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Author	Topic: Your Review or impression on the Dark Knight Cd?

Vladimir Standard Userer	I picked up my copy early this morning and I haven't been able to stop whistling the themes since. There are new themes mixed with old. This cd is much more fun to listen to than Batman Begins. Much more heroic,bold and creepy themes accompany the cd. Some are upset due to Batman Begins themes still being used for the Dark Knight. Let me say this. The dark Knight is a sequel, why would'nt there be themes used from Batman Begins? I do not have a favorite track because all are great in thier own way. I guess if there was one track that I really did'nt care for it was "why so serious" I think this track will sound better in the movie. Overall, pick up this cd its worth it!!!! NP The Dark Knight ***/*** Hats of to Zimmer and Newton Howard!!
posted 07-15-2008 10:58 PM PT (US)

Jeron Standard Userer	There's definitely a much better sense of Zimmer and JNH actually collaborating on the same cues together. I find myself hearing both of their influences in each of the tracks on the CD... it's not so much like Batman Begins, where one track sounded like Zimmer, and then another sounded like JNH. This feels like a truer collaboration that the first... and that certainly makes it a more interesting listen. Not sure if it's better than Batman Begins. I'd say it's just different. I do enjoy it, though.
posted 07-16-2008 11:26 AM PT (US)

Pwesty Non-Standard Userer	So far from what I have heard, it darn good!
posted 07-16-2008 03:22 PM PT (US)

John C Winfrey Standard Userer	From what I have heard of it so far, its not too bad. I hear mostly Zimmer in it. I will get the CD eventually because of Howard. J.
posted 07-16-2008 07:14 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	NO SPOILERS BELOW: Just finished this at the IMAX! WOW! The IMAX sequences are are absolutely stunning... Hong Kong never looked that good on film before! They'll never make a Batman movie this good again. I won't write a review here, but a few tid bits on the score: Mixed LOUD! Also, the CD glaringly has a ton of music that either just appears in snippets in the film, or doesn't appear at all: The tremendous rendition of the Bruce-Rachel theme at the end of "Harvey Two-Face" is nowhere to be found in the film, and "Like A Dog Chasing Cars" is only partially used (the Joker section of that piece is completely omitted from the movie). And the music fits like a glove! I have nothing to write to those who don't like this score, because I honestly don't see how any other score could have worked; to add to what Jeron wrote: The integration of Zimmer and Howard is seamless, by now, for me; they both wrote it and shaped and it's their's, not one or the others as far as cues-pieces-tracks go--that's just what the two of them together sound like; unless either of those two composers has anything to add to that and cry fowl than it's a pretty clean cut collaboration.
posted 07-16-2008 09:22 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by John C Winfrey: I will get the CD eventually because of Howard. J. Did you buy Howard's Charlie Wilson's War yet, because I hear that's stunning?
posted 07-16-2008 09:24 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	This film is pretty good, guys. It's a grim night at the cinema, and there are some minor flaws, but I can well understand why many are calling it the best comic book film ever made. I can't think of another superhero film that takes the viewer on such an intense, dramatic ride. It starts slow, but when it winds up... BOOM. It really isn't a superhero film - it has more in common with crime/morality dramas like NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, HANG EM HIGH, etc. COLLATERAL and its moral dilemmas also come to mind. I'd say the only really unfortunate thing about the film is that of the film's four pillars, Batman, Joker, Harvey Dent and Jim Gordon, Batman is the one we spend the least time on a personal level. I mean when he's not playing Batman, and not playing the playboy Bruce Wayne. We don't spend enough time with that guy, and given how much that was at the heart of BATMAN BEGINS, it's a slight shame. But another way of looking at it is that this is much more of an ensemble drama than the first film, which was one man's journey. This film is about everyone's choices. If there's anything else I'd say - I'll risk disagreeing with our Canadian friend and say this film probably is best seen on a normal cinema screen, not an IMAX screen. If Nolan shot his scenes from a more widescreen perspective, I'd say 'go for it'. But there are two critical action sequences where my friends had no idea what was happening, and the only reason I knew is that I was that I'm a more attentive viewer. This isn't a film killer, because the best parts really are when the characters are talking to each other. A rare thing: I didn't notice when specific cues appeared in the film. I was caught up in the story enough not to notice. I do think 'Like a Dog Pushing Cars' appears over the end title. I don't remember where it appeared in the story. No spoilers from me. Think twice about taking children and girlfriends. Especially children. And can I just say this: IT'S GREAT TO ACTUALLY REALLY LIKE A SUMMER STUDIO TENTPOLE. I can't remember the last time that happened to me.
posted 07-18-2008 06:08 AM PT (US)

Jeron Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by sean: *Did you buy Howard's Charlie Wilson's War* yet, because I hear that's stunning?** Hahaha.
posted 07-18-2008 11:23 AM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by franz_conrad: If there's anything else I'd say - I'll risk disagreeing with our Canadian friend and say this film probably is best seen on a normal cinema screen, not an IMAX screen. If Nolan shot his scenes from a more widescreen perspective, I'd say 'go for it'. But there are two critical action sequences where my friends had no idea what was happening, and the only reason I knew is that I was that I'm a more attentive viewer. This isn't a film killer, because the best parts really are when the characters are talking to each other. UHHHHH, WHAT? Has IMAX been removed from Australia? I know it wasn't in Adelaide when I was there; I was told because it wasn't popular. Honestly, I will not go see The Dark Knight at a regular cinema. What action scenes did your friends have trouble with? The coverage was spot on this time, as opposed to Batman Begins where nearly all the fights were closed-quarters/hand-held and with rapid cutting... Not true for The Dark Knight as far as coverage goes: The camera were held back and the editing was smooth throughout. I don't know how you can say not to go see this at the IMAX, unless you haven't watched it in IMAX, especially for the convoy/bat pod chase which was covered steadily and shot in 65mm... Honestly, no offense to you friends, but I'd think you'd have to be pretty lame in the brain not to be able to understand the action in this film; it was pretty visceral and exciting all around, and expertly shot, especially the IMAX footage.
posted 07-18-2008 01:12 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	Michael: "Like A Dog Chasing Cars" appears briefly in the film, and it's only the intro section really; it than switches into "Agent Of Chaos" in the following sequence. It wasn't in the end credits. That score was mixed tremendously loud, but that may have been, again, the benefit of it being in IMAX, it had more range than a normal mix and was purposefully up front. I noticed the music pretty heavily, especially Joker's theme.
posted 07-18-2008 01:17 PM PT (US)

scoreguy16 Standard Userer	That's weird about not being able to follow the IMAX stuff... on the Blu-Ray for Batman Begins it shows the prologue in its native IMAX ratio (well, altered slightly for 1.78 screens just like it will be when it comes out on Blu-Ray) and I had no troubles telling what was going on. But I suppose seeing it on a smaller 60" screen compared to a ginormous IMAX one is a pretty big difference. As for me, I saw this in a DLP theater and could kind of tell what was meant for IMAX. And as for the movie itself... I agree with everyone. This is far from a superhero movie. It's more like an extremely well done crime drama. ::POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT!!!!:: The only complaints I had were about some of the way deaths were handled (I wont say who). Also, some of the editing seemed just slightly choppy. That applies to both the film and the music. But I think one of the things that bothered me the most was Two-Face. The way he sounded didn't reflect his face at all if that makes sense. But if your cheek is gone, you're not going to sound normal. ::END SPOILERS!!!: Heath Ledger... What a crazy crazy role. I absolutely think he should get as much recognition as possible. And his theme... At first I am like "this is one note held out for a long time" and as the movie went on, I started to get it. And it kept getting creepier, and creepier, and creepier until now I can't get the sound out of my head. As for the CD... I haven't gotten the whole way through, but Why So Serious? is excelent for the simple fact that you hear more of a Joker theme than what was featured in the film. And I also noticed, his theme is the same 2 notes as Batman's but reversed and distorted/performed differently. I thought it was genius the way Zimmer did that. I also really like the fact that most the music that I loved from the first one that was missing from the CD has made its way onto this one in some form. If I had to describe the film and the CD, I'd say darker, larger, fuller, and much more dramatic. I can't wait for this to come out on home video!!!
posted 07-18-2008 01:39 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by sean: UHHHHH, WHAT? Has IMAX been removed from Australia? I know it wasn't in Adelaide when I was there; I was told because it wasn't popular. Honestly, I will not go see The Dark Knight at a regular cinema. What action scenes did your friends have trouble with? Sean, don't be obnoxious. If it had been removed, there would be no point in my saying that it might be a good idea to avoid it. My friends are of course stupid, and this precious film couldn't possibly be flawless. Or perhaps, like me, you spend so much time watching films and are quicker at figuring things out than the poor John Q Citizen who went to the movies for the first time this month last night. (A situation that describes the people I went with.) SPOILERS So these are the moments of confusion: - When Batman runs through the building towards the end of the film trying to prevent SWAT teams from killing hostages accidentally, it really wasn't communicated with great clarity at all. I had to explain what was going on after it happened. In particular, on that secondary floor with the group of hostages in between the first floor and the one where the Joker is, I'm not even sure what was happening myself. I assume it made sense, but it was really a blur. - When the Batmobile is launched in between the Joker's truck and truck with Dent to take the bazooka rocket, I must admit even I only figured out what was going on after it happened. From what I could tell, the Batmobile was jumping over a smaller car and not changing lanes at the same time. - When Batman gets into a fight at the penthouse party, you have to be watching the background very closely and not be distracted by the foreground fighting to notice that the Joker, more than once, pushes his goons towards Batman. Most people would just think he did it the one time it actually gets foregrounded in a shot. As I said, I consider these minor flaws, because it's a film that succeeds on the strength of its dramatic scenarios, not its action scenes. I didn't go to IMAX because the only example I've seen of Nolan's big-screen action film-making was not an encouragement. I think if anything, BB was more clear, because I had a clear sense of what was going on in all those scenes when I saw them in the cinema. I don't think an even bigger screen will hide this issue. (Though of course the shots of Batman gliding through the city will look great on the very big screen.) [Message edited by franz_conrad on 07-18-2008]
posted 07-18-2008 03:17 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by sean: Michael: "Like A Dog Chasing Cars" appears briefly in the film, and it's only the intro section really; it than switches into "Agent Of Chaos" in the following sequence. It wasn't in the end credits. Ok... it sounded like a big action cue as the end credits began, which is why I thought it must have been that. You're right about noticing the Joker's theme. Every time that chord starts, you know something's about to go wrong.
posted 07-18-2008 03:19 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by scoreguy16: That's weird about not being able to follow the IMAX stuff... on the Blu-Ray for Batman Begins it shows the prologue in its native IMAX ratio (well, altered slightly for 1.78 screens just like it will be when it comes out on Blu-Ray) and I had no troubles telling what was going on. But I suppose seeing it on a smaller 60" screen compared to a ginormous IMAX one is a pretty big difference. I haven't got anything against the IMAX format, it's just the last point there that I think could be an issue. Mind you, I don't know for sure, since I haven't seen it, but it already felt in a normal cinema like a couple of the action scenes made sense on a smaller editing monitor and became more unclear with magnification.
posted 07-18-2008 03:21 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	Michael, I'm still not convinced that people cannot understand the action sequences: In The Dark Knight these scenes are shot clearly and differently than it's former was, with none of the abrasive techniques that had been used in Batman Begins (which was, that you'd see the action from the criminal's perspective: Batman appears, disappears, and comes in and out in flashes, dispatching his foes; the style reflected that frantic approach), the style of the action in Dark Knight is vastly different from before: A perfect example is the club scene, where Batman makes his way through Eric Roberts' henchmen... The action is there for all eyes; you can see each move, even such a dark environment with strobe-lights, etc. I suggest you watch it in IMAX and then pass judgment: I'd be interested to see what you'd think of it after that. I'll have to agree with you that you and I (Andrew you're included, don't worry) are probably more astute than the average viewer when it comes to film: We know how to fill in blanks almost instinctively for whatever a filmmaker may or may not provide with their visuals, and again we can also see the various plot devices and turns that might be employed to push a story of almost any kind; all that comes with having watched an obscene amount of movies, though.
posted 07-18-2008 06:28 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by sean: A perfect example is the club scene, where Batman makes his way through Eric Roberts' henchmen... The action is there for all eyes; you can see each move, even such a dark environment with strobe-lights, etc. I suggest you watch it in IMAX and then pass judgment: I'd be interested to see what you'd think of it after that. Sure. And I might do. I just meant that the things the film does best - story, acting, character, themes - will probably play just as well on a normal cinema screen, while I'm not sure the action scenes will play any better. As for the club scene you mention, it wasn't a problem. (The car chase and final hostage situation were more problematic.) It's very similar to a scene at the opening of Mann's MIAMI VICE actually, where Jamie Foxx knocks over some guys. Similar coverage, and quite clear.
posted 07-19-2008 02:35 AM PT (US)

Quill Standard Userer	Great film. Not a great comic-book film, but a great film. Dark, gritty and emotional. I agree with previous comments about some of the editing being odd and Nolan still does not seem to have a grasp of the intimate action scenese. Some of the grander pieces were better this time around, but the film still suffers from dark lighting and rapid-fire editing in certain places (already mentioned.) Now, I enjoy the gritty reality of it all, but at some point they need to remember that this is Batman and not Heat. The opening scene almost made me feel like I was watching the bank heist from Heat. A little too much. As for the music, I have the CD, but have not listened to it yet. The siren bit for the Joker actually did nothing for me. It was a bit distracting. The character is all about anarchy (perhaps the theme symbolizes his building madness) but something more kinetic would have been better. More of the same as far as the rest of the music...good, but nothing ground-breaking. Hulk is still my top score for the summer. Yes, Heath Ledger's Joker incarnation is great. His performance is manic and the over the top. I won't take anything away from him, but the role is rather one-dimensional (which I dare say makes it easier) - much like Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, he chews up the screen every time he is on it. Dent's character arc is much more interesting to me, and Eckhardt's performance was solid and engaging. Probably the best film of the summer so far (though I have not seen Hellboy yet). Not really a comic book or superhero movie at all...which is not a bad thing depending on your point of view.
posted 07-19-2008 09:44 AM PT (US)

scoreguy16 Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by franz_conrad: SPOILERS So these are the moments of confusion: - When the Batmobile is launched in between the Joker's truck and truck with Dent to take the bazooka rocket, I must admit even I only figured out what was going on after it happened. From what I could tell, the Batmobile was jumping over a smaller car and not changing lanes at the same time. [Message edited by franz_conrad on 07-18-2008] I forgot about that, and I actually do agree with you. I didn't know exactly where he was even during a lot of that chase. Personally, I think the music for The Joker is perfect. I know Quill, you said it didn't do anything for you and that you like the Harvey Dent character better over all. But I think the music goes hand and hand with Ledger's Joker. Even I said "this is the music that everyone made a big deal over?" and then it continued throughout the film. Everytime I heard it, it would make me think that The Joker is just all that more insane. And it was incredibly fitting. And the reason I think the Joker is more than a 1D role is because it seemed like there was more to it than what was being spelled out if that made sense. Yes, he was there to promote anarchy, but there's more to him than that. This is a person that you get to know is just completely gone and because of that, he's pretty much an unstoppable force.
posted 07-19-2008 10:11 AM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	HAHA! Michael! Come on, you were confused by the bazooka!? That car chase sequence is all shot in IMAX and looked fantastic... The clarity of 65mm over 35mm is a none-issue, it's just better and the clarity is stunning; you can't convince me that 35 is better than 65 or equal, too, when it's attached to this movie, seriously. (HK has never looked better in those aerial IMAX shots!) Also, don't mention Miami Vice and Jamie Foxx and The Dark Knight in the same sentence/paragraph/thread... HAHA! Sorry, Nolan's Batman is in another league and Tubbs just doesn't fit in with it! LOL! You had me laughing pretty hard with that comparison, and I just don't see it other than that both scenes take place in a club. [Message edited by sean on 07-19-2008]
posted 07-19-2008 10:25 AM PT (US)

scoreguy16 Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by sean: HAHA! Michael! Come on, you were confused by the bazooka!? That car chase sequence is all shot in IMAX and looked fantastic... The clarity of 65mm over 35mm is a none-issue, it's just better and the clarity is stunning; you can't convince me that 35 is better than 65 or equal, too, when it's attached to this movie, seriously. (HK has never looked better in those aerial IMAX shots!) Also, don't mention Miami Vice and Jamie Foxx and The Dark Knight in the same sentence/paragraph/thread... HAHA! Sorry, Nolan's Batman is in another league and Tubbs just doesn't fit in with it! LOL! You had me laughing pretty hard with that comparison, and I just don't see it other than that both scenes take place in a club. [Message edited by sean on 07-19-2008] I think he just meant he had troubles keeping track of where things were. I didn't know how many lanes there were and had troubles telling here everyone was so I agree with him. However, I think that's Nolan's issue as a director and not an issue with 35mm vs. IMAX.
posted 07-19-2008 01:09 PM PT (US)

scoreguy16 Standard Userer	Ok, would someone please tell me what the end of Harvey Two-Face reminds them of? I swear the background is a theme from another movie and I can't tell if it's another James Newton Howard movie or if it's something like Trevor Rabin... My head is going to expload if I don't figure this out!!!
posted 07-19-2008 01:45 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by sean: HAHA! Michael! Come on, you were confused by the bazooka!? That car chase sequence is all shot in IMAX and looked fantastic... The clarity of 65mm over 35mm is a none-issue, it's just better and the clarity is stunning; you can't convince me that 35 is better than 65 or equal, too, when it's attached to this movie, seriously. Unless they're using much wider perspectives on the scenes (entailing, given what's going on, probably more CGI) in 65mm than what they did in 35mm, the ratio of the stock they're shooting on is not the issue. I don't have a strong eye for the quality and definition of prints (considering most films I see aren't graded, it's just as well), and this has nothing to do with that. I agree, the cinematography is fantastic, but as well as enjoying the strength of the images, I wanted to know where things were in relation to each other. It's more a failure of director and editor than dop. What I do know is, the larger the screen, the more disorienting an edit can be. It's why people can watch BOURNE SUPREMACY on tv but not in a cinema. So I figure if screen geography is thrown out of whack by a series of edits in a regular cinema, i can't see how a big screen is going to alleviate that. quote: (HK has never looked better in those aerial IMAX shots!) Stop bringing up things I didn't have a problem with as if it somehow cures all other scenes that had problems. However if you do feel that, you should see footage of Hong Kong in days before pollution diminished its sheen. quote: Also, don't mention Miami Vice and Jamie Foxx and The Dark Knight in the same sentence/paragraph/thread... HAHA! Sorry, Nolan's Batman is in another league and Tubbs just doesn't fit in with it! LOL! You had me laughing pretty hard with that comparison, and I just don't see it other than that both scenes take place in a club. I can't believe anyone who watches DARK KNIGHT wouldn't come away pretty convinced that Nolan watches, and gets a lot out of, Michael Mann films. I'm not calling them copycats, or calling MIAMI VICE a better film (though it is a vastly under-appreciated film for all its flaws), but clearly the Nolans want to make a world where similar concerns and atmosphere prevail. (And if it wasn't the scene in MIAMI VICE (where the blocking is similar to the scene in DARK KNIGHT), it was probably the similar scene in COLLATERAL where Tom Cruise does pretty much the same thing.)
posted 07-19-2008 05:16 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	I know Nolan likes Michael Mann, it's clear, it's just that Miami Vice (and I, too, like this movie) was furthest from my mind, especially during that particular scene. Also, I've dealt with various prints and stock of all sizes at my job for a number of years, so perhaps I'm coming at this from a different perspective than you are. As for the amounts of lanes or whatever that were on the road and where the Batmobile was at this point in time or that point, I was enjoying the scene quite a bit and I didn't care to notice those small and ultimately useless details, sorry.
posted 07-19-2008 08:46 PM PT (US)

Quill Standard Userer	I believe he even stated that Heat was his inspiration for several sequences.
posted 07-19-2008 10:30 PM PT (US)

rkeaveney Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by sean: Michael: "Like A Dog Chasing Cars" appears briefly in the film, and it's only the intro section really; it than switches into "Agent Of Chaos" in the following sequence. It wasn't in the end credits. That score was mixed tremendously loud, but that may have been, again, the benefit of it being in IMAX, it had more range than a normal mix and was purposefully up front. I noticed the music pretty heavily, especially Joker's theme. Is "Like a Dog Chasing Cars" not the hostages/SWAT sequence? The album is a mess!
posted 07-19-2008 11:10 PM PT (US)

Tristan Standard Userer	Yeah, you cam totally see the influence of the movie HEAT (one of my favorites) on this movie. Even with the score. The Joker's theme coupled with the overhead shots of the Gotham city streets was very reminicent of the nighttime stake out/heist scene from HEAT where DeNiro and Pacino have the staredown in the shadows... I like thinking of Gotham this way, with the same gritty loneliness that Los Angeles is portrayed with in Mann's movies. And even Bill Fichtner (who was in HEAT) is in the DARK KIGHT'S opening heist. I was waiting for Joker's loudest accomplice to pull of his clown mask and reveal himself as Tom Sizemore as he straightened his hair. Overall, I liked the movie. I thought it could've been cut down, especially in the beginning. It seemed very long to me...too long. Heath's performance was great. I love how you couldn't trust his stories he would relate about his personal origins. I think it might have been too much though to cram Harvey Dent's entire story and transformation into the same movie. And I really wanted to see them bring back Falcone (Tom Wilkinson). Eric Roberts was forgettable as his replacement. Falcone verses the Joker would've been awesome. ' So far, the best movie of the summer though.
posted 07-19-2008 11:44 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by rkeaveney: Is "Like a Dog Chasing Cars" not the hostages/SWAT sequence? The album is a mess! How is the album "a mess"? (It's a damn good listen, overall, as an album.) Do you just mean different from what's played on-screen? (I think that's a given these days when a final cut can be produced at the last minute.) It flows rather well, IMO. The first part of "Like A Dog Chasing Cars" (00:00-02:10) is used and than a little later it switches to "Introduce A Little Anarchy" in its fullest. Hey Ryan, going to TO soon, wanna' meet? LOL!
posted 07-20-2008 12:00 AM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by sean: As for the amounts of lanes or whatever that were on the road and where the Batmobile was at this point in time or that point, I was enjoying the scene quite a bit and I didn't care to notice those small and ultimately useless details, sorry. Noone should ever consciously care about such details. If someone does consciously or unconsciously get confused about what's going on though, the film-makers have a problem, because they've let something get in the way of a good moment. Most who don't understand what's going on in that car chase won't relate it to screen geography like me, they'll just go: 'what's going on?', like my friends did the other night. I've had to go back and reshoot parts of scenes myself because of this issue.
posted 07-20-2008 12:23 AM PT (US)

Crono/Kyp Standard Userer	An epic masterpiece of a gothic crime drama that will be talked about for years to come. Ledger deserves a Best Actor Award. --Brian
posted 07-20-2008 03:03 AM PT (US)

Tristan Standard Userer	I think one of my biggest problems of this film (which by the way, I really liked. I'm just trying to sort out what bothered me about it) and even BATMAN BEGINS is the constant miscasting of the character of Rachel Dawes. I don't know in relation to the comic book what she should be, but I would think it would be a sexy and dynamic personality. Someone that you could understand multiple men (Bruce and Harvey) being head over heels for. Someone that we fall in love with as the audience. Like Delpy in BEFORE SUNSET/SUNRISE, Kate Hudson is HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN TEN DAYS, Marisa Tomei in MY COUSIN VINNY or the great Joan Blondell in any of her old 1930's pictures. This is often a flaw in movies I find, the casting of the female love interest that the male characters obsess over. Maggie Gyllenhaal is not this character in this movie. Neither so much was Holmes. Although, I hate to say it, but Holmes was a much better fit I think than Maggie. Both were duds though of what I think the character should be. I think that by the time fate catches up with her, we should really sympathize with Harvey Dent. It would make that conflict in him shine even brighter.
posted 07-20-2008 07:32 AM PT (US)

Quill Standard Userer	I agree...my wife leaned over to me during the movie and asked why they could not find someone decent for the role. While Maggie is a fine actress and slightly more believable in the role, it still didn't work for me. Maybe it's those dull eyes...dunno. One other thought...for a film that goes to such great lengths to maintain realism, how the hell.... very minor spoiler.... Could Batman survive the fall after catching Ratchel and landing on the cab. Neither of them are even dazed. That was just stupid. A nitpick on a great film...but come on.
posted 07-20-2008 11:51 AM PT (US)

scoreguy16 Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Quill: very minor spoiler.... Could Batman survive the fall after catching Ratchel and landing on the cab. Neither of them are even dazed. That was just stupid. A nitpick on a great film...but come on. I think it could've been more his armor plus his cape, though not extended, probably still provided some resistance to help slow the fall. At least that's what I told myself
posted 07-20-2008 12:40 PM PT (US)

Quill Standard Userer	I'm not sure what kind of armor would soften a 40-story drop. Didn't see any wings pop-out, but....this could have been another dark lighting, bad editing moment. Oh, and to the previous comment about the siren theme. To me, it is simply lazing scoring wrapped up in a superficial film of creativity. They could have done better. Now, I'm sounding negative...love this movie. Score, middle of the road just like the previous effort.
posted 07-20-2008 05:00 PM PT (US)

scoreguy16 Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Quill: I'm not sure what kind of armor would soften a 40-story drop. Didn't see any wings pop-out, but....this could have been another dark lighting, bad editing moment. Oh, and to the previous comment about the siren theme. To me, it is simply lazing scoring wrapped up in a superficial film of creativity. They could have done better. Now, I'm sounding negative...love this movie. Score, middle of the road just like the previous effort. And I wonder how much effort went into creating this siren sound... Just because it's a single sound doesn't mean it's lazy. It's the exact same argument I made about the first movie. The score absolutely surves its purpose perfectly. There didn't need more than two notes for the first film, and there doesn't need to be more than one for The Joker. The crazy siren sound fits him very well.
posted 07-20-2008 05:24 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by scoreguy16: And I wonder how much effort went into creating this siren sound... Just because it's a single sound doesn't mean it's lazy. It's the exact same argument I made about the first movie. The score absolutely surves its purpose perfectly. There didn't need more than two notes for the first film, and there doesn't need to be more than one for The Joker. The crazy siren sound fits him very well. I think it works perfectly. I don't think any kind of melodic theme for Joker would have worked; I don't think Ledger's performance and what his character encompassed in this film demanded any more than the menace Zimmer provides for him here... Anything longer than those two-notes I'd say could possibly ruin it, plus it's a nice reversal to Batman two-note theme.
posted 07-20-2008 08:17 PM PT (US)

StarlessWinter Standard Userer	Well, the Joker theme works well in the film, but to my taste it's annoying on its own.
posted 07-20-2008 10:47 PM PT (US)

rkeaveney Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by sean: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by rkeaveney: [b] Is "Like a Dog Chasing Cars" not the hostages/SWAT sequence? The album is a mess!<HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE> How is the album "a mess"? (It's a damn good listen, overall, as an album.) Do you just mean different from what's played on-screen? (I think that's a given these days when a final cut can be produced at the last minute.) It flows rather well, IMO. The first part of "Like A Dog Chasing Cars" (00:00-02:10) is used and than a little later it switches to "Introduce A Little Anarchy" in its fullest. Hey Ryan, going to TO soon, wanna' meet? LOL![/B] I'm having them ground all flights, halt all trains and close all highways! You'll have to tunnel into town. And I'm not a fan of the album assembly. I can understand presenting the score as an experience, but this one is just frustrating to me. Naming each track after a line of dialogue isn't helpful either. No more useful than the names of bat species!
posted 07-20-2008 11:15 PM PT (US)

rkeaveney Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Crono/Kyp: An epic masterpiece of a gothic crime drama that will be talked about for years to come. Ledger deserves a Best Actor Award. --Brian Hmn, there's nothing "gothic" about THE DARK KNIGHT. It's all set in an undisguised Chicago, and briefly in Hong Kong. Neither city is known for it's "gothic" architecture or art.
posted 07-20-2008 11:18 PM PT (US)

NeoVoyager Standard Userer	After losing my seats (purchased via Fandango over a week in advance) due to overcrowding of the theater (though I was 20 minutes early), I had to reschedule my tickets to a showing almost three hours later (all showings until then were sold out). I got there almost an hour early this time, and was glad I did... the line was already well formed to get into the next showing, and by the time they opened the doors 35 minutes before starting time it had wended its way all the way to the entry lobby of our labyrinthine theater! I've never seen such a turnout before. Anyway, I thought it was magnificent. As I've said, I've never anticipated an upcoming movie more than this one, and I was not let down in the least. I do find it hilarious that it's currently ranking #1 on the IMDb Top 250 though. It was really good, people... but not that good. Now... the score. Honestly, they could have just temped in "Batman Begins" and I would have barely noticed a difference, let alone the average theater-goer (aside from the Joker music, which worked well). Yeah, it's louder and fuller sounding... a bit more dramatic..... but ultimately devoid of personality. Mind you, I'm not saying it didn't work in the movie, 'cause it did for the most part. I did like the newly minor-themed and melancholy piece that began during Gordon's talk to his son and continued into the end credits, but was rather disappointed to find that it isn't even on the CD (they did that last time too!). Of course, I'm not outraged about it or anything. If Christopher Nolan prefers the movies to be scored this way, then that's fine. The exceptionally bland music doesn't change my appreciation for the movie, and if it was a choice between this or anything close to Elfmanesque writing, I'd choose this in a heartbeat.
posted 07-20-2008 11:19 PM PT (US)

Quill Standard Userer	Nothing too wild about that siren...simple droning...
posted 07-21-2008 01:07 AM PT (US)

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