comment #1

Howlingman says ...

I'm currently on holiday with no nearby IMAX theater showing TDK, so I might be tempted to see it again in that format once back in the big city.

comment #2

Alan Cerny says ...

I'm curious to hear what people think of this:

http://chud.com/articles/articles/15658/1/THE-DEVIN039S-ADVOCATE-DON039T-YOU-THINK-YOU039VE-SEEN-THE-DARK-KNIGHT-ABOUT-ENOUGH/Page1.html

I agree somewhat, but personally, as long as they aren't breathing in my ear with one hand furiously moving in their pants I don't care how many times someone sees something.

comment #3

Count Thread says ...

I'll definitely be seeing it again, for exactly the same reasons.

I caught it in a regular theater because the IMAX showings were sold out, but nearly immediately afterwards I was kicking myself for not seeing it in IMAX. Of course, that now means I must go and see it in IMAX. My guess is plenty of people will end up doing this if it's an option.

Also, don't forget: this is the first mass-appeal QUALITY film out there in a long, long time. Not only did it corner the "event" angle, but most everyone walks out of it saying the same things-- excellent, interesting, adult, amazing performances, worth seeing, etc. At my office on Monday, I was the only person to have seen the film opening weekend, but *everyone* was asking me about it, including people who shouldn't otherwise care.

Never forget, audiences aren't starved for spectacle, they're starved for *quality*. Nobody wants to make a special trip at $60 a family to see schlock they can wait for on DVD. But they *will* come out for well-done films that know how to properly use the medium. The Dark Knight is perfect that way, a truly "big screen" film all the way (and that's *before* you consider IMAX).

Of course, Hollywood won't learn that lesson, and they'll just keep making Michael Bay shit that blows up real good. While the action sequences in TDK are indeed thrilling, nobody is saying that you need to seek it because of those sequences-- it's all about the performances, the story (the script-- what a great script!), the cinematography, the direction, the complete "whole" of the film.

Yet, next year, we'll get a movie from Brett Ratner flipping TWO tractor trailers, and no one in Hollywood will understand why that movie flopped. . .

comment #4

Josh Massey says ...

The last movie I saw twice in theaters was Fight Club. And I will be seeing The Dark Knight again in the next two weeks or so.

The reason for my second visit, though, is because I didn't like it as much as everybody else seems to. Don't get me wrong - it's the best of the 20-or-so 2008 releases I've seen. But there seemed to be a couple too many plot holes for my liking, and I want to revisit it to see if that is true or I just missed something. But yes, like Boucher said, I want to do the homework for myself.

comment #5

frankbooth says ...

I think this guy has got it exactly right. I also walked out exhausted, saying "that's enough of THAT for a good while. A month, at least."

But then I spent all day Sunday thinking about it, and will probably go again this week. Can't decide if I wanna see how it plays on a regular screen, or do the IMAX thing again.

General question for whomever: how was a certain character (played by a guy who has a famous sibling, one with a laugh that rival's Joker's) able to walk in the latter half of the film? Didn't he have two busted ankles?

comment #6

Brian R says ...

Even though I haven't seen the damn thing yet, I have a feeling I'll be seeing it more than once. However, the CHUD article has kind of made me angry. Seeing a film more than once over a few days does not call for the kind of unkind comments made by Devin Faraci. It was just tarring everyone with the same brush. "Careful how you behave, or I'll see you all in this way". Oh, wait...it's CHUD we're talking about.

comment #7

Mr. Gittes says ...

Christian Bale has a tough, tough road ahead of him...

comment #8

Mark says ...

the pencil thing in IMAX? That's a curious desire. The building to bank roof repellant 30 seconds in, however, is alone worth catching TDK on IMAX.

comment #9

Alan Cerny says ...

The Joker shuffle from the hospital is played out in full screen IMAX glory. It's worth the price alone.

comment #10

Doug Pratt says ...

The new Blu-ray release of Batman Begins contains the entire opening bank robbery, as a teaser.

comment #11

bildeaux says ...

I can tell you I saw it twice. First time was a midnight screening at the Alamo Drafthouse and by the end of the movie I was so sauced I couldn't remember the end very clearly ;) Had to go to a "regular" theater the next night. Will probably catch it in Imax in a few weeks.

b.

comment #12

Edward says ...

The fact that it's a real building blowing up only adds to the scene. Ledger's reaction when he thinks the remote control didn't work and then his reaction when it did, priceless. I'll probably see it again when I take my wife. She's not big on the fantasy/superhero genre, but TDK is the exception. Even my daughter is interested and her favorite film is "The Notebook."

comment #13

D.Z. says ...

Alan: I think a site which makes ad revenue off of movies which people have seen more often than once has no right to be criticizing the movie-goers, but that's just me.

comment #14

storymark says ...

"However, the CHUD article has kind of made me angry. Seeing a film more than once over a few days does not call for the kind of unkind comments made by Devin Faraci. It was just tarring everyone with the same brush. "

That kinda stuff is exactly why I stopped reading CHUD.

comment #15

BlueRaymondBabbit says ...

Devin's CHUD article, while entertaining and well written, is kind of odd at the same time. It's CHUD: a film site for FAN BOYS. Devin, these are your people. The fan boys received their Citizen Kane this weekend, why shouldn't they see it as many times as possible? They've SPENT THEIR LIVES waiting for a film that took these beloved cartoon characters as seriously as they do. And it happens to be a well-made, completely entertaining ride. I think Devin might suffer from some kind of split personality himself, or at the very least a good degree of self-loathing -- he seems to actively despise the kind of film fan that he himself probably is. Physician, heal thyself. At least they aren't seeing that god-awful Indiana Jones movie 7 or 8 times a week.

comment #16

Jeremy King says ...

I kind of stopped reading CHUD because they have the most aggressively annoying advertising of any fanboy site, and their page is a pain in the ass to navigate, in my opinion. I liked it back when that guy Nick was running it full time, however.

comment #17

silver says ...

A question for those who have seen both the regular & IMAX versions:

I haven't see TDK yet, but from reading the above comments it appears that I'll probably be seeing it twice.
However, IMAX is significanatly more expensive for me (ie, gasoline $$ and driving time), therefore I'd only go once to the IMAX.

So, is it better to see it in IMAX the first viewing, or IMAX for the 2nd viewing after seeing it in a standard theater?

comment #18

Richard_Stone says ...

Frank Booth: the character with busted ankles is seen walking with a cane in his next appearance.

Multiple viewings of TDK reveal plotholes and absurdities more clearly. Is this a spoiler thread? For example, Gordon's "close to the chest" game in mid-film is not shown as being planned ahead or assisted by anyone, nor does it make sense that it could just be improvised on the spot. After watching it once, I just assumed I had missed a detail and went along with it.

Also, the Joker's very best moment is his first one: The magic trick is the biggest instant thrill in the whole movie, and the rest of the scene is Ledger's best performance.

What is the next feature movie coming out in IMAX? It seems like TDK IMAX could be profitable for a long time to come. I wouldn't be surprised it gets re-released throughout the year if it gets bumped. It was a joy to rediscover the beauty of wide angle shots in an almost 1:33 ratio. Some IMAX shots in TDK were oddly composed though, with the main focus being framed right in the center of the shot.

I agree TDK is a big opportunity for a Blu-Ray push. I hope they include the full Imax frame in the eventual full screen DVD though; it'd be a shame to include footage cropped twice, horizontally and vertically.

comment #19

Richard_Stone says ...

Silver: a regular showing after IMAX is a let-down. I suppose you're better off seeing it in IMAX the second time.

comment #20

Gnome de Guerre says ...

I think Devin makes some good points in the CHUD article. Yeah, his site is targeted at fanboys. So what? Does that mean he shouldn't call out dumb behavior? True, sometimes you get off a roller-coaster and get right back in line, and that's probably how someone who went to TDK 5 or 6 times is seeing it. Sometimes you just feel like gorging all weekend. But nothing wrong with a little introspection to go along with it.

comment #21

Aris P says ...

Saw it last night. Liked it a lot, didn't love it. Am I the only one who thinks the 3rd act was jumbled, too much going on (the boats, the hostages in the building, the burning pile of money)? There were henchmen everywhere, cops being hunted down, double-crosses and, oh yeah, Two-Face goes nuts and starts killing everyone. Also, that whole sonar-view scene was a bit too hyper-edited for me, not to mention kind of ridiculous.

I think they should have left the introduction to Two-Face in, and then concluded with the Joker's arrest, etc.

Anyone see it my way? All the people I've spoken to just glaze over when I mention my problems with the third act, and they just reply "But wasn't it an amazing movie?"..... Well yes it was quite good, but not amazing simply b/c of the overkill at the end.

comment #22

AndrewOwens says ...

With regards to CHUD, Devin (or maybe Nick) wrote a definitive, perfect article a few months back about the difference between a geek (someone who is a functioning member of society but has a serious passion for genre cinema, comics, TV, etc) and a fanboy (someone whose whole life revolves around geeky shit to the point where there is nothing else in their lives). This article feels like an extension of that one; I for one am ok with the idea of a few bloggers policing that thin line we all walk between loving something geeky so much we see it 2 or 3 times in a weekend and, on the other side, buying commemorative Dark Knight Opening Weekend China Plates.

comment #23

Josh Massey says ...

Aris: I agree, to a point. Really enjoyed the film, but for a movie repeatedly compared to George W. Bush, its fans are acting like Barack Obama supporters.

comment #24

Mark says ...

"I think they should have left the introduction to Two-Face in, and then concluded with the Joker's arrest, etc." SPOILER

i was thankful that this did not happen, and that the Two-Face storyline was concluded. Eckart's monster wasn't in the same league as Ledger, so why try to follow him? Plus, the themes of duality and fate, and even mob bosses, which I'd assume Two-Face would become, have been explored thoroughly in this series.

comment #25

robbiefantastic says ...

heading in for round two tonight. too bad i don't have any imax theatres around me......interested to see it in that format.....

comment #26

Aris P says ...

The followup issue is a curious one. They've introduced, in my opinion, the three coolest and most interesting villains already - R'as al Ghul, Scarecrow and Joker. I wonder where they'll go from here, not to mention the actor/actress that will follow Heath...

comment #27

Mr B says ...

I hadn't read CHUD in quite a while, so i checked in today and see that overbearing article from devin, plus a snide comment deriding anyone who doesn't think the watchmen trailer is genius.

funny enough, I am going to see DK again tonight, I think watchmen looks overly stylized and slo-mo happy, and I won't be visiting CHUD anymore.

comment #28

frankbooth says ...

Thanks, Richard. I missed that. Seemed he was mostly shown in closeups after his little oopsie.

Definitely gotta go again just to take it all in, though I'm guessing all IMAX shows are sold out for at least another week.

comment #29

MovieBob says ...

Faraci is a good writer, but he's got a bug up his ass about superhero movies in general and anyone who's big into the genre - antagonizing "fanboys" seems to be his blogger calling card, with special emphasis on this particular movie: When Ledger died, he had a "look at me! look at me!" piece up about the media 'going easy' on his drug allegations but being unkind to poor Britney Spears. (And since I've "seen" him around these boards before when his name/site came up, I'll ask here: Hey, Devin, how far along are you on the innevitable "He doesn't deserve an Oscar, you nerds just want him to win so you can brag that a comic book movie won something" piece?) ;)

To be fair, Chud as a whole seems to be rather transparently trying to mainstream itself by becoming the "movie geek site that hates movie geeks as much as the regular press does," with Devin as the tip of the spear. See: The "You've Got It All Wrong" bit from a month or so ago.

comment #30

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comment #31

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