Kevin Smith Reviews The Dark Knight; New Zack and Miri Photo
Last night was EPIC. I had one of those movie experiences that only happens once in a long long time, where you leave the theater completely blown away by what you just experienced. Folks, this isn’t hype - The Dark Knight is a movie will destroy your expectations.
Not only did I get to see The Dark Knight, but I got to see it with one of my favorite directors / one of my idols - Kevin Smith was my guest. How cool is that? I honestly didn’t plan to name drop, but it seems like Smith talked about it in his latest blog entry. And as cool as that sounds, and was, Nolan was some how able to completely overshadow that fact with his new film. I’m under embargo not to review the movie until release (not that Warner Bros would shoot me over the completely glowing review I plan on posting), but Smith gives his breif spoiler free review which almost completely echos my own thoughts.
“Without giving anything away, this is an epic film (and trust me: based on the sheer size and scope of the visuals and storytelling, that’s not an overstatement). It’s the “Godfather II” of comic book films and three times more earnest than “Batman Begins” (and fuck, was that an earnest film). Easily the most adult comic book film ever made. Heath Ledger didn’t so much give a performance as he disappeared completely into the role; I know I’m not the first to suggest this, but he’ll likely get at least an Oscar nod (if not the win) for Best Supporting Actor. Fucking flick’s nearly three hours long and only leaves you wanting more (in a great way). I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed by it. Nolan and crew have created something close to a masterpiece.”
Smith also released a new image from Zack and Miri Make a Porno.
The director says a theatrical poster and trailer are on the way as well. I’m guessing they will hit the first week of August with Pineapple Express.
Quote: Nolan Compares TDK’s Joker to the Shark in Jaws
The latest issue of WiReD Magazine has an article on The Dark Knight. The article mainly deals with the technical side of things such as CG and IMAX projection, but RopesofSilicon directed me to this one shiny quote:
The director wasn’t interested in plumbing the murky origins of the Joker himself - the Clown Prince is more a Loki-like force of chaos. “He’s like the shark in Jaws,” Nolan explains. “The Joker cuts through the film, he’s incredibly important, but he’s not a guy with a backstory. He’s a wild card.”
The Joker is like the shark in Jaws? Nolan sure knows all the right things to say to get us excited.
Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins Teaser Trailer Description
Ladies and gentlemen, buckle yourselves in as we journey into a teaser trailer description. Just minutes ago, AICN confirmed a spy’s rundown of the Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins teaser that will be attached to The Dark Knight next month. Slashfilm is divided in our anticipation for this one, but I’ll admit that the primary focus on Christian Bale, his fittingly epic, doomsayer voice-over and the Terminator appearance sound quite agreeable, and more importantly, faithful to canon. Here’s the capper…
“We then get the big money shot of the trailer. Its Bale on a motorcycle with some girl on the back. They speed through a door of what looks like a warehouse toward us. As soon as they pass the screen, a huge terminator on wheels, a lot like the one they battle in the first one, smashes through the wall, chasing them. It looks awesome.”
According to the spy, Bale’s John Connor looks very similar in build and general appearance to his Bruce Wayne, possibly with noticeable battle scares and combat wear-and-tear. So, yeah, he looks like Christian Bale. The teaser reportedly has glimpses of several survivor camps, a war chest of firearms, quick shots of a helicopter, a “huge truck” and notably the foreboding Terminator theme is present throughout. Again, Connor’s voice-over sounds particularly spot-on: “I always knew it could happen…They told me I could stop it…That I could save us…I was wrong.”
Sure, it’s not much, but we’ve all seen enough blockbuster previews to develop a pseudo Spidey-sense. Hopefully it impresses on screen. If so, it will be a suitably dark and enticing primer for Nolan’s Batman sequel, the movie that looks to rule Summer ‘08, and a solid preamble for a risky new PG-13 Terminator trilogy from the director of Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.
Harvey Dent Is Dark Knight’s Backbone
From the recent trailer we got for The Dark Knight you would expect it to be mainly about The Joker running wild and Batman trying to sort him out. Harvey Dent wasn’t really featured in the trailer, so I was thinking that The Dark Knight will be The Jokers time and something will happen which leads the third film to be Harvey Dent/Two Face’s time to shine. Well Director Christoper Nolan spoke to the Los Angeles Times, who say that…
“Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is a tragic figure, and his story is the backbone of this film.”
…which is quite interesting. The film may not just be stolen by Heath Ledger’s Joker after all. Speaking of the clown menace, Nolan told them that he…
“sort of cuts through the film — he’s got no story arc, he’s just a force of nature tearing through. Heath has given an amazing performance in the role, it’s really extraordinary.”
Now if that hasn’t got you excited, cast your eyeballs on this!
“It’s a dark and complex story and the villains are dark and complex as well.”
It seems like we are getting a serious movie, which I am glad about. Just because he is called ‘The Joker’ doesn’t mean The Dark Knight has to turn into a comedy. Bring on July!