Film Night: The Dark Knight

[erastes]

So, went to see the Dark Knight tonight and I was very very impressed.   I was expecting a fabulous performance from Ledger and boy I wasn't disappointed, it's a startlingly great portrayal.  Nicholson's Joker was good - but it was "of its time" and - being Burton - was of that high camp style and more like the old series with Adam West.  Ledger's Joker is a real man, hugely intelligent and utterly terrifying.  I was never scared by TV Joker or Jack Nicholson (well, Ok, a LITTLE...)  And frankly - it's worth it for "Joker in Drag and still bloody scary" You can see echoes of Nicholson in Heath's performance though, which is wonderful to watch.

I'm not mad on Bale's Batman, to be honest he's so bloody bland as Bruce Wayne I could scream. But maybe he's supposed to be - I don't know the comic canon terribly well.  I've seen Bale do better work. Oldman was great as usual but it's Heath's film pure and simple, you can't take that away from him.  What a high note to go out on.  Just a sodding shame he went out at all.

So who's your favourite Batman? I think I have to go for Keaton.

Comments

[ctrl-issue.livejournal.com]

Kevin Conroy (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175834/).

Who is he, you ask?

Well, he's the voice actor that has been doing the voice for Batman/Bruce Wayne for EVAHZ. *nodnod* Just made of awesome.

[ggymeta.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

I agree with you 100%

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Again, another major failing of British TV - they never get shown over here, or very rarely.

[ctrl-issue.livejournal.com]

You need to. It was actually REALLY good. Also, need to check out Disney's GARGOYLES. It's bitchin' as well.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I'll have to add to the rental queue.... has queue reaching into my 80's.....

[paintedponyxox.livejournal.com]

I second that. BTAS was such an excellently done show.

[lyras.livejournal.com]

I had to keep reminding myself at times that Heath Ledger (or anyone) was actually behind the Joker - that he wasn't really this terrifying, terribly human and yet so inhuman creature. Ledger disappears into the part in a way that I've seen very few actors do.

Personally I like Bale as Batman, but then I only saw the Michael Keaton ones on telly.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. It was like the Joker was doing a mild impersonation of Heath Ledger, glimpses of the man here and there but almost completely subsumed by someone I was very very glad was on the other side of the screen.

[liebesdammerung.livejournal.com]

Bale's the only Batman I've ever seen. I need to watch the old Burton ones!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Ah - you children. You make me feel OLD.

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

It's an excellent cast of actors and I can't wait to see the movie.

But I will have to wait until the 21th August. *groans*

I liked Batman Begins best, because there was so much humanity and darkness. But then, I don't remember the older movies that well. I think that I found them all a bit crazy.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I liked Batman Begins best, because there was so much humanity and darkness.

You'll love this one too - as it takes it ten steps further.

It's an amazing cast, and the performances are all so good that it's rare that Eric Roberts is almost completely unnoticeable!

[angelabenedetti.livejournal.com]

Bale is my favorite. Bruce Wayne is supposed to be light and shallow -- that's the whole point, that everyone thinks he's this selfish playboy without a serious thought in his head, so they're that much less likely to suspect that he's Batman. Bale also does a wonderfully un-campy Batman. And although I don't really like the low, raspy voice he uses in costume, it 1) fits the psych profile he's going for with Batman, and 2) again, makes it that much more believable that the people who know both Bruce and Batman won't figure out that they're the same guy.

I liked Michael Keaton a lot more than I thought I would. He did a good job, definitely. But I still like Bale better. :)

Angie

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes, I don't like the deep voice either.

I meant to add to my mini review that the Harvey/Wayne vibe was so obvious that even my straight non-slasher friend noticed it.

[rwday.livejournal.com]

I liked Michael Keaton a lot more than I thought I would

That's how I felt too. I remember when he was cast, I couldn't imagine Mr. Mom/Beetlejuice as Batman, but he did a respectable job. Of course, my previous experience with Batman was Adam West, so I'm not sure my expectations were very high.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Have a look at THIS!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7ODQCdKEKp0

From this!!

http://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Great-Joseph-Cotten/dp/B000FNNHVQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1216973960&sr=1-3

[feed-your-muse.livejournal.com]

I love Michael Keaton as Batman - I saw it at the cinema when it came out and thought he was lovely and dark, the way Batman should be. I pretend that the horror of Batman 3 & 4 never happened (bit like the horror of Alien 3) but I'm quite happy with Christian Bale taking on the mantle of Batman as I think he's managed to retain the darkness that other characters lost. Also, he looks good in rubber. ;o)

=^..^=

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes.We'll gloss over Val Kilmer, for sure (even though I adored him in Willow)

There's no ENOUGH emphasis on the rubber suit. Not enough butt shots, that's for sure.

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

I must admit Bale is my favourite -- he just feels real to me. I only ever saw the Keaton ones on television, so they probably lost some of the edge. Kilmer was the first Batman I ever saw, which naturally warped my perception, and I ran screaming from Clooney. But I've been a fan of Christian Bale's for years now, and although I'm not sure how I feel about the voice change, I can understand the choice and it makes sense in context.

And I have to say that Ledger's performance really brought home how much the acting world has lost with his death. He was truly amazing. Scared the sense out of me.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to say that the Clooney has been wiped from my mind. Perhaps this is why I liked the Keaton, it was so much better than the nightmares to follow...

[seraphim-grace.livejournal.com]

the true batman is kevin conroy,
although I always was fond of batman beyond, but I'm a nightwing fangirl so I'm ruined anyway

but i come bearing gifts
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z0zWq__wG4

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Good Lord! Naked slave auction!!

[seraphim-grace.livejournal.com]

want the manga as well?

http://www.forever-more.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=33

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *watches avidly*

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

Bale in Batman Begins. :)