The Dark Knight

[Stout]

I just caught this line of your post now (sorry).

My original point was that I don't think the joker should be played "funny." I think he ought to be an f'd up psycho killer that always has a smile on his face and laughs a lot at inappropriate times, maybe makes a wry joke here and there, but mostly his look of a clown is juxtaposed against his startlingly frightening demeanor.

The joker doesn't have to ACT like a clown, he just has to look like one.

Hell, how scary would he be if he didn't speak at all--just laughed, but was otherwise silent?

I think there are a lot of ways to play that character, and if the director is looking for a comedic actor, he's already increasing his odds of failure because, as you noted before, he'll be compared against Romero and Nicholson. If Ledger plays it different, he won't be to the same degree.

I agree that it would be a creepy and fun direction to go, and I think that is the direction they are taking. Again, though, is Ledger that kind of actor either? Not really, from what he's done so far. He's more of the young ingenue or leading man. I will remain skeptical.

 

[Covert Rain]

I suppose there is no way that Ledger could be worse that K.Dunst or Ms. Holmes.

There is a big difference. Those character are not the main heros or villans in a movie. The Joker is. I don't think Ledger can do it personally. I hope he surprises me but I have very low expectations for his version of the Joker. The one thing that will completely turn me off is if they change the character so that it "fits" HL style of acting.

The first film gave me so much faith in the renewed franchise. I hope they don't screw that up.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Eckhart Joining The Dark Knight
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
February 16, 2007

Aaron Eckhart is in final talks to play Harvey Dent/Two Face in The Dark Knight, Warner Bros. Pictures' sequel to Batman Begins, says The Hollywood Reporter.

In Batman lore, Dent is the district attorney of Gotham City and an ally of Batman. After half his face is disfigured by acid, Dent becomes the insane crime boss known as Two Face. He chooses to do good or evil by flipping a coin. Tommy Lee Jones played the character in 1995's Batman Forever.

"Knight" sees Christopher Nolan back in the director's chair with Christian Bale reprising his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman are also returning. Heath Ledger will play The Joker.

The script was written by Nolan's brother, Jonathan, from a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. Producing are Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Gyllenhaal Confirmed for The Dark Knight
Source: Variety
March 9, 2007

Maggie Gyllenhaal is in final talks to star opposite Christian Bale in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, reports Variety.

She'll play the role of Rachel Dawes, played by Katie Holmes in Batman Begins. Holmes dropped out of the project earlier in the year.

The cast also includes Heath Ledger, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Aaron Eckhart.

Nolan is set to start filming in the late spring or early summer. Warner Bros. Pictures is eyeing a July 18, 2008 release.

 

[Pariah]

I don't think this is a legit poster, but it's interesting:

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Haven't seen the 1st one. It is about 5 deep on my DVD watching list. Man I need to start watching TV for hours a day to catch up.

 

[Covert Rain]

Haven't seen the 1st one. It is about 5 deep on my DVD watching list. Man I need to start watching TV for hours a day to catch up.

It's a good reboot. In fact, it surprised me a bit. I was expecting a bland movie and I didn't really like casting choices all that much. I changed my mind after watching the movie.

 

[Stout]

Nope, definitely going to be a worse Joker. Sorry, but that's the sad fact of the matter. It even looks like they're doing him up the same. Ugh. Sad, because of the fresh life the series has been given by Bale and Oldman.

 

[Chaplin]

Nope, definitely going to be a worse Joker. Sorry, but that's the sad fact of the matter. It even looks like they're doing him up the same. Ugh. Sad, because of the fresh life the series has been given by Bale and Oldman.

That's not a real poster.

 

[Stout]

That's not a real poster.

Ah, good.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I can't doubt any decision that Chris Nolan makes. The guy has made 3 bona-fide brilliant pieces of American cinema with Memento, Batman Begins and one of the slickest movies I've seen in a long time with The Prestige. Hell, even Insomnia was decent. But moreover, his casting in ALL OF THESE movies has been dead-solid-perfect. I expect nothing more than a top-notch performance from Ledger.

I mean, come on, who here wasn't skeptical when they first heard that the villains in Batman Begins were gonna be the freaking Scarecrow and Ra Aghul?

Give the man some faith - he's probably the finest director alive right now making smart, sophisticated popcorn movies. That's a TRUE talent making something not only extremely entertaining, but incredibly smart as well.

 

[Pariah]

I mean, come on, who here wasn't skeptical when they first heard that the villains in Batman Begins were gonna be the freaking Scarecrow and Ra Aghul?

:raiseshand:

I like Rahs Al Guhl as a villain, and scarecrow is a pretty easy one to translate to film. Granted, I realize I probably am more familiar with these characters than the non-comic book geek, but I didn't blink an eye when I heard those were the guys.

I will admit I was disappointed at first to see the Joker was going to be in the next film. And even more to see Ledger was cast. But, like Cheesebeef, I have trust in Nolan and I think (hope) he won't trot out the same joker we've seen before.

 

[Stout]

Hey, I'll see it and give it a chance same as I did with the last one. I was skeptical Bale could get it done. Still, I very much doubt Ledger will be nearly as good as Nicholson. It's like trying to be as great as Unitas at QB.

 

[Pariah]

Still, I very much doubt Ledger will be nearly as good as Nicholson. It's like trying to be as great as Unitas at QB.

I agree to an extent, though I'm not as high on Nicholson as the Joker as most. I think he was very good, but not great. JMHO.

Like I said earlier, I think the Joker is at his best when he's pretty physical.

 

[Chaplin]

To me, the Joker has always been a raving psychopath. I loved Jack as the Joker, but he wasn't as crazy as I'd like the Joker to be. I'm not sure that Ledger can play a homicidal maniac, but they must have seen something in him to think he can. I'm looking forward to seeing if it works.

 

[Covert Rain]

To me, the Joker has always been a raving psychopath. I loved Jack as the Joker, but he wasn't as crazy as I'd like the Joker to be. I'm not sure that Ledger can play a homicidal maniac, but they must have seen something in him to think he can. I'm looking forward to seeing if it works.

Oh I thought he was. The scene that defined his mental state for me was when he was sitting in the room (I think board room) and there was that 30 seconds where he was talking to himself laughing.

My only problem with Ledger is his uneven acting. At times I have seen him do a decent job. Other times he comes off as a really bad actor. I am just not sure he can pull off a really complex character. We shall see.

 

[Chaplin]

Oh I thought he was. The scene that defined his mental state for me was when he was sitting in the room (I think board room) and there was that 30 seconds where he was talking to himself laughing.

Jack's Joker was much more conniving and certainly wasn't a psychopathic maniac killer. I mean, sure, he gassed and shot a lot of people, but a true psychopath would use knives a lot.

My only problem with Ledger is his uneven acting. At times I have seen him do a decent job. Other times he comes off as a really bad actor. I am just not sure he can pull off a really complex character. We shall see.

That actually is my thought as well. Like I said, I'm looking forward to see if it works, but being "in" the industry, I wonder what they saw in him, or how he was even cast. Did they approach him, or did he audition for it?

 

[Pariah]

Well, I think we can safely say that Ledger will be taking the role in a different direction than anyone else before him. Here's the first official Ledger-as-Joker photo.

Uber-creepy (especially if you might already have a clown-phobia):

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Mulli]

That is pretty cool.

 

[abomb]

Thanks for that Pariah. I guess I wont plan on sleeping tonight.

 

[Mulli]

As long as Ledger avoids sounding like Boomhaur again, I think he might be pretty good.

 

[Linderbee]

Thanks for that Pariah. I guess I wont plan on sleeping tonight.

My oldest (17 years old) has a MAJOR fear of clowns...we went to Fear Farm this past year, and one of the mazes there was clown-themed...she saved that one until last. We are going through it, and she's terrified, and I'm laughing. The clowns kept trying to scare me, but it just didn't bother me, so I pointed at her, saying, "she's the one you need to go after"...so this one clown pulled me aside & asked me her name.

He came up right behind her and scared the bejeezus out of her. She said, "OH GOD!" and he said, "GOD won't save you now, AUBREY!!" She started running & girlie screaming. It was awesome. He was chasing her through the maze, yelling things like, "What's the matter, AUBREY! Are you afraid of clowns, AUBREY???" When he got as far as he could go, he told the next clown in line her name & so it went through the whole thing. I'm evil. Loved every minute of it.

I wonder if she'll watch this...

 

[dreamcastrocks]

My oldest (17 years old) has a MAJOR fear of clowns...we went to Fear Farm this past year, and one of the mazes there was clown-themed...she saved that one until last. We are going through it, and she's terrified, and I'm laughing. The clowns kept trying to scare me, but it just didn't bother me, so I pointed at her, saying, "she's the one you need to go after"...so this one clown pulled me aside & asked me her name.

He came up right behind her and scared the bejeezus out of her. She said, "OH GOD!" and he said, "GOD won't save you now, AUBREY!!" She started running & girlie screaming. It was awesome. He was chasing her through the maze, yelling things like, "What's the matter, AUBREY! Are you afraid of clowns, AUBREY???" When he got as far as he could go, he told the next clown in line her name & so it went through the whole thing. I'm evil. Loved every minute of it.

I wonder if she'll watch this...

:thumbsup:

Sometimes tough love like this can get them over their phobias.

It may also scar them for life and you may have years of therapy to pay for.

 

[Linderbee]

:thumbsup:

Sometimes tough love like this can get them over their phobias.

It may also scar them for life and you may have years of therapy to pay for.

Eh, she's 17. Almost an adult. She can pay for her own therapy!

j/k I know her well enough to know that she LIKES being scared. I would NEVER have done it to my middle daughter.

 

[Gaddabout]

I can't doubt any decision that Chris Nolan makes. The guy has made 3 bona-fide brilliant pieces of American cinema with Memento, Batman Begins and one of the slickest movies I've seen in a long time with The Prestige. Hell, even Insomnia was decent. But moreover, his casting in ALL OF THESE movies has been dead-solid-perfect. I expect nothing more than a top-notch performance from Ledger.

Have you seen The Following? That was very creepy film. Big Nolan fan here. Also have liked Christian Bale since Reign of Fire, which was sort of a strange place to discover a good actor. The movie's silly plot line aside, Bale was engaging enough that I retraced his work. Great stuff in American Psycho, too.