The Dark Knight reminiscing

[HitMe]

OK, so I wasn't into Batman before The Dark Knight came out, like, at all, really. And this of course meant that I missed out on the glorious hype and anticipation you lot got to experience. So, I was just wondering if any generous or bored etc. individuals felt like retracing and posting the first 5 or 6 (I wouldn't be against more) official images of the film which were released and how you all felt about them at the time (I know the first one was that horror-esque Joker one, right?), as well as casting decisions, the first trailer etc. because I've been looking through all the old threads and it's kinda hard to piece together what order everything happened in, and I really would like to see how it all fell into place.

Plus, I thought it might be fun for some of you for nostalgia's sake since there aren't many new threads around here at the moment and there's no news at all on the new installment, whenever that should arrive. By the way, You have no obligation to do me this favour, so I'd rather if no-one felt like doing it that you just let the thread die instead of posting hilarious comments about how no-one wants to do it, which I can see happening, maybe. Anyway, if anyone feels like doing it, it would be much appreciated and could make for interesting discussion with the benefit of hindsight.

Cheers!

 

[namtaB]

I remember when the first viral pic of Keith Ledger as the Joker was released. People were scrambling to unlock it. Then there was a massive wave of disappointment over the chelsea smile inspired look that Nolan was going for with the Joker. Much of the nuthuggin now over the Nolan Joker was pretty non-existent when this pic was released.

 

[gwynplaine]

I loved that first picture, from the start. Right then I knew they were not going with prankster, cackling buffoon Joker but something else, more serious, scarier. (also I was really impressed by Heath in brokeback and was happy they cast a "dramatic" actor and not a comedian, specially a thin, young one that looked more like the Joker in the killing joke.)
And then Heath started mentionning Alex DeLarge from A Clockwork Orange as an influence and I knew everything was going to be alright, actually more than alright, great.
What a ride it was.
And the craziest thing about it all is that it lived up to the incredible expectation.

 

[nathaniel]

Sorry but i didnt see anything like Alex from CO in Ledgers performance it was a great though slightly one dimensionaly acted performance from Ledger imo.

I for one WANTED the clownish aspect but tinged with the serious tone of Nolan seeing that pic for the first time i knew i wasnt really going to completely be sold with it (and i was right). Mark Hamils Joker but one that kills people is still the standard bearer for what i would like to see.

 

[Bat-Mite]

Sorry but i didnt see anything like Alex from CO in Ledgers performance it was a great though slightly one dimensionaly acted performance from Ledger imo.

Still haven't seen you explain what it is about this performance that makes it one dimensional. You're the only person I've seen to make this claim. The only thing I've seen you cite in this regard is the tongue flicking, and just because a character is given a certain quirk does not mean that the actor portraying him is giving a one dimensional performance.

I for one WANTED the clownish aspect but tinged with the serious tone of Nolan seeing that pic for the first time i knew i wasnt really going to completely be sold with it (and i was right). Mark Hamils Joker but one that kills people is still the standard bearer for what i would like to see.

I'm sure you disliked the movie long before that picture was ever even released. Never mind the fact that that picture is far more extreme than what we actually got in the movie. And the clownish aspect was definitely there. There are hints of it even in the bank robbery scene, but it really starts up when the Joker first meets with the mobsters. The childish insults he throws their way, killing one of their goons as part of his "magic trick", the "let's not BLOW this out of proportion" bit, etc. And this is just from one scene. Toy weapons do not make or break the clownish aspect of the Joker.

And by the way, Mark Hamill's Joker did kill people.

 

[El Payaso]

I hated that picture to death and it's only after having watched other pics and the movie that I can find some value to it.

 

[The Joker]

I remember when the first viral pic of Keith Ledger as the Joker was released. People were scrambling to unlock it. Then there was a massive wave of disappointment over the chelsea smile inspired look that Nolan was going for with the Joker. Much of the nuthuggin now over the Nolan Joker was pretty non-existent when this pic was released.

Yeah, I didn't care for this pic at all when I first saw it. Hated the sloppy red lip makeup, thought the scars looked totally bizarre, and he wasn't even smiling in the pic.

However when we started to get proper pics of him, my opinion soon drastically changed.

Sorry but i didnt see anything like Alex from CO in Ledgers performance it was a great though slightly one dimensionaly acted performance from Ledger imo.

Please explain as thoroughly as possible what you found one dimensional about Ledger's performance.

Mark Hamils Joker but one that kills people is still the standard bearer for what i would like to see.

Hamill's Joker did kill people. Didn't you see Mask of the Phantasm? Or Return of the Joker?

 

[gwynplaine]

Sorry but i didnt see anything like Alex from CO in Ledgers performance it was a great though slightly one dimensionaly acted performance from Ledger imo.

I for one WANTED the clownish aspect but tinged with the serious tone of Nolan seeing that pic for the first time i knew i wasnt really going to completely be sold with it (and i was right). Mark Hamils Joker but one that kills people is still the standard bearer for what i would like to see.

Look closer, it's subtle (that's why it's so great) but it's there (it's more about capturing the spirit of the character than actually mimicking McDowell genius performance.)
Also one dimensional, seriously ? From madness to joy, from despair to manipulation, from rage to exstasy etc... Heath shows such an incredible range in his performance. But to each their own, I guess.
As for the clownish aspect of the character, just check that "nurse walk" outside of the hospital. He walks just like Chaplin, one of the greatest clowns that ever lived (and that's just one example).

 

[redfirebird2008]

I remember when the first viral pic of Keith Ledger as the Joker was released.

Heath.

 

[namtaB]

Heath.

I was channeling Regis Philbin. He called him "Keith Ledger."

 

[Kane52630]

I remember when the first viral pic of Keith Ledger as the Joker was released. People were scrambling to unlock it. Then there was a massive wave of disappointment over the chelsea smile inspired look that Nolan was going for with the Joker. Much of the nuthuggin now over the Nolan Joker was pretty non-existent when this pic was released.

yea i had faith that it will work with that look
but my best friend on the other hand, when the first pic was released, didnt like it at all he said "what the hell is this? this is not joker!" then the trailer came out and we both were amazed, esp. with that laugh

 

[Doc Samson]

I remember when the first viral pic of Keith Ledger as the Joker was released. People were scrambling to unlock it. Then there was a massive wave of disappointment over the chelsea smile inspired look that Nolan was going for with the Joker. Much of the nuthuggin now over the Nolan Joker was pretty non-existent when this pic was released.

I loved this when it first hit, it confirmed for me that WB actually had the guts to let Nolan go all the way with this re-imagining. And it was quite disturbing.

This pic also led me, and I suspect a few others, to think that Nolan was going to drastically alter his character. I thought he was going to be roaming around in all black with no humor to him at all. Thankfully, his characterization was almost 100% true to the comics, and his attire was just as garish and loud as we would expect, purple suit and all t:

 

[redfirebird2008]

I was channeling Regis Philbin. He called him "Keith Ledger."

lolz.

 

[redfirebird2008]

BTW, here's the picture and teaser trailer that were released on the same day as San Diego Comic Con in 2007 during a viral marketing wild goose chase:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWw0ov-cAUg



And here is a summary of the viral marketing during Comic Con, as well as a screenshot by screenshot recap of the online viral game:

http://batman.wikibruce.com/Whysoserious.com/ComicCon


http://batman.wikibruce.com/Whysoserious.com/start