Dark Knight

[Cthulhudrew]

Did anyone else catch what I thought was excellent foreshadowing of the next bat-villain? I can only hope it's true.

Nope. What foreshadowing was this?

 

[RigaMortus2]

By that same token, if anyone ever tells you that Chaotic Evil characters can't make intricate, long-range plans, tell them they're a moron and point them to The Dark Knight.

Hmmm, wasn't it the Joker who said that he doesn't plan. He just acts? It is the police, the law makers, the judges, and Batman who makes plans. And he is there to see those plans undone. Paraphrasing as I can't remember his quote word for word. Of course, as you watch the movie, that quote of his isn't entirely accurate...

You know, a lot of things in this movie that the Joker does reminds me a lot of the movie Saw. Also, this is very dark for a PG-13. I was really surprised that it was only given a PG-13 rating.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

Nope. What foreshadowing was this?

I like to know this too. I was watching for some "foreshadowing" and I didn't see or hear any that I remember.

 

[GlassJaw]

It was okay, not the best movie of the summer for me and not as good as Batman Begins, which was a surprise. Dark Knight just lack something to hold my interest, I do think that Harvey Dent steals the movie, he was such a better character than The Joker or Batman.

Couldn't disagree more.

I wanted to see more Joker. I think the Two-Face storyline was largely unneeded and made the movie longer than it needed to be. And considering how much of major villain Two-Face is, I would have much preferred to see him get his own movie and just foreshadow his appearance during this film.

Aaron Eckhart is a great actor but I felt he was a little bland, especially as Two-Face. He was ok as Harvery Dent (but definitely not outstanding) but the way he played Two-Face was just a slightly angrier Harvey. He didn't have that over-the-top comic book villain persona. The look they created for Two-Face was great though.

I'd give the film a 7.5/10. It has a few flaws, and drags in spots, but it's a very good film, Batman or otherwise.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

[Two-Face] didn't have that over-the-top comic book villain persona.

If anything, that's just part of Nolan's style for these movies, as just about everything is grounded in realism. Having a perfectly sane man have a psychotic break and instantly gain a second personality would've been... grandiose, to say the least. I think the way it was done made a lot more sense thematically.

This is the first comic book movie where I felt two villains were done appropriate justice. Usually it doesn't work so well, but I was very comfortable with it throughout the movie.

 

[stonegod]

If anything, that's just part of Nolan's style for these movies, as just about everything is grounded in realism. Having a perfectly sane man have a psychotic break and instantly gain a second personality would've been... grandiose, to say the least. I think the way it was done made a lot more sense thematically.

This is the first comic book movie where I felt two villains were done appropriate justice. Usually it doesn't work so well, but I was very comfortable with it throughout the movie.

I agree with these sentiments. Nolan's Batman franchise has been closer to realism than camp, and his Joker and Two-Face reflect that. Of course, Two-Face would have been out from pain or dead from infection soon anyway, but that's neither here nor there.

The Joker-Dent/Two-Face dynamic went very well, and I think is part of the whole of the movie (the Joker-Dent-Batman triangle). Removing one would diminish the whole. However, I do agree that it could have used a little more tightening in the theatrical release (though at this moment, I couldn't say where w/o another viewing); it did feel a tad too long.

 

[Ebon Shar]

I like to know this too. I was watching for some "foreshadowing" and I didn't see or hear any that I remember.

I thought it was a pretty obvious foreshadow when Lucius Fox (or was it Alfred?) stated that the new batsuit was not great against dogs, but would be great versus a cat. It gave me a chuckle.

I also thought we were seeing foreshadowing when Gordon's wife was being told about his death and his son was watching the Batman in the shadows. I leaned over to my wife and said, "That's Robin!" Of course, with how the story resolved the Gordon thing, that seems not to be the case. Too bad, I think, because it would have been perfect.

 

[Pyrex]

Hmmm, wasn't it the Joker who said that he doesn't plan. He just acts? It is the police, the law makers, the judges, and Batman who makes plans. And he is there to see those plans undone.

Yeah, the Joker said that, but it's pretty obviously BS. His stunts in the movie were extraordinarily well-planned and executed.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I thought it was a pretty obvious foreshadow when Lucius Fox (or was it Alfred?) stated that the new batsuit was not great against dogs, but would be great versus a cat. It gave me a chuckle.

If I remember right, Nolan's on record saying that there will absolutely not be Catwoman or Penguin in the next Batman. Whether that's true or not at this point, who knows, but I have to say I'm happy with that. Joker and Two-Face being used again is fine, but I like the idea of them taking other villains from Batman's rogue's gallery.

I also thought we were seeing foreshadowing when Gordon's wife was being told about his death and his son was watching the Batman in the shadows. I leaned over to my wife and said, "That's Robin!" Of course, with how the story resolved the Gordon thing, that seems not to be the case. Too bad, I think, because it would have been perfect.

Heh, Nolan's also said more than once that he won't be doing Robin at all. That makes sense, considering how early in Batman's career this stuff is, but even then I never saw those moments with Gordon's son as a hint to Robin. Really, my focus with the Gordon family, beyond the awesome of Gordon himself, was the fact that we NEVER SAW Barbara Gordon's face. Why? Who knows, but THAT seems like more of a "well, we could do Batgirl one day, so lets not even hint at what she might have looked like younger."

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

I think it is a pity that he’s not going to introduce Catwoman – if handled well (and Nolan can handle comic book characters well) then she could be a good foil for Batman and Bruce Wayne and a new woman in the series without any women currently.

Yeah, the Joker said that, but it's pretty obviously BS.

My sentiments exactly. This is the Joker – there is no sane reason to assume he was telling the truth. Later in the movie the Joker makes a tacit, if not explicit, statement to Batman about spinning Dent.

Really, my focus with the Gordon family, beyond the awesome of Gordon himself, was the fact that we NEVER SAW Barbara Gordon's face.

This was one of the few missteps in the movie, I thought. It should have been Gordon’s daughter, Barbara, in peril and her be saved by Batman, followed by her crush/idolizing of the Bat. They don’t even ever have to introduce Batgirl in this series, but it would have been a nice bit of connection and continuity. I don’t think Gordon even has a son in the comics.