So going back home came just in time for me to see the first 5 minutes of The Dark Knight in IMAX - twice. I had to sit through I Am Legend three times just to see something, and that film is worth only one viewing. But it's definitely worth it. I'm not going to go into detail about the footage, but I tried so hard not to cry the first time I saw it. And the Joker's revelation was, what can I say, dramatic.
I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you...... stranger.
I am very excited about this film as anyone could guess by the topics of my most recent posts. Sure I'm crazy for the Joker, but don't get me wrong, it's not just because of him that I want to see this film. I am looking forward to Batman/Bruce's character struggle, the Dent tragedy arc, and the dynamic beginnings of the Batman/Joker relationship.
I read today on Superhero Hype that the LA Times did an interview with Nolan where he states that the backbone of the story is Dent. I was actually going to write about that because that's what he says in the Empire article (more on the magazine later). The Joker is going to be an absolute, causing his troubles without any backstory. I wouldn't say he doesn't have a story arc as Nolan stated. He obviously will play a huge role in Batman's fears, doubts, and regrets. I will not believe he's just there for the hell of it. But Dent is another story, and I cannot wait to see how Nolan unveils his transformation into Two Face. Heck, I'm sure Eckhart's performance will rival Ledger's. But they need to keep something to themselves, and I prefer for them to keep it this way - less info/images/footage of Dent/Two-Face. I wasn't too thrilled when they started releasing the Joker, but they needed him to market the movie. Ok. Use the Joker. Use him to lure the fans in. But they will stay for the story of Batman and come to be surprised by the "backbone." And I'm not worried about the fears of this movie focusing on the villains. I don't believe it will. It'll be like Begins - a Batman movie with the villains enhancing the character.
And this is what I found while back at home. I went and did what I had planned to do!
I also saw the poster in the theater (the one with Joker behind the glass). I gasped in shock, scaring my sister (and others) to death. Oops. My friend has those pictures since I didn't have my camera. I'm still waiting for them.
I did this drawing today at work. This is the description I posted on my Deviantart site since I'm too lazy to repeat myself: This is the result of another day of having nothing to do at work. This is why carrying a collection of pics for references with you is nice. It's Heath Ledger's Joker based on the pic of him sitting in the back of a car. His proportions look very off because I did this with just a regular ball point pen, and couldn't really fix anything I made errors to. I find myself more motivated to continue drawing something if I do it in pen than in pencil. I guess the lack of erasing makes me a little more careful, but makes me wish I could fix my mistakes.
My friend gave me a new sketchbook with pencils for my birthday. I'm going to fill it with Joker drawings, or anything TDK influenced.
"Let's put a smile on that face!"
I found these just now. The first one I've never seen until right up to the point when I posted this. And the second one I have seen before but had not posted it yet. This is pretty much just Heath on set as Joker, but he looks so amazing.
X-Men Related
I was looking up information about recent X-Men storylines, and knew about Messiah Complex for a while, but never went into much research about it. While reading about it and learning of Cyclops' important role, I was led to think back to New X-Men with the aftermath of Jean's latest(last) death.
It is known Cyclops left the X-Men after Jean died this last time. He had chosen Jean, not Emma (of course!). Because of his departure, Jean was reborn into a chaotic future. Knowing this happened due to Scott no longer being an X-Man, she went back into the past to the moment Scott decided to leave. With that, she had him choose Emma in order for him to stay and lead the team. She sacrificed her love for the future of the Earth. She wanted Scott to live, and in Astonishing X-Men, he is indeed self-actualizing. (But there is question as to where Astonishing X-Men actually fits into the X-Men timeline.)
But what brought me to this is that I'm thinking the story - the Messiah Complex - is the pivotal point in time that would affect the future of the Earth. And without Scott being there, it would have led to the future Jean was reborn into when she hatched from the Phoenix egg. But now that Scott is leading - thanks to Jean's sacrifice - what Jean hoped for will take place after all.
Something happens in Chapter One that changes everything. It stratifies the world of the X-Men in a clear way. It unifies the heroes in a way they haven’t been for years, and all under Scott Summers. Cyclops steps up huge in this event and will get people talking. - Nick Lowe, X-Editor
It's officially up! Yay! I made some screencaptures following the Joker in the trailer. I couldn't help myself. I don't know if I'll go back and make screencaptures of the rest of the trailer, but I'll see how I feel. For now, this is really all I need.
1. The Joker wins. His stance against Batman at the very end of the trailer is so majestic and bad-a. I'm also thinking about his imprisonment appearance (shorter hair) and the rest of the film. That scene is probably before he does anything to make him known. He'll be let go, and they'll have no idea what they are releasing. Who knows.
2. The Batpod actually functions better than I thought. It's pretty sweet!
3. There is a shot with Harvey Dent, but you'd miss him if you don't look carefully. He's sitting with Rachel when Bruce greets Rachel at a restaurant. Like I mentioned, SECRET. haha He's just got to be.
Anyway, shall I begin?
"Why so serious?"
The Dark Knight
I will, of course, start off with this. I went to see "I Am Legend" last night but I guess Japan is not playing the TDK trailer with it. It's probably because it's still too early seeing as how it won't be released here until September 20, two months after the domestic release. And I thought July 18 was too far away. I have to be more careful with spoilers during those two months.
But the official release of the trailer is soon approaching and will be up at A Taste For The Theatrical.
And this is a very interesting commentary from the concerns of Heath's casting to the fan reactions of the trailer. I don't know about anyone else, but I screamed with joy when my sister told me about his casting because I totally believe what this poster wrote: Had someone more “stereotypical“ for such a role been cast, we’d have a pretty good idea how it was going to be -- not that it would have been bad, but it would be the expected.
I also wonder if printing every single Joker pic thus far released onto photo paper and wanting to carry them around with me is going a little too far?
Dragonball Z
I still do not feel too good about this movie. So far we have Spike from Buffy, James Marsters, as Piccolo, Tom Cruise's son in War of the Worlds as Goku, and Emmy Rossum (Phantom of the Opera - Christine) is cast as well. I certainly would never have thought of her as being in such a film. I'm betting she'll be playing Bulma. It seems to me they're going with the cliched storyline of some outcast high schooler who ends up becoming a hero. I do wonder how much they will resemble their respective characters from the comic/anime. Will Marsters be green with antennas?
Wolverine
This one is just a rumor, but they are looking into Gerard Butler (my dream man) to play the future Sabretooth, Victor Creed. For some reason I feel disappointed and am hoping it is just a rumor. I really do not want to see Gerard in this film because I hate what they did with this over saturated presence of Wolverine. I have nothing against the character. I just don't agree with the choices of the money-hungry Fox execs and their X-Men turned Wolverine trilogy. I will always be bitter about that, won't I? I'm tired of Wolverine. I'm tired of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. I will go back to reading the current run of Astonishing X-Men, thank you. Now that's where everyone has a balanced role, and are working as a team. Just the other day I was wondering what Christopher Nolan would do if he directed an X-Men movie. But if Gerard will indeed be Victor Creed, it will be amazing. He's such a passionate actor.
I'm sorry, but are these too cool for words or what? I almost lost consciousness when I saw the Joker one. Hi Res of Joker here.
EDIT: Here's the above-mentioned poster which was posted at Batman on Film.
Also, a low quality version of the trailer was put online, but I was too late to get to it before it was taken down. What a shame. Maybe if I had gone to see the "I Am Legend" tonight, I would have seen it. But now that I am this hyped up, I'll probably end up going tomorrow now! But I am hearing wonderful things about it, and I am being good at not reading any descriptions whatsoever! I want to be surprised by the unexpected!
EDIT: TRAILER AT AINTITCOOL.COM!!!!!!!!! Low quality but Oh... My.... GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A lot is going through my mind right now, and that means I cannot give my comments on the trailer. Joker.... Joker.... Joker..... I'll give scene by scene commentary at a much later date, i.e. when there's a better quality of the trailer to take screencaptures from.
I also have a theory about Harvey Dent/Two-Face. I think he's not getting much publicity because he's going to be the best known secret of the film. We're seeing all of this Joker, and many are already blown away (I am just by seeing the pictures). I'm betting Two-Face's first onscreen appearance is going to be f***in' amazing, but being kept on the downlow by all of the Joker hype.
So there is a full trailer attached before "I Am Legend." You can read about it here with no real details, which is a good thing. What I enjoyed about this short post was that Heath's Joker turned a skeptic. Nice. Let's hope it'll be in the Japanese release this coming weekend. I will find out! If it is here, too, I will probably be too hyper with tear-filled eyes to even focus on the film itself. But I'm not going to get my hopes up.
And here are two images Warner Bros. has officially released for the film. It's in the article above, but I need to keep it here for my own future references as well. I've noticed this blog has turned into a TDK obsession. ha!
This is the same as the Empire cover, of course. But we can see the background more clearly now. It's said to be a shot from the film itself. It looks more promotional-like to me, but I could be easily fooled. And I've been wondering about the hair. It's rather short compared to his long hair in every other picture. Hmmm.......
Here's Batman on the Batpod. The name still is a bit weird for me, but I'm sure I'll get used to saying it as time goes on. I still don't understand the physics behind the cape and the wheels. How can the cape NOT get caught under them. Wouldn't it be dangerous to ride such a thing with a cape? I've always wondered about that. We'll see how it flows in the actual footage. Maybe it's pinned down somewhere or short enough not to get caught? But what if Batman's in a rush and doesn't have time to think about his cape getting caught in the wheels? Oh... it's just a movie....
So many magazines to find, so little time. I wonder if Japan will have any film magazines with Batman on the cover. I'll have to keep my eye out.
And really. The new suit looks amazing! It'll definitely allow him to showcase his agility and flexibility now. He can turn his head for crying out loud! Christian Bale.... you are Batman.
This is where my girliness comes into play: He's so sexy! Such intense and sexy eyes. This Batman and Heath's Joker -- just by looking at them physically -- are definitely represented as parallels as they should be.
I have a few links based on the IMAX prologue.
1. The LA Times gives a sneak peak at it in this aritcle.
2. IGN has an interview with Christopher Nolan here.
And I love how Batman On Film describes him: The first thing that strikes you is his imposing figure; this is a Joker built for one-on-one combat with Batman. A threatening figure, a physicality that frightens and intimidates. His voice is raspy, with a modulating pitch that seems to run from Hamill-esque highs to Nicholson's growly lows.
He moves like every part of his body
could strike at any moment, a walking embodiment of the anarchy he
creates. And when he takes off that mask, and flashes us a smile that
makes you beg for more -- you just know this is going to be something
special!
We get two good shots of his face, and the make-up is the same thing we've all seen in leaked shots and set footage. But blown up in IMAX format, those dark eyes get pretty damn scary. And that cut mouth looks mighty real. And I'm telling you, that smile is something really, really special.
I don't know about anyone else, but I kind of teared up while reading these.
And what's without the images? Here are two new ones.
And, seriously, what is up with the shirts? Lucky people. I want one....
Here it is. The first poster for the film!
Also, some lucky people saw a screening of the prologue which will be showin in IMAX. You can read about it here, but they are good at linking the spoiler parts, so no worries. I didn't read it either. I want to be surprised. Nolan hopes it will be playing at the IMAX until the film's release. So that means I have a higher chance of seeing it when I return home!
Also, people in some lucky U.S. cities can get free tickets to go see it. Register here. Even if I could register, I wouldn't be home in time to make it. But I have no doubt I won't return from my break without seeing it! And maybe they'll even have the trailer playing here when "I Am Legend" is released.
I'm thinking too much.
This blog was linked in Superhero Hype! which contains new pictures. Obviously these are photos taken for promotional materials. He sure does look good in purple, and the white background really enhances its flair! He looks so cuddly!
And it looks like we're not just getting the 7 minute prologue. We're also getting the first full trailer hitting theaters with "I Am Legend" at the same time. I guess the poor unfortunate ones (like myself) who can't see the IMAX version will be able to at least see the teaser trailer. So it appears to be scheduled as such:
IMAX: 7 minute prologue (First 7 minutes of the film - JOKER!) with "I Am Legend"
Theaters: First full trailer with "I Am Legend"
WIll the teaser also be shown in IMAX? Who knows. Maybe the IMAX at The Palms in Vegas will be playing it when I return home. My sister said they are. Oh please oh please oh please. That's the first thing I'm going to do when I get off that plane! (Kidding!)
Now I'm just ranting.....
EDIT: There's a Joker T-Shirt at Hot Topic?? Whaaaaa~!?
Source: Batman on Film
