146 replies to this topic

[Ace Roberts]

Reviews are pouring in for Christopher Nolan's follow-up to Batman Begins - The Dark Knight. Many are calling this film brilliant - and the most entertaining film of the year.

Here are the opening lines to The Hollywood Reporter's review: "The Dark Knight" is pure adrenaline. Returning director Christopher Nolan, having dispensed with his introspective, moody origin story, now puts the Caped Crusader through a decathlon of explosions, vehicle flips, hand-to-hand combat, midair rescues and pulse-pounding suspense.

Here is the link to the full review: http://www.hollywood...r...?&rid=11376


The more I read how the film is packed with action - yet delivers a powerful character study about good and evil - the more I think we need to lighten up about QoS having too much action and have faith Eon / Forster will deliver a similar quality product. If Nolan found that perfect blend - then hopefully Forster will as well. Guess we have to see The Dark Knight ourselves to make a judgement.

[HH007]

The more I read how the film is packed with action - yet delivers a powerful character study about good and evil - the more I think we need to lighten up about QoS having too much action and have faith Eon / Forster will deliver a similar quality product. If Nolan found that perfect blend - then hopefully Forster will as well. Guess we have to see The Dark Knight ourselves to make a judgement.

Thank you. That's the most sensible statement I've read on here in a LONG time.

[Publius]

Based on the trailers for both alone, TDK doesn't look like it's going to blow QoS out of the water in terms of quality -- not even close. I still think it'll be better, but not by the margins some are predicting. Most people are just so giddy about TDK because of their love for Begins and the eeriness of a recently deceased Heath Ledger playing what appears to be a (for once) truly insane Joker. The fantastic viral marketing and three-year wait certainly haven't hurt.

Commercially and critically (at least Stateside), however, I don't doubt that Bats will trounce Bond.

[Leon]

Personally I wasn't that bothered about even Batman Begins. I thought the original Batman film was better and didn't like the whole ninja training and all that jazz, that Batman's story should be more subtle and mysterious like in the original, which was basically an origin story already only better done IMO.

I doubt I'll go to see The Dark Knight as it just looks to be more of the same.

Casino Royale, however, rejuvenated the Bond film series for me, as until then I was all but completely dissenchanted by the films after TWINE and DAD. Not quite the same happened after the Val Kilmer and George Clooney Batmen, followed by the re-invention however. I'm not entirely sure why but I think it's to do with the acting and writing. I was a massive Batman fan as a kid, just as with James Bond, but I feel it's been done to death wheras Bond just keeps getting interesting. Anyone's theories as to why I feel this are welcome.

Quantum of Solace shows off a lot more interesting aspects to what is already (now) a far more interesting 007 than ever before.

No doubt the new Batman movie will do very well though, especially after the Heath Ledger affair.

[Aris007]

I'm not worried at all about the action in the film. Afterall, it's a Bond film! Every Bond film in the franchise had action! Personally I don't want to see the calm tone of CR again. I want it more tense! See what I mean?

[001carus]

I think The Dark Knight and Quantum of Solace have more in common than many see. After the appalling efforts of Batman and Robin and Die Another Day (DAD is a much better movie however), the series' both kicked in their individual reboots to a positive response.

Now, three and two years later respectively, Batman and Bond are returning with sequels to the new, refreshing, realistic reboots that were featured. They are certainly in a comparable limelight.

Personally, I'm looking forward to both movies intently, and I loved both Batman Begins and Casino Royale, but I am for some reason hoping QoS is the better film in the end. Go figure.

I think the trailers for The Dark Knight haven't been all that great, but for what they show, I think the movie looks excellent, and from the reviews being put out, it looks like I'm right. Another interesting thing I've found, over at the Batman forums, no one seems to disagree on the direction or any features of the Dark Knight at all. They all seem to be loving it, which is hardly what can be said for Quantum of Solace over here.

I certainly think Quantum of Solace can hold it's own. Only time will tell if this forum is overly critical or not.

[NVT]

Maybe Nolan could do Bond 23 or 24?

We've had Bond "Begins", maybe he could do "007 The dark agent"?

Edited by NVT, 07 July 2008 - 07:35 PM.

[Single-O-Seven]

I'd like to see Nolan put his stamp on a Bond film. The Craig era seems like the best time for him to do that, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[AngryPolarBear]

My predictions: The Dark Knight will be epic, while Quantum of Solace will "just" be great.

[Blonde Bond]

I predict the same. Look, I love Bond and all, but so far I feel like I can expect more from Batman.

And I won't take the advice of Public Enemy and not believe the hype. I will TOTALLY put my trust in the hype.

But I hope that BOTH, that's both of my heroes will leave me gasping, and that BOTH movies will end up being 'excellent'.

Like, woah, dude!

[Quantumofsolace007]

Sure when i do a batman thread it get deleted....




Honestly I prefer Nolan sticks with Batman as i want that to be the 007 of the comic book world.

Edited by Quantumofsolace007, 07 July 2008 - 10:21 PM.

[Publius]

I'm not worried at all about the action in the film. Afterall, it's a Bond film! Every Bond film in the franchise had action! Personally I don't want to see the calm tone of CR again. I want it more tense! See what I mean?

I actually think CR had a lot of action, it's just that it seemed like less because of the extra 20 minutes focusing on Bond falling in love. Also, the card playing counted as "action" for me, but I can see why it wouldn't qualify for most people.

Between the PTS, Madagascar, Miami, Montenegro, and Venice, there's plenty of tension, even if it alternates with many moments of calm. Hell, the titles themselves can probably be considered an action sequence for the first time ever.

[MR. BOND 93]

This will most likely be Nolan's last Bat-film since he's not signed for any more... hopefully he could bring a darker version to Bond too. Although it's doubtful.

[deth]

This will most likely be Nolan's last Bat-film since he's not signed for any more... hopefully he could bring a darker version to Bond too. Although it's doubtful.

that's ridiculous. Nolan has already expressed interest in the next film, as have all the cast and crew. I may be mistaken, but I don't think he was signed for TDK during Batman Begins either.

[Captain Tightpants]

I hate to say it, but I think The Dark Knight is going to win here for one simple reason: a lot of people are going to see the film because it's Heath Ledger's final performance. Given that there hasn't been a single review - at least, none that I've seen - that says his performane is nothing short of sinister and utterly terrifying (I've even heard ome say he'll become the standard by which a lot of film villains are judged for quite some time) and the talk of him being nominated for a posthumous Oscar (though part of me suspects that's just the studio talking things up, however justified it ay be), this isn't going to be a case of Heath Ledger fans going to see the film. I suspect most of Australia with even a passing interest in film and who can get into an M-rated screening will go to see it.

[Vauxhall]

I hate to say it, but I think The Dark Knight is going to win here for one simple reason: a lot of people are going to see the film because it's Heath Ledger's final performance.

That was always my initial thought about the movie after Ledger's death, but I have been very encouraged by the fact that all the reviews so far have lauded THE DARK KNIGHT as a fantastic movie in it's own right. Hopefully it will stand alone, and not all the talk will be about Ledger, irrespective of how fantastic I'm sure he'll be.

[JackWade]

Sorry guys but at this point, and that's without seeing either film yet, I think THE DARK KNIGHT will be a better film than QUANTUM OF SOLACE. I can't imagine why some of you are saying that THE DARK KNIGHT looks like "more of the same" and stuff... it doesn't at all. This is a film that's going to make all other superhero films look like children's movies.

Nothing about QUANTUM has come close to wooing me over as much as THE DARK KNIGHT has. I'm not a Batman fanboy by any means but this film looks like a surefire home run. QUANTUM still has a little bit to prove to me since we don't really yet have much of a look at the dramatic stuff happening in the film.

[deth]

I can't imagine why some of you are saying that THE DARK KNIGHT looks like "more of the same" and stuff... it doesn't at all.

it's a Bond forum. Some people can't handle even considering that another film will be better than beloved Bond.


As for me, I don't particularly care which is better... I suspect they both will be quite good. The difference between good action films and great ones is so small anyway.

Besides, at the end of the day, nobody's gonna compare them anyway...

[Ace Roberts]

I wonder how many people on this forum are politicians? This group can take any subject and twist it to fit their personal agendas better than any group I've ever seen - and believe me I'm a veteran of several forums.

The purpose of this thread was to discuss if QoS could have the same blend of action and character development that early reviews of The Dark Knight have highlighted - it was not to discuss which film would be the best or about which actor's contribution to its impending success was more prevalent.

Does anyone have any thoughts about what we've seen in the QoS trailer and what we've read (where Forster defined his goal of reaching inside the "inner-Bond") and how that might compare to the same approach Nolan takes with Dark Knight?

[001carus]

QUANTUM still has a little bit to prove to me since we don't really yet have much of a look at the dramatic stuff happening in the film.

I agree with you that currently, The Dark Knight has proven itself more to be a better movie, but, with one Teaser released for QoS, there isn't much to go by. Infact, TDK's teaser was nothing more than the bat symbol exploding and the sound of a conversation between Bruce and Alfred.

Having seen that, I'd say QoS, at its point in the hype train, has proven itself more than TDK had back when its teaser was released.

[tdalton]

Having seen that, I'd say QoS, at its point in the hype train, has proven itself more than TDK had back when its teaser was released.

I'm not sure that I would agree with that. The first teaser for THE DARK KNIGHT was released almost a full year before the release of the film, whereas the second trailer was released about 7 months before the release of the film. The first trailer for QUANTUM OF SOLACE was just released, with almost four months until the release of the film. If we're going to make comparisons about which film got more marketing going earlier in the lead-up to the film, THE DARK KNIGHT is far superior to QUANTUM OF SOLACE in that regard as it had released two very high quality trailers earlier in its production (7 months until the release of the film) whereas QUANTUM OF SOLACE's first trailer did not arrive until there was only four months left until the film's release.

I'm not saying that EON's going about the marketing of the film in the wrong way, but THE DARK KNIGHT was further along in the marketing of the film than QUANTUM. Because the first trailer for THE DARK KNIGHT was released almost a full year before the film, that allowed them to do something simple like what we got in that trailer. If QUANTUM had done that with the first trailer released this month, then I think that virtually everyone would have deemed the trailer a failure simply because it arrived comparatively later in the production of the film than THE DARK KNIGHT's first teaser trailer did.

[001carus]

I'm not saying that EON's going about the marketing of the film in the wrong way, but THE DARK KNIGHT was further along in the marketing of the film than QUANTUM. Because the first trailer for THE DARK KNIGHT was released almost a full year before the film, that allowed them to do something simple like what we got in that trailer. If QUANTUM had done that with the first trailer released this month, then I think that virtually everyone would have deemed the trailer a failure simply because it arrived comparatively later in the production of the film than THE DARK KNIGHT's first teaser trailer did.

Ah, I see. Sorry, I wasn't fully aware of the time frame that The Dark Knight trailers were released. That makes sense then.

However, while many seem to be blown away with The Dark Knight trailers, I never thought they were that stunning. I think they showed little of the plot, hardly any Batman, and when they did, he was mostly riding his Batpod, and mostly all Joker (which is, obviously, and incredibly looking performance). I am incredibly pumped for TDK, and I know it'll be great, but it wasnt' the trailers that lulled me in. I personally think the QOS teaser made its movie look far more interesting than TDKs.

[sharpshooter]

However, while many seem to be blown away with The Dark Knight trailers, I never thought they were that stunning. I think they showed little of the plot, hardly any Batman, and when they did, he was mostly riding his Batpod.

Exactly why I loved the first teaser. It showed me nothing but a bat symbol being burst apart and dialogue spoken over the top of it. Minimalistic and effective. It was very mysterious and gave me a vibe for what we would receive in the film. That was a massive tease for me, just hearing Ledger's Joker for the first time sold me immediately.

[tdalton]

However, while many seem to be blown away with The Dark Knight trailers, I never thought they were that stunning. I think they showed little of the plot, hardly any Batman, and when they did, he was mostly riding his Batpod, and mostly all Joker (which is, obviously, and incredibly looking performance). I am incredibly pumped for TDK, and I know it'll be great, but it wasnt' the trailers that lulled me in. I personally think the QOS teaser made its movie look far more interesting than TDKs.

Agreed regarding the trailers. I thought that they were good, but I wasn't as excited about them as a lot of others were. My favorite of the three was actually the teaser trailer released last August with just the bat logo and Bale, Caine, and Ledger doing voice-overs. That was when I first thought that Ledger would be good in the role (as I had previously been unconvinced about his casting in the role) as I thought that he had gotten the voice of the Joker completely right in that trailer. The other two trailers were good, IMO, but they both lacked a little something, which was, as you mentioned, more footage of Batman himself. I guess that's to be expected, though, as I think the main point that they're trying to sell to the audience with the advertising of the film is the Joker.

[quantumofsolace]

They have the Bourne action director and Forster as director. Reading interviews before production began it looked like Babs got Forster because he could do character stuff. It looks like it will be a good looking film with lots of action. Too much action? The latest interviews with Forster say that the action should always drive the story along and that this was very important to him. Sounds good to me.

Edited by quantumofsolace, 08 July 2008 - 02:27 AM.

[Blonde Bond]

In that sense The Dark Knight is more like Casino Royale.

For both movies, there was two important players that had to prove something. Before Casino Royale every card was stacked against Danie Craig, and in similar scenario there were many ney-sayers, when Heath was announced as the Joker.

In both cases the trailers somewhat silenced some of the nay-sayers. More in Heaths case, because the few trailers (and the first 5 minutes, leaked online some months ago) show'd us that his Joker was going to be something 'entirely' different from Nicholson's Joker.

Sure, there was all those people who were still against Joker wearing makeup and for Daniel Craig's Bond there were those guys and gals from 'thatsitethatishallnotmention', who, unfortunately are still around. Even if somewhat tamed.

But I draw more similarities between DTK and CR.

[Publius]

I wonder how many people on this forum are politicians? This group can take any subject and twist it to fit their personal agendas better than any group I've ever seen - and believe me I'm a veteran of several forums.

The purpose of this thread was to discuss if QoS could have the same blend of action and character development that early reviews of The Dark Knight have highlighted - it was not to discuss which film would be the best or about which actor's contribution to its impending success was more prevalent.

Does anyone have any thoughts about what we've seen in the QoS trailer and what we've read (where Forster defined his goal of reaching inside the "inner-Bond") and how that might compare to the same approach Nolan takes with Dark Knight?

Take it easy, your post didn't give us much to go on. Not surprising considering that all we can do now is play the "wait and see" game for both movies.

Yeah, I hope the mix of action and drama (and espionage, and humor, etc.) is just right. We have a more character-focused director than we had in CR, but we also have a tighter run time and no love story, so it's anyone's guess how different the balance will be in QoS. I doubt it'll be all that much given that the Broccolis and Craig are still around.

I'm not sure where they're taking the Batman character in TDK, because the trailers show us the same conflicted man we know from Begins. What I do know is that his enemy this time isn't driven by any logical desires.

QoS, meanwhile, clearly seems to be showing us the kind of renegade Bond driven by a sense of duty we first (and last, if you don't count a few minutes in DAD) saw 19 years ago in LtK. That's what we learn from less than two minutes of footage.

[BoogieBond]

I am looking forward to both. And both are similarly placed in that they have to continue the arc from their Origin(reboot) stories.

Batman Begins was a great film IMO, its strength in the plot and formation of Bruce Wayne to face his fear into an ultimately satisfying conclusion. Batman Begins was criticised at the time for too many villains, to many plots and sub plots and the action scenes too close, so you could not see much, especially in the fight scenes.
The only one I really agreed with was the fight scenes being too close/frenetic. Overall it was a cracking film.

I hope Dark Knight continues the character arc, and presents Batman with new problems. In the review, it did mention Heath Ledgers performance, which by all accounts is fantastic, and also the atmosphere and action look great. Roll on two weeks time. I am sure Nolan has got the balance right, with a little more action, it was discussed that Batman and his appearance doesn't get going until the 2nd hour of the movie, I think the action will be more in The Dark Knight.

Similarly with CR, there was the origin stuff to get through, the re-introduction of Bond, his habits , his character. Qos must continue this arc so Bond is continually forming into the man we know and love, picking up tips and making less mistakes in the journey to being the polished secret agent of a Connery in Dr. No.
We know this has more action than CR, but one thing I would bet on is there is going to be adequate time spend on character, story and drama, with Forster at the helm. I think it will also hit the balance right as with The Dark Knight.

But it is a case of which will be the more effective, lasting and memorable as a film. All bets are off for that until Nov 7th.

Edited by BoogieBond, 08 July 2008 - 09:34 PM.

[CaptainPower]

I'm really looking forward to both. I guess it comes down to which franchise your a bigger fan of.. Bond or Batman. I adore both.. but when it comes down to it I'd have to give Batman the edge. I've been waiting almost breathlessly for another Batman since Gary Oldman showed us the Joker card at the end of Begins, & as the days go on I'm getting more and more excited, especially with the rave reviews that the film is getting. I never thought I'd see a Batman film described as "a masterpiece". That said, QoS looks fantastic

[Mister Asterix]

Welcome to CBn, CaptainPowers.