comment #1

Richard_Stone says ...

I ended up sitting fourth row on the sides of the Imax theater, and a lot of the action confused me, but on the other hand, I really enjoyed getting lost in the picture. A great sustained tone to the piece, and despite my many readings of spoiler reviews, there were a few surprises left for me. The picture was a bit long, and obviously midnight screening after a busy Thursday take their tool, but it paid off nicely right before the end titles.

This movie almost feels like it belongs in a different franchise than Batman Begins, but I'm not complaining.

Damn Ledger was good in this.

On the other hand, Harvey Dent was surprisingly biteless. My friend knew nothing of the Two-Face mythos, yet I don't think she really was surprised by his fate, nor was she really moved or scared. I don't know if it was his virtual make-up or just the telegraphing of his turn in his first appearance in the picture.

I don't if someone messed up in my theater, but there no trailers at all in front of the picture. Seems like a big missed opportunity.

comment #2

Teacher's Pets says ...

Just got out of the parking lot - my theater had five packed 12:01 showings - and Holy Fucking Shit, Batman!

I've never been so exhilerated by a summer popcorn movie in my life - the critics who whined about its darkness or the staging of the action scenes have lost my respect for the forseeable future.

I can't imagine how any American couldn't at least be intellectually engaged by the moral, ethical, and social questions raised by Nolan and his brother...and I can't imagine how any person used to wincing and yawning through typical Hollywood "spectacle" wasn't jolted by the energy and ingenuity of the action.

Plus, that was one hell of a magic trick!

comment #3

D.Z. says ...

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117989109.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

comment #4

Movie fan09 says ...

Richard Jenkins is in the batman movie too.

comment #5

vansmith says ...

Wells, your over 40 drinking kingsized red bulls..go easy. watching that movie on imax might be like taking that first hit of crack cocaine..

comment #6

EOTW says ...

Where to begin? Caught a midnight screening here in Missouri (Wells, that's one of those states you've never been to, but fly over on your way from coast ot coast). The film was supposed to start at 1201 and the print caught on fire halfway through the WATCHMEN trailer. They got it working and the film started a half hour later. Too many goddamn idiots wearing Joker makeup and making asses out of themselves. Christ, one guy was even dressed in a full on replica Batman outfit. Yowzers!

On to the film: I liked the opening heist (loved the nod to HEAT with William Fichtner). I have to say that I honestly, believe it or not, did not even think about "Heath Ledger" when he first came on the screen. I think it might've been an hour or more before any of those thoughts creeped into my head. That has to mean something. The guy is really good in this thing. Looking at him and thinking back to BROKEBACK, it just can't be the same guy. I'm pretty sure that fi you could show those two pics to someone who had never heard of Ledger, they'd not realize it was the same guy. He had the goods.

As for the film? I liked it. I was a fan of the first one and i think this does surpass it in several areas. I was worried that the hopla over Ledger would overshadow Bruce Wayne but it really didn't. It balances nicely, in fact.

Yes, the film does go on a bit long, but the first 90 minutes or so just zip by, constantly moving faster and faster. It's almost a relief when Nolan lets things settle down and take a slower, more even pace, even though the action doesn't seem to slacken a bit.

i think there were some parts that were slightly confusing to me. I wasn't a huge fan of the whole ferry boat thing. I don't know, I just don't think that was the strongest part of the film, kinda smacked me like that scene in the first SPIDERMAN where the people on the bridge are saying all that crap about messing with one of us, all of us, etc...

I have to say, I really am not sure where a 3rd film can go. I guess it's ok to discuss some spoiler things here. I might let others get into that. Still, a VERY good film and wil lsee it again soon.

Oh yeah, that pencil thing was fucking nasty!

comment #7

Chase Kahn says ...

vansmith...I pretty much agree, although I liked the movie more than you. The last 20 minutes or so, I feel, could have been handeled better. Having said that, the first 2 hours are so damn good I can't complain.

And I, too, have no idea where the 3rd film could possibly go...

comment #8

Ray says ...

My theater here in St. Lou had eight screens completely sold out for the midnight showing.

I'll let my review for the film do the talking ... it is an excellent movie in many ways. The trailers were all given a lot of love (particularly WATCHMEN and TERMINATOR), all except THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. People laughed during it, which is never a good sign.

comment #9

iamjoe says ...

It was amazing; the pacing, increasing tension in the tone. The acting on all part and especially Ledger of course. He invented new techniques here. And Nolan played jazz through with everthing all the way through. I'm still trying to digest it, and can't wait to see it again.

Also, imagine 16 packed, sold out screening getting out at once here in Chicago. And the hundreds waiting for the 3:30 showing. This was once in a lifetime....

comment #10

Stephe96 says ...

Loved the movie, thought it was great...but I have to admit that during the first scene between the Joker and Rachel, all I could think was, "Hey, in his previous movie this guy was banging your brother!"

comment #11

fielding says ...

Let's see...it's unrelentingly grim, it oh-so-hiply blurs the lines between good and evil, it celebrates the Joker's homicidal mania, and it's obviously a statement about America's War on Terror....of course Wells is going to love it. Just like his brainwashed, oddly-named progeny.

comment #12

K. Bowen says ...

If ithere are enough seats to do $200 million, I could see it. Tracking is one thing, but I'm assuming tracking doesn't calculate the number of people who are going to see it on Friday and re-see it on Saturday or Sunday. This film will have a lot of that. I have nitpicks, but the overwhelming feeling of the film is magnificent. It dwarfs even the good comic-book films.

comment #13

Dan Revill says ...

Loved it. Have to see it again.

comment #14

K. Bowen says ...

See.

comment #15

Dan Revill says ...

I have a couple nitpicks, but yeah, like I said...they can wait.

comment #16

Dzayson says ...

I saw it at the Hollywood Arclight. About an hour or so in, some doucher pulled a fire alarm and they almost evacuated the theatres. We all waited for ten minutes while they figured out what happened. And the AC was broken. So much for LA's premiere moviegoing experience.

That said, Ledger really delivered the goods. He made all the distracting bullshit worthwhile . Hell, he even made me forget Nicholson's performance. He helped me overlook a pretty significant "nuke the fridge" moment involving sonar and cell phones. Heath was almost too good; part three is going to be bland as hell with Eckhart carrying the load. I never thought I'd agree with those saying that an actor playing a character named "The Joker" should be nominated for an Oscar, but I do.

comment #17

EOTW says ...

"part three is going to be bland as hell with Eckhart carrying the load."

Dzayson: Was there a reel or a few minutes missing from the print you saw?

comment #18

EOTW says ...

No comments on that Ridley Scott/Crowe/DiCaprio spyfest?

comment #19

Dzayson says ...

It didn't seem like there was all that much missing when they restarted the film. But that ten minute "intermission" really took the steam out of the audience.

comment #20

EOTW says ...

SPOILER WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was referring to the fact that Two Face dies at the end and you mentioned you don't know how Eckhart can carry a 3rd film.

comment #21

btwnproductions says ...

Fearlessly (stupid) SPOILER prediction for #3:

Rachel Dawes (whose death is more implied than shown) returms as Catwoman.

comment #22

Richard2001 says ...

Over 40? Try more like over 55, Jeff. I think 60 would be the right age for you, to be honest.

comment #23

Markopolis says ...

Saw Experiment in Terror recently on TCM, and in the middle realized it's the model for Blue Velvet. Sophisticated suburban noir (even if San Francisco area). It makes sense that David Lynch might have seen it around that time as a kid, or maybe even on TV, late show. The ending of his version is like a slow-motion parody of Blake Edwards'.