The Dark Knight - slight spoilers

[Bryancd]

OK, finally saw this at IMAX. Wow. Amazing movie. Having a nihilistic character like the Joker was very bold. Heath Ledger was very impressive. The only weak spot I felt was the Rebecca character, although I don't think much of her I thought Katie Holmes did a better job, and Bale's Batman voice was a little odd.

[billybob476]

OK, finally saw this at IMAX. Wow. Amazing movie. Having a nihilistic character like the Joker was very bold. Heath Ledger was very impressive. The only weak spot I felt was the Rebecca character, although I don't think much of her I thought Katie Holmes did a better job, and Bane's Batman voice was a little odd.

Those were my exact same issues with the movie I had. It sounded like Batman had Laryngitis and Katie Holmes definitely did a much better job. However aside from that this was an amazing movie. Much much better then Batman Begins (if that's possible).

[moyer777]

I guess he figured he needed to disguise his voice.  Maybe he's not so good at it.  :)

[Bryancd]

I guess he figured he needed to disguise his voice.  Maybe he's not so good at it.  :)

LOL! For sure, I get the "why" of it, it just sounds funny.

[PepperDude]

OK, finally saw this at IMAX. Wow. Amazing movie. Having a nihilistic character like the Joker was very bold. Heath Ledger was very impressive. The only weak spot I felt was the Rebecca character, although I don't think much of her I thought Katie Holmes did a better job, and Bane's Batman voice was a little odd.

Those were my exact same issues with the movie I had. It sounded like Batman had Laryngitis and Katie Holmes definitely did a much better job. However aside from that this was an amazing movie. Much much better then Batman Begins (if that's possible).

I actually liked Dark Knight's Rebecca better. Everytime Katie Holmes appeared in Batman Begins I couldn't help but think that I was watching a teenager.

[Darth Gaos]

No to sound overly nitpicky but the character's name was actually Rachel.  And after finallly seeing the film Friday night I can honestly say I am not sad her character was killed.  I am not a huge fan of either Katie Holmes or Maggie Glynnhall (sp).

Other than that the movie was FANTASTIC!  I have yet to see Iron Man or the Hulk this year but The Dark Knight is, so far, the best comic book hero movie hat I have seen.  There may be a bit of bias since I have been a fan of Batman (in all his incarnations) since I was a child.  My favorite was always the darker '80s version of Batman that Christopher Nolan seems to have captured perfectly.  The Joker was exactly as he ought to be...a hyper intellegent, pyshcopathic, homicidal maniac.  The special effects used to create Two-Face were OUTSTANDING....exactly how he ought to look and Aaron Eckhart's potrayal was great.  Also I think if they want to bring Two-Face back they could easily explain his survival away.  On a sadder note...because Heath Ledger did such a fabulous job portraying the Joker, I really think they need to write the character out of the Batman world (in the films) because I am not sure anyone could play him as well.

Excellent movie that I will most definitely buy on Blu-Ray when it comes out.

[moyer777]

Here is an article on Batman's voice-  hehehe.

What's with Batman's voice?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/04/mondaymoviebuzz.darkknight.ap/index.html

NEW YORK (AP) -- Though "The Dark Knight" has been a bona fide cultural event, boasting rave reviews and boffo box office, it hasn't been immune to criticism. Some have quibbled with its political undercurrents, and others have criticized a muddled theme.


As Batman, Christian Bale's voice is deeper and raspier than his voice as Bruce Wayne.

But here's the critique most widely held: Why does Batman talk like the offspring of Clint Eastwood and a grizzly bear?

Donning the costume for the second time, Christian Bale has delved deeper into the lower registers. As Bruce Wayne, his voice is as smooth as his finely pressed suits. But once he puts the cape on, the transformation of his vocal chords is just as dramatic as his costume change.

Particularly when his rage boils over, Bale's Batman growls in an almost beastly fashion, reflecting how close he teeters between do-gooder and vengeance-crazed crusader.

"The Dark Knight" hauled in $43.8 million to rank as Hollywood's top movie for the third straight weekend, fending off "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," which opened a close second with $42.5 million. It has earned $394.9 million in just 17 days, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Though much of the voice effect is Bale's own doing, under the guidance of director Christopher Nolan and supervising sound editor Richard King, the frequency of his Batman voice was modulated to exaggerate the effect.

Critics and fans have noticed.

"His Batman rasps his lines in a voice that's deeper and hammier than ever," said NPR's David Edelstein.

Reviewing the film for MSNBC, Alonso Duralde wrote that Bale's Batman in "Batman Begins" "sounded absurdly deep, like a 10-year-old putting on an 'adult' voice to make prank phone calls. This time, Bale affects an eerie rasp, somewhat akin to Brenda Vaccaro doing a Miles Davis impression."

Before the similes run too far afield, it's worth considering where the concept of a throaty Batman comes from.

In his portrayal on the '60s "Batman" TV series, Adam West didn't alter his voice between Bruce Wayne and Batman. Decades later when Tim Burton brought "Batman" to the big screen in a much darker incarnation, Michael Keaton's inflection was notably -- but not considerably -- different from one to the other.

But it was a lesser-known actor who, a few years after Burton's film, made perhaps the most distinct imprint on Batman's voice. Kevin Conroy, as the voice of the animated Batman in various projects from 1992's "Batman: The Animated Series" right up until this year's "Batman: Gotham Knight," brought a darker, raspier vocalization to Batman.

Conroy has inhabited the role longer than anyone else and though animated voice-over work doesn't have the same cachet as feature film acting, there are quarters where Conroy is viewed as the best Batman of them all -- certainly superior to Val Kilmer or George Clooney.

The animated series are notable because they drew on the DC Comics of Batman as envisioned by Frank Miller, whose work heavily informs "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight." (Bale and Nolan were unavailable to comment for this story.)

As Batman has gotten darker, his voice has gotten deeper. As some critics suggest, Bale and "The Dark Knight" may have reached a threshold, at least audibly.

[wraith1701]

Just got back from this film-

INCREDIBLE!

I agree that the Bat-Voice was a little over the top, but I guess it's understandable.  Bruce Wayne is a fairly famous public figure/celebrity.  If he spoke with his normal voice, the typical resident of Gotham would probably recognize it... "Batman?  You sound just like that Bruce Wayne guy!"

I liked the wierd background hum that was used in the Joker scenes.  It really enhanced the feeling of unease and anxiety that the character is supposed to inspire.  Speaking of the Joker, Ledger owns this character.  This is the scariest, most realistic version of the character I've ever seen on screen.  Good luck to the guy who tries to take on the role in the inevitable sequel film.

[Bryancd]

I can't imagine they would try and bring the Joker character back with a new actor. I think the Joker is over fort this Batman series and I think that would be the right call. There are plenty of other villans to explore.

[wraith1701]

I can't imagine they would try and bring the Joker character back with a new actor. I think the Joker is over fort this Batman series and I think that would be the right call. There are plenty of other villans to explore.

True; there are a ton of villains in the Batman 'verse, but none have the combination of mainstream recognizability and potential for scariness that the Joker has.  I think you are right, though; it would be folly for the producers to try and recapture the magic they got with this film.  Any attempt to duplicate Ledger's impact would unfortunately fall short. 

Maybe they could figure out a way to bring back 2-Face?  In a way, the film was as much his as it was Jokers.

[Bryancd]

Agreed, Tow Face was very well done and it was a shame to use him as a secondary villan in DK.

[M-5]

I finally got around to seeing The Dark Knight today while my car was in the shop.  All I can say is that movie was totally awesome!  Heth Ledger was great as The Joker.  I'm gonna' have to see it again.

[Geekyfanboy]

"The Dark Knight" In Top 3 Films of All-Time

Christopher Nolan's second Batman film, "The Dark Knight" reigned as box office champ for four straight weekends in a row and now holds its place as the third most successful film in movie-making history, and creeping up to the number two slot.

The movie topped the charts in the U.S. this weekend and is estimated to take in another $26 million, bringing its four week total to a little over $441 million, making it number three in box office sales, right behind "Star Wars" with $461 million and the mega-hit James Cameron film "Titanic," still the heavyweight champion sitting on a boat-load of cash at a record-setting $601 million.

However, if you adjust the figures for inflation, then "The Dark Knight" makes it into the Top 50 at number 49, just a little shy of topping "Gone With the Wind."

[Meds]

Ok i saw this last night (first time we've had teh chance since returning home). Great film BUT way too long. I would have cut a good 15 maybe 20 mins out as there was no need for it to be that long. Heath was fantastic as the Joker, i could see the Nicholson version in him and for that i praise him. I do however feel that someone else could portray the Joker again, if you are a good actor there is no reason why you can't play a character that has been played before. Golden statue wrothy??? i'm undecided.
Two face was amazing, rubbish ending to him though why, why, why do that. Bale was great as Wayne but the voice ruining it for me, one i couldnt help but think of the Batman parody posted on this forum but second it took the drama out of the Batman being on screen, shame.
Rachel was i thought pretty good, better than Holmes version for certain.
All in all a great film, i enjoyed it, my wife was "Not as good as Begins" and my friend Niki hated it. Quite a wide response then really. I look forward to watching it again.

[Rico]

"Niki hated it."

WOW?!  I haven't heard of anyone saying that yet.  I'm curious if that might be partly due to hearing so much about the movie before seeing it.  I would also be interested in the reasons for hating this movie.