The Dark Knight Beyond The Picture: Analyzing IBIHDToo.com

[Joker]

double post

 

[StorminNorman]

I don't know, we'll see how well they market this film. I definitely like this approach but let's face it, it's only successful with people like us on SHH who are already paying attention. The average joe doesn't even know Heath Ledger is playing the Joker. I'm impressed so far, but all this is meaningless if '08 comes around and the public isn't getting that "Spiderman" vibe if you know what I mean.

300 started out as an online/fanboy wet dream as well. The fanboy has power. Can they make a film? Snakes On A Plane says no. Can they boost an already great film into a blockbuster? 300 says yes.

 

[DOO BEE]

300 started out as an online/fanboy wet dream as well. The fanboy has power. Can they make a film? Snakes On A Plane says no. Can they boost an already great film into a blockbuster? 300 says yes.

that there is a great point!

 

[bunk]

300 started out as an online/fanboy wet dream as well. The fanboy has power. Can they make a film? Snakes On A Plane says no. Can they boost an already great film into a blockbuster? 300 says yes.

Of course the fanboy has power, I don't know how much convincing we need at this point though for TDK. It's the rest of the population I'm thinking about. 300 was a little different because fanboys did need convincing along with the general public. Zack Synder's journals were great but I don't think they're impact was all that far reaching. I'd just like to see WB do the same great job of marketing TDK the way they did with 300 during the final lead up to it's release. Hopefully they don't drop the ball.

 

[The Redux 714]

Batman is one of the most recognizable comic characters of all time. The Joker is THE Batman villian. Starting the campain this early is sheer brilliance on the WB's part. Get The Joker out in the open, where he wants to be.

The trohble, now is, of course, trying to keep up the marketing, and not let people slip away...also, they gotta be careful to not let too much get out...but, i fear that is gonna be it for a while...remember how long it was after they relased the first images of the Tumbler until we got pics of teh rest of the cast?

 

[Cobblepot]

I believe in Harvey Dent 2! brillaint.
Joker thinking that Dent is perhaps Batman (not unlike TLH) brilliant!
But I doubt The Joker would scar Harvey in court, I'm really hoping the stick with Two-Face's original origin. And again I can't wait to see the scars on that boy!
Dent will have serious issues in TDK, no man goes that bananas after an acid bath.

 

[Frank Noir]

Dent will have serious issues in TDK, no man goes that bananas after an acid bath.

Yes, but as other members have been saying, I too believe he should remain a good guy on the surface. Throughout the movie there can be hints that something dark is growing inside him. After the scarring it will
all come out...

 

[ultimatefan]

Regardless of the whole Joker´s look thing, the whole website thing was one of the most original marketing stunts for a movie I ever seen.

 

[DangerousInc.]

Yes, the Hype is in Super Happy Crazy Fun Time Mode now because of IBelieveInHarveyDentToo.com, the controversial Joker pic and the uber buzz it has created.

What is easy to miss in the chaos our first taste of Ledger's Joker has brought is the other details the site gives us.

1. The most obvious is the drastically new marketing campaign Warner Bros. is implementing here. Drawings from the very successful viral campaigns such as IHeartBees for Halo, the duo of IBelieveInHarveyDent and IBelieveInHarveyDentToo looks to be the start of a very active, entertaining and most importantly successful campaign. The fact that there is 400+ days left before TDK comes out, and we now have three websites and a huge revelation tells me that Warner Bros. looks to wipe out the bitter tastes left in Batfans mouths about the marketing of Batman Begins.

2. The Jokers character also seems to be solidified here in simply the few messages he leaves for us. Lines such as "you can't cheat a cheater", and "I always say, you never know what a man is truly made of until you peel the skin off his face one piece at a time." sound like lines from a hardcore Batman fan's film - and I mean that in the very best way possible. While many have rightfully complained about the lack of traditional look here, what can not be argued is that it seems Nolan does get the Joker's personality. His Joker will be vain - he likes attention, thus the site. His Joker will be sadistic. His Joker will be deadly. And his Joker will target public officials - Harvey Dent beware.

I also feel it is worth noting the Joker's email address "TragicPast" - could it be a smidgen of a back story? Why did WB choose this name over say "Mr. Happy" or another generic Joker-like name. Or something as simple as Webmaster?

3. Harvey Dent. I feel as if this site may be a sign that we may get a Harvey Dent with a dark side. I have made my position well known on the issue - I prefer a Harvey Dent who has no evident dark side. This comment though about peeling away Harvey's skin tells me that the Joker knows, or atleast strongly suspects, that Harvey has a side he hides from everyone. It will be interesting to see how this is done in not only the movie - but perhaps hinted at during the IBelieveInHarveyDent viral campaign.

Well said and I agree 100%

 

[Mr.Wednesday]

Regardless of the whole Joker´s look thing, the whole website thing was one of the most original marketing stunts for a movie I ever seen.

Agreed!

 

[Batman FREAK]

^ Also agreed. Great creativity here. That's the Joker for ya!

 

[silentflute]

also, did you notice that on the vandalized Harvey Dent poster, Joker (supposedly) blacked out his eyes and placed a big red grin. when the Joker photo was revealed thats is also what we get: hollow dark eyes sockets and a red grotesque mouth. it struck me as a kind of mirror image. could there be something that Joker sees in Dent that he sees in himself as well? that Dent is a twisted monster much like he is, but conceals it behind this peaches-and-cream, squeaky clean, all-american public servant image while Joker opts for the more gritty but real persona spiced up with a bit of makeup?

You hit the nail right on the head with that Jekyll.Which will make the Two Face story one of the most psychologicall harrowing tales ever told.

the classic tale of the man who went to sleep and dreamt he was a butterfly.When he woke up he wasn't sure if he was a man who dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he's a man.

 

[Cobblepot]

Yes, but as other members have been saying, I too believe he should remain a good guy on the surface. Throughout the movie there can be hints that something dark is growing inside him. After the scarring it will
all come out...

Offcourse.

 

[RakuMon]

I believe in Harvey Dent 2! brillaint.
Joker thinking that Dent is perhaps Batman (not unlike TLH) brilliant!
But I doubt The Joker would scar Harvey in court, I'm really hoping the stick with Two-Face's original origin. And again I can't wait to see the scars on that boy!
Dent will have serious issues in TDK, no man goes that bananas after an acid bath.

Just wanted to chime in that I don't think Joker will have anything to do with scarring Harvey. Remember, they cast Eric Roberts as Sal Maroni after all. Why bother with even bringing in the character if not to use him?

 

[Mysterio]

well...they can use him in other ways in other parts of the story.

 

[Frank Castle 4]

What I like so much about this entire marketing plan is that it is setting up the events for the movie. We're a year out...Dent is just now running for DA and the Joker, as he was at the end of BB is on the loose. It means that as DK begins Dent will have been the DA for say, 6 months, and it'll be realistic that he and Batman will have had time to work together. I look very forward to what will be coming in the next year. It should be an interesting look at where the movie is going.

 

[green]

Regardless of the whole Joker´s look thing, the whole website thing was one of the most original marketing stunts for a movie I ever seen.

Really?
This...

reminds me alot of this...

 

[jsf]

the scarring has everyone saying that it's from the zipline while escapeing from the bank... (but i thought they escape via school busses) lets just say that it's not from the zipline and go with some of these options

1. he already has the scar when the movie starts and we get flash bakcs (hence the clown masks, etc)
2. he has it happend to him while meeting batman for the first time (via, bat gadgets)
3. he has it happen from the police or a gunshot (enters one side and exits the other)
4. he did it to himself durring the movie or before the movie and we only get hints at it or a full on flash back

 

[StorminNorman]

Another thing we learned from IBelieveInHarveyDentToo.com chaos...


TotalFilm.com is run by idiots

 

[Mysterio]

Really?
This...

reminds me alot of this...

the two aren't even analogous.

 

[gdw]

Was the Joker's wife in THE KILLING JOKE ever referred to by name?

I don't believe so either, but in the Hush returns story line I believe J mentions her by name.

 

[ultimatefan]

Really?
This...

reminds me alot of this...

Yeah, i forgot about that, but this one was more elaborate and had more impact, I think, and well, WB "stole it" from themselves anyway...

 

[green]

the two aren't even analogous.

Well that's debatable but doing so wont change my opinion so Ill leave it at that.

Yeah, i forgot about that, but this one was more elaborate and had more impact, I think, and well, WB "stole it" from themselves anyway...

Its not that I dont like the ad campaign, it just seems WB are repeating themselves to me a bit. It's not really very original. I disliked most of the ad campaign for Begins too but loved the movie so it's really not too big a deal to me, I just found it sort of funny.

 

[Joker]

I don't believe so either, but in the Hush returns story line I believe J mentions her by name.

FOR THE SECOND TIME, IN THE KILLING JOKE THEY DO REFFER TO HER BY NAME, IT IS JEANNIE.

Seriously people, read...

 

[neobido9999]

I am 99% sure its real. the facts:
1) it was put up before the Ibelieveinharveydent.com site -the biggie
2) ibeleiveinharveydent.com is an offical WB site
3) IBIHDT.com uses/defaces an offical WB image (and without credit) and is not shut down
4) nothing on whois.com says is WASN'T regstered by WB
5)it is not beyond the realms of possibility for a major film studio to purchase a site anonymosuly
6)the image is quite clearly Heath Ledger
7)It mirrors an advertising campaign for Superman Returns - a WB film/a comic book film
8) Check other viral marketing campaigns (ilovebees, the beast etc etc). How many pages from those games were purchased anonymously by Microsoft/Dreamworks
9) BOF has come down from the fence to say it's real
10) SHH says it real
11) Empire magazine syas its real
12) Remember the "See you in Decemeber" side? - smimlar theme
13) Matches spy reports on Joker's makeup
14) The site is techincally fairly good, and managed to support a massive number of logins without crashing
15) The image is not based on an existing Heath ledger image, unlike previous manips
16) Why would anyone go to this much trouble to fake it??? i mean really, cards in a comic book store, buying and setting up the site, travelling back in time 3 days...
17)The mystery really is the point. If WB just put an official picture online, we would be discussing the picture. Now we are discussing the mystery- the campaign itself
18) Look at the web campaign for Memento