The Dark Knight

[Red October]

Who's seen it? I thought it was pretty awesome, and Heath Ledger plays a really good villain.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/90/HeathJoker.png

funky

[Die Neue Zeit]

Lots of twists in that movie (that's all I'll say) :cool:

[Red October]

Lots of twists in that movie (that's all I'll say) :cool:

That final twist (you know what I'm talking about) was pretty obvious from the beginning though.

[rocker935]

OMFG!!!! This movie was FUCKING INSANE!!!!! AHHHHHH!!!! SO AWESOME!!! ALL SHOULD SEE IT!!

sry for the excessive use of caps, I just thought that it would help get my point across best,

[Led Zeppelin]

I want to watch this, I'll probably go see it in the next week.

[RHIZOMES]

Who's seen it? I thought it was pretty awesome, and Heath Ledger played a really good villain.

Sorry couldn't resist.

Dark Knight doesn't come to my country for the next 4 days however. :<

[Mujer Libre]

Fixed the title. :P I don't think it's out in Aus yet, but I wouldn't mind watching it, though the Aussie media's fawning over heath Ledger is somewhat annoying.

[Bilan]

ML, we were the first to see it! :lol:
at my work, we have security guards in the cinema to stop people from pirating it to sell over seas.

I've seen bits of it (because of work). Looks really good

[RHIZOMES]

wtf The Dark Knight just overtook the Godfather as the #1 movie on IMDb's Top 250. I've been on that site for 6 years and I have NEVER seen the Godfather toppled from that spot.

[Mujer Libre]

ML, we were the first to see it! http://www.revleft.com/vb/dark-knight-p1198832/revleft/smilies2/laugh.gif
Ignore me then, I clearly live in a hole. :lol:

[Led Zeppelin]

wtf The Dark Knight just overtook the Godfather as the #1 movie on IMDb's Top 250. I've been on that site for 6 years and I have NEVER seen the Godfather toppled from that spot.

Yeah that also surprised me...though I'm sure it will go down as more people vote.

[Lost In Translation]

wtf The Dark Knight just overtook the Godfather as the #1 movie on IMDb's Top 250. I've been on that site for 6 years and I have NEVER seen the Godfather toppled from that spot.
The Godfather series, or just one part?

[trivas7]

I thought it was sophmoric, unremittingly dark. No sense of humor and single-minded in its hyping the intensity of "darkness" -- a poor recreation of a rich man's vision of Quentin Tarantino's sensibilities. Even Alfred gets to tell his war stories of Burma. Christian Bale's talent were wasted, although I did like Ledger's interpretation of Joker (but hardly Oscar-worthy). The de rigour blowing up of cars and metal on metal collisions (*yawn*). The best thing re this film were some of the wide-span camera shots of mid-air flight and the like (but Michael Bay of "Transformer" fame does this better than anyone). Particularly annoying was how dark -- as in unlit -- some of the later scenes were shot.

This is exactly what I expected from this young director who has a comic book placed where his heart should be.

[Malakangga]

two thumbs up

[Red October]

I thought it was sophmoric, unremittingly dark. No sense of humor and single-minded in its hyping the intensity of "darkness" -- a poor recreation of a rich man's vision of Quentin Tarantino's sensibilities. Even Alfred gets to tell his war stories of Burma. Christian Bale's talent were wasted, although I did like Ledger's interpretation of Joker (but hardly Oscar-worthy). The de rigour blowing up of cars and metal on metal collisions (*yawn*). The best thing re this film were some of the wide-span camera shots of mid-air flight and the like (but Michael Bay of "Transformer" fame does this better than anyone). Particularly annoying was how dark -- as in unlit -- some of the later scenes were shot.

This is exactly what I expected from this young director who has a comic book placed where his heart should be.

dick.

[rocker935]

dick.

+1

[freakazoid]

dick.

quoted for truth, :mad:

Movie was awesome, :D Heath Ledger did an awesome job playing the Joker. What I found really interesting was that even though he was insane, really really insane, he did have a point in what he was doing. Also his magic pencil trick was hillarious. :laugh: This is one movie I wouldn't mind going to the theater again to watch it.

[Scrap]

i saw it about an hour ago. it was amazing.

[Ultra-Violence]

This is exactly what I expected from this young director who has a comic book placed where his heart should be.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^
THAT WAS THE POINT!

EVERY BATMAN TO Up till now has sucked massive cock!
Why? Because they make the batman look like a little whiny ***** wich he isnt!
Hes one bad ass DARK! MOTHERFUCKER! thats what made the movie great and every batman movie before it obsolete!

and the Joker was Buetifull in that movie HOW HE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE!
and two-face was pretty sick with it two

the only thing that i didnt enjoy about the movie but didnt ruin my experince was batmans voice jesus christ was that shit fucking annoying:mad:

[trivas7]

This is exactly what I expected from this young director who has a comic book placed where his heart should be.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^

Rent Nolan's "Memento" -- much more engaging IMO :cool:

[rocker935]

ehh, I think Memento is over-rated.

[La Comédie Noire]

Damn good story, but the action takes a back seat to the drama. That's not such a bad thing though.

Heath Ledger's performance? Great!

However as a fan I am disappointed what ends up happening to two face.

[Holden Caulfield]

ehh, I think Memento is over-rated.

it is overrated by the hype and pretentious fucks who watch it because it is a bit different, however it is a good film, perhaps not overly enjoyable to watch, but still one that should be seen by most people (especially those who do psychology:lol:)

[rocker935]

it is overrated by the hype and pretentious fucks who watch it because it is a bit different, however it is a good film, perhaps not overly enjoyable to watch, but still one that should be seen by most people (especially those who do psychology:lol:)

haha, well put. Kuz I did like it, it was a good movie, just not the "omfg must see" that pretentious fucks lead me to believe.

[Drace]

Awesome movie.

Joker was the good guy, Batman BAD!!! EVIL CHRISTIAN!

Why Batman evil christian? he sounds like a priest o.o
Annoying and evil voice.

[Harrycombs]

Am I the only one who thought this movie was very mediocre?

Batman Begins was better imho.

[freakazoid]

Batman Begins was better imho.

While I really liked Batman Begins, I really love a good sword fight, I thought that Dark Night was better.

[Pawn Power]

Batman's War on Terror:
http://www.counterpunch.org/allen08022008.html

[black magick hustla]

i really liked ledger's joker. i dont think the joker can be interpreted any better than that. a lot of it was pretty boring but the scenes of the joker were the best thing ever. they should make a movie that only includes joker scenes.

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

I Enjoyed it.

[BurnTheOliveTree]

Mmm, well, whatever doesn't kill you makes you... *Licks lips* Stranger. *Smiles*

FUCKING SEE IT. The movie's pretty good, Heath Ledger absolutely takes the cake though, he was just... astounding, amazing. Nuts. Crazily good.

-Alex

[BurnTheOliveTree]

I thought it was sophmoric, unremittingly dark. No sense of humor and single-minded in its hyping the intensity of "darkness" -- a poor recreation of a rich man's vision of Quentin Tarantino's sensibilities. Even Alfred gets to tell his war stories of Burma. Christian Bale's talent were wasted, although I did like Ledger's interpretation of Joker (but hardly Oscar-worthy). The de rigour blowing up of cars and metal on metal collisions (*yawn*). The best thing re this film were some of the wide-span camera shots of mid-air flight and the like (but Michael Bay of "Transformer" fame does this better than anyone). Particularly annoying was how dark -- as in unlit -- some of the later scenes were shot.

This is exactly what I expected from this young director who has a comic book placed where his heart should be.


Why so serious? :cool:

-Alex

[trivas7]

Why so serious? :cool:

Perhaps it's a generational thing. I'm an old fart, I take films seriously and to see such mediocre fare get such attention makes me cringe. Christian Bale is an exceptionally talented actor but I suspect he does this kind of work merely for the dough. He knows that such summertime fare has no artistic value. He's a whore like everyone else.

[Ultra-Violence]

^^^^^^
Hey im the same way with movies but come on this is BATMAN! i dont want some god dam aritistc rendition of batman the fucking musical! i want batman kickin ass!

the thing that kinda of makes me sad tho is IF! the make another batman who can play the joker after that? i mean thats some big shoes to fill

[trivas7]

the thing that kinda of makes me sad tho is IF! the make another batman who can play the joker after that? i mean thats some big shoes to fill
Indeed, I think they're going to have to retire the Joker. Jim Carey as the Riddler is my vote! (Jack Black as the Penguin?) :thumbup1:

[RHIZOMES]

The magic trick was awesome.

[Led Zeppelin]

It was an ok movie, I could even say it was good, but for fucks sake it was not great and not "the greatest movie ever".

What the hell is wrong with people?

I enjoyed it, I got a bit bored at some parts, and I especially liked the parts with The Joker in it, but it wasn't something I was overwhelmed by, it was just an ok/good action movie, that's all.

I seriously don't get all the bullshit hype around this movie, I was expecting to see the greatest movie of all time and instead I saw just another action flick.

[Dimentio]

It was an ok movie, I could even say it was good, but for fucks sake it was not great and not "the greatest movie ever".

What the hell is wrong with people?

I enjoyed it, I got a bit bored at some parts, and I especially liked the parts with The Joker in it, but it wasn't something I was overwhelmed by, it was just an ok/good action movie, that's all.

I seriously don't get all the bullshit hype around this movie, I was expecting to see the greatest movie of all time and instead I saw just another action flick.

I think it was a decent depiction of the spirit of our time.

[Dystisis]

I like the Batman series because it tries to be something more than "just cartoons" like Superman is (in my opinion). The tension (with heavy political undertones) that builds up with The Joker/Ledger as a kind of... new-rich, nihilist, doesn't give a shit about the world type, and Batman/Bale as the more "conservative" person with ideas and values is portrayed well, I think. This is an "antagonism" I've actually faced in real life a few times recently.

However, was it the best movie I have ever seen? No.

[RHIZOMES]

I like the Batman series because it tries to be something more than "just cartoons" like Superman is (in my opinion). The tension (with heavy political undertones) that builds up with The Joker/Ledger as a kind of... new-rich, nihilist, doesn't give a shit about the world type, and Batman/Bale as the more "conservative" person with ideas and values is portrayed well, I think. This is an "antagonism" I've actually faced in real life a few times recently.

However, was it the best movie I have ever seen? No.

Yeah this is the reason Batman is my fave superhero.

[trivas7]

I like the Batman series because it tries to be something more than "just cartoons" like Superman is (in my opinion). The tension (with heavy political undertones) that builds up with The Joker/Ledger as a kind of... new-rich, nihilist, doesn't give a shit about the world type, and Batman/Bale as the more "conservative" person with ideas and values is portrayed well, I think. This is an "antagonism" I've actually faced in real life a few times recently.

The deeply conservative but lonely rich guy (think Ronald Reagan) vs. the nihilist madman because-of-past-injury (think Ted Bundy/Jeff Dahmer) is kinda stock faire, IMO. What this film does is portray as deathly serious two deeply scarred males in contemporary society. They're both equally fucked.

[Sendo]

two thumbs up

Just a PSA for all concerned, "two thumbs up" refers to two parties each giving one thumb up. There is no need for one person to ever need two thumbs. It comes from the famed duo of Siskel and Ebert. If both men recommended a movie it got "Two thumbs up!" I'm getting really annoyed when an individual says "two thumbs up"; it doesn't make sense., Stop doing it, please.

Anyhow, other than the typical glorification of the honest billionaire smearing of the poor, and the too quickly resolved issue of domestics spying, it was a good movie. But definitely overrated. Christian Bale was hardly in it at all, which felt weird, being a batman movie. They did the whole Joker and Dent thing great.

[Ultra-Violence]

Anyhow, other than the typical glorification of the honest billionaire smearing of the poor, and the too quickly resolved issue of domestics spying, it was a good movie. But definitely overrated. Christian Bale was hardly in it at all, which felt weird, being a batman movie. They did the whole Joker and Dent thing great.

^^^^^^^^^^
Ha couldnt u say that made the movie better? honestly i dunno if this happend to yall in the movie theater but when ever the joker came out and did some sick nasty shit people were loving it and chearing on and laughing with him wich really made like the movie more better IMO and the part were the joker burns all tha money! CLASSIC BURN MOTHER FUCKER BURN AHAHA!

[Rosa Provokateur]

Saw it, loved it. Hands down THE BEST movie I've ever seen. Better then Passion of the Christ and thas saying something.

[gauchisme]

http://poserorprophet.livejournal.com/143330.html?view=816098

"...Dark Knight functions as a powerful spectacular (think Debord) defense of ["the ideology of the liberal democratic West, and the United States in particular"]."
_

what do you think of that review (and subsequent commentary)?
...or this one?

_

http://www.sharedsacrifice.us/Jan8ThompsonBatman.html

"...as progressives we must be vigilant not to let this film seep into our cultural memory without the disclaimer it deserves: a defense of the war on terror."

[Dóchas]

its was an amazing film and heath ledger played an amazing role but it was WAY to long for my liking

[Socialist Scum]

its was an amazing film and heath ledger played an amazing role but it was WAY to long for my liking

I agree it was a tad too long, but I can't think of any part I would like to see left out. :lol:

[Dóchas]

some of the bits at the begining with all the talking got pretty tedious but i suppose it set up the plot

[muslim girl]

OMG


ilove thats movie sooooooo much

its fantastic

its very amazing

thanx 4 the topic

see u

[Invincible Summer]

"It's not about money... it's about.. sending. A. Message."

[Invader Zim]

The single most over rated film of all time. Don't get me wrong, it was good. Very good in fact. But it is not the fifth best film of all time, as the IMDb poll currently stands.

[brigadista]

best thing about it was the batbike...:)

[LOLseph Stalin]

Who's seen it? I thought it was pretty awesome, and Heath Ledger plays a really good villain.

Great movie. I rarely purchase movies unless I really like them, and this was one I just couldn't resist buying. That in itself tells you something...

[Cowd]

This is the worst movie I've seen in quite some time. Not just because it's mediocre, I can live with that, but because it's a poorly disguised fascist propaganda tract.

The late Ledger was a great and respectable actor, who was shamefully wasted here. His insanely overhyped performance is interesting, but no more. His essentially one-dimensional character simply grates after the first three or four scenes in which he appears. Bale, on the other hand, is hilariously bad. Some of the few cathartic moments for me was when I could chuckle at the absurd combination of stupid self-seriousness, struma voice and omnipresent stick up his ass. The action sequences are some of the most shoddily put together I've seen in a blockbuster. They failed to make any impression except nausea and bemusement. For the record, I loved T2, The Matrix and Transformers as action films and I'm looking forward to Watchmen.

So much for the technical and artistic aspects. Now onto the politics.

In one sentence, this is Batman revised for the post-9/11 world. Instead of beating up the bad guys and leaving them tied to a fire hydrant for the cops to collect, our masked millionaire avenger employs all the familiar methods of a police state. He employs gruesome torture, of course camouflaged by "inner moral conflict" over whether it's "the right thing" or not. Of course it's the right thing: the fucking Batman does it. He spies on millions of people. The half-hearted joking reference to Julius Caesar seems thrown in almost as a cherry on top to make the police-state package not stink so bad. The key point is that the film openly discusses the merits of dictatorship, which is something new in a film with such appeal. Just ten years ago it would have been unthinkable for a mainstream film to treat torture with anything else than the disgust and horror it deserves. That changed very much after 9/11. For a few years the "debate" raged, until today when a "heroic" torture scene (that is, where the hero uses it) is pretty much considered an integral part of any popular action film or series. At least Rambo only murdered his political enemies. Now the "debate" on dictatorship has been opened up. Before long we'll see mass-market films that openly glorify the rise of an authoritarian strongman to deal with "criminals" and "terrorists" and "moral decay". Judging by the reaction to this piece of trash, the public will gobble it up.

I had almost a bodily reaction to this movie. All I could think was 'get this fascist filth the fuck away from me.' In fact, I had to leave around the 2 hour mark because I couldn't stand it anymore. It's the first time in my life that's happened. It was just that awful. With my friends cheering and gasping in awe around me, I felt like I was trapped in the middle of a Hitler rally. Or at least a screening of Triumph des Willens.

But the worst thing is to see 'leftists' sucking the cock of this filmatically absolutely mediocre, politically absolutely reactionary piece of authoritarian neo-con torture porn trash. Don't you suspect all that putrid semen you gulp down might be bad for your health somehow? Hasn't Iraq taught you anything about trusting the media hype?

This piece accurately expresses the feelings I had when I left the cinema.
dubya dubya dubya dot.wsws.org/articles/2008/jul2008/corr-j31.shtml

"The whole ticking time bomb justification for torture is laid out in this insipid piece of filth, and not just once but a few times. Secrecy by the state, the assumption of dictatorial powers, not just the gutting of civil liberties but the giving up of civil liberties by the people themselves (why we should give up our hard won rights willingly), eavesdropping and spying on the population, and lest we forget, the ever-present glorification of wealth: all of this—except the glorification of wealth—is portrayed as a necessary small evil which is justified in order to combat the greater evil of the terrorist threat."

Couldn't have said it better! This film carries the same police-state propaganda message as 24, but is much more dangerous because it somehow became the most popular turd in recent memory. Don't ask me how that happened. I don't think the filmmakers know. I personally can't see anything redeeming about this film.

[Das war einmal]

This movie was brilliant. I especially like the part in the hospital when the Joker has a conversation with Two-face.

I never watched it as a 'neocon propaganda' piece. Its clear that Batman crosses the line more than once and this is what the Joker points out.

[Das war einmal]

Ohyeah , if you havent checked it out yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2yv8aT0UFc

[al8]

This movie was shallow, inconsistent and dumb.

For one thing the Joker was killing his own recruits faster than he could have reasonably recruit them. It features a mockery of anarchism and a glorification of a rich guy in a halloween costume. How on earth can this strike such a cord with revolutionary leftists?

[Das war einmal]

What did you expect from a movie based on a comic book? This is the best batman movie I have seen yet, but if you dont like movies that feature people dressed up in a halloween costume you could ask yourself why bother watching the movie in the first place.

[Invincible Summer]

I mean, I'm all for critically analyzing things, but just because a movie isn't Communist enough people are slagging it?

Man...

[Pirate Utopian]

The Joker was totally awesome in this movie.

[Sarah Palin]

I thought it was good, but Heath Ledger was no better than Jack Nicholson.

[The Feral Underclass]

The direction confused me. They attempted to combine an intense and complex psychological thriller into a traditional Batman format and it didn't work. On the one hand you had Heath Ledger's amazing portrayal, which was complex and paranoid and amazing, and then you had the shiny Hollywood style and obvious plot techniques that didn't accommodate Ledger's performance at all. It was essentially two films; the Joker and then the rest of it. I would have preferred to watch a film about the Joker to be honest because Heath Ledger was just incredible. He out-acted Christian Bale with embarrassing ease. Bale was just completely two-dimensional and uninteresting. I also think Gary Oldman is too much of a good actor for such a generic role. It was fun though and I liked the three stage ending, but it was a bit too long and predictable.

[Invincible Summer]

The direction confused me. They attempted to combine an intense and complex psychological thriller into a traditional Batman format and it didn't work. On the one hand you had Heath Ledger's amazing portrayal, which was complex and paranoid and amazing, and then you had the shiny Hollywood style and obvious plot techniques that didn't accommodate Ledger's performance at all. It was essentially two films; the Joker and then the rest of it. I would have preferred to watch a film about the Joker to be honest because Heath Ledger was just incredible. He out-acted Christian Bale with embarrassing ease. Bale was just completely two-dimensional and uninteresting. I also think Gary Oldman is too much of a good actor for such a generic role. It was fun though and I liked the three stage ending, but it was a bit too long and predictable.

I agree with the points that are bolded. I still really enjoyed the movie though.

I always thought Batman would be more brooding and have more inner conflicts than what they portrayed in the movie... I guess I should wait for Watchmen then.

[bawbag]

overrated, people build it up to be the best film ever, its good but not that good

Heath Ledger was as well built up to be some kind of great actor - because he died i guess, he plays the part very well, but when i watched it expecting it to be THE BOLLOCKS i was quite disappointed
some good method acting from Heath Ledger in it, he is a joy to watch and it is a good film but i dont like people building it up to be incredible and better than it is

[Dimentio]

I am surprised this did not happen sooner

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendermonde_nursery_attack
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2167144.ece

[Dr Mindbender]

Say what you like, but no one will beat Jack Nicholson's joker for me.

''wait till they get a loada me''. :D

[The Feral Underclass]

I am surprised this did not happen sooner

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendermonde_nursery_attack
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2167144.ece

Films and characters give mad people images to portray themselves as rather than motivate them to behave like them. The guy was already mad, he just decided to imitate a character to exact his madness. He did not see the joker and then decide to become mad.

[Dimentio]

Films and characters give mad people images to portray themselves as rather than motivate them to behave like them. The guy was already mad, he just decided to imitate a character to exact his madness. He did not see the joker and then decide to become mad.

Agreed. Even a book like "Catcher in the rye", with no explicit violence of that nature, has inspired nutties.