Saw the new Batman movie today

[konigcharger]

I'm gonna go ahead and say it... best Batman movie ever. 

Heath Ledger as the joker,... fantastic







*that is all*

[Khyron]

does the joke OD in the movie?









what..... too soon? 

[chargerman68]

does the joke OD in the movie?











what..... too soon? 

[miller]

I just watched it tonight and I must agree with you, best movie I have scene all year, truly classic, Ledger was fantastic. I just hope they make another batman movie... I wanna see where this all leads.

[Mike DC]

 
Remember the tractor-trailer getting blown forwards onto its roof? 

That was done for real, in the real dowtown Chicago.  Real buildings on either side of the street to risk hitting if it hadn't gotten blown perfectly straight up & over. 



The lambo-into-the-truck crash was real too.  My little brother was hanging around the shooting set in Chicago and saw that stunt from a distance. 

[superbee383]

PHENOMINAL movie!  I'm from Chicago, so a lot of the scenery is familiar. 

Best line in the movie:  "Wanna see me make this pencil disappear?"

[4cruzin]

Going to see it tonight . . looks like a great movie and its getting good reviews!   

[Mike DC]

My brother just saw it. 

He said it was the best Batman movie he'd ever seen.  He also said was the darkest Batman movie that he ever imagined would get made by a major studio. 

He said, try to imagine if the creative people from "Empire Strikes Back" and "Heat" were turned loose on a Batman movie with no rules or guidelines or budgets.   




He also said almost nothing in the whole movie ever looked like it might be a computer effect.   

[superbee383]

My brother just saw it. 

He said it was the best Batman movie he'd ever seen.  He also said was the darkest Batman movie that he ever imagined would get made by a major studio. 

He said, try to imagine if the creative people from "Empire Strikes Back" and "Heat" were turned loose on a Batman movie with no rules or guidelines or budgets.   


He also said almost nothing in the whole movie ever looked like it might be a computer effect.   

It's the finest story line of any Batman film, very complicated and entertaining.  The best movies are the ones that IMPLY violence, not the ones that bathe us in blood.  I noticed the people in the theater stood and watched the credits after the movie, in stunned silence.  If you watch the people coming out of the theater while you're in line to go in, there is little or no emotion on their faces.  Believe me when I say you'll be emotionally drained.  This movie is overwhelming and very well written.  Heath Ledger definitley will be oscar nominated for best supporting actor, and I will be very surprised if he doesn't win.

[Silver R/T]

went to see it friday but tickets were sold out so I saw "wanted" which was pretty good also.

[Drache]

I watched it the opening night here! When the credits started rolling I let out the loudest Joker laugh and girls screamed! It was great.... 

[Charger74]

Saw it last nite, and all I can say is wow.  It's kind of funny cause the crappy ones from Tim Burton where on this weekend and OMG!!  I realize just how bad they really were now...   

[Mike DC]

 
Tim Burton isn't awful, but IMHO he's so overrated that it's gotten ridiculous. 

   
In the last 20 years, here's some of the stuff that Tim Burton's been in charge of:   

--  TONS of money
--  2 Batman movies
--  a Headless Horseman movie
--  an alien invasion movie
--  Jack Nicholson
--  Christopher Walken
--  Pierce Brosnan
--  Danny DeVito
--  Johnny Depp
--  Natalie Portman
--  Winonna Ryder
--  Christina Ricci
--  Michael Keaton
--  Michelle Pfieffer
--  Kim Basinger
--  Ray Park (the "Darth Maul" actor & stuntman)
--  one of the coolest Batmobiles ever.


After throwing ALL THAT  raw material at him for 20 years, what have we got to show for it?


----------------------------------------------------------------------


I've thought for years that the studios shouldn't be giving Tim Burton his own movie projects.  He would be better utilized if he was working as a top-notch production designer (influences the visual style of everything) on other directors' movies.  He can't seem to direct action/drama at all, and a little of his visual style goes a very long way. 

 

[moparstuart]

  personally i love tim burtons stuff , it's awesome !

[superbee383]

Funny thing is, When Tim Burton's Batman came out, it looked so real compared to the old TV series.  Now they both look like a comic book.

...and remember, Burton gave us Winona Ryder with blond hair!

[Drache]

Saw it last nite, and all I can say is wow.  It's kind of funny cause the crappy ones from Tim Burton where on this weekend and OMG!!  I realize just how bad they really were now...   

As a joke, one bat suit was made with nipples, as in Batman & Robin (1997). It was presented to Christian Bale as the real bat suit, but he knew instantly it was a joke, having seen a few design pictures during preproduction. He did pose for some publicity photos in the "nipple" suit.

[JimShine]

...and remember, Burton gave us Winona Ryder with blond hair!

Which is actual reality. She is a bottle brunette

[Charger74]

Not saying that I don't like Tim Burton, but we all know that those batman movies while at the time, somewhat decent and much better than the campy tv serious, they were just horrible acting for the most part.  I mean probably the coolest part of those movies were the cars.

[moparstuart]

 I also enjoyed the campy tv show as a child and now !


   christian bale arrested for beating his mom and sister !   Nice guy     http://perezhilton.com/2008-07-22-christian-bale-arrested

[Mike DC]

The 1960s Batman TV show really wasn't what the comic character was invented to be.  The fully-serious & brooding stuff we get now is in line with what they had in mind originally. 

I read that one of the original creators of Batman even approves of the black suit.  He said the original blue & grey outfit was a concession to the comic artwork, and he really always had a black-suited Batman in mind in the first place.




But I think the 1960s show has every right to exist too.  They just took the franchise in another direction from before, and they did this other thing very well.  The campy show is well-loved by a lot of people. 

And who knows whether Batman would even still be a major superhero if that TV show hadn't happened?  It revitalized a dying franchise, and reintroduced it to the next generation of young kids in a way they'd remember fondly.

[superbee383]

And remember how it was on twice a week?  I thought it was tuesday and thursday, but my memory is a little vague at this point.

...same bat time, same bat channel...

[Charger_Fan]

I saw it last Sunday. Pretty cool!

On the way home, I got thinking...do you guys remember seeing the first Batman movie in 1989? When I saw that movie, I was every bit as impressed then, as I am with this Dark Knight version today...however, I watched that 1989 flick a few months ago. There are a lot of really cheezy parts in that movie!
It's simply amazing how much things change in movies, ya know?? I can only imagine that in another 15 years, I'll watch this Dark Knight flick & think to myself...wow, this is CHEEZY!!

[bordin34]

I just watched it today, and wow it was great. Did anybody else notice that the bat-cycle had Hoosier tires on it?

[Mike DC]

I just finally saw it myself tonight. 


Best superhero movie I can ever remember, and the best movie of any type that I've seen this year so far.  Tons of suspense, virtually no CGI, and much more serious moral dilemmas than just a bunch of gratuitous action. 



Heath Ledger was unreal.  He deserves whatever awards he gets, and not just because he's dead.  This performance is gonna be iconic.  20 years from now, college kids are gonna have posters of Ledger's "Joker" up on their dorm room walls right next to Bluto & Tony Montana.

[bull]

Excellent movie. Is it supposed to be a secret that Two-Face is in the movie? Ooops. Not a secret anymore.

Did anyone else catch the reference to Cat Woman?

[moparstuart]

saw it sunday wanted to hate but came out liking it ! only went to take my 11 year old and he was not impressed LOL

[superbee383]

Excellent movie. Is it supposed to be a secret that Two-Face is in the movie? Ooops. Not a secret anymore.

Did anyone else catch the reference to Cat Woman?

Yeah, it was such a subtle blurb...  Gee, do you think they'll make another movie??

[Mike DC]

 
Chris Nolan (director of Dark Knight & Batman Begins) has said he's done everything he ever wanted to do in a Batman movie during these last two.  He didn't commit to whether or not he'll do any more. 


I think the main stars are already signed to 3-year deals though. 

And after the dumptruck of money that "Dark Knight" is gonna make Warner Bros, there will undoubtedly be another one in theaters as quickly as they can get it done.  I guarantee you that we'll see another Batman movie within 2-3 years.  WB is gonna cash in on this movie's popularity for at least one more round, I don't care if they have to get Pauly Shore to direct a story about JarJar Binks playing Robin.

[moparstuart]

 morgan freeman had a bad car acciident

[bull]

morgan freeman had a bad car acciident

Today? Six years ago?

[moparstuart]

today   he drives an 97 maxima?  humble guy I guess but he was hurt bad !

  http://search.live.com/news/results.aspx?q=morgan+freeman+car+accident&FORM=EWRE

[CaptMarvel]

Saw it last nite, and all I can say is wow.  It's kind of funny cause the crappy ones from Tim Burton where on this weekend and OMG!!  I realize just how bad they really were now...   

Gotta totally disagree with that statement, I loved the first (Keaton/Nicholsen) Batman. The 2nd one wasnt quite as good and they definately went downhill from there, but Jack as the Joker is still tops! (face it, he was born to play that role) The trouble is when creators and directors want to "real" up superheros, they cease being superheroes. Case in point, Smallville, its sad that they dont ever want to put the main character in the suit and cape. For that reason, Ive never got into that series....I prefer my comic characters larger than life and in similiar situations....

SHAZAM!

[General_01]

I saw it yesterday. It was a great movie. I am definitely hoping they make a third as soon as possible.

[Drache]

Saw it last nite, and all I can say is wow.  It's kind of funny cause the crappy ones from Tim Burton where on this weekend and OMG!!  I realize just how bad they really were now...   

Gotta totally disagree with that statement, I loved the first (Keaton/Nicholsen) Batman. The 2nd one wasnt quite as good and they definately went downhill from there, but Jack as the Joker is still tops! (face it, he was born to play that role) The trouble is when creators and directors want to "real" up superheros, they cease being superheroes. Case in point, Smallville, its sad that they dont ever want to put the main character in the suit and cape. For that reason, Ive never got into that series....I prefer my comic characters larger than life and in similiar situations....

SHAZAM!

At first I thought the same way, who could top Jack, but now with the new Joker... I don't know for me its a tossup! Both were so good and convincing although the new Joker is more... scarier....

[Mike DC]

 
Jack Nicholson was indeed born to play that role, but the circumstances weren't entirely lined up for him.  For one thing, the movie could have been better.


And also, Jack Nicholson needed to be 10-15 years younger when he played that role.  (Remember him in "the Shining" back in the day?  Imagine THAT era of Jack Nicholson playing the Joker.)


   

[Dave22443]

I saw it yesterday. It was a great movie. I am definitely hoping they make a third as soon as possible.

I heard this past weekend that they are indeed going to make another Batman movie.  In fact, rumor has it that they have already cast Johnny Depp as "The Riddler".   

Considering all the outlandish roles he's played in the past (Edward Sissor Hands, Willy Wonka, Captain Jake Sparrow) he could be perfect for the role.

I haven't seen this movie yet, but the wife and I got a sitter and we're going to take care of that tonight 

[Drache]

I saw it yesterday. It was a great movie. I am definitely hoping they make a third as soon as possible.

I heard this past weekend that they are indeed going to make another Batman movie.  In fact, rumor has it that they have already cast Johnny Depp as "The Riddler".   

Considering all the outlandish roles he's played in the past (Edward Sissor Hands, Willy Wonka, Captain Jake Sparrow) he could be perfect for the role.

I haven't seen this movie yet, but the wife and I got a sitter and we're going to take care of that tonight 

I wonder what a more "darker" riddler would be like...  but really there are other villians to be played... Riddler and Two Face? This movie happened already and it sucked lol!

[skip68]

Chuck was talking to me this morning about how he thinks the movie is cursed! (Or at least that will be the next tabloid cover!)  

1.Heath Ledger dies!!

2.The guy that played batman gets arrested for beating up his mom & sister!

3. Morgan Freeman get in very serious car crash in his "Friends" car!

Things that make  you go .......hummmmmmmm,?  
Mrs.Skip68

[Mike DC]

   
They can keep the Riddler.  IMO he was basically just a carbon-copy of the Joker. 


   

[skip68]

Chuck was talking to me this morning about how he thinks the movie is cursed! (Or at least that will be the next tabloid cover!)  

1.Heath Ledger dies!!

2.The guy that played batman gets arrested for beating up his mom & sister!

3. Morgan Freeman get in very serious car crash in his "Friends" car!

Things that make  you go .......hummmmmmmm,?  
Mrs.Skip68

P.S, I heard on the late news last night that there was a crew member death on the set too! (At beginning of production!) Welp, that's 4 incidents!!

[Drache]

P.S, I heard on the late news last night that there was a crew member death on the set too! (At beginning of production!) Welp, that's 4 incidents!!

Here's the story:

'Dark Knight' crewmember dies in crash
Posted 9/25/2007 11:46 AM

LONDON (AP) — A special effects technician has been killed in a crash during production of the latest Batman film, Warner Bros. said Tuesday.

The studio said the man, who was not identified, died when a truck carrying a camera platform crashed into a tree while following a stunt vehicle on Monday. Filming on the movie, The Dark Knight, was not taking place at the time, and no actors were involved in the accident.

The accident took place during a test run at a racetrack near Chertsey, south of London.

The studio said producers, cast and crew "are deeply saddened by this tragedy and their hearts and prayers go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased."

Britain's Health and Safety Executive said it was investigating the accident.

[Mike DC]

         
That's similar to the only death on Dukes of Hazzard. 


They never had any crippling or life-threatening injuries from the actual stunts.  But a cameraman once got killed in a crash when they were driving around at low speed, just getting background footage for the in-car shots.


           

[Silver R/T]

I guess Americans really love their comics

[Finn]

Did anyone else catch the reference to Cat Woman?

What what??!!
Enlightenment please 

[bull]

Did anyone else catch the reference to Cat Woman?

What what??!!
Enlightenment please 

During a conversation between Bruce Wayne (Bale) and Lucius Fox (Freeman) Wayne requested that Fox make him a new suit that would prevent dog bites (because he was attacked by a pair of rottweilers early on) and enable him to move his head easier. Fox told him about a type of material that would do that and Wayne semi-jokingly asked if it would protect him from cat attacks too.

[Old Moparz]

I stayed out of this thread just in case it spoiled the story because I wanted to see it, & finally did last night. Great flick!   

I was planning on going to an IMAX theater to see it, but the earlier show was sold out, so I saw it at a regular local theater instead. Heath Ledger "was" an incredible villain, the best so far I'd say, although Michelle Pfieffer in a PVC catsuit is still my favorite.   

My daughter liked it, & couldn't stop laughing at that one scene where the Joker "made the pencil disappear" for his magic trick. I don't think she actually understood where the pencil supposedly went. 

[Recharger]

I saw it too, and it was really good, but I don't think I liked it as much as everyone else...  Not as good as Batman Begins, IMO.  Did anyone else think it was way too long?     Does anyone else think Batman's voice is obnoxious?  If I was Commissioner Gordon, I think I'd offer him a lozenge.  I was expecting Ledger's Joker performance to be overhyped due to his death, but he really was good.  Great balance of creepy, evil, crazy & funny. 

Being a local, I particularly liked trying to recognize all the Chicago landmarks they used in the film.  That scene near the end where Bruce Wayne is sitting in the chair in his penthouse talking to Alfred... that was shot in the exact same hotel room where we held my buddy's bachelor party a few years back.  Awesome view, and I see they got the stains out. 

[Mike DC]

This movie wasn't as long as it felt like.  It was just a lot happening in that time. 


Batman's voice was indeed a little much. 
I can see why they wanted to monkey with it; Christian Bale's normal voice isn't really imposing enough for the suit character.  It's not even very imposing for Bruce Wayne for that matter.  For a guy in his mid-30s Christian's normal voice still sounds like a 21yo. 

I just think they overdid it.  The Batman voice shouldn't have been so different that you obviously noticed it right off the bat.  Or else they could have just spent 20 seconds demonstrating to the audience that his Batsuit has a voice-altering chip or something.  (Show Morgan Freeman explaining it to Bruce, or just show Bruce putting it on, etc.)

[bull]

Does anyone else think Batman's voice is obnoxious? 

Yes. Way overdone as well as distracting and annoying.

[Drache]

Can anyone tell me how to properly do the pencil disappearing trick? I tried but half the pencil was still showing.... 

[Dave22443]

Can anyone tell me how to properly do the pencil disappearing trick? I tried but half the pencil was still showing.... 

I don't know.  I'm still trying to get it to stick into a hard table without shattering.   

[The70RT]

I fell asleep in the theatre with the last Batman movie. I will stick to the 30 min cartoon. At least it is light enough to see it.