Saw Dark Knight, got to feel old

[Talon]

So last Saturday I finally got around to seeing Dark Knight.

While waiting in line, one of the employees started chatting us up. I mentioned I was seeing DK, and was anxious to see how Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker measured up to Jack Nicholson from the 1989 movie.

Movie employee had no idea what I was talking about.

Come on, 1989 wasn't THAT long ago? It was only... 19 years ago. That's not that long right?

Thanks for making me feel old.

On the bright (so to speak) side, Dark Knight was 10 shades of awesome.

[daleduke17]

The employee probably wasn't even born until 1992. :-p

[Listerfiend]

Whenever I talk about Batman stuff with people I always mention that the animated series was the best (because I'm a dorky fangirl), and most of the time people don't remember it or don't even have an idea what I'm talking about. And I'm only 23.

[Amina516]

Awwwww...! Dont feel bad. Im 25 and I am fully aware that Jack Nicholson played the Joker....It think Heath did it better....:eek:

LOL....

[AdminAssistant]

My boss just gave me a $25 gift card for a movie theatre chain :eek: and they have a location nearby with an IMAX theatre. :D

I've decided to give The Dark Knight a second chance. Plus, I want to go to an IMAX theatre, just cause it'd be cool.

[Aramika]

I was born in 1989 and have seen all of the Batman movies, so don't worry, you're not old, that employee just hasn't watched enough movies. :p

[blas]

We were talking about Ghostbusters the other night, and my coworker who was actually born the year the first movie came out didn't even know what I was talking about.

I was also complaining about the new JCPenny commercial that rips off "The Breakfast Club" with an overly stupid remake of the theme song and the kids in the library, and that same coworker said "What's The Breakfast Club?"

Come on here....I was born in 1987.......

[smileyeagle1021]

first off, yes 19 years is a bloody long time...
... that said, just because you can remember a movie from that long ago doesn't make you old... I can remember movies from the 70s and I wasn't born until 86.

[Evil Queen]

first off, yes 19 years is a bloody long time...
... that said, just because you can remember a movie from that long ago doesn't make you old... I can remember movies from the 70s and I wasn't born until 86.

:eek: Holy Shit, Smiley, you're my age!

The original Batman with Jack Nicholson was my favourite. But Heath Ledger did a good job capturing the insaneness that is The Joker.

I wanna play Dr. Harley Quinn! :cry:

[Mr Slugger]

See what's really bad is when you talk about growing up watching the original Batman TV series and people look at you like you've got two heads. (For the younger crowd there was one with adam west as batman :p )

On the topic of remake the funniest thing I've ever heard was years ago I heard a kid say something because the radio was playing radio was playinng a "lame ass remake of a guns and roses song." It was called Live and Let Die :p

[Jester]

I can remember movies from the 70s and I wasn't born until 86.

On the other hand, I remember movies from the 70s...because I saw them in the theater! Yes, kids, I am one of those old farts that has seen every one of the six Star Wars movies in its original theatrical release. Also E.T. (opening night), The Breakfast Club, Desperately Seeking Susan, etc., etc., etc.

On the topic of remake the funniest thing I've ever heard was years ago I heard a kid say something because the radio was playing radio was playinng a "lame ass remake of a guns and roses song." It was called Live and Let Die :p

You would not believe how many times in high school I heard someone bagging on a remake they heard of a Van Halen song....it was, of course, The Kinks' original version of "You Really Got Me."

And then there are the people that thought Bob Marley had ripped off Eric Clapton with "I Shot the Sheriff." Hell, first time I heard the Marley version, I was one of them--I had no idea! :lol:

[MoxisPilot]

Whenever I talk about Batman stuff with people I always mention that the animated series was the best (because I'm a dorky fangirl), and most of the time people don't remember it or don't even have an idea what I'm talking about. And I'm only 23.

I just found out about three hours ago that there was an animated Batman series. :( For shame!

And I hear that it was, indeed, the best!

[crazylegs]

watching the original Batman TV series and people look at you like you've got two heads. (For the younger crowd there was one with adam west as batman :p )

KAPOW!

Incredible show with awful graphics and worse scripts, and it was all the better for it! :D

[Plaidman]

... I always thought smily and evilqueen were older then I, and in fact I'm older them.

If it makes you feel better, my grandpa when i was younger and just into batman as I am now, told me of the Batman serial. This was the first filmed version of Batman. It was pretty bad he remembers.

I recently learned it was released to DVD so I wanna buy it.

Though I don't know if I can sit through a movie made in 1943.

[AdminAssistant]

I was also complaining about the new JCPenny commercial that rips off "The Breakfast Club" with an overly stupid remake of the theme song and the kids in the library, and that same coworker said "What's The Breakfast Club?"

I saw that commercial....it literally made my heart hurt. That's such a fantastic movie.....Poor Anthony Michael Hall, the geeks never get a girl in the movies. (Of course, he turned out to be the yummiest of all of them, IMO)

During a rehearsal several weeks ago, the director and I were talking about The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock being on DVD, and the inherent awesomeness of that fact. One of the younger actresses said, "Fraggle...what?" :cry:

I was born in 1983. The first movies I remember seeing in the theatre are Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Land Before Time, and Who Killed Roger Rabbit. Good times, good times.

[ShinyGreenApple]

The employee probably wasn't even born until 1992. :-p

That doesn't necessarily account for anything though; my nephew was born in 92 and he's seen all the earlier versions of Batman. Owns them all on DVD as well ;)

On the other hand, this thread reminds me of the time I was ringing up a coworker at the service desk, and we overheard two of the teenaged baggers discussing the "Santa Clause 3" display we had up at the time.

"Dude, Tim Allen is still alive?"

:eek::cry:

We both begged them please to not talk like that, LOL. Geez, that was worse than when my nephew asked me "Who is Garth Brooks?" I'm only 24, I'm not supposed to be having "You make me feel old" moments yet!

[smileyeagle1021]

I was also complaining about the new JCPenny commercial that rips off "The Breakfast Club"

oh I saw that commercial too... except at first I thought they were making a remake to the breakfast club... and my first thought was "oh no, they are going to screw that up big time"

oddly, even after finding out what the commercial really was I was still thinking "oh no, they screwed that up big time" :lol:

[Gawdzillers]

Whenever I talk about Batman stuff with people I always mention that the animated series was the best (because I'm a dorky fangirl), and most of the time people don't remember it or don't even have an idea what I'm talking about. And I'm only 23.It was the best. I love how they created MR. Freeze to be a tragic character.
I wish it were on again.

[Aethian]

I liked the animated Batman better then the third movie which I honestly thought Robin was going to say "Holy *item* Batman!" in it. Meh

As for the two Jokers I liked Jack Nickelson better but then thats just because Heath Ledger scared the hell out of me and I kinda liked NOT being scared of the Joker.

As for being on again, Gawdzillers, it's on Toon channel right after Superman and before Spiderman (Spiderman is only on every few days).

[AdminAssistant]

I liked the animated Batman better then the third movie which I honestly thought Robin was going to say "Holy *item* Batman!" in it. Meh


He did, sort of.

As Robin and Batman land on the Riddler's island, Robin says, "Holy rusted metal, Batman!" Batman: "?" Robin: "Uh, the metal, it's holey!"

:lol:

[Gawdzillers]

I liked the animated Batman better then the third movie which I honestly thought Robin was going to say "Holy *item* Batman!" in it. Meh

As for being on again, Gawdzillers, it's on Toon channel right after Superman and before Spiderman (Spiderman is only on every few days).
1. He did say "Holy rusted metal, Batman!". He got away with it by explaining that there was indeed rusty metal with holes in it on the ground.

2. Err, I don't think I have that where I live.

[Talon]

Well I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who fondly remembers the Batman animated series. Or with infamy, the cheesy TV serial starring Adam West *shudders*

EQ: great, now I'm going to have to watch Jack Nicholson's Joker performance again. Haven't seen it in a long time, but from what little I remember I agree, Heath Ledger's Joker was better. Psychotic, but just subtle enough to creep the hell out of me.

"Have pity on an old man's blood pressure!" - Commissioner Gordon, Batman animated series.

Ah good times :)

BTW am I the only one who thinks Batman made the wrong choice at the end of DK?

[smileyeagle1021]

BTW am I the only one who thinks Batman made the wrong choice at the end of DK?

oh, I love how they ended it... I think it seriously opened the door for the Riddler (theorizing)... from Batman going renegade because of a terrorist what a better way to bring him back than because of a terrorist.

that said, I don't think he had much choice... if he didn't take the blame everything he had worked for would have been lost... finding out the DA turned into a psychotic killer would be a foolproof appeal for many if not all of the criminals that were put behind bars by him.

[crazylegs]

oh, I love how they ended it... I think it seriously opened the door for the Riddler (theorizing)... from Batman going renegade because of a terrorist what a better way to bring him back than because of a terrorist.

that said, I don't think he had much choice... if he didn't take the blame everything he had worked for would have been lost... finding out the DA turned into a psychotic killer would be a foolproof appeal for many if not all of the criminals that were put behind bars by him.

Well, this is a film I no longer need to watch. :mad:

[Geek King]

Well, this is a film I no longer need to watch. :mad:

Hey, after making $400 million domestic, and two weeks, you read threads clearly labled with the movie at your own risk.
;)

...and yes, you DO still need to see the movie. Words do it not enough justice.

[smileyeagle1021]

Hey, after making $400 million domestic, and two weeks, you read threads clearly labled with the movie at your own risk.
;)

...and yes, you DO still need to see the movie. Words do it not enough justice.

what geek king said

that aside, the end while important is still just the smallest part of the journey... it's worthwhile to see how the end came to be ;)

[Talon]

... finding out the DA turned into a psychotic killer would be a foolproof appeal for many if not all of the criminals that were put behind bars by him.

SPOILERS

*Puts on nitpick/faux lawyer hat*

I disagree. Yes if the truth came out it would look very bad for the justice dept. Heads would roll, the appeals court would be backed up for years. But I don't think all, or even most, of Dent's convictions would be overturned.

If the appeals court does what it's supposed to, they would not care about Dent going rogue. The only question they would ask is "Can you prove said psycho committed reversable error in court? No? Appeal denied, next case."

Of course the deeper-pocketed crooks' mouthpieces might be able to B.S. their way to a reversal. But not all of them. The justice dept. would be in for hard times, but it wouldn't be the unmitigated disaster Batman and Gordon were afraid of. All that money Batman spends on gadgets, guess he had none left to spend on in-house counsel :)

*puts away nitpick/faux-lawyer hat*

Ok so Batman had to make a fast decision, I get that. But there's another reason I don't think Batman made the right choice. What about Alfred and Lucius(sp)? They could someday be named as accessories to Batman's (alleged) crimes. Aiding a vigilante is one thing, but aiding a cop-killer? Batman didn't ask his friends if they were willing to join him on the proverbial cross.

As a character from an older anime film said: "Peace based on a lie carries within, the seed of the next war."

[smileyeagle1021]

"Peace based on a lie carries within, the seed of the next war."

yes... but the next war could be a sequel :devil:

[Pagan]

I finally saw "Dark Knight" tonight! They certainly had left it to make sequels with the Joker, but now we'll never get to see anymore of Heath Ledger's genius. :cry:

Lady Barbossa -
Gotta love your avatar. I almost fell out of my chair laughing at that whole little sequence. And my goodness, he makes an ugly nurse! Give him credit though....he did use the hand sanitizer!

I was also complaining about the new JCPenny commercial that rips off "The Breakfast Club" with an overly stupid remake of the theme song and the kids in the library, and that same coworker said "What's The Breakfast Club?"

I wanna know who did the godwawful cover of a perfectly good Simple Minds song!

:eek: Holy Shit, Smiley, you're my age!

All you young whippersnappers!

See what's really bad is when you talk about growing up watching the original Batman TV series and people look at you like you've got two heads. (For the younger crowd there was one with adam west as batman :p )

I love that one! Especially when Batman and Robin are "climbing" up walls. And I still think Eartha Kitt made the best Catwoman ever! Can't forget the "shark repellent" in the movie, either.

radio was playinng a "lame ass remake of a guns and roses song." It was called Live and Let Die :p

And there's a bunch of 'em out there that only remember Pierce Brosnan and now Daniel Craig (who has the best build since Sir Sean). All they know of Sean Connery is the old guy in "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen". Of course, we all know that he's the best Bond ever! (Saw the trailer for "Quantum of Solace" and it does look good.)

On the other hand, I remember movies from the 70s...because I saw them in the theater! Yes, kids, I am one of those old farts that has seen every one of the six Star Wars movies in its original theatrical release. Also E.T. (opening night), The Breakfast Club, Desperately Seeking Susan, etc., etc., etc.

Ah, another charter member of the "Old Farts Club"!

Though I don't know if I can sit through a movie made in 1943.

Does that mean you couldn't set through one made in 1939 either? And I don't mean "Wizard of Oz".

Poor Anthony Michael Hall, the geeks never get a girl in the movies. (Of course, he turned out to be the yummiest of all of them, IMO).

I was a wee bit torqued that USA cancelled "Dead Zone". Hey, he's in "Dark Knight", too!

If the appeals court does what it's supposed to, they would not care about Dent going rogue. The only question they would ask is "Can you prove said psycho committed reversable error in court? No? Appeal denied, next case."

Not to mention, but Harvey Dent wasn't psychotic until after the explosions.

[Evil Queen]

Adam West as batman kicked ass. I always loved the "bang! Pow! ZING!"

Hey, there's a reason why TVland exists! So we can watch all the old tv shows!

And I miss the Green Hornet! :cry:

[ShinyGreenApple]

I almost fell out of my chair laughing at that whole little sequence. And my goodness, he makes an ugly nurse!


I would like to respectfully disagree. Along with slews of other fans (both male and female) I think that there was something disturbingly attractive about him in the nurse's uniform :p And who else noticed the Harvey Dent sticker on it? XD

Now on the other hand, if I woke up in the hospital to find him looking at me, I'd be terrified :eek:

[Plaidman]

Also: Plaidman was the originator of the Joker Nurse.

However, Lady Barbossa always made the best movie gif so I'm jealous :(.

Frankly, I thought he was kinda. Twistly... hot in a strange way.

[Jester]

...the geeks never get a girl in the movies.

I would like to disagree. No, Brian didn't get a chick in TBC, and that sucked, but seriously, there are scores of movies where the geek does, in fact, get the chick.

Say Anything.
Can't Buy Me Love.
Ten Things I Hate About You. (Not Heath Ledger, you twits. The OTHER couple.)
Revenge of the Nerds.
The list goes on and on......

...if he didn't take the blame everything he had worked for would have been lost... finding out the DA turned into a psychotic killer would be a foolproof appeal for many if not all of the criminals that were put behind bars by him.

Foolproof? Hardly. I didn't get the logic while watching the movie, and I don't get it now. Dude turned psycho AFTER he a) almost died, b) had half his face destroyed, c) not only lost his fiance, but listened to her die. Not only would that be a great case for "not guilty by reason of temporary insanity" (though that point is debatable), it would be all the justice department would need. I.e., "Was he nuts before all this happened? No? Appeal denied. Get your ass back in jail, asshole." Seriously, that is just crazy. Now, if they found out ole Harvey was on the take? Yeah, that would raise doubts. That he went nuts after going through a ridiculously tragic and traumatic event? Um, no. On what grounds? Get over it. That to me was the most ridiculous part of the whole movie. Considering some of the gadgets (like Fox's sonar eavesdropping doohickey) and plot holes, that is saying quite a bit!

Ah, another charter member of the "Old Farts Club"!

Bite me. I am most certainly not. I might be a DOMIT (Dirty Old Man In Training), but I'm not an old man yet! Nor an old fart!

Hey, he's in "Dark Knight", too!

Wait, what? Anthony Michael Hall was in DK? Seriously? Where? Who? What?

[AdminAssistant]

Wait, what? Anthony Michael Hall was in DK? Seriously? Where? Who? What?

He was the reporter that interviewed Mister Reese. If you haven't seen him lately, you might not recognize him.

[Evil Queen]

Bite me. I am most certainly not. I might be a DOMIT (Dirty Old Man In Training), but I'm not an old man yet! Nor an old fart!
That's funny! My SO is in training for the same thing! :lol:
Wait, what? Anthony Michael Hall was in DK? Seriously? Where? Who? What?

He was the reporter that interviewed Mister Reese. If you haven't seen him lately, you might not recognize him.

Yeah, I dunno how you missed him Jester. He did a wonderful job and his roll was scattered throughout the entire movie.

[Evil Queen]

And my goodness, he makes an ugly nurse!

My favourite part was when he was hitting the button to get the last explosion to go off. And it wouldn't. It was great. Classic slapstick comedy there!

[smileyeagle1021]

Foolproof? Hardly. I didn't get the logic while watching the movie, and I don't get it now. Dude turned psycho AFTER he a) almost died, b) had half his face destroyed, c) not only lost his fiance, but listened to her die. Not only would that be a great case for "not guilty by reason of temporary insanity" (though that point is debatable), it would be all the justice department would need. I.e., "Was he nuts before all this happened? No? Appeal denied.

I never said that they would be successful appeals... but appeals none the less... which would if nothing else bog down the system.

though thinking on it... I still think he did the right thing by taking the blame... because even if all the appeals failed it would leave a sour taste in Gotham's mouth and make people lose hope... because if even Harvey Dent can fall what hope is there.

[Pagan]

I was thinking about it, Jack Nicholson was good, Heath was great, but neither of them will ever top CESAR ROMERO as the Joker! :D

Also: Plaidman was the originator of the Joker Nurse.

However, Lady Barbossa always made the best movie gif so I'm jealous :(.

Frankly, I thought he was kinda. Twistly... hot in a strange way.

I know that....but her's moves!

My favourite part was when he was hitting the button to get the last explosion to go off. And it wouldn't. It was great. Classic slapstick comedy there!

That was the part that got me rolling!

[Talon]

See Jester that's the problem with you and I. We insist on applying that quaint thing known as logic to our movies.

About that cellphone sonar device.. even if it were possible it would drain the phone's batteries very quickly. What about older model phones? Also what about dead zones where phones get no signal? Nope, cell phones as sonars wouldn't be practical.

though thinking on it... I still think he did the right thing by taking the blame... because even if all the appeals failed it would leave a sour taste in Gotham's mouth and make people lose hope... because if even Harvey Dent can fall what hope is there.

Meh. The public collectively has a very short memory. They'd get over Harvey's fall, probably a lot faster than Batman would like to think. Soon as the next celebrity scandal hits the gossip rags, it's back to business as usual.

[Jester]

....even if all the appeals failed it would leave a sour taste in Gotham's mouth and make people lose hope... because if even Harvey Dent can fall what hope is there.

Oh, please. I just don't buy it. First of all, the country IS jaded. This might have been vaguely logical in the Sixties, but these days, the public is cynical, and while they are happy to see someone do good, it is not like they are pinning every last hope on some hero, like the movie implies. Please. Just....please.

And frankly, I think Batman sells the public short in another way. I mean, jaded or not, I do believe most people would be somewhat sympathetic to Dent. I mean, think about what the guy went through that caused him to go completely wacko. Yeah. That. I think most people could identify.

There is just no way that Dent's post-traumatic lunacy and criminality would cripple the justice system or deflate the public's morale nearly as much as Batman thought. No way.

I was thinking about it, Jack Nicholson was good, Heath was great, but neither of them will ever top CESAR ROMERO as the Joker!

I hope you're joking, my friend, because frankly, I don't think he was even close to EITHER of them. Unless, of course, you like your villains completely over the top and annoyingly cartoony.

[smileyeagle1021]

you know Jester, I can see your point (and it is a good one)... but I would argue, yes people are cynical, and yes they would understand Harvey's actions... but there is also the argument that kinda goes over the cynacism and understanding... Gotham didn't need a good person who tried to do good things, and ended up being more of a burden than he could bare and finally broke... they needed a symbol, something that other people could follow, a perfect example if you will.

We see it all the time in wars... Gettysburg is called the turning point of the Civil War... really the South could have come back from that and still won the war (would have been difficult, but not impossible)...the real damage was the psychological damage of the "we just got our asses served to us"
WW2, D Day shouldn't have been enough to signal the German defeat, but it gave the allies confidence that they could win the war and they did.
Sometimes how people percieve things is much more important than how things really are.

[Jester]

I agree with you, Smiley, that perception IS reality, more often than not.

I just disagree that the whole thing would have been that simplistic, especially in this day and age. Were the movie set in, say, the Fifties, I would have more ability believing this particular premise. Set as it is in current times, I just can't buy it.

Frankly, I believe that a lot of people, perhaps even most, would see Dent as a tragic and sympathetic figure, someone who had been cleaning up Gotham, and then the worst of the worst snapped him. I think, rather than being a symbol of what couldn't be, he would have (or at least could have) become a martyr, and a rallying point for people fed up with crime and the criminal element.

But that's just one insomniac's opinion.

[Pagan]

I hope you're joking, my friend, because frankly, I don't think he was even close to EITHER of them. Unless, of course, you like your villains completely over the top and annoyingly cartoony.

You have to admit....he did fit in with the show brilliantly! :p

[smileyeagle1021]

Jester I think that you might have brought up the best point to date... the whole 50s vs now... because that is about the time when the original batman comic was released so there really is a kinda 50s feel to it... and as much as I hate admitting my shortsightedness, I had never thought of putting up Harvey Dent as a martyr, that is a brilliant idea though.

[Jester]

I had never thought of putting up Harvey Dent as a martyr, that is a brilliant idea though.

Of course it is....which is why, in my opinion, Batman didn't think of it.

Say what you will about the movies in total, but in my opinion, Batman isn't the brightest sort, especially in these last two movies. (Michael Keaton's was vaguely thoughtful, but since then, no.) He clearly doesn't think much through in general, or specifically with regards to the consequences of his or his allies' actions. (Someone earlier mentioned that, if Batman is caught and his identity revealed, the potential fallout for both Fox and Alfred. This is just one example, but there are many.)

And by going rogue and taking blame for Harvey's crimes (which he could have easily pinned on the Joker, mind you), he has in essence robbed Gotham of not only the truth (which I think they could handle better than he seems to think), but of TWO heroes. Batman is now no longer a hero people will look to, with a few exceptions, and while people will look to the memory of the fallen Harvey Dent, the memory can't do what the living Dent could have done.

So now, who exactly does the "wise" Batman think Gotham will look to now? Most of them have never heard of Commissioner Gordon before his promotion. Who else is there?

While I enjoyed the movie, its ending bothered me even more than the ending of the last one. Ridiculous I can take. It's a comic superhero movie, after all. But lack of logic, no faith in humanity, and just generally bad thinking? No. Sorry, but no.

Now here's the question: who would think it blasphemy if they brought back the Joker in a sequel to this Batman movie with another actor replacing Ledger? I, for one, would not, if the actor were up for the challenge. And there are a few who could do it, I dare say. And if they did bring him back, the actor had better be up to the challenge, considering the microscope he's be under!