Don't forget, though: the yellow oval was never originally part of the design: as I understand it was added back in the day because the Bat logo as it was wasn't actually copyright-able: it was just a picture of a bat. The oval was added just to make it unique, therefore they could trademark it and make money off stuff with the Batman logo on. So not really the most honorable logo design, existing as it was to make money rather than be true to the character!
How weird- is that Bale's actual accent now or is he one of those who finds it easier to keep an accent all the time whilst filming? It's just that bits of his Brit accent slip through as well.
In a perfect world, an actor who is a physical type similar to a young Conrad Veidt or Peter O'Toole would be playing The Joker.
I rather liked the idea that someone else had of Christopher Eccleston playing him.
I concur.Eccleson would've been a great choice.All I was really suggesting was that-in my opinion-the actor who plays The Joker should be tall and slim with a thin face and acquiline nose.Someone of this type would easily resemble The Joker as he is depicted in the comics.
I mentioned Veidt because his face was(in character as Gwynplaine) the original inspiration for The Joker's visage.The young and imperially slender O'Toole would've also fit this image without much difficulty.At one time Willam Defoe might've been an impressive Joker as well.
Many people will disagree with me on this but I think Jim Carrey could've been a superb Joker.Yes-I know,he once played The Riddler--but I'm thinking about the Carrey who played The Mask and also appeared in that recent Lemony Snickett movie where his features were exaggerated and distorted via makeup and appliances-he looked very much like The Joker in that.He's tall and slim and can play drama as well as comedy.I've never considered The Joker to be especially funny as much as he is a psychopath with a personal style that is eminently theatrical-hence the purple zoot suit.
I suspect there are plenty of actors(Eccleson among them)who'd gladly wear devices that would contort their features into a reasonably close match with this villain.But that's just a "what-if" situation and only what I'd have done, had I called the shots.:)
Try as I might,I don't see any of the great style The Joker is supposed to have on display with the sloppily made-up thug Ledger resembles.In all seriousness--and I'm not being snide or sarcastic--I think it's extremely unfortunate that Nolan's artistic sensibilities are so offended by the garish and intentionally bizarre looks of Batman's villains to the point that he goes out of his way to reduce their famous images beyond recognition.
I hate to think of what Nolan might have done to Batman if he was not legally obligated to have the hero in these movies wear the famous costume.
RogueAgentSpeeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
How weird- is that Bale's actual accent now or is he one of those who finds it easier to keep an accent all the time whilst filming? It's just that bits of his Brit accent slip through as well.
Well I could be wrong but he lives in the U.S. now or at least a majority of the time, em. Sometimes one can't help but adapt to his/her region if you stay long enough. In his case, he mainly does Yank roles so it's probably habitual.
Then again he's probably crossed up a bit with the role and the actual thing. Who knows?
This isn't the first interview that Bale's given that his accent didn't get crossed up. He's one of the few Brits IMO, that does a superb American accent east or west coast. B-)
I remember seeing a young Cary Elwes years ago in some English movie speaking his native tongue very upper crest only to be moved over here by his parents and now he sounds like the rest of us.
Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice isUNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
RogueAgentSpeeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
Many people will disagree with me on this but I think Jim Carrey could've been a superb Joker.
I agree. I remember thinking that back when he was cast for Batman Forever. His performance as Nigma was really an homage to Frank Gorshin's...only problem with that...it only looked good coming from Gorshin. Sorry but I thought that his turn was a poorly done hack job.
GORSHIN IS THE RIDDLER. LIKE SHATNER IS CAPTAIN KIRK. Synonymous.
I hate to think of what Nolan might have done to Batman if he was not legally obligated to have the hero in these movies wear the famous costume.
*RA opening briefcase*
"Would you like to see my mask? I use it in my experiments. Probably not very frightening to a guy like you, but these Mods on message boards... they can't stand it."
No seriously, W.G. Perhaps the next director to come along after Batfans are ready for another fix, might just see things abit more traditionally. I hope you go see the movie though, man.
Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice isUNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
NightshooterIn bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
Am I the only one who's more worried about Batman's look than the Joker's? The techno suit of his... it is SO out-there.
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LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
I'm kind of warming to the new batsuit...keeping in mind we'll never---EVER---have the simple grey tights again...in a sense, that onscreen look will forever belong to the inimitable Adam West B-) )
The hi-tech 'armor' thing, in a sense, suits a 'dark knight' who will surely face a well-armed battalion of the Joker's henchman...but I, too, miss the yellow oval-and-bat symbol Hopefully the Nolan run will at least finish with it...
And actually, I'm becoming less and less bothered by what they've done with the Joker. Underplayed stylism, indeed---almost as if Nolan is saying (to the utter dismay of Batman Traditionalists everywhere!): "Yes, I know you've read all these books about Batman and his foes. But here's what they really look like." :v
For anyone dying for me to elaborate on a Danny Craig parallel...PM me B-)
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Put me in the camp of not liking either one. The Joker looks more like Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz then a dangerous criminal. Batman's armour suit is once again overdone. This is not to say the movie won't work. I liked Batman begins so I am giving this a chance.
NightshooterIn bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
Batman looks pretty stupid. You suck Lindy Hemming.
But as for the Joker... he looks fantastic! Good job, Lindy Hemming! )
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
The thing about the batsuit is that you'll most likely never see it that clearly in the film...he's forever cloaked in shadows, quick-cut fighting shots, etc...at least if Nolan sticks with the same modus operandi this time round.
It's the cowl---and the way the cape moves---that really tells the story. The cowl seems more like what we're used to than was the case in BB, IMO. I'd prefer something more traditional, myself...but neither costume, as seen above, is a deal-breaker for me.
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
NightshooterIn bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
Can I just point out that I never understood how Bruce Wayne always takes the time to put massive amounts of black eye makeup on every time he puts on the Batsuit? That is why I always wanted the triangle eyes to be used in the movies and not just in the comics.
The thing about the batsuit is that you'll most likely never see it that clearly in the film.
Hopefully you're right.
I really hate this bat suit. It looks really ugly IMO and it looks like Batman is a member of the army, not a billionaire who can surely afford a sleeker, cooler suit. I mean, say what you want about it, but the suit in BB was alot better than this. For one thing, it wasn't as grey (if at all.) Seeing this suit (and Joker's setup) doesn't give me confidence that Nolan truly knows what he was doing. Yes, BB was terrific, but it seems to me that Nolan is going backwards not forwards. I hope I'm wrong.
Oh, and Night, I honestly can not understand how you like the Joker looking like a horror film character. ?:)
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
RogueAgentSpeeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
edited December 2007
Great find, Tony.
Isn't it funny how in a way Nolan seemed to downplay The Joker's overall look but overdid it with Batman's new costume? He looks like Tron or Robocop in black. It's not going to discourage me from seeing this (short of this becoming an all out tear-jerker & musical ) but like Night, the costume doesn't suit my taste at all. Thank heavens it's not for the entire film...
I too am loving more and more of what I see of Ledger though. Those snapshots alone prove that he'll ham it up the right way.
Those shoes he wears suck though. At least they could have given him spats. )
Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice isUNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
NightshooterIn bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
I'm glad you agree with me about Joker, RA. I agree with you on the spats, though.
Come on, Dan, look at those faces he is making! THAT is the Joker!
Come on, Dan, look at those faces he is making! THAT is the Joker!
The faces are great. No doubt about it. As is the way he's goofing around. But don't tell me that you seriously like his makeup? IMO he looks like a character from a 70's horror film.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
I'm not too worried about the bat suit as on screen it will probably look alot different. the suit from BB had lots of detail that you just couldn't see in the end which was a shame. As for the joker well..... he's looking better but that hair, I don't know maybe I'm just fixating
Just as an FYI, I was reading that these pictures are supposed to be promo shots to be used for toys and other movie tie-ins; thus the white backgrounds (which will be replaced with other artwork on the actual boxes, cards and whatnot). As such, they shouldn't be taken as actual proof of how the characters, especially Joker, will behave in the finished film.
At any rate, I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I'll never like the way Nolan imagines these characters; they're just too far removed from their classic appearance for me to be able to identify with.
Batman's costume is much too over-engineered with way too much detail. The cowl still looks awkward to me as well and the lighter grey sections on the chest make it look like he's wearing a bikini top. As Loeffs and Agent_M have said, the saving grace is that it will probably be in the shadows most of the time. Personally, Val Kilmer's batsuit for the first 2/3 of Batman Forever was my favorite incarnation (if you airbrushed out the nipples of course). Very sleek, nice cowl with long ears, not overly detailed, still flexible and it had the black bat on the yellow oval which, copyright issues aside, was the iconic symbol of Batman for a very long time.
I'll probably never get used to this Joker's face. I don't like the painted smile, the blackened eyes, the hair (you're not fixating Agent_M) or the blotches. It looks more like Homeless Man than Joker.
Still, I was able to enjoy BB despite the poor appearance of the characters; hopefully the same will happen with B:TDK. Appearances aside, I just hope Nolan doesn't pull a Tim Burton/Batman Returns and get too far away from the comic mythos.
NightshooterIn bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
Come on, Dan, look at those faces he is making! THAT is the Joker!
The faces are great. No doubt about it. As is the way he's goofing around. But don't tell me that you seriously like his makeup? IMO he looks like a character from a 70's horror film.
I seriously do. I think he looks great, more deranged than Nicholson did, darker, but still playful and crazy as the Joker should be. Originally I was worried that he would look too horror film and be too dark, but now that I've seen a bit of his goofy ways, I see that the horror of his face balances perfectly with the oddness of his character.
I really see Cesar Romero in those faces he is making, by the way.
RogueAgentSpeeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
I really see Cesar Romero in those faces he is making, by the way.
Blasphemy! I'm in your corner on this arguement, Night but...
Leave Romero out of your associations with Ledger. He's still my favorite Joker and deserves to be on his own plane exempt from the madness... B-)
That's where I draw the line. :v
That being said, Nolan's J-Man, on the surface, looks to have the moxy to punk out Burton's version.
Oh come ON, RA. I love Romero, too, but you don't see any similarities? I mean, one is from 1966 and the other from 2007, and of course that means huge differences, but I think Ledger's look is the modern day Romero.
I liked Cesar Romero's Joker,too("Hee hee hee,I'm SO silly!Hee hee hee!!!"etc.).Romero's Joker was very much the Clown Prince of Crime of the 1950s and early 1960s--the period when The Joker was reconfigured from the theatrical and humorless psychopath of the 1940s, into a brightly colored comedian.
However, my favorite Joker is Mark Hamill--who,in my opinion produced an absolutely perfect voice for the character.The range Hammill displayed as The Joker was quite impressive-veering from dangerous madman to outright clown.And he was always evil, regardless of the situation.Of course,Hammill had the benefit of some extraordinary writing to work with, and he really made it shine.
RogueAgentSpeeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
edited December 2007
Okay, fellas...do you like it? Official teaser poster. Also, I was told that Nolan has said that TDK will have a running time of 140 minutes...
Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice isUNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
Hmmm. So is "Why so serious?" going to be a catchphrase used by Ledger's Joker, or is it perhaps his taunt to Batman? interesting that it's used both for the viral site and for the poster. As for the teaser poster itself. . .shrug.
Vox clamantis in deserto
NightshooterIn bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
Comments
Don't forget, though: the yellow oval was never originally part of the design: as I understand it was added back in the day because the Bat logo as it was wasn't actually copyright-able: it was just a picture of a bat. The oval was added just to make it unique, therefore they could trademark it and make money off stuff with the Batman logo on. So not really the most honorable logo design, existing as it was to make money rather than be true to the character!
How weird- is that Bale's actual accent now or is he one of those who finds it easier to keep an accent all the time whilst filming? It's just that bits of his Brit accent slip through as well.
I concur.Eccleson would've been a great choice.All I was really suggesting was that-in my opinion-the actor who plays The Joker should be tall and slim with a thin face and acquiline nose.Someone of this type would easily resemble The Joker as he is depicted in the comics.
I mentioned Veidt because his face was(in character as Gwynplaine) the original inspiration for The Joker's visage.The young and imperially slender O'Toole would've also fit this image without much difficulty.At one time Willam Defoe might've been an impressive Joker as well.
Many people will disagree with me on this but I think Jim Carrey could've been a superb Joker.Yes-I know,he once played The Riddler--but I'm thinking about the Carrey who played The Mask and also appeared in that recent Lemony Snickett movie where his features were exaggerated and distorted via makeup and appliances-he looked very much like The Joker in that.He's tall and slim and can play drama as well as comedy.I've never considered The Joker to be especially funny as much as he is a psychopath with a personal style that is eminently theatrical-hence the purple zoot suit.
I suspect there are plenty of actors(Eccleson among them)who'd gladly wear devices that would contort their features into a reasonably close match with this villain.But that's just a "what-if" situation and only what I'd have done, had I called the shots.:)
Try as I might,I don't see any of the great style The Joker is supposed to have on display with the sloppily made-up thug Ledger resembles.In all seriousness--and I'm not being snide or sarcastic--I think it's extremely unfortunate that Nolan's artistic sensibilities are so offended by the garish and intentionally bizarre looks of Batman's villains to the point that he goes out of his way to reduce their famous images beyond recognition.
I hate to think of what Nolan might have done to Batman if he was not legally obligated to have the hero in these movies wear the famous costume.
Well I could be wrong but he lives in the U.S. now or at least a majority of the time, em. Sometimes one can't help but adapt to his/her region if you stay long enough. In his case, he mainly does Yank roles so it's probably habitual.
Then again he's probably crossed up a bit with the role and the actual thing. Who knows?
This isn't the first interview that Bale's given that his accent didn't get crossed up. He's one of the few Brits IMO, that does a superb American accent east or west coast. B-)
I remember seeing a young Cary Elwes years ago in some English movie speaking his native tongue very upper crest only to be moved over here by his parents and now he sounds like the rest of us.
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
I agree. I remember thinking that back when he was cast for Batman Forever. His performance as Nigma was really an homage to Frank Gorshin's...only problem with that...it only looked good coming from Gorshin. Sorry but I thought that his turn was a poorly done hack job.
GORSHIN IS THE RIDDLER. LIKE SHATNER IS CAPTAIN KIRK. Synonymous.
*RA opening briefcase*
"Would you like to see my mask? I use it in my experiments. Probably not very frightening to a guy like you, but these Mods on message boards... they can't stand it."
No seriously, W.G. Perhaps the next director to come along after Batfans are ready for another fix, might just see things abit more traditionally. I hope you go see the movie though, man.
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
No, Night. I said so on the previous page. I'm just not feeling it at all...
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
And here's a link to the actual article:
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/34945
The hi-tech 'armor' thing, in a sense, suits a 'dark knight' who will surely face a well-armed battalion of the Joker's henchman...but I, too, miss the yellow oval-and-bat symbol
And actually, I'm becoming less and less bothered by what they've done with the Joker. Underplayed stylism, indeed---almost as if Nolan is saying (to the utter dismay of Batman Traditionalists everywhere!): "Yes, I know you've read all these books about Batman and his foes. But here's what they really look like." :v
For anyone dying for me to elaborate on a Danny Craig parallel...PM me B-)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
But as for the Joker... he looks fantastic! Good job, Lindy Hemming!
It's the cowl---and the way the cape moves---that really tells the story. The cowl seems more like what we're used to than was the case in BB, IMO. I'd prefer something more traditional, myself...but neither costume, as seen above, is a deal-breaker for me.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I really hate this bat suit. It looks really ugly IMO and it looks like Batman is a member of the army, not a billionaire who can surely afford a sleeker, cooler suit. I mean, say what you want about it, but the suit in BB was alot better than this. For one thing, it wasn't as grey (if at all.) Seeing this suit (and Joker's setup) doesn't give me confidence that Nolan truly knows what he was doing. Yes, BB was terrific, but it seems to me that Nolan is going backwards not forwards. I hope I'm wrong.
Oh, and Night, I honestly can not understand how you like the Joker looking like a horror film character. ?:)
Isn't it funny how in a way Nolan seemed to downplay The Joker's overall look but overdid it with Batman's new costume? He looks like Tron or Robocop in black. It's not going to discourage me from seeing this (short of this becoming an all out tear-jerker & musical
I too am loving more and more of what I see of Ledger though. Those snapshots alone prove that he'll ham it up the right way.
Those shoes he wears suck though. At least they could have given him spats.
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
Come on, Dan, look at those faces he is making! THAT is the Joker!
www.scottacademymartialarts.co.uk
At any rate, I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I'll never like the way Nolan imagines these characters; they're just too far removed from their classic appearance for me to be able to identify with.
Batman's costume is much too over-engineered with way too much detail. The cowl still looks awkward to me as well and the lighter grey sections on the chest make it look like he's wearing a bikini top. As Loeffs and Agent_M have said, the saving grace is that it will probably be in the shadows most of the time. Personally, Val Kilmer's batsuit for the first 2/3 of Batman Forever was my favorite incarnation (if you airbrushed out the nipples of course). Very sleek, nice cowl with long ears, not overly detailed, still flexible and it had the black bat on the yellow oval which, copyright issues aside, was the iconic symbol of Batman for a very long time.
I'll probably never get used to this Joker's face. I don't like the painted smile, the blackened eyes, the hair (you're not fixating Agent_M) or the blotches. It looks more like Homeless Man than Joker.
Still, I was able to enjoy BB despite the poor appearance of the characters; hopefully the same will happen with B:TDK. Appearances aside, I just hope Nolan doesn't pull a Tim Burton/Batman Returns and get too far away from the comic mythos.
I seriously do. I think he looks great, more deranged than Nicholson did, darker, but still playful and crazy as the Joker should be. Originally I was worried that he would look too horror film and be too dark, but now that I've seen a bit of his goofy ways, I see that the horror of his face balances perfectly with the oddness of his character.
I really see Cesar Romero in those faces he is making, by the way.
Blasphemy! I'm in your corner on this arguement, Night but...
Leave Romero out of your associations with Ledger. He's still my favorite Joker and deserves to be on his own plane exempt from the madness... B-)
That's where I draw the line. :v
That being said, Nolan's J-Man, on the surface, looks to have the moxy to punk out Burton's version.
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
Oh come ON, RA. I love Romero, too, but you don't see any similarities? I mean, one is from 1966 and the other from 2007, and of course that means huge differences, but I think Ledger's look is the modern day Romero.
However, my favorite Joker is Mark Hamill--who,in my opinion produced an absolutely perfect voice for the character.The range Hammill displayed as The Joker was quite impressive-veering from dangerous madman to outright clown.And he was always evil, regardless of the situation.Of course,Hammill had the benefit of some extraordinary writing to work with, and he really made it shine.
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -