Early look at "The Dark Knight"

[Worm of Despite]

Still, send the damn Joker to Arkham or however you spell it. He's a very interesting villian and let's get superheroes out of the James Bond formula please! But keep him alive with a possible cameo later. I would love to see Batman develop the way Spidey has in the movies, but damn...have the villians develop too. Kind of like the Hobgoblin in the Spidey films.

I think Joker will survive, since Scarecrow was still alive at the end of Begins. Hopefully Nolan realizes that, in true comic book fashion, some characters just don't damn die.

[Loredoctor]

From what I have read, the Joker does survive. The following movie will be about his court case. The Scarecrow is supposed to come back at the end of the Dark Knight, and he becomes a major villain in the third movie.

[dANdeLION]

I would love to see Batman develop the way Spidey has in the movies, but damn...have the villians develop too. Kind of like the Hobgoblin in the Spidey films.

I don't recall the Hobgoblin being in the films. Is that what they were calling Harry's alter-ego? I just assumed he took on the mantle of the Green Goblin, just like in the comics.

[I'm Murrin]

The name ws never mentioned in the film itself, but he was credited as Harry/Hobgoblin.

[Cagliostro]

From what I have read, the Joker does survive. The following movie will be about his court case. The Scarecrow is supposed to come back at the end of the Dark Knight, and he becomes a major villain in the third movie.

Well, glad to hear it. Finally someone understands.




And about the Spidey franchise, I think I had heard he was known as Hobgoblin either from this forum or another, so I took it on faith someone knew what they were talking about, as I don't read graphic novels as a rule. No, let me rephrase that; I don't buy graphic novels for myself, but if someone buys them, I'll be happy to read them. The only exception to this since I was in Jr. High maybe is when I bought V For Vendetta after seeing the movie. I'm not a snob about it, I just don't buy them. And it's not so much a rule as I just haven't done so. But strangely enough, I know a ton about comics from what I read secondhand and things like X-Men Legend videogames. It's funny how much I know about them without having read them for ages.

[Fist and Faith]

I hated Burton's Batman also, but Kim Basinger was some nice scenery though, wasn't she?

Ah, Kim...

*shakes head to clear*

Nicholson was fun as the Joker but his portrayal couldn't be further from the way Joker should be. Joker should be 90 % evil/10% insane, and he needs to be able to hold his own against Batman in a physical confrontation (at least for a short period of time.)

Yeah, for about a half-second! The Batman is among the top few greatest martial artists on the planet. Him, Shiva, Richard Dragon, Ben Turner, a few others now and then... Joker is not remotely in the same league.


Anyway, I didn't mind the first Burton Batman. II was a little silly, but had a couple moments of interest. The rest were trash beyond belief. Ahnold's was as bad a movie as I've ever seen.

[Montresor]

From what I have read, the Joker does survive. The following movie will be about his court case.

Could this mean the return of Lucky Pierre?

[The Dreaming]

I'm not a fan of kung-fu joker myself. The Joker gets by on his wits and surprise, not physical prowess. A gun that shoots a banner with the word "BANG!", then with a second trigger pull impales itself into someone's chest is vintage Joker. Let the henchmen duke it out while the joker escapes! (Or sets some more traps, or does something crazy/silly/goofy to try and mess with Batman. He knows he can't win in a fight, he's at his best when he's just trying to get into Batman's head. [A La final showdown in the first Batman movie, or any Joker showdown in the cartoon])

[Worm of Despite]

Well said, Dreaming. I'm not sure if Ledger's going to be a "tough guy" Joker. I kinda doubt it, but he does seem capable of defending himself in the trailer--especially when confronting the Bat-cycle.

[The Humbled]

I agree that the Joker is more insanely cocky, devious and smart than tough. Seems like this Joker has crazy to spare, and I like this incarnation of Batman so far. If it has Miller's Dark Knight Returns styling, then the costume will change as necessary, not gratuitously. We'll have to wait and see.

I didn't like Tim Burton's Batman- as it was mentioned, Batman is an acrobat and martial artist of the highest level, and I never bought Keaton for a minute. Plus he walked around like an effing whiplash victim in a neck brace. Can't wait to see this one actually!

[Brinn]

^^ Agree completely! ^^

[The Dreaming]

I always thought Batman should fight more like Bruce Lee or Neo than the silly brawler he is usually depicted as.

[dlbpharmd]

Nicholson was fun as the Joker but his portrayal couldn't be further from the way Joker should be. Joker should be 90 % evil/10% insane, and he needs to be able to hold his own against Batman in a physical confrontation (at least for a short period of time.)

Yeah, for about a half-second! The Batman is among the top few greatest martial artists on the planet. Him, Shiva, Richard Dragon, Ben Turner, a few others now and then... Joker is not remotely in the same league.

Not saying that he is, but think back to the Aparo days when Joker was this crazed lunatic, with above average, near super-human strength due to his maniacal rages. As soon as Batman really got ahold of him, the fight was over, but Joker usually got in a lick or two.

I wish I could find my collection of DC's "Who's Who", circa 1985. There was a great description of the Joker that can elaborate on what I'm talking about.

[The Laughing Man]

Well said, Dreaming. I'm not sure if Ledger's going to be a "tough guy" Joker. I kinda doubt it, but he does seem capable of defending himself in the trailer--especially when confronting the Bat-cycle.

Nothing in his pockets but knives and lint.

why is it the lint that scares me more?

[wayfriend]

Not a joke.

Actor Heath Ledger found dead [link]

[dlbpharmd]

WOW. What a tragedy.

[Starkin]

He was so talented and had such a bright future in movies. I just can't believe it. This is awful...

[Fist and Faith]

A certain deity txted me this last night. I couldn't believe it. 28 years old...

[wayfriend]

Regarding Heath's work as The Joker in THE DARK KNIGHT

Hey folks, Harry here... There's a lot of rumors swirling around right now in regards to Heath and where his involvement with THE DARK KNIGHT was. I got it confirmed from a source involved in Post-Production on THE DARK KNIGHT. Heath's post work was complete. He had indeed finished it, as to not interfere with the production of the film he was doing with Gilliam. We're now working to find out what's going to happen there. The last known photo of Heath was as a clown in that film. Will Terry re-cast? What will happen? We'll try to find out for all of you. But there will be no-dubbing on Heath in THE DARK KNIGHT - his performance was finished.

Harry [link]

I hope that they leave his performance in tact. I don't think that there's anything embarassing or undignified in his work here, or else he would not have chosen to undertake the roll. It would be more disgraceful to see people trying to edit his life post-mortem.

[Loredoctor]

Well, it's confirmed that the Scarecrow returns in the Dark Knight. Also, there's a hint that the Penguin is in Batman 3 - similarly the way the Joke was hinted to be in the second film. It's reported that he won't be like the other Penguins, and is more like a crime boss.

Edit: I have just seen some footage of the Scarecrow in a car park facing off against the Joker's gang. Now, that could have been done by some fans, but the fact remains Cillian Murphy has been cast in the movie.