While I was in a press screening downtown (King of Kong = Great documentary with geek appeal), a new set of production photos from The Dark Knight leaked online (presumably as part of Warner Bros viral campaign, or not… If that is the case, you can e-mail us). I don’t exactly know who deserves credit for this one, but IESB was the first site I saw them on (although, they seem to be everywhere now: FirstShowing, FilmSchoolRejects, AICN, and even JustJared). The images appear to have originated from a phantom Flickr account. Jeeez, news spreads in just an hour. Check out the photos after the jump. I must warn you that there are some spoilers, one that confirms a detail in my original Dark Knight spoiler report from last week. Who knew? Even I was skeptical. Check out the photos after the jump.
Images Removed at Request of Warner Bros
August 16th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
i think my head is going to explode now
August 16th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Countdown is on til WB sends a legal notice requesting them taken down!
August 16th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
yaaawwwwnnnn, and the joker looks super lame
August 17th, 2007 at 1:44 am
Who cares! Booooring! The Joker is a super easy role, I don’t know why they are trying to make out as if it was Shakespeare or something.
August 17th, 2007 at 2:57 am
how they going to let a gay cowboy play the joker, how sad
August 17th, 2007 at 2:59 am
great the joker is played by a gay cowboy, how sad
August 17th, 2007 at 4:26 am
yup… thats the shit right there. I can’t wait for the Joker’s brutality
August 17th, 2007 at 4:54 am
Boring? The joker looks lame? lol Your right. We should get the old movie joker. You know, the one who looks like he just left the beauty salon and maybe he can bring a boom box with him and batman and joker could bust into some 80’s themed riverdance. This joker looks spot on, mentally insane. I’m so glad the dark knight is getting the respect he deserves. Not some candy coated George Clooney BS.
August 17th, 2007 at 7:12 am
Something ya’ll have to understand is, they’re moving away from the corny-cartoony looks from previous movies and are going for something more tangibly realistic.
August 17th, 2007 at 7:34 am
looks good althought the Bat Cave isn’t much of a cave anymore :-/
August 17th, 2007 at 8:15 am
I like the Batman Begins suit better. It makes Batman seem bigger and more intimidating. This new one makes his head look kinda too big and his body skinny. And what’s with Batman seen in a fully-lit room(his penthouse and interrogation room)? He should be in the shadows or at least under the night sky at all the times (Yeah, that’s not realistic, but it’s a movie. They can try.) I’m still really looking forward to it though.
August 17th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Looks awesome! If it’s anything like batman begins then we’re all in for a great experience.
August 17th, 2007 at 8:54 am
The scenes that are in the light they will most likly doing editing to make it dark, thats what they did for begins and others. but this movie looks amzing and bravo to nolan for a kickass joker finally!
August 17th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Man… I can’t belive it is still a year away!!
August 17th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Okay, let’s get some facts straight. The Joker IS NOT an easy role. Not everyone can smear their face in makeup and pretend to be the Joker. You have to show a highly disturbed patern. And Heath Ledger’s portrayal so far is awesome! Batman’s suit is dissapointing. My favorite will still have to be Burton’s because of the cloak. Batman ALWAYS stands in the shadows. Always with a cloak covering half his body. I dont like the new suit but I’m hoping Nolan will surprise us as to why it’s in the flick. And yeah, they will edit the lighting. The Joker looks wicked. Cant wait!!
August 17th, 2007 at 10:09 am
The guy who said the Joker is an easy role is a moron. Not even Jack Nicholson was able to pull it off, and he’s a great actor. Whether or not Heath Ledger can do it remains to be seen, but it really look to me that Nolan doesn’t understand what it is that makes the joker so frightening as a villain.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Is that Cillian Murphy (second from the left) in the picture 8 down?
August 17th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Oh man, this movie is going to rock.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:16 am
i really am sorry to say it but the joker looks god awful! i like his purple suit up near the top where he;s kicking batman but his face is crap. im really hoping this isnt the final version of him cos i did hear a rumour that he already did the make-up thing as his gimmick before getting turned into the joker properly so…i have every finger and toe crossed that this is the case! not too fond of the new batsuit either…
August 17th, 2007 at 11:35 am
i can´t wait to see this movie! i really enjoy Batman Begins, to me it´s one of the best hero movie ever, so i expect great things for the new film…well the Joker looks like a drunk drag queen so far, let´s hope we could get a good performance from this guy…
August 17th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
1) The fact that Ledger even had the balls to play a gay cowboy shows how committed he is as an actor.
2) It’s the Joker. If he doesn’t look like a drunk drag queen, then you’re designing him wrong.
3) You’re judging a movie by pictures?
August 17th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
WTF? Joker doesn’t paint his face white, his face is permanently white, has been since he was created in the 30s. Nolan’s an idiot.
August 17th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Wow, some of these look super-photoshopped.
August 17th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
WOW! The movie is a fucking year away and you all are flipping shit over screenshots of an UNFINISHED MOVIE…seriously, reserve at least a LITTLE judgment, people.
August 17th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
The Joker looks terrible, I don’t care how real they are trying to
make it, yes he looks like a pissed off drag queen-perhaps
this is brokeback joker. ArvinDh this comment makes no
sense ” Heath Ledger’s portrayal so far is awesome!” unless
you seen him acting the part out you cant say that, perhaps
you ment that he looks like his portrayal might be good-doubt
it-can’t remember any movie he actually acted good in or was
any good. As for the bat suit, terrible, they should have left
the original one with a few modifications as to what it can do
not change the look. I guess I’ll see it when it comes out but
these pics are not makeing me want to go out and see this this.
P.S. Joker looks really lame
August 17th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
First of all, if you think the Joker should look like a damn cartoon character with perfect face paint that doesnt smear or anything, then that’s your problem. He should look mentally unstable and the facepaint should look as if he applied it using a severed hand (which it does).
Secondly, if you haven’t noticed, the name of the movie is THE DARK KNIGHT. The new batsuit has been designed to resemble a knight’s suit of armor. There’s an article in Entertainment weekly that has a diagram with the photo of Bale wearing the suit, and it shows all of the new changes. The entire suit is actually layers of armor made of a new material that Wayne Enterprises created. And underneath the armor, he wears protective chain-mail, like a medival knight. The new mask/helmet finally allows Batman to turn his head and look around, since it is modeled from a motorcycle helmet. Think about it, Batman would realisticly have to look left and right to fight crime, instead of turning his entire body like he does in every other movie.
The bottom line is, TDK will be a more reallistic and believable movie.
August 17th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Dave.. you are a gigantic bag of whiny fan boy farts. Jerks like you have never and will never be happy with a movie adaptation of comic book and or cartoon. Does it really F’N matter if the jokers face is or isnt painted on? This whole “TRUE” to the character rant is stoopid! Often changes like this are made for the better. I.E. in spiderman instead of giving him mechanical web shooters they logically allowed webbing to be part of the rest of his super powers and it was such a good idea that it was intergrated in the comic book it self (ultimate spiderman). If the webbing came out of his ass like a real spider then maybe I would have been a little upset but hey I am willing to except changes or alterations to iconic characters if it means making them better. The Joker has been portraid diffrently by many actors and writers to each his own making slight variances but the sole of the character is that of a fucking crazy sadistic bitch ass clown. So far heath ledger with makeup and all fits that bill and if you dont like it then go hang yourself
August 17th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Great post. From what I’ve heard, a more savage and primal direction may be taken with the Joker, so I’d expect him to look a little less well maintained the incarnations of the Joker from before. I have good faith for this moving being just as good, if not better, opening as Begins.
August 17th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
no one will ever be a cool as joker as jack nickleson.
August 17th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
no one will ever be as cool as joker as jack nickleson.
August 17th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
batman’s mask could be a bit smaller, his cave is now his empty basement, what is he doing walk around in so much light this ain’t no fucking birdman. i agree in the joker is a sadistic bastard and thus should look the part but what makes the joker even more insane and appealing is that besides his murderous action he is one suave, pimpin badass so yes the makeup doesn’t have to be perfect but it looks like it was applied by a six year old, simple fixes such as makes the red brighter and thinner as it leaves the lips rather than one big mark from ear to ear.The green is his hair could have been done better , its looks as if its washing out. it doesnt really matter if his face is white or if its just makeup its should be brighter . but seeing that he seems to be being interrogated and beaten up the fact that make up comes off with sweat should be taken into account when looking at these pics. the change from his usual hairstyle to this new longer one isn’t a big deal thought i personally think a gelled slicked back look would have been better.
His costume poses no problem with me i’m personally lovin the socks. Batman’s new bike and the return of the tank like batmobile proves that batman is i fact “ridin dirty” and thus the cops cant keep up ,lol.
Well thats all i have to say , looking forward to watching the dark knight and heres hoping that the ext one will have robin, the more asian batgirl with the costume with the thick stitches every where. i wonder if they r going to make a movie for batman beyond ever.
August 17th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
All those pix will be modified in post-production. Film shoot are always more illuminated to provide a better length of depth during post-production. Added to the CGI adjustments… I can easily see those pictures to be darker and less of a 1/1 ratio. Love the batcave/studio !
August 17th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
I think these photos are pretty neat. I’m very excited about the film. The only part that confuses me is The Joker’s face. It looks like face paint instead of his actual skin color. I’m wondering if they are going to show The Joker falling into a vat of chemicals like they did in the first Batman film? Either way I think “The Dark Knight” will be one Hell of a movie…
August 17th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
Is it true that they are going to have an implosion sequence? Are they going to use the bulldyke implosion queen to do it?
August 18th, 2007 at 3:39 am
Uh, guys… the level of light in these photo’s has absolutely nothing to do with the finished film will look. These are not screenshots they’re production photo’s. And they won’t be using CGI to darken them, that’s just silly.
Sets are generally lit so that the light level matches the needs of the type of film onto which the take is being shot. While Production Photo’s are taken while the film is rolling, the crew doesn’t re-light the scene so that the production photo has the same light levels as the finished product.
Some times you can’t tell a difference, and sometimes you can. And if they need to correct the image to make it darker they’ll generally try color timing or any other basic editing effect that’s been around since the 20’s before getting the ILM guys to add CGI (Computer Generated Image) darkness as that would be a complete waste of money.
August 18th, 2007 at 7:14 am
SHUT UP! Jack Nicholson sucked my balls as Joker, and Michael Keaton….ugh….c’mon people! Christian Bale is the best Batman, and I am definitely sure that Heath will be the best Joker. So, just shut up!
August 18th, 2007 at 7:33 am
luke… I never had a problem with organic webshooters, Wolverine being 6′2″ tall, Superman having a child, Batman wearing a suit of armor, Joker having scars, or Joker’s smeared lipstick, BUT this one is just TOO damn much Joker has always been perma white, that’s what made him into a nut, that’s what separates him from just being a regural person, whe he gets put in jail, he’ll just blend in with all the other inmates, rather than stand out. I’m not going to follow the rest of the sheep and proclaim Nolan can do no wrong, I hope he proves me wrong, but Nolan is really fucking up by doing this change.
August 18th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Wow! I had no idea the level of homophoia still out there about a movie role. Brokeback was one role out of around 20 films and a few TV series he’s done. I guess how uncomfortable it seems to make so many of you guys just shows how great of an actor he is (Well, that and the whole Oscar nomination thing). I don’t knwo what hsi Joker will be like but you only have to watch some his smaller films to know it will be intense and interesting.
August 18th, 2007 at 9:55 am
These images are looking raw, so take them at face value. They will be finished up and have a loads of post-production to make it all fitting to the Begins style. It will look superb I’m sure.
As for The Joker, I love it. People really need to get over themselves when going apesh*t over unfinished photographs. The Bike looks a little lame, sure, but so did the Begins Batmobile until you actually saw it in motion - then it suddenly became cool.
People need to remember these are adaptations. Tim Burton adapted Batman to suit his style as did Schumacher, as will anyone that does any comic book movie. Get over it.
I love the fact Heath Ledger, the “gay cowboy” you all hate, is playing the role of The Joker, as it’s a wonderful little ’screw you’ in the direction of the homophobic morons that have spat their venom so far.
Some of you have clearly never been laid. Ever.
August 19th, 2007 at 3:28 am
guys i think your missing out on a crazy detail here if u look at the pic with the batman imposters tied up you will notice one guy second to the right clearly that is scarecrow now this leak has gotten even bigger i c ant wait to see how nolan puts this all together
August 19th, 2007 at 10:45 am
I also questioned the fact that the Joker’s face paint actually looks more like face paint, as opposed to his skin changing his chemicals.
As a matter of fact, I think all of us were just assuming he became that way in Dark Knight as a result of chemicals. In fact, the more and more it looks like they aren’t going that direction at all.
What it appears is that his lips are deformed somehow. Therefore, it is highly possible we are going to get a version that had a guy that got a paper cut across his lips, and was driven insane enough to want to dress up with makeup and play a clown.
I am going to be a little disappointed if they go this route as opposed to the Red Hood/Chemical route with his face. I have no doubt, though, that Ledger will do a great job, though.
August 19th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
hey look i know we all have expectations about batman but lets just look at the facts here the first four films didnt do anything for us they were crap . alot of us grew up with batman as a kid and i think the way nolan is portraying is great he knows we are smart fans he know we know everything about batman but yet he decides to go in a different direction not because we wants to ruin what we all love about batman but to enhance it keep it in a realm of realty thats believable again out of respect for us. these things worked when we were younger but lets face it joker fallen into chemicals scaring him for life with a perfect clown face COME ON , we were talkin like this when batman begins was filming and look how that turned out now after watching nolans other films before and after batman i know without a shadow of a doubt this movie is going to rock hard then the i told u sooooo will come out i see u guys on the next blog when batman 3 comes out lol
August 19th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Any one with any knowledge of the actual movie making process would not be judging a move based on production stills. The film will be given it’s dark feel in the editing room. Batman Begins was hands down the best in the franchise and I look forward to seeing him take it in new directions.
Jack Nicholson was a comical joker and very 80s but his performance was done well none-the-less.
I think Heath Ledger will surprise everyone and blow the character out of the water. He is a very talented actor and not afraid to take risks. I think he will capture Joker’s insanity extremely well. I personally like the look of his make-up in those shots. It looks like it wasn’t put on by a Vidal Sassoon make-up artist and with it all running off his face, he looks even more psycho.
As for it not being “true” to the comic because his face should be always white… well… I think we all know the only people that complain about things like that are still living in their parents basement, playing Dungeons and Dragons and trying to wipe the cheeto dust off their dicks.
This movie will be sick.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:12 am
Batman Beging was a realistic movie, was a great adaptation, i have no doubts its sequel will be a great movie too, but this joker looks so weird, i didn´t expect another jack nicholson,or a comic reincarnation, but i must admit i felt dissapointment when i saw the first photo of this new joker,maybe i expect something really scary but like i said looks like a drunk drag queen, really i dont care if Ledger was a gay cowboy, im talking about the way he looks so far…i have great expectations about this movie. i really hope Ledger´s joker wil be a great one, but still his looks it´s terrible
August 20th, 2007 at 9:46 am
The Joker pics released look absolutley fantastic. Burtons portrayal of the joker was an eccentric madman but Nolans direction is alot more dark. Therefore we cant compare the two jokers as you are all gay.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Not going to judge joker just yet. I think ledger can actually do it he sounds sick in the teaser. Only compliant is Bale looks real skinny as compared to the begins.. Hope he didnt slck off because he could put the weight back on after rescue dawn..I hope we dont havve another skinny batman like keaton
August 20th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
look at the 6th pic down where the joker is kicking batman, his makeup / face is completely white. the same in pic 14. The shots where the makeup is faded / washed off is from fighting with batman. not 100% with this joker yet, i need to see him in action. the voice from the teaser was good, very disturbed.
i like the bb batsuit much better, as long as they explain the up grades or show bruce working with fox on it, not like the last run of movies where each new movie gets a new suit just for the hell of it. be happy that there are no nipples on it.
going with a painted madman makes it more realistic and believable. thats what was so great about begins, the believability factor was right on. this could really happen take place, no magic, superpowers…etc.
ok, my rant is over
August 20th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
For all of you that seem to disdain Heath Ledger as the Joker because of Brokeback Mountain, do not take it personally, because it was only a film role. Like Christian Bale, Heath has done different types of roles that would be considered different
August 21st, 2007 at 7:13 am
Also i’d like to add that these movies are trying to have a realistic depiction of The Joker, ad make him scary.
You have him fall in a vat of chemicals and sure it may be true to the comic but lets all realise smething here: Michael Jackson has shown us all what happens when your face has been messed up and your skin becomes chalk white.
So realistically speaking, looking at good old Wacko Jacko, the Joker wouldn’t be much of a psycho, he’d be a baby dangling paedophile that made great music in the 80’s.
Now I’ve realised that, I’d rather have the painted-joker. It’s much more deranged. It also makes him that little bit more insane and shows us he actually does this by choice and has him make the connection to a clown himself and as a result he seems like more of the inventor, rather than a slave of his own cruel fate. Much scarier.
And yeah, people that cry on little details like this not being true to the comic really oughta lay off the World Of Warcraft, put on their best pair of sandals and waddle outside for some clean outdoor air.
These movies are Nolans take on the character, just as Frank Millers books were. If you don’t like it don’t watch it.
August 21st, 2007 at 9:33 am
is it me or has the joker been slashed across the face as he seems to hav a massive scar across his mouth almost like a giant smile where red lip stick has been put over it? if so do you rekon he has done it him self or been attacked and what are peoples thoughts on his orgin story for the dark knight do you rekon they will go wiv the whole failed comdian red hood story of the killing joke as looking closly at the first image released of the joker it does look like parts of his face hav been scared but then looking at the above images it looks like he puts the white make up on to cover these scars.
despite what most people have written i think the joker looks awesum really twisted and sadistic like the joker i hav always wanted to c yeh nicholsons joker was ok but i fink ledger like bale can play many different roles so im confident he will make the joker dark and sadistic and his own my only fears for this film is that they dont hav 2 many villians hopefully two face wont make an appernce intil film 3 if there is one i faith in nolan but no director is perfect and usually they fuck up on the sequels so i hope and pray it is awesum.
one last fing peole dont slag off this film over a few images as people have.
August 21st, 2007 at 2:05 pm
First of all Jack nickelson IS the joker and second of all i agree with kathy, i did not no there was so much homophobia out there . . . although come on, the joker HAS to have a perma white face and a semi decent smile, i agree, he does look like a drag queen.
Also i heard he lives at the end of this one so do any of you guys and girls think harley quinn will be in the third if he goes to Arkham.
August 24th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Why must comic fans and people who follow these movies wind up being shot changed when it comes to these flicks. Batman Begins gets an A + in my opinion. It just seems that Hollywood thumbs their noses at the fans who made the characters we love and enjoy into a mockery of their own vision. (You know what they say of people who have visions) Anyway , A Super Hero is supose to stand out and be seen and the same goes for a Villain too. Why ? Because they are supose to be larger than life. Now as far as the Joker goes he should have been casted better and went back towards the Romero version. Why ? Because the part of him being mad is to show is pomp no matter what situation arises. The Joker has style and is pretty keen on keeping appearances and making memorable impressions that will last. Shame on the people in the meeting room who decided on all of these ante up changes. You can stick this movie because you don’t have a winner. Scrap it and start over. Lame Fools.
August 26th, 2007 at 10:49 am
I gotta back up Craig here (no pun intended). Everyone taking the Broke Back Mountain Heath played somebody gay thus can’t be the joker approach must remember- Christian Bale got shagged by Ewan McGregor in Velvet Goldmine Yet did we have any complaints about his acting as Batman? Nope he’s right on the money.
August 26th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
finally, someone who agrees withme, thank u Joe, all the rest of my friends think heath ledger’s GREAT for the role !?!?!
August 26th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
i cant see the pictures :(
and so what if the joker looks lame or gay or whatever. . its not like they can copy tim burtons joker, because that would be just as lame.
and i agree heath ledger is not exacly a good choice
he acts like a block of wood half the time
but maybe if he didnt do brokeback moutain, he would be more appealing for the role. but whatever
August 29th, 2007 at 7:39 am
I’m kind of shocked at the response a few pictures have received. I’m a die-hard Batman fan, always have been and the Joker is my favorite villain of all time. The reason is because he’s completely psychotic and has no real goal other than to inflict pain. That being said, this Joker looks like the genuine article. His face isn’t permanently white? Who cares? His hair isn’t green? So what? Last time I checked, Ra’s Al Ghoul wasn’t an overbearing british turned asian guy and was pretty much immortal. Batman Begins was still great because of the new vision Nolan brought to the characters.
As for the choice of actors, I was personally excited to hear Heath Ledger is the Joker. I’m equally as excited to see Harvey Dent played by Aaron Eckhart. Both look like the characters they are playing. From the shots, Heath looks as close to Jim Lee’s Joker as one can get and oozes psychotic tendancies. Add to that the voice I just heard on the trailer and you have what looks and sounds like a great movie for 2008. Superfans, get over yourselves. The details don’t matter when making a movie. It’s the full and final product that warrant glory or condemnation.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
can anyone send me a link to these photos, now that theyve been removed?
September 5th, 2007 at 10:22 am
yeah, can somebody please send me a link too . . .
September 8th, 2007 at 11:06 am
Oh, and anyone who has ever read the comics knows that the Joker is not an overweight 50 year old man. He’s lean, and actually scary, not a zany clown. How anyone could ever think that Jack Nicholson’s Joker is the best possible representation has clearly not picked up a Batman comic in the last 30 years.
September 28th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Why bother? Yet another Batman movie, oh well!! We covered this ground in 1991. Batman begins was pretty shoddy. A prequel ?? Jeez! The horse is dead for God’s sake, let it lie.. After Batman and Robin it lost all creditability. Now WB is trying to redo the whole damn series.. What next? Superman Begins 2- 3- 4- 5-.. How far do we have to go to get to the prequel of the prequel when Batman’s sperm fertilized the egg. Or better yet, Batman the Grey Years. He has a Bat-walker, and a Bat-Chair. The suit is grey, and has a saggy codpiece to hold his floppy old man balls.. There is a block buster for the Baby Boomers to root for!!
For crying out loud. This is too much….
Time for the stuffy (read: dead) old execs at WB to dig out the comics, and kill another character by giving them a rubber suit . Then remake their movies over and over and over again until you have flooded the market with “improved” versions of each remake.
Sad… Real sad. The last Batman Movie was Batman 3. From then on, it was total crap..
October 1st, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Batman Begins was not a retread of the old Batman movies. It was a reboot, and a very affective one at that. People who grew up reading Batman comics all appreciate Christopher Nolan’s efforts to make real movie about this great character. No one has gotten it right until Nolan came along and made Batman Begins. Look, I love Jack and everything, I really do. But the fact of the matter is that he was hired to bring the movie revenue. He was the larger than life, scene-stealing prankster and he did make the role his own. Most of the fans from the comics weren’t crazy about Jack’s representation of the Joker because it really had nothing to do with DC’s versions of him. I keep mentioning comics because that is where the Dark Knight came from and there should be a little respect and integrity to your source material. Heath Ledger is going to probably recieve mixed reviews of his portrayal, but I think I, and other fans of the comics are really going to be in for a treat.
October 8th, 2007 at 5:48 am
heath ledger makes a great joker, the sinister look that nolan is trying to pull off will pay off on july 16.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:44 am
why are they messing up the films by casting corny looking actors as super heroes and super villians. it started with street fighter.they messed up superman returns. they could of hired courtney cox as lois lane. michael keaton was a good batman.jack is the only joker!! he was perfect!! these directors today have no skills.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Critic, are you insane? Courtney Cox as Lois Lane? Gee, I guess that would work if Superman were in his mid 40’s, and liked dating rail thin chicks who look like they’ve had to spackle the crevices that were once in their faces.
‘jack is the only joker!! he was perfect!!’ clearly you’ve never read a Batman comic featuring the Joker in your entire life. Because I’ve read many, and I’m not exactly sure what Nicholson was playing but I can tell you that he wasn’t playing the Joker.
November 14th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Chupenme el pito y no digan nada pendejos de mierda
November 20th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Wow….I can’t believe the amount of time and effort that some of you are putting into this. It comes out next summer people….why waste your lives sitting at your computer complaining and crying over little details. YOUR opinion on what should and should not be done means NOTHING. You can’t convince others that your right, nor will anyone convince you that your wrong. Its another batman movie….nothing new. None of you created batman, nor did any of you ever have an opinion that actually changed a movie or show. Your wasting your lives away sitting here worried about what each other will say or think. Get outside….become batman for all I care. Just please stop and realize that all of you are what makes this society a disappointment. Nothing that matters gets done. Only complaining about movies, or actors, or cars, or lighting, ect. ITS JUST BATMAN!
November 22nd, 2007 at 12:59 pm
People go back and forth about a subject they care about…. football, a movie, politics… then an oh-so superior comment appears from a person that all the writers should “get a life, get outside, step away from the computer”…. as he writes from a computer, after checking the site, probably from the inside of his darkened bedroom. He might even call himself “Wicked”. Ooooh!
November 24th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Anyone who says Jack is the only joker is crazy, jack played the cartoon soft joker we have all seen. he was good but we need to see a psychotic joker one who is really crazy and i think ledger is going to pull it off great. Anyone who disagrees is a damn idiot.
December 2nd, 2007 at 5:45 am
Sheeeee-it, what a lot of whining about Heath Ledger’s previous role as a gay cowboy and how it looks like the pale face was painted on.
I actually trust Nolan’s judgement. There are bound to be changes in details when crossing from a printed medium to film - anyone who does not realise this has absolutely no idea of how to write for either. In order for something to occur on film, it must be cinematically compelling, and often a direct translation from the printed medium just does not work.
They tried the “fell in a vat of chemicals” routine in Burton’s Batman and it’s debatable whether that “worked”. I found it rather badly executed.
Nolan will have an origin story mapped out for the Joker that will no doubt bring in the important element: it will be traumatic enough to unhinge him. I have not seen the photos as Cam’s prediction came true but someone here mentioned scars and that it looks like his lips were slashed. It’s a reasonable bet that in Nolan’s adaptation the scarring/disfiguring and the circumstances surrounding it drove him over “the edge” and made him into the sort of person that could realistically become the Joker - just as BB, for me, realistically explained how someone could become Batman and why “Commissioner Gordon” would trust a masked vigilante whose identity he does not know (by establishing that their history and trust goes back to the time before he became Commissioner, he’s still on his way up the ranks. Loeb wants Batman in a cell, Gordon is learning that Batman can be trusted.)
I am impressed enough by Nolan and Bale’s work in BB to have faith that the Joker story will be believable and cinematically compelling - even if it does not adhere to the letter of the original comic books.
I also have enough faith in Ledger’s acting to believe he could do a great job of the role. The voice and laugh in the teaser show great promise and the few photos I’ve seen of the Joker so far also look promising - he looks savage and unhinged.
Although I like Jack Nicholson’s acting and a lot of the roles he’s played, he was no Joker. Too old, too fat, too buffoonish and a combination of a crappy script and crappier directing (stick to weird arty movies and Roald Dahl stories, Burton!) I won’t even go near commenting on a pistol, capable of blowing an armoured batplane out of the sky, that has a ludicrously long barrel which telescopes down to a more manageable length when required - I’m likely to explode.
I’m glad WB finally decided to forget the previous four movies and start afresh with BB - it has meant that Nolan was able to start with a clean slate and treat the subject with the respect it deserves rather than try to salvage the mess Burton and Schumacher left behind. It also allows for an edgier, more dangerous, more psychotic (and younger and thinner) Joker to be portrayed, despite Burton killing off the character.
Looking forward to seeing the movie. Batman interrogating the Joker in a police interrogation room? Sounds like Gordon’s been naughty… what will Commissioner Loeb say if he finds out?
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:01 am
Well said, Tocker. I agree 100%.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:57 am
Update. Finally saw the pics and they look intriguing.
The close-up pics of the Joker definitely look like someone or other gave him a “Soho Smile” (the delightful trick of gashing a person across the corners of the mouth with a knife or cut-throat razor.) Hints at a bloody, violent and traumatic past. Looks like he’s half hiding, half accentuating the gashes with his make-up.
The basement area where Batman has the Tumbler and Bat-pod and all the crime computer stuff does not have a “Bat Cave” quality but that’s not surprising as he’s most likely operating out of temporary accommodation while Wayne Manor is being rebuilt “brick by brick” after the last movie. As it would look kind of suspicious Bruce Wayne charging into a construction site and vanishing into a hole in the ground every time Batman is needed, he’s probably not using the actual Bat Cave and making do with one of his other properties to store/conceal his gear.
I seriously doubt Nolan would have Batman, after being alerted to the activities of the Joker, waiting a number of months for his mansion to be rebuilt and then build a hideous basement-style “Bat Cave” before going out to stop the madman. We’ll leave stupidity like that to Schumacher (”Holy End of Civilisation, Batman! Freeze and Bane are destroying Gotham!” “You’re right, Robin, the three of us must stop them - but first we’ll race back to the Bat Cave and change into our new matching silver-highlighted suits.” “You’re sooo right, Bruce, I’ve worn this black Batgirl outfit for an entire scene - it’s, like, sooooo ‘half-an-hour-ago’.”)
So I reckon the pics we see are his temporary digs until the mansion and the original Bat Cave (with upgraded access) are back in business.
Multiple people in bat suits - at least three impostors that I could see. Interesting. Will be good to see what happens there.
Some of the pics definitely show the old suit in use so the new suit will likely be developed on screen and presumably explained (as the original suit was) - at least they don’t just appear to be having him start the movie in a brand new outfit for no reason.
Great to see they still have the Tumbler and it hasn’t been mysteriously replaced between movies with an ever-lengthening phallic symbol as the previous two directors did.
For my money, the Tumbler’s the best Batmobile I’ve ever seen - lacks the overt bat styling (the bat is subtly there in the design) but it’s functional and at least explains why Batman would have a jet-powered vehicle.
Hard to tell from photos taken out of context but I’m wondering if the pics of the Joker in a holding cell and the interrogation room mean the Joker will be going up on trial and it will be he who throws acid into Dent’s face, rather than “Lucky Luciano” (I seem to recall) as in the comics. Just a guess.
None of us know, we’re looking at pictures released out of context and have no real idea of the script. It’s all speculation - but after BB I have faith in the new franchise.
December 9th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
wow, someones commited ^ . . .
right lets be fair here, has anyone here actually seen the film yet . . . i thought not,
yes i think that jack was a good joker and i think heath will be an okay one but to say that batman begins was amazing . . . that i dont agree with
so y dont we all try doing our greatest joker impressions and smile for minuites without everyone gravley assesing his portrayal as the joker when the film isnt even out yet . . .
January 4th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Who ever doubts this movie and or the character acting of heath and the others, is going to feel like an ass when the movie comes out. count on it…keep a towel handy to wipe the stupid looks off your faces after you see the movie…take care now ignorant people
January 17th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
wow someone is sceptical , yes i have my fears about how well Heaths portrayal will go down and i also wonder if Chris Nolan will do a much better job on this than he did on “BATMAN BEGINS” but yet again ill ask it . . .
“D, have u actually seen the film yet ? ? ?”
ohh well. . . anywho . . . “THE DARK KNIGHT” is due for release on the followingdates. On the 17th of july in America and 25th of july in the U.K . . .
so, is everyone else looking forward to the release . . .
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
So were they done filming before H.L. died? I sure hope so!!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:35 am
bet ya’ll feel like sh*t now! good going. how very nice of you to criticize people’s work… have you done anything better with your life? didn’t think so. go crawl in a hole and bury your head because you should be ashamed after the recent events. i hope karma comes back to haunt you ten-fold. nillwikki@yahoo.com feel free.
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
To my knowledge, they were done filming. Of course, there were rumors going around that the Joker survived and they were going to have him move on to the next film where Batman would face him and Two Face. So, if that is true, we are in a real predicament, as replacing characters with a new actor never works. But more importantly, what a damn shame about Heath. Only 28 years old. I sure hope it wasn’t suicide, but I think the results of the autopsy came back inconclusive, so I don’t think we’ll ever know. In the very least, there were strong rumors about him having a drug addiction. Damn. Really feel for his family, Michelle, and his 2 year old daughter who will never get to know or remember her father.
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 pm
What are you’s all teasing the joker character? go try act that yourself…
January 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Heath was getting hell for playing the joker but after some recent vids and pics i totally cant wait til july 25th (i live in the Uk ya see)
it is a real shame hes dead and i agree with derek, i hope he died accidentally, not suicide, R.I.P
oh and nik the way u r talking is putting me in a state of mund that ur r somehow saying we r to blame, i dont beleive heath ledger searches the internet all day to find one negativecomment on himself, and would he kill himself over it, i think not, hes been getting hell for 3 years about the whole “brokeback mountain” thing so i think before u come on here and point elbows about who did what u should take somehappy pills and pretend to be heath as the joker and smile . . ..
January 25th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
This is cracking me up… everyone saying Jack IS The Joker. Anyone ever think that 20 years(ok 18… I’m rounding) befor the 1988 Batman that there was another Joker played by Cesar Romero. I bet the people who enjoyed that version were saying Cesar IS the Joker. So here we are, 20 years from the 1988 Batman and they are redoing the Joker again. All are good Jokers from their respective eras. I’m sure I’m going to get flack from everyone out there but I don’t care. There’s a whole new generation of kids growing up with this version of Batman who could care less about 1988s version just like we(the 30 somethings) looked back and laughed at the 1966 version and laughed.
One other thing I noticed. Anyone who saw the 1988 Batman… remember the scene when Batman is flying toward the Joker and the Joker has that giant gun…. Now notice the new trailer.. Batman on his bike driving towards the Joker… kind of the same idea. Not identical(Batman doesn’t crash for one) but it reminded me of the ‘88 scene. Just me or anyone else think this?
January 31st, 2008 at 8:34 am
I just love Heath Ledger, his AWSOME, and playing Joker is Amazing cause he’s a real good actor
April 7th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Not lame, not pathetic and he did a fantastic job in brokeback mountian.
Heath is fab
ily
April 19th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
well now we know how the joker gets out of the police station, fake b-mans. all the different ones have the old suit.