The Dark Knight

[colonel panic]

"flushed out". yes. I can't wait to use that.

[jamesp]

I'm still starting to think they might have bitten off too much than they could chew. I love the vast scope of the film and its ambitions, but I think they sacrificed some character development and focus on the relationship of Rachel/Bruce, among other things.

I do wanna ask though: did anybody else get annoyed that Batman drops Maroney from a two story ledge and Maroney clearly breaks his ankles (he lands from a 30 feet drop on his feet) yet in the next few scenes a day later (like at the hospital and the car scene with Two-Face) , he is walking perfectly fine.

[todd]

I do wanna ask though: did anybody else get annoyed that Batman drops Maroney from a two story ledge and Maroney clearly breaks his ankles (he lands from a 30 feet drop on his feet) yet in the next few scenes a day later (like at the hospital and the car scene with Two-Face) , he is walking perfectly fine.

He's using a cane, but a wheelchair would've been a stronger choice.

[mokin]

So I finally saw it yesterday. I was a little disappointed. Maybe I wasn't in the right mood, or maybe all the hype spoiled it for me. I think I need to see it again.

Here's how I feel about it right now: I didn't like Nolan/Ledger's interpretation of the Joker. I really love the Joker as a villain, he's THE Batman villain. I especially like him in The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Returns. To me, those are the two comics that capture the way I view the Joker. Ledger did a great job, but I felt like his portrayal was too scummy. He captured the psychotic nature, but the other aspects of the character felt off.

I also didn't like the Two-Face face effect. It felt really cartoony in a movie that was trying very hard to be realistic as possible. The exposed muscles/eyeball and the holes in his face just didn't seem realistic, and it looked too CG. It just bothered me. Also, I was disappointed that he died.

I was really surprised at how disappointed I was, because Batman is my favorite superhero and I thought Batman Begins was the best adaptation so far. I think The Dark Knight tried too hard to be realistic. It's still a comic book superhero, and even the darkest interpretations of the character (such as the Dark Knight Returns) don't forget that.

I think my feelings might change after another viewing, but that's how I stand right now.

I do agree with Tom that Gary Oldman did a great job, and his understated performance was perfect. Probably the best part of the movie.

Did anybody else think it was a weird casting choice to have Anthony Michael Hall as the newscaster?

[Gilly]

Why does everyone think Two-Face is dead? The only character who had a funeral was Harvey Dent.

[jamesp]

Did anybody else think it was a weird casting choice to have Anthony Michael Hall as the newscaster?

I didn't even recognize him. I just kept thinking he looked too much like Glenn Beck.

[mokin]

Why does everyone think Two-Face is dead? The only character who had a funeral was Harvey Dent.

So you think he'll be back? If you mean a new Two-Face, maybe. But the Harvey Dent Two-Face is dead. The whole point of Batman taking the rap for Two-Face's murders was so the hopeful image of Dent wouldn't be tarnished. If he's still alive somewhere, like Arkham Asylum, the truth would inevitably get out. I don't think that's a risk that either Gordon or Batman would take.

[Gilly]

I don't think anybody knew that Two-Face existed and I'm pretty positive that only Gordon and Batman know who actually abducted his family. So, nobody knows what Harvey Dent turned into, as far as the city knows, he died in the hospital as a noble man.

[mokin]

Yeah, okay, I agree with you. Nobody knew about Two-Face except the people he killed/abducted.

But you imply that Two-Face is still alive in this post:

Why does everyone think Two-Face is dead? The only character who had a funeral was Harvey Dent.

I just don't see it. Having Two-Face around, even locked up, would be too risky. He could ruin Batman's plans to take the rap for the Two-Face murders.

Whatever. I feel like I'm repeating myself.

[Chris L]

I don't think anybody knew that Two-Face existed and I'm pretty positive that only Gordon and Batman know who actually abducted his family. So, nobody knows what Harvey Dent turned into, as far as the city knows, he died in the hospital as a noble man.

I think you're treating the idea of Two-Face as Dent's alter-ego too literally.  In the movie, "Two-Face" is only the nickname Dent received years ago in internal affairs.  As far as Gordon, Batman and the rest of the world were concerned he was Harvey Dent, and if they attempted to discreetly drop him off in Arkham every single staff member there would instantly question what the hell was going on.  Their plan of covering up Dent's crimes is only feasible if Dent is dead, since despite all their ethical compromises Gordon and Batman wouldn't "disappear" a living Dent against his will.  Anyway, the female cop also knew Dent abducted Gordon's family, though judging from her actions elsewhere she'd probably have no problem keeping quiet about it to keep her job. 

I wrote this response while wearing a Riddler jacket, by the way.   If you want to discuss Spider-Man, my Kraven the Hunter costume's at the cleaners so I'll have to bow out. 

[todd]

I wrote this response while wearing a Riddler jacket, by the way. 

FUN FACT: Chris L is one of Christopher Nolan's top choices to play The Riddler in the next Batman movie. His only competition...







































...is this guy.

[Chris L]

That role is mine.   Lesko lives in DC and I've seen him driving a questionmobile here in Bethesda before.  He should be easy to find and clobber.

[Emily]

I finally saw it.

I found my celebrity crush, Gary Oldman, slightly less attractive with the moustache, but enjoyed the movie all the same.

Good times!

[Gilly]

and if they attempted to discreetly drop him off in Arkham every single staff member there would instantly question what the hell was going on. 

You're absolutely right.

[Wes]

Arkham Asylum Doctor: Commissioner, is that-
Commissioner Gordon: What? No! No, that's not-
Batman: It's, ah...his name is Half-Harvey Dent Face.
Arkham Asylum Doctor: Half...?
Batman: Half-Harvey Dent Face, yes.
Arkham Asylum Doctor: I don't, uh, I don't understand.
Commissioner Gordon: Well, you see, doctor...
Batman: See that horribly burned part of his face? That's his his real face.
Commissioner Gordon: Right!
Batman: The half that looks like Harvey Dent, he was having plastic surgery to make himself look like Harvey Dent.
Commissioner Gordon: To, uh, to ...he was going to discredit Harvey Dent, I guess?
Batman: Mmm-hmm, right, exactly. Steal his identity and discredit him. But we stopped him. Like, right at halfway through.
Arkham Asylum Doctor: Holy crap, that's wild!
Batman: I know, right? Anyway, he also...he also sounds like Harvey Dent and thinks he is Harvey Dent. But make no mistake, he is not Harvey Dent. He's...
Commissioner Gordon: Half-Harvey Dent Face.
Batman: Half-Harvey Dent Face.
Arkham Asylum Doctor: Well, fair enough. Hey, do you...do you need a lozenge or something, Batman?
Batman: No, no, I'm good.