Film: The Dark Knight

[tambourine-man]

I have a question for those who saw this at an IMAX showing...

My understanding of IMAX is that films shot with an IMAX camera allow greater resolution when being projected onto a giant screen, due to 70x48.5mm film being used.

That being the case, a film shot in standard 35mm will look fairly crappy when ballooned up to fit on such a big screen. Two questions:

• When showing The Dark Knight, did they get around this problem by using a smaller projected area?
• Is there a noticeable difference in screen size or resolution in the six scenes shot in IMAX resolution?

 

[steinanwine]

Just got back from seeing this with AmorRoark and I have to say I was a bit disappointed, it did not live up to my expectations. I give it three out of five stars.

Before any flames start, I definitely did enjoy the film, was impressed but a lot of scenes but overall I found I was bored. The beginning and the end were boring to me, basically the middle with the most Joker action was the best to me. I also found I was laughing quite a bit at cheesy technology that Batman and Morgan were coming up with, as well as Batman's voice. As AmorRoark said, Christian Bale as Batman just sounds drunk. I thought Two-Face was a really random and crappy criminal and a waste of time. Still, it was a good movie, it just did not blow my mind and I was expecting it to since sooo many people are going bat shit crazy over it and that is a big disappointment that I was let down. Probably need to see the film again before I can make any final judgments.

Still good though, interested to hear AmorRoark's official thoughts on it. She might be more generous than me.

 

[axl blaze]

the beginning and the end were boring to you? I understand how you could think that the beginning was boring, most certainly NOT the Joker intro scene/Joker mob scene, but more of the Batman in Hong Kong (which I thought was a little overzealous). but I can not understand why in the world you would think the ending would be boring. care to elaborate more?

Batman is all about cheesy technology. did you laugh at the magic in the Lord of the Rings as well? the only cheesy techno gadget I could see Lucius Fox equipping Batman with would be the sonar cell-phone deal, but we need to look past that because it was a rather scathing commentary on a post-9/11 America.

essentially, Batman is a detective by night and a playboy by day and this is why I think that Bale is the best Batman. I feel you when you say that his Batman voice was a little comical. I noticed this RIGHT AWAY initially, however after the first couple dialogues I found myself forgetting completely. Batman's voce was most certainly enhanced with a Vocodex or however you say that Hollywood device.

Two-Face was not a random character, or waste of time, this is where I disagree with you the most. Aaron Eckhart (Harvey Dent/Two Face) could have possibly out-acted Heath Ledger if he would not have won America's sympathy by way of death. Harvey Dent was truly a tragic figure in Batman mythos and I thought Eckhart captured that perfectly.

anyways I might just have to respectfully disagree with you. I am terribly bias because of my fetish like love of comics. btw - welcome to BL, a friend of AmorRoark's is most certainly a friend of mine.

 

[steinanwine]

^ axl blaze,

by all means disagree with me, I was definitely anticipating it and I appreciate you not being a jerk at the same time! lol

Lets see, I did like the beginning scene in the bank but after that I was sort of waiting for some real Joker stuff to happen so until it did I wouldn't say I was bored, just not impressed with what seems to be unimportant dialogue to me. (take what I think is important with a grain of salt because I know nothing about the history of these comics or where the story is going in the future).

I guess the ending wasn't boring either because lots of stuff was happening but I thought the plot lost a lot of quality and momentum once the people started to evacuate the city, meaning the scenes on the two boats and whatever was going on in that building with Batman and his crazy technology eyes. I was really put off by that because I thought it was a really gratuitous use of special effects that added nothing to the plot.

As far as Harvey Dent, I just was NOT interested in his story line or his criminal side. I do not think he out-acted Ledger in the slightest, I was extremely, extremely unimpressed by him in general.

I guess I thought the Joker was going to do more bad ass stuff than he did so that coupled with not being interested in Dent made me a bit bored and disappointed in the film.

and by the way, I did not see Lord of the Rings but I probably would have laughed at it, and I don't need Batman movies to make social commentary.

I didn't hate the film, I did like it and I did enjoy the overall movie experience. It was just that there was soooo much anticipation for this film, everyone is singing its praises, but it fell short for me and that really bummed me out. I was just left feeling, meh, okay not great but not terrible. I was let down and that is why I am feeling this way, its not because the movie was bad or boring. I guess I was expecting something more or different, I don't really know.

 

[Rated E]

Ledger's brilliant performance as the Joker work out is that Joker is essentially a terrorist. and the most dangerous kind as he gives a fuck about money like all the other mobsters do.

I thought it was the opposite.

Spoiler: The Dark Knight

I thought the fact that he covered a pile of his money with gasoline and lit it on fire should have more than illustrated that point. But then he went on to straight out claim how he did not care about money a few more times in the film.

He was about anarchy and chaos. Not money.

The beginning and the end were boring to me, basically the middle with the most Joker action was the best to me.

I was on the edge of my seat for the duration of the closing of the movie. One of the most intense theatrical experiences I've had.

I also found I was laughing quite a bit at cheesy technology that Batman and Morgan were coming up with, as well as Batman's voice.

This point is null on account of the fact that this is a movie based on a comic book character. Would you watch a romantic comedy and then complain about the happy ending or the lack of violence?

And as axl blaze mentioned, the use of the sonar technology was a metaphor. I found it very effective in that sense.

Strange that a 'lack of realism' would be leveled as a criticism at this Batman movie... I mean, you've seen the other ones right? (*Batman Forever and Batman & Robin spring to mind, accompanied by a shudder*)

meaning the scenes on the two boats and whatever was going on in that building with Batman and his crazy technology eyes. I was really put off by that because I thought it was a really gratuitous use of special effects that added nothing to the plot.

and by the way, I did not see Lord of the Rings but I probably would have laughed at it, and I don't need Batman movies to make social commentary.

So you don't want over the top special affects, even though it's a Batman movie, yet you don't want it to make social commentary, because it's a Batman movie?

 

[L2R]

RE, your reaction was the same as my first one to what Axl wrote. I think he is of the same opinion as we are, he just worded himself badly there. When he said "he gives a fuck" i think he meant "he doesn't give a fuck". Correct me if i'm wrong Jimbo.

As for steinanwire's review, he does say that the film is good, he just didn't like it. Nothing wrong with that. Just a shame he seems he didn't allow himself to enjoy it. Expectations and preconceived notions on films can do that.

I also have some remaining questions about it. The exposition with regard to how the mobile phones trick worked flew past too quickly to capture the first time. I hope to catch it when i see the film in Imax next week (for $10 :D).

My initial gut reaction to two face during the climax was a negative one. Next to the Joker, he didn't have much to threaten in my mind. But on longer thought, to have him become a criminal mastermind in so short a time would've done a greater disservice.

This is a heavy film. I look forward to more viewings. Oh, and I agree that they should've gone with a R ratings. The producers already knew the kiddies would be put off by the incredibly dark mood. It is a fuckin dark film. And i love that fact. Batman is dark.

 

[Rated E]

RE, your reaction was the same as my first one to what Axl wrote. I think he is of the same opinion as we are, he just worded himself badly there. When he said "he gives a fuck" i think he meant "he doesn't give a fuck". Correct me if i'm wrong Jimbo.

I actually thought so too. It just didn't fit in with the rest of his views so yea I'd say so.

I also have some remaining questions about it. The exposition with regard to how the mobile phones trick worked flew past too quickly to capture the first time.

I watched Batman Begins last night, and then Dark Knight earlier today. So correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the sonar technology introduced in Batman Begins?

I hope to catch it when i see the film in Imax next week (for $10 :D).

How'd you manage that? I was going to go to Imax today but when I checked the website this morning, every session was already sold out. So I got onto the local cinema's website and purchased a couple of tickets, making sure to get good seats. First time I've bought movie tickets on the net, and it won't be the last, I couldn't help but smirk as I walked past a huge, layered line of people at the ticket booth, and the lady at the counter saw my internet printed sheet in hand and called me over, skipping the entire line. Almost made up for not seeing it on the biggest screen in the world :D (Imax Sydney, of which Impacto refers).

It is a fuckin dark film. And i love that fact. Batman is dark.

Indeed. They didn't hold back in that department and I was grateful for that fact.

 

[L2R]

yeah those gay arsed red carpet ads aren't as cheesy as they appear :D

mate, i can get "australia movie vouchers" from work. ten bucks a piece and i confirmed with imax they work on EVERY movie. i can get them any time, so shoot me a pm if you want a hookup.

oh, they introduce the sonar technology early in the dark knight, but how they apply that to the phones is what i'm missing.

 

[Rated E]

(@ vouchers) haha will do, thanks for the offer.

(@sonar)

Spoiler: The Dark Knight

Well how I understood it was, somehow (this is possibly a big "somehow"), Bruce managed to get the sonar technology into just about every person in the city's mobile phone (Lucious was unaware of this, earlier in the film he questioned Bruce about some changes to the 'RND program funds' or something like that, and Bruce's response was 'I would like to keep that close to my chest', of course later on when Lucious found out the intentions behind it, he was against the idea (sacrificing the privacy of millions to protect them).

With the sonar technology in the phones, I assume that each phone sends out sonar signals and then each individual sonar reading is combined into a sum total sonar image, which is the resultant mapping of the entire city. I believe that Bruce traces just about any conversation in the city (that occurs over phone). I say this because Bruce did not attempt to trace The Joker until he heard him speaking on the loudspeaker to the ships passengers (hearing the Joker's message was what prompted him to attempt to search for 'location of the message' and was how he located The Joker... Possibly because The Joker was using a phone to transmit his message to the ships. A bit far fetched I guess, but I am generally willing to suspend disbelief when a movie does not try to pass it self off as supremely believable.

As can be seen. Good and bad are not simple or clear cut ideas, and this was one of the key ideas of the movie I think.

 

[tambourine-man]

yeah those gay arsed red carpet ads aren't as cheesy as they appear :D

Haha! I used to love those adverts! :D:D:D:D

 

[L2R]

here you are tambo :D

 

[steinanwine]

RE Rated E, really love how worked up someone can get over a comic book film, heaven forbid someone not worship its every facet.

 

[Rated E]

Ahh so you've opted for generic retort number 87*, you must be new to the internets.

A simple "you're right I'm sorry" would have sufficed. Just keep it in mind for the future.

* A generic retort 87 takes the form of 'you engaged your brain in analytical thought and thus must care way too much about something deemed unworthy of caring about in my invisible previously unmentioned scale.' Faulty reasoning in that it assumes that one must be worked up to argue.

 

[vegan]

evryone is praising heath ledger, which is normal
but i wonder how much of this specific joker character is his creation and how much is due to the makers of the film

his acting is great, that's not the question
but when everyone says that he gave the jocker what he was needing, i can't help but wonder if he was just following othe people's advices or if he indeed "created" this joker himself

i'm pretty sure for instance that he didn't choose the make-up
so what about the mimics, etc. were they his ideas or someone else's?

 

[tambourine-man]

here you are tambo :D

Hahah! It's when he twirls down the carpet with his hands behind his back for a low-five that never happens. :D

 

[-Guido-]

Should I go see this movie today? Is it that good? I loved Batman Begins. Will I love this one?

 

[d-phex]

See it. Batman Begins pales in comparison.

 

[-Guido-]

Thats a bold statement but I shall take your word.

 

[His Name Is Frank]

evryone is praising heath ledger, which is normal
but i wonder how much of this specific joker character is his creation and how much is due to the makers of the film

his acting is great, that's not the question
but when everyone says that he gave the jocker what he was needing, i can't help but wonder if he was just following othe people's advices or if he indeed "created" this joker himself

i'm pretty sure for instance that he didn't choose the make-up
so what about the mimics, etc. were they his ideas or someone else's?

Actually, he did choose his makeup. Director Chris Nolan was asked by Heath Ledger to let him apply the makeup on himself.

Source - Entertainment Weekly
Chris Nolan - "He started applying the makeup himself-just to see what it would look like if he put it on with his own hands. We talked about how
streaking the paint could get across the idea of corruption, of decay."

By the way, The Dark Knight has broken Spiderman 3's record of highest grossing weekend by racking up $155.3 million. I suspect that this figure won't fall by much due to people watching it again and the people in my catagory:
Watching it next weeken because the damn thing was completely sold out this weekend.

 

[d-phex]

Thats a bold statement but I shall take your word.

http://www.imdb.com/chart/top