The Dark Knight Trilogy (Christopher Nolan, 2005-2012)

[che-etienne]

Enjoyed the movie for what it was: a taut character-driven comic book movie. The plot was at times sensational, and for anyone who's read the comic book "Batman: Year One" like me maybe it was a little too sensational, but nonetheless the film was quite excellent escapist entertainment. I thought that even Katie Holmes was quite good, especially in her part which was fairly underwritten. Also, there were a few nitpicky things that just bothered me about some of the one-liners, and when they came into use. For example, when Batman first appears in full costume et al. I think the point was supposed to be 'this is the first time we see batman isn't he really badass', but plugging in the 'nice coat' one-liner at the very end of that scene really upstaged the whole effect of it. Besides those nitpicky little details though, which were negligible, there was one thing that really really got me about the film... the cinematography. It seems Nolan here took the root of most comic book films, and went for a very bold pallette. When I say bold, I don't mean colorful, but just rich and a little too clean for my tastes. Also, much of the spare imagery of the comic book like for example in Frank Miller's "Year One" which I keep coming back to, was lost because they kept throwing more s--t into the frame. My biggest example of this is the shot where Bruce as a child is weeping over his dead parents. The camera pulls back, and the color is a sickly yellow, but it's not a bright vibrant sickly yellow, nor a faded dirty sickly yellow, but somewhere in between. It's a color that almost has a sheen to it, a sleekness, and a lot of the film had this 'sleek' visual pallette so common in "Spiderman" and "X-Men", but that frankly just doesn't work for a film about a human superhero. Also, in that same shot, there is smoke rising from the shadows, and the set is decked out with detritus and city grime. It is a shot with a lot of detail and visual distractions that take away from what should be a simple emotional message in such a film: absolute sorrow. Throughout the film, this sort of sensationalist cinematography just got in the way I felt. Still, I guess it could've been anticipated. It is a Hollywood film. What's more Nolan's two previous efforts "Insomnia" and "Memento" (though I liked "Memento" quite a bit) were also quite sensationally filmed for the gritty noirs that they were. "Insomnia" specifically is no where near as strikingly spare as its Swedish counterpart. Well, anyway, Nolan did a fantastic job regardless. Here's to him, and the two sequels I hear are forthcoming!

[Andre Jurieu]

Also, there were a few nitpicky things that just bothered me about some of the one-liners, and when they came into use. For example, when Batman first appears in full costume et al. I think the point was supposed to be 'this is the first time we see batman isn't he really badass', but plugging in the 'nice coat' one-liner at the very end of that scene really upstaged the whole effect of it.

See, there is stuff we both agree on. I thought many of the one-liners were distractingly awful, especially the "nice coat" line. I will admit I did smirk a bit at a few of the one-liners delivered during conversations between Albert and Bruce though.

[cdnchris]

The best part about this movie:

It has Shane Rimmer doing what he does best, playing the guy at the control panel telling us just how critical the situation is.



Whether it be Batman, Superman, or Bond, nobody does it better.

[Antoine Doinel]

Official Press Release:

[quote]CHRISTOPHER NOLAN TO DIRECT WARNER BROS. PICTURES' UPCOMING BATMAN MOVIE, THE DARK KNIGHT

CHRISTIAN BALE REPRISES TITLE CHARACTER, HEATH LEDGER JOINS CAST AS THE JOKER

BURBANK, CA, 31 July 2006 – As a follow up to last year's blockbuster Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan is set to direct Warner Bros. Pictures' The Dark Knight, written by Jonathan Nolan, based on a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. The film will be produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan. Additionally, Christian Bale will resume his role as Bruce Wayne and Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger has been cast as The Joker. The announcements were made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Christopher Nolan revamped the Batman franchise in 2005 with the immensely successful Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale in the title role, which chronicled the early years of the superhero. Nolan first garnered attention from critics and fans in 2000 with the groundbreaking drama Memento, which he wrote and directed. He went on to direct the thriller Insomnia, starring Al Pacino and Robin Williams, and recently wrapped production on The Prestige, with Hugh Jackman and Bale.

Bale was most recently seen in the ensemble cast of Terrence Malick's The New World. His other credits include Little Women, Portrait of a Lady, Metroland, American Psycho, Laurel Canyon and Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun, which was his first starring role.

Ledger most recently earned Oscar Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award nominations and won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in the award-winning drama Brokeback Mountain. His other credits include Casanova, Monster's Ball, Lords of Dogtown, The Brothers Grimm and The Patriot.

“Chris' unique vision is what made Batman Begins such an outstanding film and we could not imagine anyone else at the helm of The Dark Knight,â€

[rs98762001]

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but this bears no relation to the Frank Miller DARK KNIGHT books?

[Fletch F. Fletch]

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but this bears no relation to the Frank Miller DARK KNIGHT books?

Sadly, no... Altho, parts of Batman Returns really remined me of Frank Miller's Batman Year One...

[Barmy]

Am I the only one who is disappointed when interesting directors (e.g. Raimi, now Nolan) get caught up in comic book film cycles?

[rs98762001]

Am I the only one who is disappointed when interesting directors (e.g. Raimi, now Nolan) get caught up in comic book film cycles?

Not at all. I rambled on in the X-MEN thread sometime ago about how even the most interesting comic book films (such as THE HULK or BATMAN BEGINS) rarely achieve more than an awkward balance of artistry and pedantry. It's sad that Raimi couldn't get any props for something as beautiful as A SIMPLE PLAN, while being praised to the skies for the dull SPIDERMAN films.

Having said that, I would truly love someone to tackle Miller's BATMAN character. But it's too dark and depressing for Hollywood, and too far from what they believe the notion of a 'superhero' should be.

[Antoine Doinel]

Am I the only one who is disappointed when interesting directors (e.g. Raimi, now Nolan) get caught up in comic book film cycles?

I don't find it disappointing at all. I think X-Men and Batman Begins are two of the best comic book films ever, and certainly couldn't have been achieved with those directors at the helm.

At least Nolan is doing something different between pictures (The Prestige), but I will agree that it pains me to see Raimi coasting on Spiderman and producing shitty Hollywood horror remakes (including his own Evil Dead).

[Fletch F. Fletch]

I don't find it disappointing at all. I think X-Men and Batman Begins are two of the best comic book films ever, and certainly couldn't have been achieved with those directors at the helm.

At least Nolan is doing something different between pictures (The Prestige), but I will agree that it pains me to see Raimi coasting on Spiderman and producing shitty Hollywood horror remakes (including his own Evil Dead).

Agreed. What the hell happened to Raimi? Seduced by the money I guess. I keep hoping that he'll parlay all of this box office clout he's gotten with the Spider-Man films to take another crack at an Evil Dead sequel before Bruce Campbell gets too old, which, yeah, i know is every fanboy's wet dream but hey...

[Antoine Doinel]

Nolan briefly talks about The Dark Knight

[Fletch F. Fletch]

I like the direction that Nolan is interested in taking the Joker... closer to Alan Moore's The Killing Joke and the original Bob Kane incarnation and farther away from Caesar Romero and Jack Nicholson (who certainly had some great moments in the first Batman film).

[Antoine Doinel]

[quote]Chris Nolan on The Dark Knight Casting Rumors

Written by Robert Sanchez

Ever since the conclusion of Batman Begins rumors have run rampant regarding the cast of the next film to follow.

Even before the announcement of the Dark Knight title, or the casting of Heath Ledger, there has been constant talk of which actors would be offered roles in the film. Is there any truth to any of these rumors?

The IESB, along with a few select websites, were invited down to an edit bay visit with Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas while he was doing the final sound mixing for The Prestige which stars Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson, and Michael Caine.

In the midst of all the Prestige talk, we were able to get him to talk a bit about the highly anticipated Batman sequel.

Ryan Phillippe and Phillip Seymore Hoffman have been rumored to be in the running for Harvey Dent and the Penguin, respectively. Is there any validity here or pure speculation? “As the penguin, no, not true.â€

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Nolan did an interview with In Focus magazine in advance of The Prestige but does touch upon the upcoming Batman film. Here are the relevant passages:

[quote]Well, at the end of the first film, he sort of comes to terms with what he's doing. He's got this mission now. So I'd imagine that mission will have to evolve a bit.
Oh, yes. Or the world … Let me put it this way, without being too specific: When you embark on a mission, it's extraordinarily rare that things turn out according to the mission plan. [laughs] The world is going to react in ways you don't expect.

He did indeed achieve a certain sense of purpose or a certain resignation, in terms of how his life is going to wind up being dedicated to this — which is something that we begin with. But the world itself responds to our actions in ways we don't anticipate.

You said something interesting about introducing The Joker at the end of “Batman Beginsâ€

[Antoine Doinel]

HEATH LEDGER TALKS JOKER
by Daniel Robert Epstein

I recently got the chance to talk with Heath Ledger at a press roundtable for the movie Candy. While on the hot seat I got the chance to grill Ledger about his upcoming role of The Joker in The Dark Knight.

Daniel Robert Epstein: Have you started to think about how you will play The Joker?

Heath Ledger: Yeah. I've been trying to delay my commitment to the preparation process on that because I'm trying to extend my holiday time. I definitely have an image in my head. I definitely have something up my sleeve. I want to be very sinister. It's so early that I'm trying to be open at this point. I don't want to be glued down to anyone.

DRE: Have you read many Batman comics?

HL: No and I think that's kind of helping me a little bit. I was never really a fan of comic books or comic book movies. I never despised them but I was never one to read them. I never sought out the films but I would sit down and enjoy them. So because of that I really feel that I'm not carrying much pressure.

DRE: Have they given or asked you to read certain comics?

HL: The Killing Joke was the one that was handed to me. I think it's going to be the beginning of The Joker. I guess that book explains a little bit of where he's from but not too much. From what I've gathered, there isn't a lot of information about The Joker and it's left that way.

DRE: Is doing the role of The Joker scary after Jack Nicholson did it so well?

HL: I'm not going for the same thing he went for. That would be stupid. It is also two very different directors with different styles. Tim Burton did a more fantastical kind of thing and Chris Nolan is doing nitty gritty handheld realism. I love what [Jack] did and that is part of why I want to do that role. I remember seeing it and thinking how much fun it would be to put on that mask and attempt to do something along those lines. But it would obviously be murder if I tried to imitate what he did.

DRE: They're talking about bringing in the co-creator of The Joker, Jerry Robinson, as a consultant on The Dark Knight. I don't know if it would be more of an honorary title.

HL: It probably is [laughs].

DRE: Have you ever wanted to do superhero movies before?

HL: Not really. With the tights and undies and the boots, I would just feel stupid and silly. I couldn't pull it off and there are other people who can perfectly. But I just couldn't take myself seriously. I feel like this is an opportunity to be in one and not do that. I just gravitated towards the villain role because I felt I had something to give to it. I instantly had an idea.

DRE: Have you done screen tests with The Joker makeup yet?

HL: No, but I did do 3-D image scanning. I don't know what they're doing with it. This Bat truck turned up at my place in L.A.. It had these gadgets and cameras that zoom around you and up and down you. It instantly projects a three dimensional image of you. I've never used anything that high tech before in a film. I felt like I was in the truck from Knight Rider.

Source

[Fletch F. Fletch]

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Eckhart joining 'Dark Knight' cast
By Borys Kit

Feb 16, 2007

Aaron Eckhart is in final negotiations to play Harvey Dent/Two Face in "The Dark Knight," Warner Bros. Pictures' sequel to "Batman Begins."

In Batman lore, Dent is the district attorney of Gotham City and an ally of Batman. After half his face is disfigured by acid, Dent becomes the insane crime boss known as Two Face. He chooses to do good or evil by flipping a coin. Tommy Lee Jones played the character in 1995's "Batman Forever."

"Knight" sees Christopher Nolan back in the director's chair with Christian Bale reprising his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman are also returning. Heath Ledger joined the cast last summer, signing up to play the sardonic and murderous villain the Joker.

The script was written by Nolan's brother, Jonathan, from a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. Producing are Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan.

Eckhart is riding high these days thanks to his acclaimed performance in "Thank You for Smoking," which nabbed him Golden Globe and Spirit Award nominations. He next stars opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones in "No Reservations," the U.S. remake of the 2001 German feature "Mostly Martha." The film will be released by Warners in July. He is also starring in the "Untitled Alan Ball Project," Ball's directorial debut.

[flyonthewall2983]

It's going around that Maggie Gyllenhaal will replace Katie Holmes.

[Antoine Doinel]

This is really shaping up to be a helluva cast but I hope the film isn't burdened with "too-many-villain"-itis. That said, Aaron Eckhart is perfect for Harvey "Two-Face" Dent and Maggie Gyllenhaal will bring far more presence to her role than Katie Holmes did. She was definitely the weakest link in Batman Begins.

[flyonthewall2983]

I'm usually not a fan of keeping the character but replacing the actor for sequels, but I'll make an exception for Maggie replacing Katie on this if it is indeed true. And if it is, it'll be interesting to see her tackle such a big role in a movie with alot riding on it.

[sevenarts]

I'm usually not a fan of keeping the character but replacing the actor for sequels, but I'll make an exception for Maggie replacing Katie on this if it is indeed true. And if it is, it'll be interesting to see her tackle such a big role in a movie with alot riding on it.

I have no inside info, but my guess is that Gyllenhaal will simply be playing a different character. It's not like the character Katie Holmes played ever had any big role in the Batman comics. Although I can't see Gyllenhaal playing Selina Kyle, the only woman from the comics who would make sense in these films.

[flyonthewall2983]

That's even better, just to replace the character completely.

[DrewReiber]

This is really shaping up to be a helluva cast but I hope the film isn't burdened with "too-many-villain"-itis.

According to Goyer, you have nothing to worry about because Two-Face isn't in this film.

I have no inside info, but my guess is that Gyllenhaal will simply be playing a different character. It's not like the character Katie Holmes played ever had any big role in the Batman comics.

Actually, if Rachel Dawes is in fact based on Rachel Caspian, then she is pretty significant. It says a lot that, from all accounts, they are recasting her character. After all, Goyer said he had a 3-4 film arc planned.

Although I can't see Gyllenhaal playing Selina Kyle, the only woman from the comics who would make sense in these films.

They're not going anywhere near Catwoman for a few more years, at least. The character was one of the biggest problems in the Miller/Aaronofsky script and takes entirely too much focus away from the main character, and one of the first things Warner decided against during development of the franchise restart. That decision led directly to the massive critical/financial catastrophe that was the Catwoman film.

[flyonthewall2983]

Maggie as Catwoman would be interesting (not to mention damned sexy) as something to contrast the image created after Secretary came out.

[Antoine Doinel]

More interesting tidbits from JoBlo:

Montoya in Batman? Feb. 20, 2007

Source: film ick, Lying in the Gutters by: Dave Davis

Besides the returning characters (like Alfred, Jim Gordon and probably Bruce Wayne), we know some of the new faces in Christopher Nolan's BATMAN follow-up THE DARK KNIGHT will include the Joker and Harvey Dent, the future Two-Face. But who else might we see from The Bat's print or 'toon past?

How about Gotham City police officer Renee Montoya? Fans of the exemplary BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES will recall Montoya as the lovely Latino lady partnered with cantankerous detective Harvey Bullock. The character also appears in recent DC Comics, but with a delicious twist of lesbian, hey!

According to the weekly comic column Lying in the Gutters, auditions for the character are currently taking place. And while Montoya's face-time in the finished flick is unknown, Gutter's writer Rich Johnston is usually on target in regards to all things comic-related.

[DrewReiber]

How about Gotham City police officer Renee Montoya?

It's also important to note that, in the comics, Montoya developed a strange bond with Two-Face over the years.