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- - The Dark Knight (https://thetfp.com/tfp/tilted-entertainment/112181-dark-knight.html)

This movie really needs it's own thread.

So yes, the sequel to the popular Batman Begins is going into production. Expected out in July, 18, 2008, the movie will see returning Christian Bale as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Gary Oldman as (now) Commissioner Gordon, Morgan Freeman as Lucious Fox, and newcomer Heath Ledger as the Joker (no Brokeback jokes, please, as I've already made all of them). Hanz Zimmer (Gladiator, The Last Samurai) is attached for the score, and Christopher Nolan will once again head the project as Director. No word yet as to who will be playing Harvey Dent (I'm still rooting for Billy Dee Williams, of Lando fame).

The storyline will be as follows: Spoiler: Writer David Goyer talks about possible sequels and says, "The next one would have Batman enlisting the aid of Gordon and [Harvey] Dent [aka Two-Face] in bringing down the Joker... but not killing him, which is a mistake they made in the first one." The article then says that "In the third, the Joker would go on trial, scarring Dent in the process."
http://www.superherohype.com/news/ba...ws.php?id=2978

The storyline is said to be based loosely on Batman #1, The Joker's Five-Way Revenge, and The Killing Joke, with a very sinister (slightly less eccentric, I'm afraid) Joker.

Here is an article from FilmFocus with Christian Bale about his upcoming role in the movie:

Quote:

Exclusive: Bale's Take on The Dark Knight

Friday, August 04, 2006 (yes, it's old, sorry)

Exclusive: Bale's Take on The Dark Knight It's become so overdone now that we might be getting bored if only it weren't such a treat; Christian Bale delivers another stunning performance in another five-star production when Harsh Times arrives in UK cinemas on August 8th.

And so it was that we saw ourselves chatting excitedly with Bale himself as part of a big interview feature which'll be on the site next week. But we couldn't keep this part quiet, much as we couldn't stop ourselves from asking the questions. With the announcement this week that the title of Chris Nolan's Batman Begins sequel would be The Dark Knight and with the even more exciting announcement that Heath "He's So Hot Right Now" Ledger would be tackling the Joker, we just had to get Bale's take on events.

"I just love that title," Bale told FilmFocus, "You know, nothing's written in stone yet, but I like, very much, that it doesn't have 'Batman' written in the title. This take on Batman of mine and Chris' is very different from any of the others and everything else always had Batman in the title. I think this is kind-of distancing it even further and saying, 'Hey, this is a whole different creature from what has come before.'"

Much as Ledger is a wildly different choice for the Joker; in Tim Burton's 1989 version the role went to The Smile himself, Jack Nicholson. "Absolutely," Bale told us, "Heath is very much into what Chris had done with the first one and he's very passionate about the role. And he's a really good actor so we're going to see something very special from him."

And what of the status of the project at the moment? Can Bale drop any hints? "You know what, you're going to get people coming out and shooting you in the head any second if you keep asking anymore Batman questions," Bale joked. Or, at least, we hope he did. "I'm learning about it right now; Chris and I have only just finished working on The Prestige together and I have another project (The less than impressive Harsh Times?...no, either Bob Dylan movie I'm Not There or Outlaw vs. Rancher tale 3:10 to Yuma)before we start on Batman. I know I'm in very good hands and Chris is keeping me informed about what's going on. But more than that and I'll be whisked away in a loony van, you know, off to Arkham Asylum!"

Bale also told us that his partnership with Nolan, which'll have extended to three features by the time The Dark Knight hits cinemas, is based on a solid working relationship. "As long as it's a good working relationship," he told us, "that's all that matters. But Chris is the director I've worked with more than anyone else and what's nice, when you do come to understand each other, is you do get this common language so you really don't have to speak a whole lot; often too much talking just kind-of ruins everything. And it's nice when you know the way someone works anyway and you don't have to break that ice at all. It was a very lucky thing for me when I met Chris and became part of his circle of filmmaking."

By Joe Utichi.

http://filmfocus.co.uk/newsdetail.asp?NewsID=807

(I've added comments in parenthesis)

So, thoughts? Comments? Relevant articles? Discuss...

I am really looking forward to this. If they can keep in the same tone as Begins, it's going to rock.

I also think they are bang on correct in a) not killing Joker and b) having only one villain in the film.

I think Ledger is an interesting choice too. If Nolan can keep some of his worst elements reigned in, then it will be all good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

I am really looking forward to this. If they can keep in the same tone as Begins, it's going to rock.

I couldn't agee more. Begins was a true and pure breath of fresh air that actually managed to get me forgetting Val Kilmer and George Cloony. For that, Noal and Bale will always have my gratitude.

My only suggestion (if Nolan is reading this) is to clean up the fight scenes. Whoever edited the fight scenes on BB really isn't familiar with fight cutting, which is a very serious art. As a student of film, I know how difficult it can be, and my main suggestion would be to learn to fight yourself. What you want to do, even with Batman who is supposed to be hidden in the shadows, is film similarly to when you film a dance scene. You need to catch the angles that will take advantage of expressive movement, like a strike that imobilizes an enemy. If you move around too much, you'll distract the audience and rob people of the amazing abilities of Christian Bale, who we all know can do fight scenes really really well. I'd also suggest keeping Bale's eyes in several shots. I don't know why, but it really can help the actor communicate quite a bit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

I also think they are bang on correct in a) not killing Joker and b) having only one villain in the film.

Amen. Catwoman + Penguin was a mistake (though not as bad as the Riddler/Two-Face or Ivey/Freeze/Bane combinations).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

I think Ledger is an interesting choice too. If Nolan can keep some of his worst elements reigned in, then it will be all good.

Can Ledger act? I've seen most of his work (10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, A Knight's Tale, Monster's Ball, The Order, Casanova), though I missed that Brokeback movie.

Hopefully they'll come back to Chicago to film this. I got to see some of the Batmobile stunts, and those scenes were filmed in the alley behind my office.

I agree whole heartedly about the fight scenes. They made the common mistake made in American films, which is to film a fight close up, and with far too many cuts. I don't know who the DP was for the movie, but they should really look into getting a vet from Hong Kong, as those cats really know how to frame a fight. All the choreography in the world won't matter if you can't see what the hell they are doing.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's happened: Two-Face/Harvey Dent has been cast. Aaron Eckhart (In the Company of Men, Erin Brokovich, The Core, Paycheck, and Thank You for Smoking) will be filling the gigantic shoes of Billy Dee "Lando" Williams.

Quote:

Eckhart set as Two-Face
Actor joins 'Dark Knight' cast
By DAVE MCNARY
Aaron Eckhart has joined the cast of Warner Bros.' "The Dark Knight" as Harvey Dent aka Two Face, a District Attorney-turned-scarred villain.

Previously announced cast for the sixth Batpic include Heath Ledger as the Joker with Christian Bale back as the Caped Crusader and Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman reprising their roles from "Batman Begins."

Christopher Nolan's returning to the director's chair to helm a script by his brother Jonah Nolan, based on a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. "The Dark Knight" will be produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan.

Eckhart received noms for Golden Globe and Spirit Awards for "Thank You For Smoking." He's starring opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones in the "No Reservations," the American remake of the 2001 German feature "Mostly Martha."Eckhart's repped by CAA and Hirsch, Wallerstein, Hayum, Matlof & Fishman

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=13&cs=1

I can't wait to see the movie. Best Batman ever IMHO.

Shooting began last week in Los Angeles. If there are any TFPers down there that have some extra time and a digicam, I'd love to see some pics. I could look into where specifically they are shooting (supposedly outside the studio a lot).

Spoiler Alert . . . If you don't want to see what could be the Joker in the film, don't scroll down. (Is that a spoiler?) I dunno. W/E

Picture of Ledger as Joker??

http://64.111.216.18/ul/2628-joker1.jpg

They're finishing up here in Chicago. The tent is out of Grant Park, but they were on location at Canal and Van Buren this morning.

It didn't affect my commute, but it totally screwed up one of my underwriters. He was really late to a big conference call that we had this morning on a claim.

I've seen that pic circulate over the past 24 hours. I didn't know that The Crow ever fought Batman!

I think the acting is going to be pivotal to Joker, at least more so than the makeup and such.

I like the idea of a giant rubik's cube, though it seems a bit more like the Riddler's type of thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by willravel

I'm pretty sure that's so that the director, etc can see what that makeup proposal looks like in relation to other colors. Doubt the card has anything to do with his character.

On one hand, I like the more natural look of the character (keeping in line with the work on the first movie), but I do miss the crazy joker look. Hope the acting can make up for it.

So it's fake as it turns out. Sorry guys, it is just a well-made digital manipulation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretMethod70

I'm pretty sure that's so that the director, etc can see what that makeup proposal looks like in relation to other colors. Doubt the card has anything to do with his character.

I know. Yeesh.

Image of The Joker is ruined for me....He looks more EMO/Goth than crazy.

As FailedEagle mentioned above, that image has been proven to be fake over the past day or so. However, whoever made the manipulation did so based on a few facts about the joker that have been leaked; mainly that he is going to have an overall more scarred look than a generic clown look. I'm signed on as an extra for the film this summer, so if I see anything, I'll be sure to let you know! :p

Can I have your autograph, Ono, and say I almost knew ye when? :thumbsup:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fremen

Can I have your autograph, Ono, and say I almost knew ye when? :thumbsup:

LOL, sure, just let me know where to send it. :lol:

The Batpod (motorcycle) has been revealed today.
VIDEO
I'm guessing it comes off the front of the Batmobile, but I can't be sure.

Careful, Nolan. Batman is a detective first, and a super-hero second. Let's not forget that.

This is in case some people haven't yet seen the pictures or some of the viral ads.

http://ibelieveinharveydent.warnerbros.com/
http://www.ibelieveinharveydenttoo.com/ (hit control+a) in between everything it spells out a sentence.

Also, here are two pictures of Heath Ledger as The Joker:

http://moviesmedia.ign.com/movies/im...1072926061.jpg
http://moviesmedia.ign.com/movies/im...1101345259.jpg

I can't wait for this movie.

Heh. Just found a new avatar. :)

Man, Joker looks creepy in that first (official) pic! From I've read so far, it's gonna be an absolutely sick movie!

He looks like he was applying lipstick while driving drunk.

Willravel is proud to present the first teaser for The Dark Knight.

Please to enjoy.

hmm. I hope its good! teaser doesn't give too much info. All i saw was a flying joker card.

well thanks for posting it!

UH! I love the voice. It doesn't even sound remotely like Heath. And it is so perfect. I have never really enjoyed batman as a whole, but this movie looks like it is going to be awesome.

Been waiting for this ever since I saw "Batman Begins" which was not until a couple of months ago ,I was put off by the first set of movies ,but anyway I was totally impressed with "Batman Begins" away can't wait for the next installment.

Good news and bad

So I found this on rotten tomatoes. Basically if you go to see Will Smith's I Am Legend in Imax only, you get a six to seven minute prologue to TDK. Good new is early TDK stuff. Bad news is that I Am Legend looks like ass IMO.

Linky
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batm.../news/1680380/

Quote:

Originally Posted by m0rpheus

Great marketing plan though. Send thousands of comic geeks flocking to see what would otherwise be a gigantic flop so they have the chance to be the first to run home and blog about the Dark Knight footage they saw.

And I mean comic geeks in the best possible way, as I am one myself.

Whoah dang this sounds amazing! I love the Joker's psychotic strategy... delicious.

http://movieblog.ugo.com/index.php/m...n_imax_in_nyc/

Quote:

First Six Minutes of The Dark Knight Debuted on IMAX in NYC
Posted by Radtke on 12/03 at 10:51 PM

The Dark Knight

Spoiler: Our pals over at Warner Bros. called us up this morning with the best Christmas gift ever…an exclusive IMAX screening of the first six minutes of The Dark Knight. Director Christopher Nolan was on hand to present the clip to roughly one hundred New Yorkers on this frigid Monday evening.

Before the clip ran, Nolan stood before us, dramatically lit from behind by the glowing 80-foot IMAX screen. He shot several scenes using the IMAX camera; a first for a feature length film. These six minutes introduce Heath Ledger’s interpretation of The Joker to the world and Nolan’s intention was for this introduction to stand alone as a “short film.” Easily the best short film I’ve seen since Hardware Wars.

Click below and I’ll spoil the whole thing for you. If you would rather not know, know that it is badass. Forget Nicholson, “The Laughing Fish,” Caesar Romero, Mark Hamil and The Killing Joke. Heath Ledger’s Joker is THE definitive Joker.

A bank heist is really the only way to introduce the Clown Prince of Crime.

It starts off with a breathtaking shot of Gotham City in broad daylight. The camera swoops into this big glass skyscraper the way only an IMAX movie can. It was stunning. Then BOOM! One of the windows in this big glass skyscraper is blown out. It then cut to two thugs in ugly clown masks (the ones we saw in the first publicity stills that were released months ago) shooting a zip line down to an adjacent rooftop.

Cut to the street as we see another thug waiting on a street corner with his clown mask in his hand. We’re looking at him from behind and can’t see his face. A van pulls up and the thug puts on his mask and jumps in to join the rest of the clowns. The clown who’s driving is bitching about how this Joker guy who planned the heist didn’t even bother to show up and questions why they should cut him in on any of the loot. There’s an awesome line from one of the clowns about The Joker and how he wears make-up as “war paint” to scare the crap out of people. Very cool stuff.

The two clowns in the skyscraper dramatically swing down to the rooftop while the clowns in the van enter the bank guns a blazing.

One of the rooftop clowns disables the silent alarm and comments that the alarm isn’t going to the cops. Once the alarm is halted, his partner shoots him dead.

William Fichtner
Cut to William Fichtner.

I was so amped to see Fichtner’s creepy mug. He’s the new Brion James. He’s in everything the way Brion was back in the 80s and he’s as badass as ever. Brilliant casting, Mr. Nolan. Fichtner is the bank manager and he looks pissed.

Then cut to two clowns cracking the safe. Once the one clown gets the safe door open, his partner shoots him dead. We start to see a pattern here. The remaining clown starts to fill the gym bags with cash.

As the clowns in the bank lobby control the crowd, Fichtner goes to work. The bank manager pulls out a shotgun and starts hunting clowns. It was unexpected and super-freakin-awesome. Crazy-ass Fichtner is enraged and ranting on about how these clowns have no idea who they are messing with. You learn that much like the rest of Gotham City this bank is corrupt and run by the mob. Nice twist. Of course the silent alarm doesn’t go to the cops.

Too bad Fichtner runs out of shells and the remaining clowns shoot his angry ass. He’s down, but not dead.

Then the clowns start to argue with each other. One clown asks the other, “So, I guess the Joker told you to shoot me once we had the money?”

The other clown tells him, “No, I’m supposed to shoot the bus driver.”

“Bus driver?” WHAM! A school bus crashes through the front of the bank, running over the first clown.

The back of the bus opens and the bus driver clown jumps out and helps load up the loot. Then bus driver clown gets capped. One clown left.

Fichtner bank manager then mutters something about there once being honor in the underworld of Gotham and this gets the clown’s attention. The clown shoves a grenade in Fichtner’s mouth with a string attached to the pin. The clown takes off his mask and we get an 80-foot IMAX Heath Ledger Joker face telling us “whatever doesn’t kill us makes us stranger.” It’s chill inducing. People are going to lose their minds.

The Joker jumps into the school bus, closes the back door on the string, and drives off. The pin on the grenade is pulled as the bus pulls away. Instead of an explosion, pink gas is released. The school bus pulls into the street and joins a convoy of school buses loaded with children. The Joker escapes into Gotham City.

We were then treated to a montage of Batman shots before the lights went up.

I yelled out, “Play it again!” but Mr. Nolan explained that it takes about thirty minutes to set the whole thing up again and we all shuffled out into the lobby for some cocktails.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aberkok

Whoah dang this sounds amazing! I love the Joker's psychotic strategy... delicious.

http://movieblog.ugo.com/index.php/m...n_imax_in_nyc/

dang sums up my feelings pretty well. I am way excited for this.

I saw the six minute prologue and it was spectacular. Ledger is a perfect Joker.

Wait until you see the first 10 minutes. Spoiler: The Joker's insane bank robbery where he kills his own henchmen and blows everything up and then speeds off in a bus is spectacular.

Wheee that's gonna be good! Summer? *tap tap*

"Where does he get those wonderful toys?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by willravel

Wait until you see the first 10 minutes. Spoiler: The Joker's insane bank robbery where he kills his own henchmen and blows everything up and then speeds off in a bus is spectacular.

that's the part I was talking about, infront of I Am Legend on IMAX. Spoiler: Bus driver, what bus driv....:) And yes, it was amazing.

Completely eliminating all previous movies from the continuity was the best thing that ever happened to cinematic Batman. Huzzah for Batman that fans don't have to be ashamed of!

/has watched the HD trailer 3 times