36 Comments

1. 1
   

   Matthew says:
   Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 8:06pm

   I’m still annoyed that The Dark Knight wasn’t nominated. I expect that’ll pain me ’til the end of my life.
2. 2
   

   Joel says:
   Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 8:25pm

   Gees, Sasha is such a fangirl!
3. 3
   

   brainypirate says:
   Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 8:32pm

   Is Carr’s voice always in such bad shape or is he fighting off a cold? He definitely has a voice for print journalism!
4. 4
   

   Ash says:
   Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 8:45pm

   I love how the guy says “Criminals in this town used to believe in things… Honor… Respect!!” It’s so funny how he says it.
5. 5
   

   A says:
   Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 8:47pm

   I love this movie, but this scene sort of annoyed me. How do none of the other school buses realize that a bus just came out of the bank?
6. 6
   

   Finn BV says:
   Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 8:48pm

   Get over it! The Dark Knight sucked!

   … just kidding.

   While it wasn’t on my list of favorites of the year, I do think it had some exceptional moments, one standout performance, some breathtaking cinematography (though that editing by the end… eek). This scene, especially, what a breathtaking way to start a film, so intense, like so much of the film. It’s too bad the Academy couldn’t break out of its shell just a little bit to recognize a film which certainly had a deep impact on critics and general audiences alike.
7. 7
   

   Loyal Mehnert says:
   Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 8:56pm

   There’s always The Dark Knight Returns. I’m a bat fanboy and proud

   http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/loyalfromlondon/batsupes.jpg
8. 8
   

   Rebecca says:
   Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 9:14pm

   Sasha, you are hilarious.
9. 9
   

   SephardicThought says:
   Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 9:18pm

   Sasha is such a fangirl! Get over it! The Dark Knight sucked!
10. 10
    

    el_barto says:
    Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 9:23pm

    im drunk already… again
11. 11
    

    Noah R. says:
    Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 9:23pm

    Interesting points. I’m inclined to agree, whatever my views on TDK, it was still a bone-headed move on the Academy’s part to ignore the picture especially when fighting over its own relevance. Now Slumdog versus Knight? That would be an exciting race.

    BTW the opening scene is one of the better bits in the film, although watching it again reminded me that they desperately needed a rewrite. Far too much exposition: “Criminals in this time used to believe in things?” Sorry, I don’t buy a line like that. Too bad it’s far from the only one.
12. 12
    

    Sasha Stone says:
    Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 9:46pm

    Noah R. I think one of the disconnects was that the Dark Knight’s script was intentionally campy in places – but I think people thought it wasn’t supposed to be. That, to me, is what is so great about it. I love that scene – I love the way Heath uses his body language before you know it’s The Joker. It is such an expertly done performance, how he moves to one side, how he shoots the guy as he’s casually walking away. I also love the line “no no no, I killed the busdriver. Busdriver? What bus driver?”
13. 13
    

    Jake says:
    Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 10:19pm

    I am happy David Carr has come around.
14. 14
    

    The Natural says:
    Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 10:35pm

    THAT’S one of your favorite scenes? That’s perhaps the most preposterous and implausible scene in the whole movie; a complete joke. I’m a fan of the film but even I can admit how ridiculous that scene is. Okay, so a bus smashes through a fucking brick wall and doesn’t even get a scratch on it, then it drives away unnoticed with a huge cloud of dust trailing it, perfectly and seamlessly timed so it can fit PERFECTLY into an open space in a line of school buses. Nobody seems to notice. No suspicion. It just magically “gets away.”

    Please. Good thing the movie gets better from then on, although the needless exposition throughout the movie (as mentioned above) is quite the hindrance. This isn’t the Second Coming, people. I think the Academy realized that.
15. 15
    

    michael says:
    Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 10:37pm

    I cannot wait till the fall. I’m tired of all the whining.
16. 16
    

    filmfemme says:
    Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 10:39pm

    Umm…The Bagger didn’t really come around. In the video, he’s not doing a 180 on the merits of the film. He wishes TDK was in the big dance because he’s bored (get in line, David) and wants some drama in the Oscar race, in turn giving him good copy.

    And great idea with the drinking game, Sasha. You should add “whiner” to that list.
17. 17
    

    Nick K. says:
    Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 10:40pm

    If the batman had been nominated for BP, things would definitely have gotten heated up, and I think Slumdog would have had serious competition. Alas, it was never meant to be. Perhaps in another world.
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    Denton says:
    Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 11:25pm

    i think this is one of the best starts 2 a movie

    if only it got more award recognition but *sigh* we cant get what we all hope for
19. 19
    

    Jake says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 12:13am

    To the Natural,

    The opening was meant to be perfectly timed and calculated. The Nolans are not stupid. Like Sasha stated in a comment above, they made certain choices that are purposefully campy or ridiculous, but those choices make the movie that much better. I think you forget who is behind this film. If you’re going to start criticizing the opening scene, then you might as well start criticizing the history of film up until this point. Most, if not all, films have moments like these, moments that aren’t exactly plausible but enhance the film nonetheless.
20. 20
    

    Will says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 4:49am

    I say keep it up! I loved the film.
21. 21
    

    Aleksis says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 6:57am

    Or alternatively – everytime someone says:

    “The Reader is a steaming pile! It only got in because Academy snobs love a holocaust film!”

    I found it ironic how, back when nominations were announced, many TDK fans were confident that “Academy snobs” had unfairly reduced TDK to a “superhero film” and dismissed it – then in the next sentence they’d dismiss The Reader by referring to it as simply “a holocaust film”.
22. 22
    

    Chung Cheng Fang says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 7:43am

    It is really funny to listen to all the justifications that the TDK fans have, could’ve, should’ve, the race would’ve been heated up if TDK was nominated, it would’ve been between TDK and Slumdog. Unbelievable, TDk, to me, is an highly overrated piece of work. We will never find out why it wasn’t nominated, but the irony is that, i had been warning and predicting all along that TDK wasn’t the best picture material and I predicted that it would not be nominated on various websites,,
    and of course, i was bashed from head to toe. The fan boy told me things like “Just wait”,,”The AMAPS would never ignore a film this great”, “You are wrong”, “We will laugh at you on the 22th”

    Of course, obviously, it turned out that i was right,,,but think for a fucking second as Bale’s ranting on T4 set. Do you really think AMPAS members would vote for a film featuring batman flapping around and fighting a clown? I don’t mean to be snobbish. You can justify all you want and say it is the best film since Godfather, the best crime drama(Un-fucking-believable, I still can’t believe a comment like that),you still can’t change the fact that it is a sequel, a batman movie, and its strength basically comes from Heath Ledger’s performance.

    The film is too pretentious ,it has too much exposition, and too many compromises due to its PG13 rating. I always call it a pretentious crime dramn/R rated wanna be/PG-13 batman movie. The bus scene?
    Give me a break, when the bus backs up and hits the robber, you could clearly see the bus never hit the robber, the robber just gets bounced off, why? Because they had to shoot the film with PG13 in mind. Sorry, Mr. Noland, maybe you should not have tried to bring Heat’s influence if you were limited to shoot a PG13 movie, all you did was bring a disgrace to a crime drama genre it self for the profit making.

    Having said that,my biggest thirll remains, TDK’s being shut out once again proves that the AMPAS sometimes do not go with the flow with critics or general public, and this year, I give them a huge credit for that, BRAVO. It just proves that TDK’s was good, but not that good, not good enough to be considered the best picture material. Good for the Academy.
23. 23
    

    jwright40 says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 9:01am

    Chung, feel better now? Next, I’d like an earful about how brilliant & unforgettable ‘The Reader’ and ‘Frost/Nixon’ were, and your work will be done!

    Given that you are clearly 12 years old (“Of course, obviously, it turned out that i was right” – who says that?), you wouldn’t have the perspective to understand how a film like this will be remembered for years (and certainly outlast the Oscars). Guess what: that’s what happens when critics, industry, and audiences come together, every so often, and go bonkers about populist crowdpleaser. The Best Picture nominees the Academy chose are a sorry crop (and not just because they left out ‘TDK’) and will quickly be forgotten. ‘TDK’ didn’t need the Oscars. The Oscars could use TDK though. They’re not the People’s Choice Awards, but they ain’t the Independent Spirit Awards either. If they don’t give a damn about anyone, what good are they? They’re meant to reflect the mood of how a country of moviegoers feels about film at that moment in time. They can go their own way, but they should take care not to flirt with irrelevance.

    Why are you so cynical about the film’s clear intent to make money? Chin up, fella! It’s not some sinister plot. If some films don’t make money, that’s bad for all films. Surely you know that. When a film is this good, we can forgive that motivation.
24. 24
    

    XanderLJ says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 9:08am

    Chung Cheng (or Douche Dumb), your post is typical snobbish bufoonery and we are all a little dumber for having had to read it.

    Nothing you said about TDK is true, but, hey, at least the “fanboys” will always be there to prove you wrong.
25. 25
    

    what says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 10:06am

    TDK = good, but not great. I still think it deserved to get a nomination. There were plenty of films nominated this year that were good, but not great (See “The Reader”) But being nominated doesn’t validates a film’s “greatness” (see “Crash” or “All the nominees this year”). I think “Milk” or “Slumdog” might be the closest, but it’s still pretty far.

    It’s politics man.
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    CLASSIC Alfredo says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 10:43am

    My God if some one doesn’t like TDK you start with the insults.
27. 27
    

    Dubya says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 10:46am

    The Dark Knight could just be the Raiders of the Lost Ark of our time. Brilliantly directed, terrific acting, the best technology, and some great, great scenes that will be remembered forever. Notably the interrogation scene. Here is hoping that AFI adds Ledger’s Joker to the top ten best villians list.

    Chung, please tell me that Langella’s vehicle and Winslet’s nude vehicle were better than The Dark Knight.
28. 28
    

    Karen says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 10:58am

    I love how anyone who was hoping for TDK to get nominated is instantly labeled as a “fanboy”, and how quickly the naysayers are happy to gloat on their being “right” at it’s exclusion.

    For the record, I never read comic books, love films such as “The Pianist”, “The Departed”, “United 93″ and “No Country for Old Men” as much as well done, more popular films such as “The Lord of The Rings” films.

    There are a lot of other people, like myself, that felt since TDK was rated critically superior to some of the films in this year’s BP slate and it had public support as well, that was reason enough for AMPAS to break from their usual aversion and give the film a BP nomination. In a strong year like ’07, this would have been much less likely, but ’08 is completely different. In addition, TDK’s inclusion would have made for a much more exciting BP race…I’m not a whinner, just stating the facts.
29. 29
    

    Alfredo - Often imitated Never duplicated says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 2:22pm

    Chung – Anyone can say something ridiculous and hope that it pans out so you can shout “See! I was right ALL ALONG!” I often find that those same people are quick to distance themselves from their predictions when it turns out they were completely wrong.
30. 30
    

    Alfredo - Year One says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 3:10pm

    I thought that we all agreed to stop talking about the unfairness of TDKs snub.
31. 31
    

    THE Diego Ortiz says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 4:16pm

    All right! Time to get f***ing drunk! (It should be easy with just one of the previous pro-TDK posts.)

    One note. This not the only place I have read this. That the bus goes through a brick wall*e without a scratch. It’s crashes though the large front doors of the bank. The doors were bigger than the bus, so it should not have that much damage. It looks like it’s one of the doors that flies into the Joker thug and kills him.

    Sorry. It’s just something that bugs me. Maybe this drinking game will help me forget.
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    ryan says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 4:31pm

    I think it’s funny that everyone refers to people that like The Dark Knight as “fanboys.” Now, maybe that’s true on the Internet. People like me jumping in every once in awhile to have my opinion heard. But of course, I don’t consider myself a “fanboy” when it comes to Batman. Although, I’m more of a “movies in general” fanboy.

    But I don’t love The Dark Knight because it’s a Batman movie. I love The Dark Knight for what it is as a modern crime drama. People compare it to Heat, almost as a way to say, “hey, it’s no where near the greatness of Michael Mann’s crime epic.” And that’s completely untrue. People are also forgetting that Heat was a bit uneven in spots, overacted in others, and even ridiculous when dealing with family storylines. And the third act, was also a little messy. However, the WHOLE is so much greater than the sum of its parts.

    That is The Dark Knight. Is it perfect? No. But it’s a great movie that sparks discussion. It’s not like Spiderman 2 (which I hated) where people were just enjoying it as a summer blockbuster. The fact that The Dark Knight was able to rise above its genre and be considered a “crime drama” should say something about the people making it.

    And before people bash those fans of the movie that claim it didn’t get nominated simply because it was a comic book film… think… with all of its achievements and other nominations… Do you really think it WOULDN’T have been nominated if it was the exact same movie, except not about Batman?
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    Chung Cheng Fang says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 7:26pm

    We are going in circle here, my friends,and again, I was bashed from head to toe just because I do not like TDK as much as you guys do. Yeah, go ahead, keep posting your anger and raving towards me, but nothing can change the fact I truely believe this film is totally overrated, and I have stated my reasons as why it is such an overrated piece of work.
    You guys arguments are all fine, but you guys have failed to realize that it is all subjective about whether or not a film deserves a best picture nod at the Oscars. I know i am outnumbered here, but i never ignored the fact that TDK’ having gotten recognized by PGA/WGA/DGA, it is the first comic book based film that got multiple recognitions by those guilds, but so what? Clearly, the AMPAS members probably treated it as an interesting sequel, an interesting and unique batman movie, but obviously, there were not enough votes to get TDK into the top categories, so what happened next after the nominations? All i saw and read was comments like “TDK will be remembered, and The Readers won’t”, “AMPAS members loves to lick Harvey Weinstein’s balls”. “How could they have nominated The Reader”?? Immature comments like those just make me laugh, those comments were clearly a manifestation of TDK’s fans being sour grapes and being unable to have criticisms of any kind against TDK. The notion of either you are with TDK, or you are against us or terrorists is all over the place.

    One thing i find it laughable about TDK fanboys is that they keep trying to justify the TDK’s loss at the Oscars by saying that other nominees won’t be remembered, and TDK will!
    Please, says who? TDK will be remembered by what? By you guys? by people who have more tastes?? I don’t mean to sound snobbish. but i can’t help it. Whether TDK will go down in history and be remembered is subjective,,so The readers and Milk won’t be remembered? And TDK will??? Please be realistic and fair!!! It is all subjective!

    Other four nominees are all far more superior to TDK in my opinion, why can’t you TDK fans just concede to the fact that the AMPAS love what they vote, and they just happen to think TDK was not the best picture material.

    Bash me all you want, the biggest thrill still remains about TDK’s missing out the main categories at Oscars. Bravo for the AMPAS members.
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    Brainsworth says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 10:06pm

    I think it’s a very brave & laudable move on the part of the Academy to NOT name TDK among its BP line-up and NOT be swayed by most critics who are blinded by impressive frills & thrills. Any sensible soul can see the fact that TDK is flawed in many of its execution, circumstances and plots, not to mention, improbable in the same vein as, say, ‘X-Men’. It is only admirable due to Nolan’s impeccable direction but that’s about it!

    I don’t see why ‘The Reader’ should be chastised for its snub. It could easily have been ‘Doubt’ or ‘The Wrestler’ in its place!

    If it were actually nominated, it would be the most LAUGHABLE of the five nominees SIMPLY BECAUSE the other four are actually stunning evocative (plausible) works by comparison!

    The only top category the film deserves is Best Director (but still too many faux paus to merit an inclusion).
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    Paul Outlaw says:
    Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 10:17pm

    If it were actually nominated, it would be the most LAUGHABLE of the five nominees SIMPLY BECAUSE the other four are actually stunning evocative (plausible) works by comparison!

    The only “plausible” Best Picture nominees this year are Milk & Frost/Nixon and that’s only because they are fictionalized versions of actual events. And TDK is more stunning and evocative than at least two of this year’s nominees.
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    Chung Cheng Fang says:
    Friday, February 13, 2009 at 1:01am

    Alfredo, you wrote:
    “Chung – Anyone can say something ridiculous and hope that it pans out so you can shout “See! I was right ALL ALONG!” I often find that those same people are quick to distance themselves from their predictions when it turns out they were completely wrong.”

    You clearly don’t know what you’re saying, go to IMDB, and look at the history of my posts about TDK before and after the guild nominations, I had been predicting that TDk would not get a best picture nomination. Don’t be so sour grapes. Thanks.