2081 replies to this topic

[Harmsway]

I am very interested to see what Eckhart is going to do with his role, but I also hope that they do a good job of really building up the Harvey Dent character before transforming him into Two-Face.

From what I know, it seems like they're well on their way of doing an excellent job with that. Harvey Dent plays a very, very large role in this story (even though you wouldn't know that from the Joker-centric advertising).

Just from looking at the film as a casual observer (i.e. someone who is not actively following the production of the film), you would be hard pressed to know that Eckhart is in the film and that he's playing Harvey Dent.

I'm not sure that's such a bad thing, though. Eckhart's not really a draw, yet, and neither is the character of Harvey Dent. They're both great things, mind you, but they're only great to people who are familiar with both of them.

I think that they really need to start focusing a bit on his involvement in the film, especially since we've now seen a lot of the Joker with the new trailer, and I would like to not see too much more of him until the film is released as to have the rest of his involvement in the movie be a surprise.

Well, Nolan's excellent at keeping his surprises. He abhors any advertising that gives secrets away and has worked his damndest to keep THE DARK KNIGHT under lock-and-key. I imagine that whatever he shows is really just whetting our appetites.

But I think the Joker is always going to remain the advertising crux of this film. I think we're not going to see much of Dent in the advertising for two reasons:

1) Dent just isn't much of a draw in terms of advertising. He's a great character for those who know him in the comics, but many aren't familiar with his appeal. I think the most we can hope for in the advertising is a nod in the next trailer toward some of his role in the story regarding the love triangle between him, Rachel, and Bruce. Now it's true that his eventual identity, Two-Face, might have appeal, but...

2) Nolan seems to want to hide Two-Face from all advertising. And rightfully so... Two-Face should be the surprise of the film for audiences. His tragic downfall is the sucker punch. It's best not to have your audience expecting one of the key heroes in THE DARK KNIGHT to crumble. His arc is so much more potent when you don't see it coming.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Fantastic; I agree with everything you said. Nolan is a master of his craft...

[Qwerty]

Put a smile on your face.

Glad I waited for the High Def version.

Enjoy.

Glad one of this quality made it's way online. Thanks for the link!

[Simon]

A total of four posters - thus far.

http://www.moviepost...?showtopic=4622

[Navy007Fan]

Saw both the leaked and official versions of the trailer, the leaked one was great, and the official one was just amazing!!!! July cannot come soon enough!!!!!

[The Dove]

HOLY GOD!!! *Gasp!! Pant!! Wheeze!!* I've died and gone to heaven!! This trailer looks ing awesome!! WOW!! I can already tell this is going to be a major, major hit movie!! I can't wait!!!

[00Twelve]

Pretty cool, huh?

Now AICN has a bootleg vid of the opening 5 minutes of the film...

Spoiler

The bank robbery scene. Ledger's Joker is one ruthless SOB. Robs a mob-controlled bank! I can't wait to see him in this. He's well out of range of Nicholson's shadow. Well out of range.

[Double-Oh-Zero]

1)...I think the most we can hope for in the advertising is a nod in the next trailer toward some of his role in the story regarding the love triangle between him, Rachel, and Bruce...

Well, it's only a quick glimpse, but...



1:21 in the trailer. Isn't Nolan a tease?

[Mr_Wint]

Nice trailer. Not as good as I hoped for (a little anti-climatic) but I'm still looking forward to the film.

[Loomis]

Seriously, what are people seeing in this trailer? Looks completely ordinary and boring, if you ask me.

Granted, there's a pretty cool shot of Batman standing on a rooftop bathed in the gloomy blue light of dawn or somefink, but, otherwise, what's there to get excited about, exactly?

The Joker, whom I'd been assured was going to be the movie villain to end all movie villains, isn't much to write home about. That "Good evening, Commissioner" bit sounds like someone doing a bad Hannibal Lecter impression.

Now, I know this is only a trailer, and was never supposed to reflect the full content of the film, blah blah blah, and, yes, I'm sure that Nolan and co. have plenty of "cool stuff" they're still keeping up their sleeves, but my issue with it is that it's been hyped to the skies as the greatest trailer ever made. Not even close.

I mean, people are raving about incredible action scenes in this trailer that supposedly promise an astounding leap forward from the thrills and spills in BATMAN BEGINS (not that that would be difficult, for there is no particularly impressive action in BEGINS).... well, where is this stuff? All I see are plenty of unremarkable shots of Batman chasing around at night that could have been taken straight from the first flick, as well as some unintentionally comical footage featuring what looks like an incredibly naff Batmobile-meets-a-motorbike contraption.

I dunno, though, maybe this Batman business isn't for me. I find BEGINS preposterously overrated, so I guess it's unlikely that THE DARK KNIGHT will be one of my moviegoing highlights of 2008. I do quite like the opening bank robbery sequence, although it doesn't approach anything in HEAT, to which masterpiece DARK KNIGHT obviously owes a heavy debt.

BTW, what's with unveiling the film's start so early? Is this now going to be standard practice for blockbusters? I seem to recall that the first few minutes of LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD were put online by Fox shortly before its theatrical release, but it's a whole flippin' several months before DARK KNIGHT's due to hit theatres. What's going on? Will we be treated to the BOND 22 PTS some time in the spring? I hope that this isn't some kind of new marketing trend, because I like to be, like, surprised when I go to the cinema.

Anyway, THE DARK KNIGHT.... THE DARK HYPE, more like. Bah, humbug!

[Number 6]

That's a very cool trailer. I can't wait to see this.

[Harmsway]

I mean, people are raving about incredible action scenes in this trailer that supposedly promise an astounding leap forward from the thrills and spills in BATMAN BEGINS (not that that would be difficult, for there is no particularly impressive action in BEGINS).... well, where is this stuff?

The huge truck doing that flip backwards (which was 100% real, BTW). That's just an awesome stunt. Or Batman slamming into the top of the car, sending glass flying everwhere. Or Batman driving that incredibly sweet bike (which I know you don't like, but I think that shot where Batman swerves out of the way to miss the Joker and skids around is very cool indeed). All of that sweems a big step forward from BEGINS, which had none of those "money shots" anywhere.

I dunno, though, maybe this Batman business isn't for me.

It might not be. But that's how it goes sometimes.

I do quite like the opening bank robbery sequence, although it doesn't approach anything in HEAT, to which masterpiece DARK KNIGHT obviously owes a heavy debt.

It's probably no mistake that the one scene you're rather fond of promises to be among the least comic-booky in Nolan's Bat franchise. It's a great scene, but I found the trailer more compelling.

[The Dove]

Seriously, what are people seeing in this trailer? Looks completely ordinary and boring, if you ask me.

Granted, there's a pretty cool shot of Batman standing on a rooftop bathed in the gloomy blue light of dawn or somefink, but, otherwise, what's there to get excited about, exactly?

The Joker, whom I'd been assured was going to be the movie villain to end all movie villains, isn't much to write home about. That "Good evening, Commissioner" bit sounds like someone doing a bad Hannibal Lecter impression.

Now, I know this is only a trailer, and was never supposed to reflect the full content of the film, blah blah blah, and, yes, I'm sure that Nolan and co. have plenty of "cool stuff" they're still keeping up their sleeves, but my issue with it is that it's been hyped to the skies as the greatest trailer ever made. Not even close.

I mean, people are raving about incredible action scenes in this trailer that supposedly promise an astounding leap forward from the thrills and spills in BATMAN BEGINS (not that that would be difficult, for there is no particularly impressive action in BEGINS).... well, where is this stuff? All I see are plenty of unremarkable shots of Batman chasing around at night that could have been taken straight from the first flick, as well as some unintentionally comical footage featuring what looks like an incredibly naff Batmobile-meets-a-motorbike contraption.

I dunno, though, maybe this Batman business isn't for me. I find BEGINS preposterously overrated, so I guess it's unlikely that THE DARK KNIGHT will be one of my moviegoing highlights of 2008. I do quite like the opening bank robbery sequence, although it doesn't approach anything in HEAT, to which masterpiece DARK KNIGHT obviously owes a heavy debt.

BTW, what's with unveiling the film's start so early? Is this now going to be standard practice for blockbusters? I seem to recall that the first few minutes of LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD were put online by Fox shortly before its theatrical release, but it's a whole flippin' several months before DARK KNIGHT's due to hit theatres. What's going on? Will we be treated to the BOND 22 PTS some time in the spring? I hope that this isn't some kind of new marketing trend, because I like to be, like, surprised when I go to the cinema.

Anyway, THE DARK KNIGHT.... THE DARK HYPE, more like. Bah, humbug!

And a Bah Humbug to you Mr. Scrooge!! As Bond said in Thunderball, "Well you can't win them all!!"

[dinovelvet]

Seriously, what are people seeing in this trailer? Looks completely ordinary and boring, if you ask me.

Loomis, we're definitely on the same page here. I had the exact same reaction. I hadn't been impressed with anything about this film up until this point, but I thought the trailer might be the turning point where everything fell into place. Nope.

The Joker, whom I'd been assured was going to be the movie villain to end all movie villains, isn't much to write home about. That "Good evening, Commissioner" bit sounds like someone doing a bad Hannibal Lecter impression.

BINGO! You're absolutely right. Came across as a bit "Oh right, so he's all scary and over the top, and stuff. Right. So, when's Indiana Jones 4 coming out?" The only thing scary I find about Ledger is the alarming speed at which he's losing his hair, otherwise he looks like he wouldn't be out of place yukking it up in Batman and Robin with Ahnuld and Uma. I'm already seeing posts like "Will Heath get nominated for an Oscar?" on the web, I kid you not.

Now, I know this is only a trailer, and was never supposed to reflect the full content of the film, blah blah blah, and, yes, I'm sure that Nolan and co. have plenty of "cool stuff" they're still keeping up their sleeves, but my issue with it is that it's been hyped to the skies as the greatest trailer ever made. Not even close.

Yes the hype is way out of control on this one. Dialogue like "I like it when they put up a fight/Then you're gonna love me!" feels ripped from a Steven Seagal mid-90s effort. And on a purely superficial level, is Maggie Googlehell supposed to be, you know, like, attractive?

I dunno, though, maybe this Batman business isn't for me. I find BEGINS preposterously overrated, so I guess it's unlikely that THE DARK KNIGHT will be one of my moviegoing highlights of 2008. I do quite like the opening bank robbery sequence, although it doesn't approach anything in HEAT, to which masterpiece DARK KNIGHT obviously owes a heavy debt.

I'm feeling much the same way, though I did enjoy Batman Begins. Maybe at some point in the last year I crossed that invisible line of "I'm too old for this ". Yet I see plenty of (apparently) fully grown men going ga-ga over this footage!

[Skudor]

Not a big batty fan myself, but it looks to me like the Joker could either be really good or utterly awful.

[Vauxhall]

I really enjoyed BATMAN BEGINS having never really been a fan of the franchise. I found THE DARK KNIGHT trailer to be quite encouraging, but will leave further judgement until I see the movie itself.

Quite a good summary of the trailer can be found here.

[Royal Dalton]

I can't say I'm particularly impressed with what I've seen so far, either.

Mind you, I thought Batman Begins was a massively overrated film, as well. So, what do I know?

[tdalton]

I will agree with some of the negativity regarding the trailer in so much as I thought that the trailer feels like it has something missing to it. I don't know what it is, but it's just a feeling of something missing. I did say that I enjoyed the trailer, and I did, but that has something to do with the fact that it was much better than I thought it was going to be. I went into the viewing of this trailer expecting a massive disappointment, and left it thinking that this may turn out to be a decent film (not great, but decent). I will also agree with previous posters who say that Batman Begins is very much an overrated film, especially considering the cast that was in that film. Hopefully they'll step it up in this one, and this film does look like it will be better than BB, but whether or not it'll be the masterpiece that a lot of people are expecting is something that I don't think will happen.

My own feeling on the film is that it looks as though Heath Ledger may end up being the Daniel Craig of the ensemble. And by that, I mean that he may turn in the best performance of the cast (which Craig has done in virtually every movie he's been in), but the rest of the material and the acting may end up letting him down, in the same way that the material often lets Craig down with his films (i.e. Enduring Love, Layer Cake, Casino Royale).

[Harmsway]

I'm already seeing posts like "Will Heath get nominated for an Oscar?" on the web, I kid you not.

Well, I don't really blame them, to be honest. I don't think he stands a chance in hell of getting an Oscar, mind you, but I think he looks dynamite. He's pretty much exceeded my expectations. While the same things aren't scary to everybody, he frightens me.

Yes the hype is way out of control on this one. Dialogue like "I like it when they put up a fight/Then you're gonna love me!" feels ripped from a Steven Seagal mid-90s effort.

Fair enough, but it feels so much more bad- when Bale's Batman says it. IMO, of course.

And on a purely superficial level, is Maggie Googlehell supposed to be, you know, like, attractive?

I find her attractive, but only because of her performances. Physically, she ain't. But she's a great actress, and I fell in love with her in STRANGER THAN FICTION.

[tdalton]

The one thing that I thought of when watching the trailer (and the one thing that I did not expect to think at any point regarding this film) is that perhaps Maggie Gylenhaal is miscast as Rachel Dawes. And, and this is something I certainly never thought I'd say, but maybe Katie Holmes should have returned to the role. The character is not exactly a major character, at least not on the level of Batman/Bruce Wayne, Joker, Lieutenant Gordon, Harvey Dent, etc, and it does not, IMO, require a truly great actress (which I think that Gylenhaal is) to play the part. I think that Gylenhaal should have been cast as a different character, and she's certainly a great actress and should be as highly regarded as her fellow castmates generally are (Bale, Oldman, etc.) but I don't think that it's ever a good idea to continually recast a character, especially when that character isn't as important in the grand scheme of things as the major players in the movie (Batman, Joker, etc.).

[Harmsway]

I will agree with some of the negativity regarding the trailer in so much as I thought that the trailer feels like it has something missing to it. I don't know what it is, but it's just a feeling of something missing.

I actually agree. As I initially said, I don't think it's the greatest trailer ever, but what it shows (namely Ledger's Joker, moreso than anything) does have me excited. Other than some of the footage, the trailer's just alright. It's not particularly well-edited, and some of the footage doesn't seem all that well-chosen. The marketing team could have done better (not that they have to, given the hype on this film).

Hopefully they'll step it up in this one, and this film does look like it will be better than BB, but whether or not it'll be the masterpiece that a lot of people are expecting is something that I don't think will happen.

It's never going to be anything more than an "entertainment" masterpiece, as it were. No, THE DARK KNIGHT will not stride boldly into the halls of art, nor will it really be an Oscar-contender, but I do think it'll be some damn good entertainment that has some great elements.

I think that THE DARK KNIGHT, like its predecessor, will still feature some rather clunky dialogue (though still an improvement on its predecessor, given that David Goyer didn't write it), though its cast of thespians will make it sound better than it is. I can tell that much from both trailers thus far... the lines have that same degree of falseness to them in their overdone grandeur, even though they're spoken with all the flourish that Bale and Caine and others can muster. For that reason alone, it won't be a perfect piece of film, and some other flaws will probably pop up.

But I think there's a good chance that it'll be the best made-for-entertainment film of 2008, and a better blockbuster than has been produced in many years.

The character is not exactly a major character, at least not on the level of Batman/Bruce Wayne, Joker, Lieutenant Gordon, Harvey Dent, etc, and it does not, IMO, require a truly great actress (which I think that Gylenhaal is) to play the part.

She's got a bigger role to play than she did in BEGINS, and from what I've heard through the pipeline, it's one that does require a capable actress, or at least one who isn't annoying. Rachel Dawes has something to contribute this time around, so wait on the film to judge.

[tdalton]

I actually think that (and I could be very, very wrong on this) that they should have left Ledger's Joker as something of a mystery heading into the release of the film. He was already getting rave reviews from nearly everyone who has seen even a few seconds of footage from the film, and the hype surrounding his portrayal had reached a point where it almost appeared as though he could have played the Joker in one of those one-man plays and people would have gone to see it (I'm not saying that this is a bad thing and that any of those who have expressed just how great his performance is are wrong because it does appear as though they were very much correct). My thinking is that the trailer could have focused on the Joker, showing some of the aftermath of his crimes, showing Batman and Dent going about their business trying to bring him down, focus more on the effects the Joker has had on Batman/Bruce Wayne, and then leave the actual unveiling of the Joker character for the film itself.

As I said, I could be very, very wrong on this (and probably am), but I think that the anticipation for the film could have been taken to an even higher point if the unveiling of Ledger's much hyped Joker had been left for the actual film instead of a trailer that was released almost half a year prior to the movie.

[Harmsway]

I actually think that (and I could be very, very wrong on this) that they should have left Ledger's Joker as something of a mystery heading into the release of the film. He was already getting rave reviews from nearly everyone who has seen even a few seconds of footage from the film, and the hype surrounding his portrayal had reached a point where it almost appeared as though he could have played the Joker in one of those one-man plays and people would have gone to see it (I'm not saying that this is a bad thing and that any of those who have expressed just how great his performance is are wrong because it does appear as though they were very much correct).

I don't think this is actually correct. The internet fanboys were largely convinced of this, but the general public was still rather incredulous at Ledger's casting. The viral campaign and buzz was restricted to the in-the-know internet fandom, not to the general populace. The general populace's reaction was more like a "Huh. No way he's going to be able to touch Nicholson." They needed to be convinced that Ledger's Joker was going to work, and this trailer did exactly that.

I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see much more of the Joker in subsequent trailers, that they just recycle the footage seen here.

[tdalton]

I actually think that (and I could be very, very wrong on this) that they should have left Ledger's Joker as something of a mystery heading into the release of the film. He was already getting rave reviews from nearly everyone who has seen even a few seconds of footage from the film, and the hype surrounding his portrayal had reached a point where it almost appeared as though he could have played the Joker in one of those one-man plays and people would have gone to see it (I'm not saying that this is a bad thing and that any of those who have expressed just how great his performance is are wrong because it does appear as though they were very much correct).

I don't think this is actually correct. The internet fanboys were largely convinced of this, but the general public was still rather incredulous at Ledger's casting. The viral campaign and buzz was restricted to the in-the-know internet fandom, not to the general populace. The general populace's reaction was more like a "Huh. No way he's going to be able to touch Nicholson." They needed to be convinced that Ledger's Joker was going to work, and this trailer did exactly that.

I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see much more of the Joker in subsequent trailers, that they just recycle the footage seen here.

Good point. And I think you're right when you say that there probably won't be much more footage of the Joker in the rest of the trailers.

[Harmsway]

And I think you're right when you say that there probably won't be much more footage of the Joker in the rest of the trailers.

I hope there isn't more. Don't get me wrong, I think he's great. But I've had my fill... I'm convinced he's going to rock. Right now, I want to see some advertising that focuses on Batman himself. Last time I checked, the movie is titled THE DARK KNIGHT, not THE CLOWN PRINCE OF CRIME.

[Loomis]

I do quite like the opening bank robbery sequence, although it doesn't approach anything in HEAT, to which masterpiece DARK KNIGHT obviously owes a heavy debt.

It's probably no mistake that the one scene you're rather fond of promises to be among the least comic-booky in Nolan's Bat franchise.

Here's the thing: we already have Batman comic books, zillions of 'em. Why can't the cinematic Batman be, to quote BEGINS, something else entirely?

Why can't Nolan and co. be more radical? I know I'm probably asking for far too much, but my ideal Batman flick would basically be OLDBOY. My frustration with the current franchise is that it constantly seems to promise great, groundbreaking things but just ends up safe and conservative. I think the Bond filmmakers are taking much greater risks with their "begins" era than the Batman folk are with theirs.

I will agree with some of the negativity regarding the trailer in so much as I thought that the trailer feels like it has something missing to it. I don't know what it is, but it's just a feeling of something missing.

I actually agree. As I initially said, I don't think it's the greatest trailer ever, but what it shows (namely Ledger's Joker, moreso than anything) does have me excited. Other than some of the footage, the trailer's just alright. It's not particularly well-edited, and some of the footage doesn't seem all that well-chosen.

My thoughts exactly. It's not a horrible trailer, but at the same time I can't understand why people are raving about it so much. Like I say, I think it's pretty ordinary and "meh". But from what I'd read online I'd been led to expect an absolute masterpiece, the most staggering, amazing, eye-popping trailer of all time, which it patently isn't.

I like the posters, though.

[Harmsway]

Here's the thing: we already have Batman comic books, zillions of 'em. Why can't the cinematic Batman be, to quote BEGINS, something else entirely?

Because we've never had them done right on film, and I won't care to see "something else entirely" until we have that accomplished.

Why can't Nolan and co. be more radical? I know I'm probably asking for far too much, but my ideal Batman flick would basically be OLDBOY.

How would that even be a Batman flick, then?

I think the Bond filmmakers are taking much greater risks with their "begins" era than the Batman folk are with theirs.

I feel like it's a lot easier to be perceived as risky with Bond than it is with Batman. With Bond, things were locked into a formula... every little break from it is suddenly perceived as daring and risky, even when there's not that much of it. Batman is harder to do "risky" things with. I guess casting Heath Ledger as the Joker qualifies.

BATMAN BEGINS was, by all means, a very, very safe and flawed film. I've admitted this time and again. It hit all the formulaic buttons for a superhero origin story and even ended with the standard "action movie" cliche scenario. The reason I'm excited about THE DARK KNIGHT is that THE DARK KNIGHT is seemingly avoiding that formulaic nature (though that's not easily ascertained from the trailer everybody has just seen). That's enough for me.

If THE DARK KNIGHT has a good story and tells it well, I'm entirely satisfied, and succeeding at that would really be a first for the entire superhero film genre.

I like the posters, though.

Yeah, it's a good advertising campaign. Very striking stuff. WB has to be somewhat aware that all they have to say is "Hey, look, Batman's back and this time there's the Joker!" and they'll be hauling in the megabucks, but it's nice to see them putting their best foot forward.

[The Dove]

Well despite all the negativity thats being thrown on the flames of those of us who are excited to see this movie, and by no means am I trying to diss anyone for their opinions, I will just say that from the looks of the trailer, we are in store for a film that is just as good, if not better than Batman Begins. Heath Ledger is gonna be great!!

[Loomis]

Here's the thing: we already have Batman comic books, zillions of 'em. Why can't the cinematic Batman be, to quote BEGINS, something else entirely?

Because we've never had them done right on film, and I won't care to see "something else entirely" until we have that accomplished.

But if they've already been done right as comics, why try to recreate the same thing onscreen? If Batman is working fine in one medium, why not use a different medium to do something, well, different?

Why can't Nolan and co. be more radical? I know I'm probably asking for far too much, but my ideal Batman flick would basically be OLDBOY.

How would that even be a Batman flick, then?

Depends on what you want from Batman. For me, it'd be someone like Daniel Craig as Bruce Wayne in a very realistic (and graphic) film by someone like Chan-wook Park, with authentic locations and no costumed villains, and with appearances by our hero in bat costume kept to the absolute minimum. What I want is Bond with darker, artier trimmings, R-rated.

However, I appreciate that what I'd like to see done with Batman is probably what only very few other people - and probably almost no Batman fans - would welcome, and that Warners would be incredibly unlikely to sink money into such a project. Judging by the grosses of BATMAN BEGINS and the enthusiasm for THE DARK KNIGHT, it would appear that plenty of people think the new Batman franchise is working just fine as it is.

I'm encouraged by your belief that THE DARK KNIGHT will not be identical to BATMAN BEGINS. I haven't written the movie off; just not bowled over by the trailer, that's all.

[Harmsway]

If Batman is working fine in one medium, why not use a different medium to do something, well, different?

Because then what's the point of calling it Batman? Wouldn't it be far better, then, to just call it something else?

Depends on what you want from Batman. For me, it'd be Daniel Craig as Bruce Wayne in a very realistic (and graphic) film by Chan-wook Park, with authentic locations and no costumed villains, and with appearances by our hero in bat costume kept to the absolute minimum. What I want is Bond with darker, artier trimmings, R-rated.

That's not Batman. Change the names, though, and I'd be on board... It would be a rather cool franchise in its own right. But there's no reason to turn the Batman franchise into that.

I'm encouraged by your belief that THE DARK KNIGHT will not be identical to BATMAN BEGINS. I haven't written the movie off; just not bowled over by the trailer, that's all.

Fair enough, and I completely understand. As I've said, I'm not so bowled over by the trailer, either. It's more that, taking the footage the trailer shows in the context of the stuff I know, things are shaping up quite well.