It would be immoral not to make a sequel to TDK. Nolan must realize it, and WB should pay him what he is worth.
PLANTY McPlant Plant! by Darth_Kaos	Dec 6th, 2008 12:39:08 PM
I always wanted to write that. But it's obvious that this is someone from Warners doing some press. com' on!
I agree with 'thecomedian' by Darth_Kaos	Dec 6th, 2008 12:49:42 PM
TDK was a very good movie, but not a great movie. It had flaws that were out weighted by what worked. Now I know some of you 'TDK CAN DO NO WRONG' talkbackers will ask which parts. I'll save you the trouble and give you one. Batman going to China! Totally unnecessary. If they had cut that whole part out, it would have cut the movie down. That's just one problem, I thought didn't work.
8K means... by Lobanhaki	Dec 6th, 2008 01:04:11 PM
8000 lines of vertical resolution, I believe. By comparison, your higher end televisions run at about 1080 lines of verticle resolution. This should not be surprising, given the use of IMAX film.
re: Darth_Kaos by loquaciousmuse	Dec 6th, 2008 01:11:45 PM
Sigh. not a plant. as shutthefuckupdonny noticed i also sent in the star trek bit, which is from paramount. please check out my blog if you want some sort of proof - www.allthingsfangirl.blogspot. com and thanks lobanhaki for the explanation!!! makes sense now why the audience gasped when he said 8k haha
adiehardfanwithalethalweapon by ChocolateJesus	Dec 6th, 2008 01:13:50 PM
If you can't understand why the Batmen imposters were in the movie, that ain't the movie's fault. And Randy Savage, anyone who puts Spielberg on a list of "Great" movies can suck a golden Academy cock. That guy's nothing but a schlock-meister.
re: loquaciousmuse by Andillformthehead	Dec 6th, 2008 01:28:00 PM
Thanks for the story. I was wondering how users will be alerted to signup for the BD-Live with Nolan? Also if you already have an Xbox just pick up the Panasonic DMP-BD35K for $299 which is Bonus View and BD-Live capable.
Re: andillformthehead by loquaciousmuse	Dec 6th, 2008 02:27:46 PM
There was never a mention of how to sign up. The chat would be for 100,000 people because that's what the server can handle, apparently. So as far as I know, it's a first come first serve thing...but that seems to me like that's asking for trouble. Hopefully as the date nears closer, more details will come out!
re: re: loquaciousmuse by Andillformthehead	Dec 6th, 2008 02:31:18 PM
Thanks again. Hopefully you give us uninformed peeps a heads up whenever something cool is happening.
I think the next villan should be "The Calculator" by ChocolateJesusMan	Dec 6th, 2008 02:35:39 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T he_Calculator
batzilla... "like a submarine" by MattmanReturns	Dec 6th, 2008 02:43:18 PM
Bruce is about to say "like a bat" and Fox corrects with "like a submarine" so he won't state the obvious.
Darth_Kaos... the Hong Kong scene by MattmanReturns	Dec 6th, 2008 02:51:46 PM
Apart from being a cool action scene, it makes the mobsters realize that they actually DO need the Joker, and they reconsider his offer. Lau went to China claiming no one could touch him... but then Batman simply follows him and extracts him. The desperate mobsters then turn to the Joker.
Bill Murray as a zodiac-like Riddler... by Banzai Rootskibango	Dec 6th, 2008 02:54:15 PM
...I love it.
God, why was Ledger taken away from us :( by theycallmemrglass	Dec 6th, 2008 03:09:31 PM
He clearly had so much drive, talent and so much more to give than we first thought not just in acting but looks as a film maker too. Damn. Great article though, and no question about it, TDK is one great films of the decade.
Hong Kong segment was fucking awesome! by theycallmemrglass	Dec 6th, 2008 03:28:29 PM
What the hell are some of you talking about? Have it cut out? First the whole segment was visually stunning. Second, it served the fucking story big time showing that no one can fucking hide from Batman at night where ever you are in the world. Thirdly, the whole capture the bad guy process was kickass awesome. Man, with respect, I dont understand some peoples criticisms of this segment, I appreciate there must be a reason but I dont understand what that would be. I think it is one of my favourite segments in the film.
Complaining about the Hong Kong sequence by MattmanReturns	Dec 6th, 2008 04:35:54 PM
is like complaining about the asteroid sequence in Empire Strikes Back. Of course the writers could simply have had the hyperdrive work, and Han gets away, but then we're robbed of a great action sequence which actually expands the character of Han Solo. Same with Batman going to Hong Kong, going to extraordinary lengths to get the bad guy.
Would be cool if Joke was in the third... by Organs	Dec 6th, 2008 05:55:01 PM
...even if Heath isn't with us anymore. As great a job as he did with the character, the character is paramount to the Batman universe. What's more, since he wore make-up, it shouldn't be too hard to recast him. In regards to the IMAX experience, I saw the movie in this format for my second viewing. It didn't seem to add much of anything, to be honest. If anything, I stopped thinking about the story and the events playing out and I started thinking "Oh, we're in IMAX now. Uhhh... so that's it--oh geez! I love this scene! I shouldn't look for the borders!". If anyone kept track of my comments before the film was released, then yes, I was skeptical. I had my reasons. I wouldn't say Heath's portrayal is better than the comic version, but he definitely did the character justice. I can't wait for the DVD release.
theyreflockingthisway by Chuck_Chuckwalla	Dec 6th, 2008 06:53:37 PM
Dude, why can't we speculate about the next movie and what villians might show up? That's part of the fun. We've seen Ra's, Scarecrow, Two Face and Joker, why couldn't there be more of Bats mainstay bad guys in the subsequent sequels? I'm sure any of the goofiest villians in Bats rogues gallery (Penguin, Egghead, Poison Ivy) could be made interesting and work logically in the established movie universe. I'm curious to see other conventions of Bat mythology worked into this saga. And like another talkbacker said, DK is not the second coming. It's really, really good but it's not Apocalypse Now.
Adam West for TDKR by Smashing	Dec 6th, 2008 07:27:58 PM
It would be amazing.
All it takes to get Batman back by iakobos	Dec 6th, 2008 07:53:30 PM
in Gotham's good graces is to have someone find out that Harvey Dent, not Batman, was the bad guy. Once word spreads, Batman will be exhonerated. The person who spreads the news about Dent could do so to undermine Gotham for his own nefarious ends. That person could easily be Penguin or Riddler or Egghead. Then Batman will be recalled to rid Gotham of another criminal.
Blu-Ray, Shmoo-Ray by Teddy Artery	Dec 6th, 2008 07:55:29 PM
Blu-Ray is total crap. It's still a transitional technology and inadequately future-proofed. I'm not buying a BD player for another 5 years. They'll have a new format by then, probably the new multi-density discs that can hold up to a terabyte of data.
"Zodiac-like Riddler" by BurnHollywood	Dec 6th, 2008 09:43:14 PM
I like that one, Banzai Rootskibango. Not so sure about Bill Murray, but the serial killer angle fits the new series perfectly.
Flip63Hole by romanocc	Dec 6th, 2008 10:14:48 PM
I can never tell anyone to like a movie, cause to each his own, but you have to respect that Nolan tried to make a movie that wasn't your typical blockbuster. I hate going to summer movies anymore, because they are filled with constant action/needless CGI, that don't give a rats ass about a good story or good characters. TDK has all of this, as you don't know where the movies is going, you have to question each motive of every character, and it isn't just some paint by numbers action flick. In the end, the movie is not for everyone, but you have to respect what Nolan did, compared 'Iron Man' and 'Indy IV' which are your typical summer movies that wow people that nobody will be talking about 10 years from now. TDK will be talked about for a long time.
"fear of anarchy" -- nolan's joker is not an anarchist. by compn	Dec 6th, 2008 10:52:45 PM
all of his crimes are planned out to the fullest. why nolan says he is , i have no idea. why no spoilers for a movie that was released a year ago? to a site that is the number 1 demographic for the movie. are there really people here that still havent seen the movie, and that are trying to avoid spoilers? TDK is full of plot holes. batman gets a new suit, one that is more susceptible to knives and bullets ??! he spends half the movie dodging bullets, its silly. tdk also falls victim to the problem of multiple villans in one movie. scarecrow, two-face and the joker (plus moroni+mobsters). there are plenty of scenes that dont have three reasons for being in it. lots of exposition trailer quotes in the movie.
Stranger's Commentary? MST3K? by groorgman	Dec 6th, 2008 11:04:07 PM
It's the return on MST3K, there's potential there, it could be cool...
BATMAN 3 IMAX by 100 SUNS	Dec 6th, 2008 11:40:15 PM
Good thing RED is making a 28k Digital Cinema Camera... which is COMPLETELY SILENT http://www.red.com/
re: shutthefuckupdonny by loquaciousmuse	Dec 7th, 2008 12:44:13 AM
haha you're an observant one. and thank you! would love to hear your comments on some of the other posts on my blog.
Ribbons by batzilla	Dec 7th, 2008 01:18:22 AM
AHHHHH yes...! That makes sense now. Man, thanks for the help. That flew over my head like a ...submarine lol!
TDK was decent at best but not Great... by Mace13	Dec 7th, 2008 01:50:32 AM
I think it's basically the best Batman movie thus far but I also think it doesn't live up to the hype that everyone is bestowing upon it either. It did have quite a few flaws. Ledger was a better Joker than Nicholsan for sure. I don't hide the fact that I hated Nicholson's performance as the Joker(Hoop!). But even Ledger's was just a mediocre adaption of the comic character. I'm sorry I didn't think his performance was the be all end all of the Joker like most people do. I'm used to how he is in the comics and in Batman the Animated Series. Which I think BTAS has been the best adaption of the character to date. Thats going to be hard to beat in my book. If ledgers Joker had been more insane/maniacal acting instead of disturbed and brooding I would have liked him more. I also felt that he should have done Jokers trade marked laugh more than he did. He only did it like what twice? When the school bus was driving away and at the end when he was hanging upside down. That was about it. The laugh alone is a huge part of the character. Other problems I had with the movie... The Bat imposters- This was an ok idea taken from "The Dark Knight Returns" comic. But where the comic got it right the movie got it wrong. Having Batman inspire civilians to go out and fight crime in a homage to him is fine. But having them dress up EXACTLY like Batman to do it was just very stupid. If they would have adapted the idea from the comic correctly and had the crime fighting civilians just have the Bat Symbol on them somewhere it would have been a much more realistic scene then how they portrayed it. They should have all just been wearing black leather jackets with a bat symbol on the back or something similiar to that. They should have looked more like an actual "gang" rather than fans at a cosplay convention. Joker killing his hired thugs - I can't express how much I HATE when movies have the main villian killing off their hired help. Nolan is big on the characters in his batverse being realistic. Well think about that realisticly for a minute. Once word gets out that you kill off anyone who works for you then who the hell is going to want to work for you? I sure as hell wouldn't. Good luck getting any accomplices in any future crimes you plan to commit. Not to mention that would be the quickest way to get a mutiny going in my opinion. If you have five thugs working for you and you kill thug #3 just because he "fails" you or something stupid like that. I'm pretty sure the four remaing thugs aren't going to be taking to kindly to that and will probably be thinking it's just a matter of time before they're next. The cell phone sonar thing - That whole idea just went a little to far for me and became rather silly when it was showing a 3-D computerized outline of the entire inside of the building. I should also note here that I wasn't a big fan of that water evaporator from "Batman Begins" either. Well those were my main gripes I guess. Another main one has to do with the Two Face and Joker relationship but i'll be here all night if I get into that. I'm just real picky about movies that have been adapted from a well known source material. I can understand updating and changing some things around a little to better fit the movie medium. Thats completly understandable to an extent. But I really feel that most of the changes that directors/studios make are unnecessary for the mass audience to "get it". The source material is popular for a reason. If it wasn't you wouldn't be making a movie about it in the first place.
This has got me all depressed about Ledger again by IAmMrMonkey!	Dec 7th, 2008 02:01:00 AM
I can't believe we'll never see Ledger's Joker again. If that wasn't my performance of the year, I'm not sure what is, because the guy disappeared completely into that role. Ledger's casting is the reason I won't doubt Nolan's choices for actors in anything he does. I'm more interested in the next movie Nolan does that isn't related to Batman. Hopefully it'll be something Momentoesque.
Thanks for that non-constructive criticism Teddy by half vader	Dec 7th, 2008 04:42:13 AM
and you do realise that they've already announced both 400g and 1terabyte discs that are BLU-RAY based? AND supposedly backwards compatible/playable even in current players via firmware upgrade (obviously not burnable in those players)? Oh. No of course you don't. And 4 years, not 5. But then, you can't even string your words together. You'll buy BD in 5 years when they'll have the non-BD tech? 'Cause that's how that reads, sunshine.
Shadow of the Bat by Azlam Orlandu	Dec 7th, 2008 05:06:06 AM
No shit, dirtbags.
Chuck_Chuckwalla by theyreflockingthisway	Dec 7th, 2008 05:32:03 AM
If they make a sequel I have no doubt they'll use an all ready existing Batman villain in there - I never said they wouldn't. What I said was they won't write a story around that villain - they'll choose one that fits in best with the story they want to tell with the film. The problem is people are saying "they've done Ras Scarecrow, The Joker and Two Face now so the next coolest is The Riddler then the Penguin!". That was the thinking behind the old Batman sequels - just stick in the next best villain and have a dull story about Batman simply defeating him. These films are more complex than that - they're more intelligent. You can't just say "The Riddler will be cool now" and expect a good story to automatically come from it.
Heres my non flame bait reason's why TDK was not the greatest fi by Spike fan	Dec 7th, 2008 05:46:06 AM
It was to Long. They could have ended the film with the emergence of Two Face and the death of Maggie which would have set up perfectly for the next film with Harvey as the main villian. Instead Harvey shows up kills a few lackeys threatens Gordorns kids but strangely spares the guy who did murder his girlfriend and scarre him.Then is killed off straight away. Waste of a great charachter. Batman saves the Joker from death but does not save Neeson in the last film nor Harvey in TDK WHY???? The Ferry scene really cheesy oh complete with Nobel prisoners throwing away detonators. Gordons fake death and not telling his wife again why????? Batmans growling even when he is alone talking to someone who knows his secret and yes it really greated. Batman managing to save all the cops dressed as Jokers hencemen without losing one even chessier Ok those are only a few reasons I could think off the hooff
WB Exec: "Does the story need to be told now, Mr. Nolan?" by LaserPants	Dec 7th, 2008 08:56:39 AM
(HUGE bags of cash hit his desk.) Nolan: "Why yes, it does, sir, yes it does."
And I Say That Believing He Deserves It by LaserPants	Dec 7th, 2008 08:57:36 AM
TDK was phenomenal! Can't wait for Tuesday's release.
Spike fan by Ribbons	Dec 7th, 2008 09:52:41 AM
I wouldn't call Dent a waste of a character, since he's in the whole movie. I know you mean "Two-Face," but I don't think you can really separate the two in this case. Batman killed him, by the way, in an act of desperation. He was shot, and he was afraid that if he didn't do something quick Gordon and his family was going to be killed as well, so he basically staggered into him. The rest of the stuff you didn't like about it is all your preference, but just thought I'd weigh in on a couple of those points.
Bring me everyone by Slightly Mad	Dec 7th, 2008 10:44:55 AM
I think the sequel should feature Riddler, Ventriloquist, Mad Hatter, Maxie Zeus Cavalier, etc. Basically every crazy in a costume you can think made up of Arkham escapees & those inspired by the Joker's rampage. Between dealing with these nutjobs & hunting the Batman the police's resources get stretched pretty thin. Also, with allies running short, Batman could form an alliance with a certain leather-clad cat burglar...
Mace13... by fasterpussycat	Dec 7th, 2008 10:52:51 AM
Good points. I would add that they kinda worked around this by explaining that the majority of Joker's men are psychotic (the scene where Dent is threatening to kill the fake cop in the alley?). That might cover over some problems, but it opens up a great deal more. Coming from someone working in the mental health field, here's my two cents: it would be damn near impossible to get truly psychotic people to work effectively enough to be your soliders for all but the most basic tasks. My reasoning was that the bank robberies (which was the only time I really saw him kill his own men, other than the brutal audition sequence, which was really just for revenge AND to possibly scare the shit out of his own men, to keep them loyal?) would require men with some skill and not just "psychos." By killing them off, he does not have to split the money AND there is no one left to explain that the Joker killed his own men. Sure the cops could spill this detail in the press, but it would be arguable if they would (and we don't see that they do) So anybody who does the bank jobs with him later might not know he kills his own guys. Also, notice how the men kill each other, each thinks they are "in on it" to kill the other man to increase their share. The greed and illusion of collusion would be a fairly effective method to keep them distracted from what is really going on.
My One Gripe... by fasterpussycat	Dec 7th, 2008 10:56:19 AM
With TDK was why...WHY did they not go old school latex for Two-Face? Why the damn CGI that looked so fake and really undermined the serious drama of his arc? Just 'cause you can do it with CGI doesn't mean you should! Did no one show Nolan DARKMAN?
What The...?! by LaserPants	Dec 7th, 2008 11:22:10 AM
I thought the Two Face cgi "makeup" was friggin' phenomenal! It was creepy as all hell too. Looked pretty photo-real to me. Of course, in real life, I don't think anyone that severely wounded would be given the choice of whether or not they could receive treatment. He would literally die from infection if left like that. But, hey, its a comic book movie; even one informed by a gritty noir realism, its still a comic book movie...
LOL! You fanboys crack me up! by Darth_Kaos	Dec 7th, 2008 01:26:38 PM
I can understand the amount of defense you give TDK, but geez, when somebody gives an outlined reason why it 'ISN'T THE GREATEST COMIC BOOK MOVIE OF ALL TIME' of 'THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE' all of sudden you turn into FOX NEWS, justifying everything. Again, I enjoyed TDK, I thought it was a well made movie, that had flaws and was too long for it's own good. BTW - I agree with SPIKE FAN. he's totally correct. They should have ended with Harvey as Two- Face and get the next one rolling! Instead that do a stupid coda.
ooops, shitty grammer at the end - typing to fast by Darth_Kaos	Dec 7th, 2008 01:28:27 PM
I meant 'Instead of using a stupid Coda regarding Gordon' .
Chris Nolan should create a new villian by jah_kingdom	Dec 7th, 2008 02:08:11 PM

Kaos by Ribbons	Dec 7th, 2008 02:37:48 PM
I assume you were referring to me since you also gave a callback to Spike fan. First of all, I'm hardly a Batman "fanboy" and I don't think The Dark Knight is THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE. So what are you getting up in arms over? I'd say I was pretty reasonable. Oh, and considering you're the one going on about "the origin of Two-Face," you might want to look in the mirror before you call ANYONE here a fanboy.
theyreflockingthisway by Chuck_Chuckwalla	Dec 7th, 2008 03:09:55 PM
I agree with you but you seem to be taking this too seriously. I hope that Nolan gives us something totally unexpected and from out of left field. I hope he doesn't go the route of Spider-man 3. But I do find fan speculations on how they would solve the problem of topping DK with another equally if not better sequel interesting. If the Riddler is the soup of the day, so be it, it's that person's opinion and move on. Doesn't mean it's gonna happen though.
citizen kane by noiretblanc	Dec 7th, 2008 03:59:25 PM
sucks. rosebud is implausible.
Chuck... by theyreflockingthisway	Dec 7th, 2008 04:25:55 PM
Cool but dunno how I'm taking it too seriously lol. Just thought I'd express an oppinion on a movie I liked - I don't think about it in the outside world all that much other than I'd like to see it again - so not sure what else to say on that really. Just thought I'd express an oppinion on a film I liked when came accross and article for it. Anyway I thought I'd make another point in response to Darth_Kaos - I hate it when I go and see a movie and it just sets it up for the next one. Films are getting too much like TV shows these days. I like a complete, contained story when I see a film - and ambiguous ending is great but one that says "come back and pay to see the sequel in two years to find out what happens next!" really ticks me off.
Re-cast joker with some GREAT actor and have someone say: by FleshMachine	Dec 7th, 2008 05:40:21 PM
"you look different"... then have joker look up and say "death changes a man"... that would be very cool...but who to play joker? it would have to be someone who could take ledgers character and make it their own rather than a complete reinvention. joachim pheonix is maybe a good choice...but who else? any other villian will be anti climactic to joker (sandman? kinda lame...2 face..i didnt buy him for a second)
am i the only one who thought the 2face subplot was weak? by FleshMachine	Dec 7th, 2008 05:41:56 PM
super great guy starts holding a gun to a kids head? nope...not buying it.
You need to ask YOURSELF that question, Fasterpussy by half vader	Dec 7th, 2008 07:20:59 PM
Because of course the answer is that CG actually IS the logical way to go there. I love old-school but Latex would have been much worse. In the words of the master, Rick Baker - makeup can only add, not take away. It would have looked so ridiculously obvious and laughable to have the head all fattened up and oversized to account for the bits that have been 'lost' and burnt off. Even then you've got the problem of shadow areas not working (as in earlier Terminator movies). And tell me how exactly would you get the tongue and teeth stuff working? That's right. You'd have to have the tail wag the dog and change the design to suit the limitations of traditional makeup. Half the point of doing that character was doing him WITHOUT having to make those compromises. We've already seen the old approach plenty of times (and even with the same character). There's no good reason NOT to do that type of make-up CG. You made a bit of a fool of yourself there mate. And Fleshmachine, I liked the 2-face storyline. He was both the Joker and Batman and duality thing combined as a physical metaphor and that wasn't lost on those characters either (well, Batman at least). Worked great to me.
Hmm.. again.. the best way to do it: by ORGANIZED CHAOS	Dec 7th, 2008 07:25:07 PM
If Nolan wants to keep the same high quality level he got with Begins and TDK he can't, as someone here has already said, choose a villain and simply work the story around him. What I think should be interesting is to first show Bruce not long after the events of TDK and throughout the movie show us what his life will be like 30-40 years later. But wait, there's more: CLINT EASTWOOD as an older Bruce Wayne! If you don't think this is a great idea then please go watch the Gran Torino trailer and tell me that Clint didn't make you think of Batman a bit! This does sort of remind me of the narrative structure of Godfather Part II except that here it's the same character, not the father-son dynamic which IMO makes it even more interesting. Plus, if you think about it, considering that TDK is now a HUGE BO and critical success, if Nolan tries to go down the tired "Bigger, better" road that SM3 and countless others have (ie. more villains more of everything), he will fail tragically. Let us not forget that Nolan has already mentionned how he considered Godfather Part II as an inspiration on how to craft a great sequel. So this third movie could in a way, be the the Godfather Part III we never got, something more intimate, more sophisticated, but ultimately a better movie, something far more intersting than "just a sequel to a comic-book movie". And hell,imagine how cool it would be to have Eastwood as Bruce Wayne! I'm also thinking, as someone here has already said, save Batman 'till the end that way he'll make that much more of an impact when he finally appears. Also, if Nolan does something like this, choosing the villain won't be very important and that's the way it should be. I mean honestly, does anyone here think that there's a villain (or for that matter an actor) that could top Heath Ledger's joker?? I think not. I'm telling you folks this is the only way to do this. Nolan is a smart director: He'll either bow out or do something along those lines. Phew, sorry I've been rambling for a while, just had to get this idea of my chest! Thanks for your time.
Huh? by Larry Sellers	Dec 7th, 2008 07:30:14 PM
"The Joker THROWS Rachel out of the window. He LEAVES, forgetting why he came in the first place." What the hell happened after Batman caught Rachel during the party scene? That bothers me more than anything in this movie.
P.S. the outrageously daring thing about 2-face's makeup by half vader	Dec 7th, 2008 07:31:51 PM
in this film is that usually makeup effects are designed in such a way that you don't concentrate on that part as much as the real parts of the actor to help sell the illusion - misdirection tends to be built in to the design itself. Because the more you look at the actual latex itself the more it opens itself up for criticism and the illusion breaks down. However in this case any time he was on screen you couldn't HELP but concentrate ENTIRELY on the burnt/makeup side. As with real burn victims, your eyes are drawn to his scarring. Usually makeup NEVER has to withstand that sort of intense scrutiny (obviously I'm talking human effects, and even Elephant man was B&W which covers many problems). So I think however it was done, that was an amazing achievement most makeups never have to withstand.
Larry by half vader	Dec 7th, 2008 07:39:29 PM
What would be the POINT of him sticking around if he can't find Harvey and Batman has saved Rachel? "Forgetting why he came" needn't have anything to do with it...
Flock by Chuck_Chuckwalla	Dec 7th, 2008 07:46:19 PM
Well, I don't mean to say you don't take films seriously, because I certainly do. If I were to talk to you in person, I'm sure that I wouldn't read you being totally serious. But that's how folks miscommunicate when you're limited to writing on a forum.
Plot for the next one ? by Miyamoto_Musashi	Dec 7th, 2008 09:04:35 PM
Am reading a lot about potential villians, but has anyone thought of a great storyline, plot and themes for the next Bat flick ? Personally I am a fan of the Knightfall saga, in terms of a)Batman being driven to the point of exhaustion and Gotham out of control and b) dealing with the fact that Batman doesnt kill unlike Azrael, and what the implications of not killing and killing are for a hero. Though I have concerns about all that action fitting in just one movie and introducing a lot of villians the mainstream audience hasnt seen before. Maybe it could work as a two part film, i.e. Kill Bill.
alternate joker videos by BurgerKing	Dec 7th, 2008 09:30:52 PM
Would LOVE to see those. But if they pull out some "Ultimate Collectors Edition" DVD out in 6 months I'll blow up a hospital
Spike Fan by HarryWannaBe	Dec 7th, 2008 09:37:15 PM
Some of the all-time greatest films are much longer than 'TDK'... 'Lawrence Of Arabia', 'The Bridge On The River Kwai', 'Doctor Zhivago', 'The Godfather', 'The Godfather, Pt. II', the 'LOTR' films, 'Gone With The Wind', 'Spartacus', 'The Seven Samurai'. All of which are quite long and quite great.
NO RIDDLER! by THE KNIGHT	Dec 7th, 2008 11:25:10 PM
Too much like the joker... Don't see him going that route at all! He'll either bring in Talia, Catwoman, or this Deadshot character..
What about... by kaylum	Dec 8th, 2008 02:50:16 AM
Harley Quinn? With the right actress, I think Nolan could do some interesting things with that character.
Half Vader... by fasterpussycat	Dec 8th, 2008 08:50:29 AM
Good points...but I still confess to be more drawn to the old school FX. CGI still looks too fake to my eyes...it looked more like something out a really good xbox game then something you would see in a burn ward. I'm not denying the skill, and if it worked for others, then so be it. But considering how they worked so very hard to keep everything else grounded and more real (for a "comic book movie"), it just didn't work for me. Everything else worked...and let's face it, we're all gonna find one thing that just didn't work for us on a personal level...and when the only thing I can bitch about is the make-up, then you know they did a helluva job.
Re: P.S. by fasterpussycat	Dec 8th, 2008 09:08:26 AM
That's a damn good point - I would even say that drawing the eye to the burn to focus on the scarring which fuels his more horrible acts in the third act and in a way, makes it believable that's gone over the edge. If you were focused on the human side - the "sane" side, you might question the logic of how he fell apart so quickly. It's still my own admitted bias towards CGI. I'm not against it, but in certain instances I just think it is not quite "photo real" yet enough to fool the naked eye and depending on the scene, it can detract more than it can help. It's one thing to see giant creatures of myth in Lord of the Rings...they don't exist, so you mostly marvel at the imagination to see them "exist." Or better yet, go all the way back to Jurassic Park - compare the scenes with the strictly CGI dinos versus the animatronic T-Rex sequence. This debate goes on all the time between me and the rest of us "old-timers" who grew up on John Carpenter flicks versus the "new-schoolers" who started on movies right when CGI was coming of age as tech got really good.
what codec did they use? by lynxpro	Dec 8th, 2008 09:52:35 AM
I sure hope Nolan insisted on Warner releasing the TDK on Blu-ray using AVC instead of their usual VC-1 codec. Just about every other studio is using AVC.
DVDFILE sums it up by 420 Boylston St	Dec 8th, 2008 12:27:43 PM
Wouldn’t it have made more sense to have used the AVC video CODEC at high bit rate and reduce the resolution of the hour’s worth of disc one supplements to standard definition? Or better yet, put that hour-long collection of supplements on disc two as a documentary. The film comes first. Warner, please take full advantage of the technology and deliver the highest quality presentations. --Dan Ramer I think WB dropped the ball by not giving this film an AVC video CODEC treatment. Alas we know what's next? TDK special super-duper edition when the third film comes out. Oh well, I can wait. F WB for this snide approach of marketing.
Wayne: Sonar. Just like a b- by Shadow Warrior	Dec 8th, 2008 10:02:31 PM
Fox: Submarine Mr. Wayne. Just like a submarine. Damn I didn't catch that either. It's in the official script. I'm buying the DVD later.
Just do the Riddler... by Anthony W	Dec 9th, 2008 12:06:33 AM
Fox was the head of the R&D department but most of the heavy lifting was being done by the Riddler. Wayne industries fired him prior to Bruce taking over the company. Seeing his tech being used by Batman (He sees footage of the batmobile being chased by cop cars from the first movie) drives him over the edge and leads him to confronting to Fox and Batman.
A great idea for a TDK sequel by ORGANIZED CHAOS	Dec 9th, 2008 09:08:54 AM
Check my post above. Bring Clint Eastwood as an older Batman. Have it ressemble a Godfather Part II narrative structure.
People.. by ORGANIZED CHAOS	Dec 9th, 2008 09:10:27 AM
Someone answer me..
Absolutely fair enough Fasterpussycat by half vader	Dec 9th, 2008 09:15:37 AM
I getcha. The only thing I would say is that in terms of age, I'd definitely be in the oldschool camp, having grown up with Rick Baker's creations and the Carpenter stuff too. And still love it. I just try to be objective about it. Hey, I love old Yoda too, and it's a masterful achievement in design and puppetry, but I was never under any illusion that he wa anyhting other than wobbly rubber, could really move or that the mouth did anything but go "ba ba ba" in terms of enunciation/phonemes. As for the "animatronic t-rex sequence, that was pretty much a blend, with one great shot that doesn't even cut but swaps from the animatronic Rex to the CG in the same shot. I just wish people wouldn't be as simplistic as the oldies going "latex rules! CG sucks!" (not saying you're saying that btw), others going "CG rocks, oldschool sucks!" or the bizarre and peculiar thing of youngsters saying the same oldschool rocks cg sucks when they're not even old enough to know a time before CG (if we say it really kicked off in 89 with Abyss). You hardly ever hear a voice of reason talking about the inherent strengths and drawbacks of EACH. Except for the best guys that do this who all say whatever they're all just tools - and are roundly ignored every time they do. LYNXPRO - it's VC-1 like BB, and the Edge Enhancement is disgusting. Very disappointing. So bloody obvious, too. VC-1 CAN be great, and AVC CAN be shit - but DNR in addition to obvious EE is ALWAYS shit!
Live community screening Q&A by FrixFrixFrix	Dec 19th, 2008 10:39:32 AM
Big disappointment. Just an annoying scrolling text bar obstructing part of the screen filled with the same 10 stupid questions all night by the incompetent moderators. Surely with tens of thousands of questions rolling in over the course of nearly three hours, we could have done with fewer repetitions of "how much did Heath improvise?" and "what made you decide to shoot in imax?" An utter embarrassment. The only redeeming moment was the revelation that Nolan was unaware of Nestor Carbonell's previous work as Batmanuel on 'The Tick'.

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