The Dark Knight: Official Review Thread

Professor_X · July 27, 2008, 1:06pm

[quote]Donut62 wrote:
Finally saw this, and it was as amazing as advertised. The disappearing pencil trick had me cracking up for the rest up of the movie.

So why is it that the three best movies I have seen this year are all based on comic books? On one hand, it’s kind of a bummer that hollywood seems to be so completely devoid of original ideas right now, on the other it’s high time that those “kids” books are getting the respect they deserve as a medium for story telling.[/quote]

I’m happy as hell with the situation. The success of these movies guarantees more. The fact that the quality seems to be increasing has me waiting impatiently for the next one. The only thing I hate is that DC fucked up Superman which means it is not likely there will ever be a team up in the near future. You simply can’t bring a Batman like that into the childish world that the Superman Returns movie created.

Lonnie123 · July 27, 2008, 5:25pm

I honestly dont even remember a ton about Superman other than that the 3D scenes were pretty bad ass.

AngryVader · July 27, 2008, 5:32pm

[quote]Lonnie123 wrote:
I honestly dont even remember a ton about Superman other than that the 3D scenes were pretty bad ass.[/quote]

That’s because there wasn’t anything truly memorable about it. Although, I’m still wondering why they chose to turn Superman into a super-powered stalker.

system · July 27, 2008, 7:08pm

This movie is the BEST superhero movie to come out now. I didn’t even see it as a superhero movie as such… more like a crime/action/drama. Pure perfection.

WhiteFlash · July 27, 2008, 8:43pm

It is now the fastest movie to reach $300 million, doing it in only 10 days.

Lonnie123 · July 27, 2008, 9:18pm

I’ve always had a Q about movie gross figures.

I am under the impression that the movie theater gets 50% of the ticket sales, is this correct? When a movie hits, lets say, $150mil, is that TOTAL ticket sales, or sales that go back to the studio who made the movie?

It would seem like if the movie cost 180 million to make, it would need to gross 360 million to make the money back (not counting merch and other such items) if the figures are presented in gross ticket sales.

Makavali · July 27, 2008, 9:24pm

[quote]synerjism wrote:
i thought it was probably the best superhero movie i’ve seen, i hated batman begins… but the dark knight was incredible, although i think christian bale plays a better bruce wayne than he does a batman. didn’t really like iron man to be honest, hope the sequal is better.[/quote]

You didn’t like Batman Begins or Iron Man?

Well I don’t like you!

Djwlfpack · July 27, 2008, 9:38pm

Speaking of comics, where would be a good place to start with Batman? I know there’s several out there, just wondering which one to read first.

Qaash · July 27, 2008, 9:46pm

[quote]Djwlfpack wrote:
Speaking of comics, where would be a good place to start with Batman? I know there’s several out there, just wondering which one to read first.[/quote]

Try detective comics…I think those are the longest running batman series

AngryVader · July 27, 2008, 9:48pm

[quote]Lonnie123 wrote:
I’ve always had a Q about movie gross figures.

I am under the impression that the movie theater gets 50% of the ticket sales, is this correct? When a movie hits, lets say, $150mil, is that TOTAL ticket sales, or sales that go back to the studio who made the movie?

It would seem like if the movie cost 180 million to make, it would need to gross 360 million to make the money back (not counting merch and other such items) if the figures are presented in gross ticket sales.

[/quote]

It’s actually a sliding scale. The first week, most of the money goes back to the studio, usually around 80%, but in some cases 100% has gone back to the studio. Around weeks 2-3, the percentage switches to about 45-55% going to the theater. By the 4th week, close to 80% is going back to the theater.

The longer a movie is in the theater and doing well, the more the theater makes, but let’s face it, by the time a movie has been out for 3-4 weeks, most everyone has seen it and the theater is pretty empty. Of course, there are exceptions to this.

This is the main reason why a ‘small’ soda and popcorn costs $12 now.

Makavali · July 27, 2008, 10:07pm

[quote]Djwlfpack wrote:
Speaking of comics, where would be a good place to start with Batman? I know there’s several out there, just wondering which one to read first.[/quote]

Batman: Year One by Frank Miller. And read The Killing Joke too.

Makavali · July 27, 2008, 10:20pm

[quote]AngryVader wrote:
This is the main reason why a ‘small’ soda and popcorn costs $12 now.[/quote]

I spent $70 to see the Dark Knight. But that included two Gold Class tickets (@ $20 each), a beer, glass of Red Wine and a plate of wedges and chicken thingies.

Great movie.

“Because he’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now… and so we’ll hunt him, because he can take it. Because he’s not a hero. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector… a Dark Knight”

SPOILER! (Sorta)

I thought these were great:

"You look nervous. Is it the scars? You want to know how I got them? Come here. Hey, look at me. So I had a wife, beautiful; like you. Who tells me, I worry too much. Who tells me, I ought to smile more. Who gambles, and gets in deep with sharks.

One day they carve her face. We have no money for surgeries. She can’t take it! I just want to see her smile again. I just want her to know that I don’t care about the scars. So I stick a razor in my mouth and do this… to myself. And you know what? She can’t stand the sight of me! She leaves. Now I see the funny side. Now I’m always smiling!"

"Wanna know how I got these scars? My father was… a drinker. And a fiend. And one night he goes off crazier than usual. Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn’t like that. Not. One. Bit. So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it.

Turns to me and he says “Why so serious?” Comes at me with the knife,“Why so serious?” He sticks the blade in my mouth. “Lets put a smile on that face!” And… why so serious?"

Ballin4Christ32 · July 27, 2008, 10:20pm

A friend of mine and I had a convo about if TDK would beat Titanic for all time bragging rights. I thought maybe, but I figured it would definitely beat the second biggest, which is at 400 something. Now anything is possible.

Also, have any of you checked out how much Episode 4 would have made with the inflated prices of today? It was projected to be over 1 billion

Ballin4Christ32 · July 27, 2008, 10:23pm

[quote]Makavali wrote:
AngryVader wrote:
This is the main reason why a ‘small’ soda and popcorn costs $12 now.

I spent $70 to see the Dark Knight. But that included two Gold Class tickets (@ $20 each), a beer, glass of Red Wine and a plate of wedges and chicken thingies.

Great movie.

“Because he’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now… and so we’ll hunt him, because he can take it. Because he’s not a hero. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector… a Dark Knight”

SPOILER! (Sorta)

I thought these were great:

"You look nervous. Is it the scars? You want to know how I got them? Come here. Hey, look at me. So I had a wife, beautiful; like you. Who tells me, I worry too much. Who tells me, I ought to smile more. Who gambles, and gets in deep with sharks.

One day they carve her face. We have no money for surgeries. She can’t take it! I just want to see her smile again. I just want her to know that I don’t care about the scars. So I stick a razor in my mouth and do this… to myself. And you know what? She can’t stand the sight of me! She leaves. Now I see the funny side. Now I’m always smiling!"

"Wanna know how I got these scars? My father was… a drinker. And a fiend. And one night he goes off crazier than usual. Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn’t like that. Not. One. Bit. So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it.

Turns to me and he says “Why so serious?” Comes at me with the knife,“Why so serious?” He sticks the blade in my mouth. “Lets put a smile on that face!” And… why so serious?"[/quote]

Just reading those sent chills down my spine.

AngryVader · July 27, 2008, 10:53pm

[quote]Makavali wrote:
AngryVader wrote:
This is the main reason why a ‘small’ soda and popcorn costs $12 now.

I spent $70 to see the Dark Knight. But that included two Gold Class tickets (@ $20 each), a beer, glass of Red Wine and a plate of wedges and chicken thingies.[/quote]

That’s pretty cool that you can buy things like wine and beer and different food items. Most theaters around me it’s just soda, water, candy, popcorn and nachos (and not good nachos either). They don’t even sell hot dogs anymore.

What is a Gold Class ticket?

Makavali · July 27, 2008, 11:03pm

[quote]AngryVader wrote:
What is a Gold Class ticket?[/quote]

Better seats, more leg space, chairs that tilt back and access to alcohol and gourmet food. Also, there are much less people in the room.

AngryVader · July 27, 2008, 11:08pm

[quote]Makavali wrote:
AngryVader wrote:
What is a Gold Class ticket?

Better seats, more leg space, chairs that tilt back and access to alcohol and gourmet food. Also, there are much less people in the room.[/quote]

That’s pretty cool. I’m not aware of anything like that around here. That sounds like something I would be willing to pay extra money for. Is that common at most theaters over there?

Makavali · July 27, 2008, 11:29pm

[quote]AngryVader wrote:
That’s pretty cool. I’m not aware of anything like that around here. That sounds like something I would be willing to pay extra money for. Is that common at most theaters over there?[/quote]

Yup. They realized people will pay for better seating. It’s 70 seats in the area the size of a normal theater, which basically means no matter where you sit, you have a good view.

Even though I was at the front, it was the same as sitting in the middle.

More quotes!

“I believe… what doesn’t kill you simply makes you… stranger.”

“You just couldn’t let me go could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You truly are incorruptible, aren’t you? You won’t kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness, and I won’t kill you… because you’re just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever.”

“Do you wanna know why I use a knife? Guns are too quick. You can’t savor all the… little… emotions. And… you see… in their last moments… people show you who they really are. So, in a way, I know your friends better than you ever did. Would you like to know which one of them were cowards?”

"Do I really look like a man with a plan, Harvey? I don’t have a plan. The mob has plans, the cops have plans. You know what I am, Harvey? I’m a dog chasing cars. I wouldn’t know what to do if I caught one.

I just… do things. I’m a wrench in the gears. I hate plans. Yours, theirs, everyone’s. Maroni has plans. Gordon has plans. Schemers trying to control their worlds. I am not a schemer.

I show schemers how pathetic their attempts to control things really are. So when I say that what happened to you and your girlfriend wasn’t personal, you know I’m telling the truth."

“Introduce a little anarchy, you upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos. I am an agent of chaos. And you know the thing about chaos, Harvey? It’s fair.”

Qaash · July 27, 2008, 11:44pm

[quote]AngryVader wrote:
Makavali wrote:
AngryVader wrote:
What is a Gold Class ticket?

Better seats, more leg space, chairs that tilt back and access to alcohol and gourmet food. Also, there are much less people in the room.

That’s pretty cool. I’m not aware of anything like that around here. That sounds like something I would be willing to pay extra money for. Is that common at most theaters over there?[/quote]

They had that in a few theaters in NYC a few years ago, reserved seating, leather chairs, hardwood flooring , meal delivery. Back then it cost $15 for the seats but it died off because there wasn’t a demand for it shockingly enough. I know I used it whenever I could.

WolBarret · July 27, 2008, 11:48pm

[quote]Makavali wrote:
AngryVader wrote:
That’s pretty cool. I’m not aware of anything like that around here. That sounds like something I would be willing to pay extra money for. Is that common at most theaters over there?