Posted on 12/04/2007 4:23:24 PM PST by pcottraux
Sweet poster, IMO. Clever way of conveying both Batman and the Joker in one image.
Also, the big story going around is that last night, the much anticipated 6-minute IMAX prologue for the "Batman Begins" sequel premiered in New York, with a personal introduction by Chris Nolan.
Here's an article from MTV.com, but I'm going to give you a big spoiler warning; don't click unless you don't mind a few spoilers.
But here are some good excerpts:
'Dark Knight' Opening Scenes Reveal 'Radical' New Joker
"NEW YORK — If the opening frames of "The Dark Knight" are any indication, Batman will have his hands full come June. The Joker is on the loose, and MTV News has seen just how devilishly maniacal and dangerous he can be.
On Monday night, a small crowd in New York gathered to watch the first six minutes of director Christopher Nolan's eagerly awaited sequel to "Batman Begins" and, holy extended trailer, the footage did not disappoint. Introduced by the beaming director and displayed on an 80-foot-tall IMAX screen, the opening of the film welcomed Heath Ledger's Joker to the Nolan/Batman universe.
And it was clear from the start, much as you might have loved Jack Nicholson's villain, the purple-clad bad man won't have the time or inclination to dance to Prince this time around. Nolan spoke at length with MTV News immediately prior to and following the special event, clearly proud of his new villain. "I think what Heath is doing is very adventurous," he said. "What he's doing is very radical. It's very much what I wanted. I knew I needed someone really fearless."
The opening sequence — specially filmed in the IMAX format, and set to debut December 14 with prints of "I Am Legend" in theaters — fulfilled a dream for Nolan, who said he had been wanting to shoot in the format for 15 years. "In the finished film, there will be four or five IMAX sequences," Nolan explained. He continued excitedly before the screening: "Everything about doing this in the IMAX format is trying to get that feeling back when I was a little kid when I'd sit in a movie theater and see images that were larger than life. That's what I'm trying to get back to with this material. I felt like introducing the Joker in this way because he's such a huge character [and it] would be a very fun thing to do."
But Nolan also revealed that not all the IMAX scenes will be action-filled. "Some of them are actually quiet scenes which pictorially we thought would be interesting. It's not all the slam-bam scenes," he said.
*At this point in the article is a huge spoilerish review of the actual prologue. Click the link to read.*
Nolan explained to MTV News that the Joker we meet in "The Dark Knight" is fully formed. Don't look for an origin story here. "To me, the Joker is an absolute," he said. "There are no shades of gray to him — maybe shades of purple. He's unbelievably dark. He bursts in just as he did in the comics."
Though there was no sign of much of the supporting cast in this extended preview, Nolan stressed there's much more to the story. Asked about Aaron Eckhart's Harvey "Two-Face" Dent, the director said "his story is in some ways the backbone of the film. [Bruce Wayne and Harvey] have an interesting relationship. They're friends and rivals."
And what about the caped crusader we left at the end of "Batman Begins"? Nolan explained that "he's a little more sure of himself" in the new film. "We didn't want him sitting around wrestling with the same angst. It's all-new angst," he laughed.
Nolan, who wrapped filming just two weeks ago, said he's shooting for a running time comparable to the first film's 140 minutes. Congratulated on the ambitious slam-bang start to his sequel, MTV News asked if the next six minutes could help but live up to the first. The director smiled and sighed nearly in unison. "That's what I'm working on now."
Also, what would a new thread on The Dark Knight be without a whole slew of new pictures???
Heath Ledger as the Joker:
Look out for Empire magazine...he's on the cover of (I think this month's) issue:
However, of all the pictures of Heath in his Joker get-up, this is by far my favorite. It will be on the cover of WizardUniverse magazine some time this month:
I’m not a big fan of the stills of the new batsuit. I think it might look pretty good actually moving, but not so good still. And of course professional lighting isn’t the world Batman normally moves in.
My biggest misgivings are how the chest emblem looks, as well as how "busy" the suit is (too many armor plates).
Nevertheless, I did think it looked good in other shots. Have you seen this shot yet? It's a new promo pic that came out a few days ago.
That last photo look more like a Marilyn Manson/Rob Zombie Photoshop?
And I'm sorry, but I don't any Marilyn Manson or Rob Zombie similarities.
The looks they're going for is inspired by the Joker's first appearance in Batman No. 1 (note the darkness/bags around the eyes), combined a little bit with the recent Hush/Jim Lee Joker (with the damaged, wrinkly skin, dirty clothes, and messy hair), with a hint of Malcolm McDowell from "A Clockwork Orange."
Yeah, I saw that one. I don’t mind the emblem, but I can’t stand the contrasting gray and black with all the stuff going on around his abs.
Also did you see that Christian Bale is in talks to play John Connor in the next Terminator. How many franchises are they going to give him to carry? Unfortunately for that one, instead of an excellent director like Nolan, they have McG. Things are not looking good for The Terminator movies even if The Sarah Connor Chronicles looks good.
It is too busy, that’s for sure. But I do think it’s kind of neat how it’s chainmail underneath with armor plating on-top. I’m sure it looks a lot better in the right lighting.
I did hear that about Christian Bale, and you are absolutely right. It sounds like a risky career move on Bale’s part...if T4 flops, it could mean people won’t be able to view him as anyone other than Batman. OTOH, if it’s a success, he’ll be viewed in a more diverse light. But having McG as the director is a MAJOR red flag.
Thanks for the link, pcottraux:
Definitely looking forward to “The Dark Knight”. There could be pieces of the little known, but very telling “The Killing Joke” meshed into the film.
It also looks like we’re in store for a much less slick and refined, more psycho Jack Napier/Joker than the Nicholson version.
Jack.
He has done enough diverse roles I think to avoid being typescast, but it just doesn’t seem like a good movie to attach his rising star to.
Maybe he just doesn’t want to lose 60 pounds for a movie between Batmans like he did for The Machinist and Rescue Dawn. He is one dedicated dude. I feel sorry for any machines in his house when he is getting in the role of John Connor.
You’re quite welcome, Mr. Deth.
My impression of this Joker is that he’s less refined and more flat-out brutal. With respect to Nicholson...he set quite a precedent in Batman 89...his Joker still had a lot of goofiness and “cackling supervillain” aspects to him. The Ledger version seems to have stripped all of that away, and this Joker will be less funny and more disturbing. He looks like a really nasty, twisted clown.
And I like that. ;-)
“The Killing Joke” has been mentioned as a reference several times, although I think they’re probably going to go light on the origin story. Another difference with the Nicholson version is that this one’s backstory may be kept shrouded in mystery.
Yeah, Bale is a class act...that’s why he’s one of my favorite actors. Unlike the usual shallow, looney Tom Cruise-kind of star, Bale is very professional and takes his work seriously. And he REALLY commits.
I didn’t know much about T4 before hearing about his casting. If anything, it gives me some amount of hope for such a project, even with McG directing. I guess I’m taking a “glass half-full” approach now.
I just checked and on Imdb while Jack Nicholson was credited as The Joker/Jack Napier, Heath Ledger is simply The Joker. It certainly seems like he will just appear out of nowhere fully formed as a psycho. I like it better that way. It seems every comic book movie stumbles the worst on back stories.
Good call on the “Clockwork Orange” simularity. If Ledger’s Joker is anything near that chaos it will be a hit.
Well, that’s a promo shot for sure and more for the toys. But it also, as you pointed out with the armor over the chainmail, is a theme Nolan is using - the development of the Batman.
Wayne has unlimited resources and, FINALLY, we’ll see the use of others in his transformation like Alfred and Lucias Fox. I just wish these modern movie makers would DROP the concept of revealing the secret identity. It’s so 90’s and PC if you ask me. I’m sure they have focus groups that think the audiences today can only identify with the hero if he’s 1) vunerable and 2) has to let others in on it.
Waste of time and it ruins much of the genre for me. Even in the campy Batman on TV he never revealed he was Bruce Wayne.
If the ratings are 5 stars, someone pays for the ticket, drives me to the theater, I MIGHT go see a batman movie....
Those first couple Batman movies were soooo bad. Might be the worst movies of all time?
You can tell Roker is a real Batman fan. He actually ask smart questions like “Batman doesn’t have any super powers other than cash”.
Perfect and true. And Bale is smart enough to know that is what makes Batman, by far, the greatest “super hero” around.
Good stuff again, thanks pcottraux.
Did you see Batman Begins? It was nothing like the first 4.
I had my doubts right after Ledger was cast, but a lot of interviews he gave early on quelled my fears. The Clockwork Orange reference was an early inspiration he mentioned.
Check this out. It's an exerpt from a more recent interview where he talked briefly about how he prepared and studied for playing the Joker...he actually shows a lot more dedication and intensity than I'd expected.
I also agree with you about the secret identity part. It's becoming WAY too rampant in comic book movies lately...heck, in each Spiderman movie and most of the earlier Bat-films, the secret identity is revealed to the villain at the end. Hopefully The Dark Knight will steer clear of that.
Sure thing! This has been a fun movie to follow, especially with the viral marketing.
FYI, word on the street is to expect the next trailer in about another week. I'll keep you posted.
No, was it any good? As I mentioned, the first were so bad, that I must have developed a phobia...
Just from my personal recommendation: ABSOLUTELY! It is worlds different from the 4 movies...hands-down the best Batman movie, and perhaps one of the greatest comic book movies ever. As a Bat-fan, I can also say that more than any previous Bat-film, it actually is very true to the source material (the comic books).
Here’s the way it goes: Tim Burton’s Bat-films (like all his movies) were set in a freaky, Gothic netherworld. Schumacher’s (Batman Forever, Batman and Robin) were set in a neon-light fetishland. Batman Begins, on the other hand, is set in a gritty, almost realistic world. The plot is MILES ahead of the firs 4, because it actually tells a deep, engaging, and fascinating story.
Actually, there’s others who could sum it up better than I could: let me provide you with some links. Roger Ebert and James Berardinelli are two of my favorite movie critics; like you, they both disliked or were disappointed by the first 4 movies but gave Batman Begins glowing reviews and described it as “The first Batman movie that FINALLY got it right.”
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050613/REVIEWS/50525003/1023
http://www.reelviews.net/movies/b/batman_begins.html
If I may say so...the movie does have a few minor flaws. Katie Holmes plays the obligatory love interest, and she isn’t very good.
Other than that, I would give Begins a big recommendation (and, btw, I’m another one that doesn’t particularly care for the other movies).
Thanks, I’ll give it a looksie!
Sure thing!
Terrence Howard should have been The Joker, IMO.
Sadly, I will not be finding out until July. As much as I'm dying to see the new prologue in IMAX that's just been released, the closest IMAX theater that's playing it is over 4 1/2 hours away. *Sigh*...at least we should have the next trailer pretty soon.
I don't know much about Iron Man, but that is a pretty cool poster and the movie looks promising. I'm pretty sure I'll be going to see that one.
Did you also see this poster that came out today?
I heard his name mentioned for Harvey Dent one time, but I’m not sure if there was any substance to it or if it was just a fanboy rumor.
I like it. I kind of wish it were a similar shot of him looking down from just a rooftop. Or one of those spires or whatever I saw him on for Batman Begins.
Aesthetics aside, the color tone is interesting. The BB posters had sort of an brown earthen-tone to them...this one has more of a shattery ice-blue look.
Great posters, thanks again. I’m putting them up in my office with all the zillions of Batman stuff! lol
Well, Mr. Blonde, you win. You got to a big piece of info before I did. ;-)
FYI, guys, a bootleg of the trailer has leaked on-line. It was done with a cell phone camera in a theater...VERY low quality. Unless specifically asked via PM, I’m not going to post it here. I’m still going to see “I Am Legend” JUST to see the trailer, but I’ve seen the bootleg to. They’re saying the Hi-Quality version will be on-line Monday.
(And yes, the movie looks friggin’ awesome).
I’m going to an IMAX theater an hour away to see I Am Legend and get an eyeful of the Joker. I can’t wait. And the trailer does look incredible even low quality as it is.
WHERE do you guys find these posters?
Another “flaw” in the movie, to me, was some of the dialouge. It was repetative like the constant used of the term “the narrows”.
And when the train is headed to the Wayne hub and microwaving the water, the guy at the company used “it’s going to blow” way too much.
Honestly, I blame Goyer for that. Since Jonah Nolan wrote the script for this one, it should be less of a problem.
In BB, the “symbol” conversation between Alfred and Bruce in the plane was one of the best moments of dialogue. I believe Chris Nolan actually wrote that scene instead of Goyer. ;-)
“Why so serious?” LOVED it when the Joker actually said that in the bootleg trailer...
You're welcome. ;-)
That may have been my favorite moment in the trailer. That, or when he says "Good evening.....commiiiishhioner!"
I don’t mind the repetitive dialog when it’s a theme like Alfred talking to Bruce throughout the movie saying “Your a Wayne” and about giving up on him, “Never”.
I think the best part of the plane talk was when Alfred told him he was going to have to bring him back from the dead. “You can borrow the Rolls, just bring it back with a full tank” is priceless.
Check this out!
The Dark Knight Theatrical Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0iOjOaLwuw&feature=bz301
cool
Thanks for posting.
The new, hi-res version should be on-line Sunday or Monday. I’m really looking forward to that.
I kind of wish I hadn’t read the spoilers for the prologue before I saw it. Still, it was incredible. All of this marketing they are doing is killing me. I almost wish they wouldn’t say a word about it and then just be like oh yeah The Dark Knight is opening today. The wait is brutal now.
LOL, I’m glad you got to see the prologue.
I’ll be seeing the trailer at the theater in a few minutes. I’ve been told that as good as the bootleg is, it doesn’t hold a candle to seeing it on the big screen.
BBL
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