The Dark Knight - Preview

My only thing was regarding the Joker. True, the movie is still weeks away. True, these are trailers. In fact, one thing I love about the film is that still nobody knows what it's about. We have Batman v. The Joker with Harvey Dent thrown in the center. The inkling of information is all there is in what is to be probably a 140 min. movie, the length of "Batman Begins." ALOT happened in Batman Begins and assuredly The Dark Knight will be just as eventful. I have no idea how the film will play out, but that still doesn't mean it can't be my most anticipated film of 2008. It's Batman and The Joker, arguably the greatest clash in the history of comic books, in my own opinion anyway. The new main ingredient for this film is the Joker, and it has been said he is the force the tears through the center of it. With that said, you ultimately question Ledger early on, without seeing him in the role, because he is one of the more lesser obvious choices in casting. What I've come to find in movies, is that when you cast someone who is not immediately iconic for the role, it builds expectations even more, and they end up giving you a half assed interpretation of what you wanted. With Ledger, he transformed into the Joker, Nicholson just extended his own personality and spiced it up considerably. I guess what I'm saying is, I am so much of a movie fan as to look at this objectively, but I'll be damned if I haven't geeked out over what I've already seen of Heath Ledger as the Joker.

To whoever said it above, you are correct. The preview pulp was written quite awhile ago. However, the date on the page automatically updates every time we add a new picture or cast change or anything to the page.

That said, this particular Pulp was long overdue for an update, so thanks for the reminder folks.

To Greg... you should probably actually see the movie before you lock yourself in to an opinion on it. The trailers look nice, but they're just trailers. They're supposed to look nice.

The above preview has to be the most preposterous thing I've ever read. I've read all of the comments on this thing and all of you are commenting on Ledger's Joker as if it had just been announced he'd been cast yesterday. Have you seen the PHOTOS and TRAILERS? How in god's name could you possibly still be doubting his ability to play the Joker? I'm no comic book fanatic, but what Nolan is going for in this interpretation of the Joker is the ORIGINAL character from the earliest serials of the 40's NOT Nicholson's. Was Nicholson a great Joker? At the time he could not be beat, not for a second. But you are forgetting that the Joker was not the hip and zany prankster that bounced around laughing. He was a deeply, deeply, insane and murderous psychopath that killed massive amounts of people just for the fun of it. THIS is what Heath Ledger is doing, if you could not already tell from the sadistic and creepy makeup that is splattered all over his face. Josh, I take unlimited issue with your hesitance towards Ledger. I'm already positive that this interpretation of the Joker is going to be miles better than Jack Nicholson. As for the action, well, Batman is THAT actiony of a guy. What crazy action sequence from the previous four Batman movies are you expecting Nolan to follow throw in? Nicholson dancing while batman fights THREE guys? The Penguin swinging his umbrella at Batman's head? Or Batman throwing Mr. Freeze off a giant squirt gun? Batman is a meat and potatoes punching machine. He so grounded in reality that anything remotely fantastical and over-the-top will make him look high on CGI. Batman Begins was about character, and character we got. Josh, you have something against this movie while everybody else believes it's the second coming. I'm trying to figure out what it is. And no, your anti-Ledger Joker doesn't cut it.

The Dark Knight was the VERY last film of Ledger.

So,just to honor him...

...WATCH THE MOVIE!!!!!

So ummm...Josh...still uncertain that Ledger was a good choice? I'm already convinced that he did a hell of a lot better job than Jack Nicholson, who didn't even bother changing his voice for the role.

The Dark Knight as am i sure anyone can see sets to be amazing, i would like to see two face maybe as a co-star to the joker. its ashame theyll have to not birng back the joker in later films, but im sure two face will be as good as the new joker. Christian bale looks to do another amazing job portryaing batman. harley quinn is suppiosed to be in this film aswell. hope she does good aswell.

From what I've read, people are going to be suprised on Ledger being the Joker. Michael Caine (alfred) has stated that he is scary and it's the best work that he has ever seen him do. He said we won't be dissapointed. I hope they keep this movie grounded like the last one but give it better fight scenes. Batman Begins was awesome because it wasn't cheesey like the other batmans (with the exception of the first one with Michael Keaton). The one with the "Govenator" was by far the gayest Batman of them all. Uma Therman was a Hot Poison Ivy though.

I just wanna say that Batman Begins was the real batman movie. I tried watching the other batman and they are a joke.

I would first like to say that I was a big doubter of batman begins and I thought the movie was going to bad but boy I was proven wrong the movie brought back out something inside me something I have not felt since early childhood it brought out the Batman fan inside me all over agian, I must agree with shaun that this version of batman is closer to the character we know and love.

let me first say this b/c I want to, the score to batman begins is awsome I must adit though in the movie it was hard to hear but if you listen to the soundtrack it really captures this batmans theme,I know many people want Danny elfmans theme but his theme is for a Tim Burton movie (I do like his theme though)I just doesnt fit the movie at all.
The joker in 89 batman was a darker version of the 60s cartoon joker and that joker was put to death in that movie and fans just leave it at that this joker will be our joker not the kind that always makes jokes and laughs all the time If you seen the latest pic then you know that we are in a whole new ball game, Ive that a certain somone is suppose to be in this movie dealing with the joker and Ill give a hint "Mister J". :)

I have no major problems with the fights being like they are but if they can some how work it like they did in the last and still show who is getting hit, once again I will say that the score for this film is great and I expect more of it in the Dark Knight 2008 it belongs to Batman and democrats!

I just wanna put my two cents in here. I thoroughly enjoyed Batman Begins. I also enjoyed Batman and Batman Returns. But honestly, Begins was a much better "Batman" movie. 89 and Returns had their moments and I grew up loving the movies. I also enjoy Tim Burton as a director, but 89 and Returns aren't "Batman" movies so much, as they "Tim Burton" movies. Yes, they're dark films. But they're also campy. Nicholson's Joker was cool, but was essentially a homicidal version of the 60's TV Joker. And they had plenty of goofy dialogue and moments. "Where does he get those wonderful toys?" The penguin eating the fish heads? Very goofy. If I want to watch "Batman" I'll watch Batman Begins, if I want to watch "Tim Burton" I'll watch 89 or Returns.

Begins was pure brillant and I am sure the dark knight will be even better.
Ledger has a nasty smiking grin and from looking at the old comics I think the Joker is going to more an inward thinking physco,whose actions are flamboyant but whose general persona will be more dark and fearful, where as Jack was Jack.

1. Katie Holmes is rather useless to the Batman flicks. There really is no need for her in the Sequel. I was thinking their plan is to have Joker shoot her much like he shot Barbara Gordon in Killing Joke and use it against Batsy to try and turn him mad....any other reason for her is useless.

2. I grew up with Burton's rendition of Batman and I enjoyed it, but after reading Frank Miller, Alan Moore, Geoff Loeb, and other big-wig's take on the Bat I can't help but think of how much better Burton could've done. The most important point I want to make is that Burton, as many morons in Hollywood, killed the villain. Burton just HAD to kill off the Joker. It's entirely plausible that Ras Al'gul escaped in Begins and nothing was said about Scarecrow. THIS ALONE MAKES NOLAN THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON TO DO DARK KNIGHT!

3. The third installment of comic movies always blow and Spidey-3 was no exception. What a waste of half a billion dollars....

4. Nicholson was a horrible Joker. He was short and stalky and he sounded like NICHOLSON, not the Joker. Nicholson is old and should be dying sometime soon (especially after the last movie he did). My point is no matter who does the Joker, it's not going to be Nicholson so go cry somewhere else. Any other villain you'd just complain it's not like Danny Devito etc.. They're making another Bat-film, it has the Joker in it. It's gonna rock, deal with it.

5. Ledger is going to be a great Joker. I just wish Mark-Hamil could do his Joker laugh for the film.

Hey guys!

I know you have this idea of me that's basically A Knights Tale, some forgettable epics, and Brokeback Mountain. But I did this other movie called LORDS OF DOGTOWN in which my character was somewhere between Jack Sparrow and drug-addict brooding. It may surprise you. I may surprise you! And I'm training! YEAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! SEE??

I think Jack Nicholson's great and loved him as the Joker, but at the same time his Joker's focus was on the comic side, yeah he mutilated some models and tried to gas the city but this was all done with a pop soundtrack from Prince. He didn't actively fight Batman himself and used an extending boxing glove to blow up a telly. I don't think that Heath Ledger could ever fill Nicholson's shoes in the exact same role but there is room for a different Joker, a darker one that, with a bit of help from Nolan, Ledger might be able to pull off.

It would actually be a nice turn to see a dark menacing Joker with a little humor here and there. But we're thinking too linear to just compare The Joker to Jack Nicholson's character. I think it would be much wierder to have a much more homicidal creepy Joker. Sure I love the original Batman franchise, at least the first 2. But this is a more original grounded version of Batman's world, not a redo. If you think of them that way then it helps. In all I agree completely with Josh

OK OK batman is the best super hero hands down the dark knight can kick both code name v and supermans ass at the same time. for the broke back mountain homo sure he can do it, the joker is a a very deep dark charter but that dude kissed racheal dawsons brother in real life ,thats deep and dark right idk. i read all the comics and all that goods shit and the first of this series batman begins was a kick ass movie. michael keaton was a good batman but bruce wayne doesnt have a curley fro like he does christian bale is awesome perfect for it. and plus my main man morgan freeman is in it he makes any movie better and you all know it besides u jews haha well none of u know what u r talkin about and i do

Well i agree that Heath Ledger was a bad choice for joker. but who knows, i was unsure about Cillian Murphy for scarecrow and he did a good job. Nolan is a good director and im sure he will be able to whip Ledger in shape for the joker. Crispen Glover would have been a good choice for the spot of the joker. but oh well. we will just have to see what nolan can do.

I have to say i have art background and big into comics. I dug the previous Batman flicks ( Tim Burtons Batman and Batman returns). After those i felt they declined, they were awesome from a comic book look and feel, but Batman is more realistic character. I thought they did awesome job on Batman Begins and will do incredible on next, Heath Ledger wouldnt be casted for the role if he couldnt do it? that is a big pair of shoes to fill and Nolan wouldnt take that risk?. In past films the only things which lacked was the plots and storylines, for those of us who are into comics thats not how the story goes. These movies stick to the actual plots as it should be and from what i have read, it sounds they will follow "The Killing Joke" as a good part of storyline. I have witnessed few views of Ledger in make up (as examples) and he looks the part and dont think Mr Eckhart will take the flip of the coin til the third?. I cant wait for this movie and am glad to finally see it done from realistic views one request i have is if they stick to storylines...bring in harley quinn.

I just read some of the rumors about the next Batman movie. Ok why bring back Dawes? Like the other Nick I have to agree. What is it, dramatic effect? Kill off his childhood friend? He already witnessed his parent's murder is that not enough drama that they have to kill off his "lover" and childhood friend. It all sounds like a game of twos to me. If we killed his parents last time lets kill everyone else who means something to him other than Alfred, that is just a little lame. All being said if this new plot twist is true then the director had better send Batman off the deep end.
As for Ledger playing the part of the Joker there I can think of one question. WHY!!!!!?????!!! Ledger has to try and fill Jack Nicholson's shoes. I'm sorry but for a guy who played a DECENT role in Broke Back Mountain. How could he even think; he could hold up to a man who was nominated for an acadamy award for the SAME PART nearly twenty years ago. There were other actors who could have given old Jack a good run for his money. For example, Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith in the Matrix movies) would have been a more likely choice due to his enthusiastic personality not only as hero but villian along with an affiliation with DC comics (V for Vendetta). Or even Jude Law, who like Ledger had a role in, "A Knight's Tale". He pushes his characters to the edge without going too far and has a face that with a dash of make up screams "JOKER". Both men would have been better picks than Ledger. But hey, I'm not the director. I have also read rumor that this movie is being based off the comic book, "The Killing Joke" why? I don't know, a better pick would have been, "The Long Halloween" but once again I am not the director, any who, I digress and I will finishing by saying. " I have confidence in Christopher Nolan as a director and let us Batman fans bow our heads and say an altered version of the Pilot's prayer... Lord, please don't let them screw this up. Amen!"

i dont know about you guys but ledger was a pretty big nut in Lords of Dog town, check it out :).

ok guys ... i've read everything what you said and what josh tyler has given in the preview pulp. what we need to undertand is that there are many reasons to watch a particular movie. y do we watch a comic book movie ?!! its because we want our comic book hero to come to life or someone else who is not a comic book fan watching a comic book movie bcoz he/she enjoys it (meaning it really is that good ) ... what burton started and what schumacher destroyed was my favorite hero ... the batman . until nolan gave him life again . I enjoyed the dark theme of begins and for the first time i really understood what the dark knight was all about .. if ur a true fan of the hero u should enjoy begins . There is so much talk abt ledger playing the joker and comparisons with nicholson. hey guys that was burton's joker this is nolan's joker ..no doubt he is one of the biggest villains in comic history but for all those who have doubts abt ledger's joker should now be anticicpating wat it is going to be and nolan is a real pro ...the guy knows wat he is doing . i hope all true fans support ledger's joker and just dont compare him to nicholson's . I hope that nolan does put more action sequences in this one than begins ..and also would want to see eckhart as harvey dent if the rumor is true. just becoz ledger does'nt have it to pull this one off means that no one will watch it ?!!!.... i would have to reserve my comments untill and unless i see it and hope that it betters batman begins in all aspects

As a huge Batman fan and movie dork I absolutely loved Batman Begins and know it is the best adaptation of the Dark Knight - ever. Before you judge let me add that I also own every big screen version of Batman all the way back to the 1940s serials and have been a Bat-fan since I was a kid in the 1970s - so there. As for Katie Holmes, in no uncertain terms, she sucked and had zero-value-add for the movie and it is a shame she is returning. As for the fight scenes, I thought they were in the mark, but there could have been more of them. I am very hesitant about Heath Ledger as the Joker since the Joker is the coolest sadist ever to grace the comics and Heath, well I just dont know if he can pull of the sardonic-psychotic we have all grown to love over the years. I expect a great movie from Nolan and crew, but am holding my breath for the life of the Joker. Oh, and as far as sequels go - I agree every third hero flick blew starting with Superman III and ending with X-men III. I really hope Spidey III rocks since the second was even better than the 1st!

Well looks like Rachel Dawes will be back, but it won't be Katie Holmes.

I am a huge fan of Batman Begins, in fact, my friends and I have this thing where we watch it every 3 months. Nerds, I know, but whatever. I agree with the author about the fighting scenes. The only two scenes that really worked were the car chase scene (which I guess doesn't count as a fight scene) and the scene between Bale and Neeson on the ice (although that one worked more because of the dialogue). Anyways, I originally took issue with Heath Ledger being cast as the Joker, but then I decided to put some blind faith in Nolan since his casting decisions (minus Katie Holmes) in Begins were spot on. Obviously the title indicates a theme centered around darkness, so perhaps a "straight" Heath Ledger would be more appropriate than an energetic villain? There are comic interpretations of the Joker that focus on a villain who is just insane, not at all laugh out loud funny since his humor is just his own. Perhaps Ledger fits that role.

I hate to say it but I will have a hard time watching The Dark Knight just because Jack Nicholson personified the Joker, and I hate the fact that anybody realy has the gull to redo a Tim Burton film anyway. They need to pick up where he left off! The Batman movies just started to fall after he stopped making them. Don't get me wrong I did enjoy Batman Begins, but why redo perfection. Can you honestly tell me you do not get chills when you hear Nicholson ask, "Have you ever danced with the devil by the pale moon light?"

if you have seen more of Ledgers more unaccounted films you know he can take a challanging role and give it life. I am a big Joker fanitic and I fully support the idea of Ledger as the Joker. I may not be a big fan of Gay Back Mountain. But Ledger has most deffinetley wone my choice for the role of The Joker. Instead of looking to main stream like they did to cast Baile for the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. They relised they needed someone with some unknowen film flair to once again deliver and impacting role straight from the cronicles of the Joker history. Espically after Jack Nickoleson's well renowened portrayel. They could deffinetlet not go mainstream and deliver something with a total new impact adn not have it compared to Nickoleson.