[Dark Helmet]

I don't like him that much but I think is good for the role as he is sorta weird looking and a good actor.

Naturally there are going to be a ton of brokeback jokes

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index...ory=3&id=37390

[Dakar]

Yeah, I'd have preferred Ed Norton.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Dakar

Yeah, I'd have preferred Ed Norton.

Maybe, but Heath definitely looks creepier pre-makeup. I got a feeling his interpretation will scare us rather than make us laugh.

Ed is cooler though.

[BRussell]

I'm looking forward to what they do with this. I really liked Batman Begins.

[SirCastor]

I hope they don't screw it up. They better not make a habit of killing all the villans every movie...

[Chuckit]

They didn't kill all the villains in the last movie, did they? Crane is still running around all crazy-like.

After the last movie, Chris Nolan has earned my trust, so I'll wait and see even though it seems like a bizarre casting choice. Heath is a good actor.

[lpkmckenna]

Ledger seems too young to play Joker. Oh well, maybe this will work out. Could have been Christian Slater pretending to be Jack Nicholson pretending to be Joker, so I guess we're all lucky.

"The Dark Knight." Promising.

But will we get a real Batmobile?

[Ozmodiar]

Originally Posted by Chuckit

it seems like a bizarre casting choice.

I agree, but to me it seemed like most of the casting choices in the last movie came out of nowhere.

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

But will we get a real Batmobile?

I hope not. I love the Tumbler.

[hyteckit]

Heath Ledger as Joker? Hard to picture it. Almost as bad as me choosing Brandon Fraser for the part of Joker.

[himself]

I heard that Robin Williams wanted to play the Joker... he would've been perfect.

[nforcer]

Robin Williams would actually have been a great cast. He's done some odd movies (and some crap ones) but if there is anyone who has mastered zany out there characters it's him.

My original thought was bring back Jack Nicholson. With all the makeup it might be hard to tell his age anyway.

My guess is the reason someone younger was chosen is because the Joker needs to do some stunts and have a lot of energy. A certain maniacism is needed and to portray it right someone younger is needed.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

Could have been Christian Slater pretending to be Jack Nicholson pretending to be Joker, so I guess we're all lucky.

Ahahahhaa I hate when CS does that in every movie he is in.

[rickey939]

What a joke.®

[Adam Betts]

Last movie had bizarre casting (half good, half bad), it seems like this movie will as well :/

This is a huge role for Heath, lot of people are going to compare him to Jack. Good luck to him.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by himself

I heard that Robin Williams wanted to play the Joker... he would've been perfect.

Ya a perfect way to ruin the movie. He would have been awful, probably the worst choice I could think of actually.

[red rocket]

Originally Posted by himself

I heard that Robin Williams wanted to play the Joker... he would've been perfect.

Originally Posted by nforcer

Robin Williams would actually have been a great cast. He's done some odd movies (and some crap ones) but if there is anyone who has mastered zany out there characters it's him.

"I'm excited to continue the story we started with Batman Begins," Christopher Nolan said in a statement. "Our challenge in casting the Joker was to find an actor who is not just extraordinarily talented, but fearless. Watching Heath Ledger's interpretation of this iconic character taking on Christian Bale's Batman is going to be incredible."

Whereas Robin Williams would have completely ruined the film with another one of his completely over-the-top performances. Impossible to take the clown seriously, he should stick to doing voice jobs for kiddie cartoons, that way I'll be able to avoid him altogether.

[Landos Mustache]

Originally Posted by red rocket

Whereas Robin Williams would have completely ruined the film with another one of his completely over-the-top performances. Impossible to take the clown seriously, he should stick to doing voice jobs for kiddie cartoons, that way I'll be able to avoid him altogether.

Yes thank you. He is such a goof and never knows when to shut it off.

If Robin walked in to rob a bank everyone would just shrug, he would have been awful as joker as there is nothing threatening about him.

[Landos Mustache]

"An early 2007 start date is being eyed for the sequel."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movi...eut/index.html

Surly CNN is wrong. They must mean production starts then.

[Stradlater]

Originally Posted by rickey939

What a joke.®

...

[Landos Mustache]

"Phillip Seymour Hoffman has reportedly been offered the role of The Penguin, although it is said to be unlikely that he would accept it. According to BOF, in this film The Penguin will be tranformed into a British arms dealer/mob boss with designs on Gotham."

"Ryan Phillippe is also said to be in line as a potential young Harvey Dent, Gotham's District Attorney who later becomes Two-Face."

http://www.slashfilm.com/article.php/20060731185318659

[Jawbone54]

Ed Norton > Heath Ledger > Robin Williams

What was Williams thinking even talking about it? He's about 60 now. Ledger will probably do allright, but I was really hoping for a Norton Joker.

[Kevin]

Norton would have been a better Joker.

[Landos Mustache]

Batman begins was so damn perfect for me it became my fav movie of all time. Not one line in it doesn't contribute to the story somehow and the way it took 1 hour before batman is even shown in it was amazing.

The part that impressed me the most is that you actually understand why a millionaire is running around in a bat suit.

[memory-minus]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Naturally there are going to be a ton of brokeback jokes

I'm confused. Will Heath be the top or the bottom in this one?

[Landos Mustache]

Originally Posted by memory-minus

I'm confused. Will Heath be the top or the bottom in this one?

Depends on what Batman is.

[Chuckit]

I think we all know that Batman comes out on top in the end.

[::maroma::]

I was hoping they would've chosen Michael Keaton for the Joker role. Not only would it have been kinda cool to use the former Batman (the best actor to play Batman in the first set of movies by far), but he also knows how to play a crazy dude. He's one of the best at it.

But, as others have said, I'm going to trust that this casting is the right one. They did a good job casting the last one, so I'm not going to pre-judge this choice.

I just hope they keep the movie dark and a little on the evil side.

[Landos Mustache]

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

I was hoping they would've chosen Michael Keaton for the Joker role. Not only would it have been kinda cool to use the former Batman (the best actor to play Batman in the first set of movies by far), but he also knows how to play a crazy dude. He's one of the best at it.

But, as others have said, I'm going to trust that this casting is the right one. They did a good job casting the last one, so I'm not going to pre-judge this choice.

I just hope they keep the movie dark and a little on the evil side.

That would be cool if he didn't play batman last time around. If he was now playing a bad guy it would just be weird.

[iREZ]

Originally Posted by Chuckit

I think we all know that Batman comes out on top in the end.

is that how you spell it?...

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Batman begins was so damn perfect for me it became my fav movie of all time. Not one line in it doesn't contribute to the story somehow and the way it took 1 hour before batman is even shown in it was amazing.

The part that impressed me the most is that you actually understand why a millionaire is running around in a bat suit.

Ya it was a pretty good movie. However, while I liked it and thought it was more than worth the price of admission, I guess I didn't like it anywhere near as much as you did.

BTW, Gary Oldman creeped me out in the scene with the young Bruce Wayne after his ma and pa got snuffed. He looked almost like a pedophile. He was great in the rest of the movie though.

[Weezer]

man, first jake gyllenhaal gets aquaman, now heath ledger is the joker...

[Landos Mustache]

Originally Posted by Weezer

man, first jake gyllenhaal gets aquaman, now heath ledger is the joker...

Jake is Aquaman? I thought it was going to be more of a comedy anyway?

And Aquaman is pretty damn homoerotic (He rides around on a seahorse) so after brokeback I can see how he got it.

[Weezer]

hah, it was a joke from the HBO show Entourage. They made a real-life action movie based on Aquaman, and the main character of the show gets fired for jake gyllenhall

[lavar78]

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Batman begins was so damn perfect for me it became my fav movie of all time. Not one line in it doesn't contribute to the story somehow and the way it took 1 hour before batman is even shown in it was amazing.

Eh, it was good, but wow. I still prefer the original.

The part that impressed me the most is that you actually understand why a millionaire is running around in a bat suit.

Wait a minute... you never understood Batman's motivation until that movie?

That would be cool if he didn't play batman last time around. If he was now playing a bad guy it would just be weird.

Um, the fact that he played Batman is what would make it really cool.

[Landos Mustache]

Originally Posted by lavar78

Wait a minute... you never understood Batman's motivation until that movie?

Ya, but it was bla. Mommy and daddy got shot, so bats are cool.

[lavar78]

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Ya, but it was bla. Mommy and daddy got shot, so bats are cool.

It's pretty well documented; you must've used the Cliffs Notes. Even if you've never read a Batman comic, I thought the original movie explained it rather well. Haven't seen that in a while though. At any rate, it's been blatantly obvious for over 60 years that Bruce Wayne isn't quite right in the head. It should go without saying that completely sane people don't run around in tights fighting crime—at least not without super powers of some sort.

[Landos Mustache]

Originally Posted by lavar78

It's pretty well documented; you must've used the Cliffs Notes. Even if you've never read a Batman comic, I thought the original movie explained it rather well. Haven't seen that in a while though. At any rate, it's been blatantly obvious for over 60 years that Bruce Wayne isn't quite right in the head. It should go without saying that completely sane people don't run around in tights fighting crime—at least not without super powers of some sort.

Well I don't think it has to do with him being nuts. It is more that he is trying to maintain his fathers vision "for the people" than getting revenge which is what the first one came off as.

[::maroma::]

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Well I don't think it has to do with him being nuts. It is more that he is trying to maintain his fathers vision "for the people" than getting revenge which is what the first one came off as.

I think its a little of both. I think thats what makes Bruce Wayne/Batman such a dynamic character. He's fueled by both rage/revenge and by honor and integrity instilled in him by his father. He's the personification of what most people struggle with in their lives. He has no super powers, which makes him even more of the "every-man" type of character.

I prefer the latest version of the Batman movies as far as explaining this. The original was a little glossy, as you stated. They didn't really delve too deeply into what made him into Batman.

[Landos Mustache]

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

I think its a little of both. I think thats what makes Bruce Wayne/Batman such a dynamic character. He's fueled by both rage/revenge and by honor and integrity instilled in him by his father. He's the personification of what most people struggle with in their lives. He has no super powers, which makes him even more of the "every-man" type of character.

True, he is a little off his rocker but he also understand that revenge killing doesn't make you feel any better.

Tim burtons Batman did very little to explain things other than show his parents getting shot. In the 80's that was enough to satisfy everyone but it is something that has always bothered me about the films.

[::maroma::]

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

True, he is a little off his rocker but he also understand that revenge killing doesn't make you feel any better.

Tim burtons Batman did very little to explain things other than show his parents getting shot. In the 80's that was enough to satisfy everyone but it is something that has always bothered me about the films.

Agreed. As much as I enjoyed Burton's version, I always thought it to be too tame, and not dark enough. Batman (aside from the dumb downed Saturday morning cartoon version) was always a very dark character. He was usually on the edge of being a bad guy, but always seemed to come back to what is right. And he was a serious badass in the comics. But I suspect, as you do, that audiences back in those days (so long ago ) were satisfied with the more friendly version of Batman.

Batman Begins was pretty good in this regard. Personally, I'd have preferred it to be even darker, but thats a completely personal preference. I think the Batman movies should be rated R.

[Landos Mustache]

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

Batman Begins was pretty good in this regard. Personally, I'd have preferred it to be even darker, but thats a completely personal preference. I think the Batman movies should be rated R.

I thought it was damn near perfect. Some films that are too dark tank like Star Trek: Nemesis.

The Scare Crow was a scary bastard even with his mask off. The hallucinations of batman were amazing with the black tar coming out of his mouth and the red eyes. It was as if everyone traveled back in time 100 years and thought they were witnessing a mythical creature like the Mothman.

I'm pretty sure they will make the joker even creepier like a mental patient with a sinister smile and sharp teeth. None of the goofy stuff from the 80's (allthough I loved it at the time).

[andi*pandi]

they are skewing very young with that casting choice. I thought the joker is older than bruce wayne. :/

Is Batman trading Gotham for the O.C. ?

[Landos Mustache]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi

they are skewing very young with that casting choice. I thought the joker is older than bruce wayne. :/

The scarecrow was also young and there was nothing wrong with that. Remember this is a re-inventing of the series so I rather they not stick to the formula too strongly for the geeks and lose the fun in the process.

[Rumor]

Heath has some pretty big shoes to fill.

[lavar78]

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

True, he is a little off his rocker but he also understand that revenge killing doesn't make you feel any better.

That applies to every incarnation of Batman. Bruce Wayne doesn't (intentionally) kill—not even the Joker.

Tim burtons Batman did very little to explain things other than show his parents getting shot. In the 80's that was enough to satisfy everyone but it is something that has always bothered me about the films.

I really need to watch that movie again. Anyway, witnessing the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne is the event that led to Bruce becoming Batman. There would be no Batman without that. It obviously traumatized him, but it also led him to strike back at criminals. Blah, blah, blah... pretty standard origin there. Keep in mind that Batman wasn't an origin story like Batman Begins was.

I'm pretty sure they will make the joker even creepier like a mental patient with a sinister smile and sharp teeth. None of the goofy stuff from the 80's (allthough I loved it at the time).

You must be thinking of the '70s (or at least the early '80s). In the mid-'80s, Batman became dark and gritty again. Frank Miller wrote The Dark Knight Returns in 1986, which is about a future version of Batman. In 1988, they really made the Joker certifiably crazy and downright evil. He shot and crippled Barbara Gordon (the former Batgirl) and then kidnapped and tortured her father, Commissioner Gordon, in Alan Moore's The Killing Joke. He followed that up by murdering Jason Todd (then Robin) the same year, which is probably the second-most important event in Batman's history.

[Landos Mustache]

Originally Posted by lavar78

You must be thinking of the '70s (or at least the early '80s). In the mid-'80s, Batman became dark and gritty again. Frank Miller wrote The Dark Knight Returns in 1986, which is about a future version of Batman. In 1988, they really made the Joker certifiably crazy and downright evil. He shot and crippled Barbara Gordon (the former Batgirl) and then kidnapped and tortured her father, Commissioner Gordon, in Alan Moore's The Killing Joke. He followed that up by murdering Jason Todd (then Robin) the same year, which is probably the second-most important event in Batman's history.

Actually I've never read the comic.

But since this movie is called "Dark Knight" it sounds like the dark/future batman you are talking about.

[Stradlater]

Originally Posted by Rumor

Heath has some pretty big shoes to fill.

Disagree. He didn't play the joker. He played the joker playing J.N.

I'm not sure about the new casting decision, but I guess we'll wait and see.

[Stradlater]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi

they are skewing very young with that casting choice. I thought the joker is older than bruce wayne. :/

Really?

In the Dark Knight Returns they refer to in the article, both Bruce Wayne and the Joker are old at the same time.

[Landos Mustache]

Originally Posted by Stradlater

Really?

In the Dark Knight Returns they refer to in the article, both Bruce Wayne and the Joker are old at the same time.

Heath is 5 years younger than Bale so that ain't so bad.

[Shaddim]

Originally Posted by lavar78

That applies to every incarnation of Batman. Bruce Wayne doesn't (intentionally) kill—not even the Joker.

Well, unless you count about 50 members of the Mutant gang in "Dark Knight Returns".

"Rubber bullets... honest."

But I figure, at that age he's bound to be grumpier. Hell, he even kicked the s*** out of Superman, it was awesome.

I love that series.