The Dark Knight: Contains Spoilers

[Papa Shango]

Trust me, it can happen. When you play a character with zero empathy, no morals, not a single redeeming quality, it can make you sick. And I can see that happening with someone as dedicated as him. Apparently to keep himself in character, he started keeping a journal written as The Joker, writing down his thoughts while in character. I've never played a role that dark, but I have played some scummy characters, and trying to stay in character for extended periods of time is stressful, painstaking, and it does take a toll on you. It's one of the reasons I prefer comedy.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

He had told reporters he couldn't sleep at night because of how dark a character The Joker was. As an actor, I understand how emotionally and mentally stressful it can be to play a character so drastically different from yourself. When I first read some of his methods for getting into character, and how dedicated he was to making the Joker an evil, sadistic, unlikable villain, I wondered how he would handle the emotional toll. But I assumed he was quite a professional and it wouldn't bother him too much. I wouldn't be surprised if it was this performance that sent him over the edge. Anyone who knows anything about The Joker from the comic books, not the cartoons, knows how truly a dark and evil character he is. And the fact that such a dedicated method actor was using The Killing Joke, one of the darkest Batman stories in the enitre collective works, its not surprising he began to have personal problems. This would be a shocking death anyways, but the fact that he was protraying The Joker at the time makes his death much darker and mysterious. Just thinking that The Joker may have killed a real person sends a shiver down my spine.

I don't go for all that bullshit. It's a film. One that will probably be available for kids to watch. If he get's into character then can't get out out of it then there's something wrong with him anyway.

me neither, but from what I've read so far, there was nothing illegal there, it was simply over the counter sleeping pills, and there was supposedly no alcohal involved. It will be interesting to see the autopsy report. I don't have sympathy for drug abusers either, so if he loaded up and died, thats on him.

As far as the movie goes, I think they finished principal photography and the movie I think is in post production. Any new add ins will probably be digitally added in. As far as the third one, who knows, that's going to be interesting what they'll do there.

If he died accidentaly then it's a shame. But there aint nothing tragic about getting off your face and taking too many pills. Not even suicide is tragic.

As for the third I actually don't think ity'll make much difference. I see it ending with him being locked away in Arkham, possibly until he goes to trail. I'm sure that they can work around it. O doubt Nolan will be back though. The only reason he's done The Dark Knight is because he wanted to do The Joker his way.

 

[Shocky]

Well I guess they are saying now he had three types of prescribed pills. i'm guessing that he had an accidental overdose by taking his own medicine. If that's true, it's a damn shame. This seems to be happening more and more. You would figure docs wouldn't prescribe medicines that have potentially lethal effects if they are mixed with each other.

Oh well, it will work out for ledger in the long run. I'm already seeing James Dean like comparisons, and I think if the Joker is as good as we're lead to believe, this may be a good comparison.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Well if he died accidentaly then it's a shame. But people who overdose getting off their face deserve no sympathy. The problem with actors dying young is that they usually get icon status. James Dean like Shocky said is an icon. But he only did 4 films. If he'd lived on it's possible he would have had a role in Weekend At Bernies or some shit like that. Really though I think Ledger's version of The Joker will be far mor iconic than he is.

 

[The_Real_WrestleManiac]

Just thinking that The Joker may have killed a real person sends a shiver down my spine.

So, now you've creeped me out. Not that I buy what I'm about to say but the Joker has always had a bit of an idea what forum he's in. Stuff like humming his own theme in the cartoon and apparently 'taking a bow' on the first panel of a page after turning a page on the last pannel of the previous page. The idea that a character could use this extra sense to create a story so emotionally straining that it kills a real person is kind of along the lines of Joker's sense of humor (in that he finds everything, including killing someone, funny). Once again, not that I buy into the idea that this is what happened. Just creepy to think about.

As far as this being a story for kids, I kind of doubt it. This movie is supposed to be close to the comics. Batman comics aren't really for kids.

 

[RBH]

I will not believe anything until there is absoulete proof that Heath went over the edge but I also think that is bullshit. He was having problem sleeping, he was stressed. We all feel stress, we all have trouble sleeping. It is a normal human problem and it has nothing to do with the role he played. If you saw his last interview, he was very excited about seeing himself as the Joker. His close family members said he was relatively happy too. I also do not believe he killed himself. I believe it was accidental as it does happen. People die from accidental overdoes everyday and it is not just famous people. As an earlier post said, there were no alcohol involved. None of us know what happened so none of us should judge Heath for what happened. I am going to go see his movie and honor him for the actor he was and not for the way the media is portraying his death because that all in itself is a shame. There have been scarier characters than the Joker in movie history so I seriously doubt that his character killed him. That is probably the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard in my life. I am just going to watch Dark Knight and honor him and I know Nolan will most likely be back for movie 3 because he, Bale and Caine are all signed for 3 movies and movie #3 is NOT centered around the Joker anyways but Two-Face as earlier reported by Batman on Film (most accurate Batman movie news)

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

I suggest going to the superherohype.com boards for good news, most of the shit gets filtered and you get the good stuff.

The 3rd movie was originally supposed to have Joker on trial where he burns Dent, they sort of blended the 2 and in the 3rd Joker would have a more supporting role in the 3rd with the focus on Face.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=22015

These sound great. The link doesn't work so I can't watch them though. I really enjoyed the Animatrix shorts. They were far better than the actual films, and I'm a sucker for Anime and anything Batman related.

 

[Papa Shango]

I heard about this too. The animation is said to be top notch. And it's gonna be real close to the real feel of Batman, cuz they're being directed by people who've written and edited for DC Comics.
Also, has anyone else heard the rumor that Cillian Murphy was spootted filming scenes for the movie as The Scarecrow?

 

[Y 2 Jake]

This is terrible. Really.

There hasn't been much news about ths latley. It's a shame. Maybe Ledgers death has put off WB from using him as promotional material. Or maybe they think that his death alone will attract enough people. Or maybe they just don't know what to do with it now.

 

[RBH]

I think it will have an impact nontheless....they will of course have an RIP memorial message at the beginning of the movie or a Dedicated to heath Ledger slogan...many of my college friends have been saying how sad its gonna be to watch him and many want to honor him by watching his last movie...I would watch it nontheless because I am a batmanaholic....but yeah it is terrible.

 

[Bentallica]

I heard about this too. The animation is said to be top notch. And it's gonna be real close to the real feel of Batman, cuz they're being directed by people who've written and edited for DC Comics.
Also, has anyone else heard the rumor that Cillian Murphy was spootted filming scenes for the movie as The Scarecrow?

He did-rumors were comfirmed, and set pics made there way around. That was a while back, thought, and it'll more or less be a cameo for the most part.

Whoever said to go to the SuperHeroHype boards, good for you. You don't even have to sign up, just check out the Batman sub-forum. Ton's of great news goes through there. Otherwise, check out AintItCoolNews, search for The Dark Knight. You should get plenty of archives.

Anywho, anybody else excited for the Dent viral marketing? It's quite the change, but it was apparently planned for. It seems like it will be a bit more "hands-on" then the Joker stuff.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=22442

New poster. It's awesome. I can't post it thouigh because I can't work out this new computer.

It's batman. But with a building on fire behind him. The flames make the Bat signal. It's pretty cool. I'm glad that they're not basing all of the publicity on The Joker. Although I'd still klike to see another promo piece with him on.

 

[Uncle Sam]

There's a new trailer available on WhySoSerious.com. Here it is in all its HD glory (let it load a while): http://www.whysoserious.com/happytrails/trailer.htm

After seeing that I'm really, really assured about this movie, and that it'll be clearly superior to Hulk and Iron Man as far as super hero movies go this year. The first two thirds of Iron Man were pretty good as well, but the final third was what everyone always expected it to be - a flimsy excuse for an action movie with lots of inside references.

Anyway, back on topic. Ledger's Jokers now appears really different to how I've been picturing him. I love the scene with him and all the gang leaders or whatever ("here's my card"). It's knowingly reminiscent of Nicholson's Joker meeting with gangsters in the original, although I doubt we'll have as many slapstick deaths this time around. Dent's been introduced, but I can't say I'm that invested in the character - he seems so likable and honest - he's like Ken off Coronation Street - that I dislike him. Still, his transformation into Two Face still has me interested; you can see a little teaser for that within the trailer.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

I saw Sam replying to this thread and I remembered that the new trailer was supposed to be out. A quick trip to You Tube and I'm back.

Overall it's ok. I prefered the other trailer. Then again I don't think it could have got much better. I'm unsure why they recast Katie Holmes. Just get rid of the character. I don't like Aaron Eckhart as Harvey dent. And The Joker came across better in the other trailer.

 

[AnthonyMango/NoFate007]

I saw Sam replying to this thread and I remembered that the new trailer was supposed to be out. A quick trip to You Tube and I'm back.

Overall it's ok. I prefered the other trailer. Then again I don't think it could have got much better. I'm unsure why they recast Katie Holmes. Just get rid of the character. I don't like Aaron Eckhart as Harvey dent. And The Joker came across better in the other trailer.

Joker definitely came across better in Trailer #1. I think this one was to set up more of the B-storyline with the love triangle between Bruce/Rachel/Dent and the "hate triangle" of Batman/Dent/Mafia.

Katie Holmes being replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaal though...I have no clue why they recast that part. In my eyes, they're both equally mediocre actresses, but Holmes is much more attractive. If she really doesn't matter in the long run outside of being the pawn in the love triangle and a voice of reason at times in ways Alfred can't provide, why bother recasting it?

I'm beyond excited for this movie, though. I've been a huge Batman fan since I was born, pretty much lol. Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men, and Superman are the reasons I've been writing my own comic book.

 

[jmt225]

Katie Holmes being replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaal though...I have no clue why they recast that part. In my eyes, they're both equally mediocre actresses, but Holmes is much more attractive. If she really doesn't matter in the long run outside of being the pawn in the love triangle and a voice of reason at times in ways Alfred can't provide, why bother recasting it?

Well, unfortunately, Holmes turned down the part. They wanted her back from what I read, but no luck. But I'm glad to see that there is at least one person besides myself who prefers Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawson more so than Maggie Gyllenhaal.

I have nothing against Maggie Gyllenhaal; in fact, I thought she was really good in The Secretary, but she has done nothing else where I thought her performance was anything above medicore. Whereas Holmes was a lead role in my second favorite TV show of all time (take a guess, lol), has done a few films that were really good (Go, Wonder Boys, The Gift, Abandon, Phone Booth, Pieces of April, and Thank You for Smoking), and as you mentioned, Holmes is also at least nice to look at (well, more so before her haircut, anyway).

But, since there had to be recasting for the part because of Holmes' commitment to her family, Sarah Michelle Gellar is the person I would've been most happy with to get the job. But for some strange reason, Nolan jumped the bandwagon and casted Gyllenhaal.

However, that is my only complaint about this film thus far. Everything else about it seems perfect at this point. I cannot wait for it to come out.

 

[AnthonyMango/NoFate007]

Well, unfortunately, Holmes turned down the part. They wanted her back from what I read, but no luck. But I'm glad to see that there is at least one person besides myself who prefers Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawson more so than Maggie Gyllenhaal.

I have nothing against Maggie Gyllenhaal; in fact, I thought she was really good in The Secretary, but she has done nothing else where I thought her performance was anything above medicore. Whereas Holmes was a lead role in my second favorite TV show of all time (take a guess, lol), has done a few films that were really good (Go, Wonder Boys, The Gift, Abandon, Phone Booth, Pieces of April, and Thank You for Smoking), and as you mentioned, Holmes is also at least nice to look at (well, more so before her haircut, anyway).

But, since there had to be recasting for the part because of Holmes' commitment to her family, Sarah Michelle Gellar is the person I would've been most happy with to get the job. But for some strange reason, Nolan jumped the bandwagon and casted Gyllenhaal.

However, that is my only complaint about this film thus far. Everything else about it seems perfect at this point. I cannot wait for it to come out.

Ah, if she herself turned it down, then they had no choice. And I definitely agree with you that she looks really bad with that 10 year old boy's haircut she has now. Tom Cruise has been like a viral plague the past few years...everything he comes into contact with ends up being tainted lol.

And yeah, so far that's the only thing I can really complain about, outside of how it doesn't seem like Ledger's Joker has a real "Joker voice"...but I can't be too sure about that until I see it. We're only getting glimpses here and there.

 

[Kasey]

^This is where I disagree with you guys. I'm so glad she's gone from TDK. Her acting is barely above mediocre and Gyllenhaal at least has the chops and intensity to match Bale's. It's like they took the one glaring deficiency out of Batman Begins and removed it the second time around. Every scene Katie was in reminded me of her limitations very quickly. It's painfully obvious she spent too many seasons on the hind end of television. Not to mention that the only reason Holmes was even looked at for Begins is because of her relationship with a then respected Hollywood heavyweight.

I do wholeheartedly agree with the comments on Tom Cruise. That nutbar managed to destroy the most prestigious Hollywood mystique in a microsecond because he was too stupid to keep his original publicist (who was obviously very good at hiding what kind of a nut he really is). It's not everyday that the top star in the world gets ixnayed from his lucrative acting/producing deal with one of the largest studios in Hollywood and in turn has to buy his own just to keep working.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Nothing is going to compete with the Why So Serious? poster. But these are still good promo pieces. I love the the 4th one. I might have to invest in that. I also like them listing the cast. It's great so they may as well exploit it. Batman has a strong following, but I imagine Heath Ledgers is almost as big now, people go crazy for dead guys. It's still a couple of months aways, so even these might not be the final posters that you see around town.

 

[Bentallica]

The new trailer was great, and we finally got our first good look at Harvey Dent. I think Eckhart's portrayal (sp?) looks good so far, but I'm a little concerned about how he's gonna pull of Two-Face's unpredictability, but I think he can pull it off.

I really liked Joker in it as well. We got a semi-explination of his motive-basically, he wants to bring crime back to Gotham. They seem to make him out to be the anti-Batman, with him rallying those who can really bring crime, as Batman did the opposite in Begins.

And Rachel's character actually seems to serve a true purpose in this one. In the last film, she said she could only be with Bruce when Gotham doesn't need Batman. But, in this one she finds someone else and Bruce seems to feel betrayed. Of course, that someone else is Dent, which could prove to be a problem when he becomes Two-Face.

Overall, the new trailer has my excitement peaked. The one thing that'll blow my mind would be a leaked pic of Two-Face, but I think I'll wait till the movie either way.

 

[WinstonDeckard]

I saw the trailer during Iron Man, and WOW. I mean ledger is unrecognizable, his voice his look, it was damn near chilling. This preview got me so amped up for The Dark Knight. I wonder how they're going to do the third film since I read in a few sources that the third movie was going to take place during the trial of The Joker. Are they going to recast or completely alter their plans? It should be interesting to see how that plays out. But hey, that's still way in the future I just can't wait for the dark knight.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

I don't know how they'll do the third one either. I do know that Chris Nolan won't be back. He wasn't too excited about doing this one, he only did it because he wanted The Joker to be done his way. I can't see him or the studio recasting Heath Ledger, so I'm guessing an Arkham ending. The Joker in a straight jacket, the end In the third they just say he's too crazy to go to court, or something like that.

 

[Straight_Edge_Mystic]

I am excited for this film, more so than any movie in the recent past. We have a great cast, a great director, a great story, and great characters. Ledger's depiction of Joker is really how I have always pictured the Joker to be. I was at first a little apprehensive about the look of Joker, but it has really grown on me. He has a great voice for Joker and the laugh he created, I love it. It's maniacal enough to make him evil, but enough of a normal laugh to invoke thoughts of a really funny joke. Two Face or Harvey Dent, whatever you call him, only the cartoon has got him right. I can only hope that TDK and Nolan will get him right. I did see the concept rendition of what Two face will look like and I was disgusted and disturbed. My stomach felt a little sick after seeing it. Eckhart seems to be a pretty good actor, haven't seen much of his work, so I hope he pulls out a great performance.

That's strange Y 2 Jake that you heard Nolan wouldn't be back because I had read that he would be back as he originally signed on to do three films. I guess we will have to wait and see.

 

[WinstonDeckard]

I am excited for this film, more so than any movie in the recent past. We have a great cast, a great director, a great story, and great characters. Ledger's depiction of Joker is really how I have always pictured the Joker to be. I was at first a little apprehensive about the look of Joker, but it has really grown on me. He has a great voice for Joker and the laugh he created, I love it. It's maniacal enough to make him evil, but enough of a normal laugh to invoke thoughts of a really funny joke. Two Face or Harvey Dent, whatever you call him, only the cartoon has got him right. I can only hope that TDK and Nolan will get him right. I did see the concept rendition of what Two face will look like and I was disgusted and disturbed. My stomach felt a little sick after seeing it. Eckhart seems to be a pretty good actor, haven't seen much of his work, so I hope he pulls out a great performance.

That's strange Y 2 Jake that you heard Nolan wouldn't be back because I had read that he would be back as he originally signed on to do three films. I guess we will have to wait and see.

First of all, ya I definitely share your enthusiasm as I've been anticipating this feature since well after saw Begins to be quite honest. Anyways, I heard what Jake heard as well. But I also read that he was signed onto three films too so who really knows. Again doing a third will be hard and as Jake said I doubt they'd recast. Again all this is unfortunate but at least Dark Knight will make an even bigger fortune for the studio thanks to curiosity buys and that's all that really matter at the end of the day, right?