The WB has FINALLY put out an official statement on this thing, and the details sound awesome. Chris Nolan is officially back in the director's chair, whilst David Goyer is off scripting duties-thank Christ-and has been replaced with Nolan's brother Jonathan. The title? THE DARK KNIGHT. I love that, although I can see some form of the word BATMAN working its way into that before release. Bale's back as well, to face off with The Joker...played by....
Heath Ledger.
It's a headscratching casting choice to begin with, but the more and more I think about it, the more hyped I am to see what he can do with the role.
Thoughts?
To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires, and lights, in a box.-Edward R. Murrow
A potentially great choice as Joker, which is the Hamlet of comic book villain roles. I would not be surprised if Ledger ends up with an Oscar nomination for this. It would also kind of kick ass if Harley Quinn was around -- hell, Ledger and Michelle Williams are married, get her to try it.
I am already stoked. Batman Begins was my favourite movie of the last two years, so this will be great.
Scene: Mark DeRosa's brain. The year is 2005. Part of Mark DeRosa's brain: Come on, another position change? One day it's second base, the next day right field, now it's third? Why, I oughta go into Buck's office and throw his talking fish on the floor! Other part of Mark DeRosa's brain: Hold on, other part of the brain. We're making $500,000 this year. Last year we made $725,000. All for playing a damn kids' game. This is, as they say in Brainland, a no-"us"-er. We're not going to complain. Part of Mark DeRosa's brain: You're right, dude. Let's go back to looking at this crazy porn Teixeira gave us!
Here's the pic that convinced me and several others than they made the right choice:
Originally posted by oldschoolheroDavid Goyer is off scripting duties-thank Christ
Really? Thank Christ? Goyer's work is hit and miss for sure (and he did seem pretty full of himself at ComicCon), but the screenplay for Batman Begins was awesome. But it looks like he's getting a story credit on the sequel, anyway.
BEGINS' screenplay fell apart in the final act. Not enough to ruin the movie for me, but there were serious problems with characterisation and silly superhero plotting during the climax. And Goyer's other recent work, BLADE: TRINITY was absolute dreck. So yeah, I'm happy to see him removed from the scripting side of things.
To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires, and lights, in a box.-Edward R. Murrow
Originally posted by oldschoolheroBEGINS' screenplay fell apart in the final act. Not enough to ruin the movie for me, but there were serious problems with characterisation and silly superhero plotting during the climax. And Goyer's other recent work, BLADE: TRINITY was absolute dreck. So yeah, I'm happy to see him removed from the scripting side of things.
And the odd thing is that the third acts of both Spider-Man films were arguably their strongest portions. What Marvel & Sony were smart enough to do was get some crazy-good writers (David Keopp, Miles Millar, Al Gough, Michael Chabon) and then get Alvin Sargent to tidy things up.
That said, I am STOKED for Batman: The Dark Knight in 2008. Ledger's an inspired casting choice.
Ledger wasn't even on the radar for casting choices, so this move shocks me. But he's leaps and bounds over what he used to be as an actor, so I'm fairly confident he can pull of the Joker well. Still, I can't help but wish the part had gone to Adrian Brody.
Originally posted by Mayhem Now that the question of the casting of the Joker is over, how much longer until speculation of the Penguin or the Riddler roles start popping up? :)
Heck, with CGI what it is today, I always wondered why Clayface never got his day on the silver screen.
Last 5 movies seen: V for Vendetta - The Devil Wears Prada - Tsotsi - Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working With Time - Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
I like it. I like the title and I think the casting choice, while others were potentially better, is a good choice. Casting is only part of the game, it's up to Ledger to take the role and make it his. I guess we have 2 years to see what happens there.
Originally posted by Mayhem Now that the question of the casting of the Joker is over, how much longer until speculation of the Penguin or the Riddler roles start popping up? :)
"The plan" for the new series of Batfilms is that the second film will introduce Harvey Dent as the new Gotham DA, and then he'll become Two-Face in the third film. After that, who knows, since I think Nolan was only contracted for three films, like Raimi on the Spider-Man movies. I kind of liked the first film's use of Ra's as the major villain, with Scarecrow as something akin to his top henchman, so perhaps one of the B-list Batvillains will be assisting Joker in the second one and Two-Face in the third one. I'd love to see reimagined versions of, say, Zsasz, or Mad Hatter, or Firefly.
Keep in mind this is just internet speculation, so take it with a silo-full of salt.
Scene: Mark DeRosa's brain. The year is 2005. Part of Mark DeRosa's brain: Come on, another position change? One day it's second base, the next day right field, now it's third? Why, I oughta go into Buck's office and throw his talking fish on the floor! Other part of Mark DeRosa's brain: Hold on, other part of the brain. We're making $500,000 this year. Last year we made $725,000. All for playing a damn kids' game. This is, as they say in Brainland, a no-"us"-er. We're not going to complain. Part of Mark DeRosa's brain: You're right, dude. Let's go back to looking at this crazy porn Teixeira gave us!
Well, they did already introduce Zsasz in Begins, so they could get some more mileage out of him. I'm really interested in seeing who they cast as Dent now. While Joker is undeniably the best of the Batman villains, I've always been partial to the far more subtle nuances that play out in the character of Two-Face.
Batman-On-Film is reporting that Philip Seymour Hoffman is currently mulling over an offer to portray the Penguin, who would be reimagined as a "British arms dealer with designs on Gotham".
How many Oscar nominees are they gonna try and pack into this thing?!
To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires, and lights, in a box.-Edward R. Murrow
Originally posted by Mayhem Now that the question of the casting of the Joker is over, how much longer until speculation of the Penguin or the Riddler roles start popping up? :)
"The plan" for the new series of Batfilms is that the second film will introduce Harvey Dent as the new Gotham DA, and then he'll become Two-Face in the third film. After that, who knows, since I think Nolan was only contracted for three films, like Raimi on the Spider-Man movies.
Scuttlebutt is that Raimi was signed for three concretely with options for up to seven total (as was Tobey Maguire). Nolan & Bale are signed concretely for three Bat-Films with options for more. Also, note that Raimi has made ONLY Spider-Man films since signing his deal due to how fucking insane the CGI requirements are (thus making it difficult/impossible for Raimi to film anything else), while Nolan's already made The Prestige since Begins finished.
Ledger is a good actor, and I will give him a chance. After seeing the picture posted of him above, I feel a little better about him pulling it off physically. I am also curious as to who will be cast as Dent, one of my favorite Bat villains.
Dean! Have you been shooting dope into your scrotum? You can tell me! I'm hip!
Why Did B-Movies Vanish From Theaters? (blogs.wsj.com) A great interview with Roger Corman on the death of the theatrical release of the "B Movie". I forgot Corman produced Battle Beyond the Stars (youtube.com).
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