Just back from midnight showing of The Dark Knight

[BlainThePain]

This is the best movie I have seen this decade. The story is great, the action is awesome, and the acting is superb. In my opinion, there can never be another Joker because Heath Ledger gave the best performance in any comic book movie I have ever seen. After leaving this movie, you will not be able to picture anybody other than Ledger as the Joker. You will love the Joker's "disappearing pencil trick". My only complaint was Maggie Gyllenhaal. She was not nearly hot enough to be Batman's love interest. I went in expecting the best Batman movie I have ever seen, and it ended up being one of the best movies I have ever seen. This is coming from a guy that didn't really like Batman Begins, too.

On a side note, they showed the "Watchmen" trailer before the movie and it looks awesome. This is my favorite graphic novel and I have high hopes for it.

[Thurmanation]

I was seriously hoping this would be the greatest movie id ever seen, but it just wasn't, such bad editing, Bale making Batman sound like Barry White, a ridiculous amount of continuities, and was still great for the sheer fact it was Heath Ledger as The Joker. The movie was great by all means but i don't understand how people can say its the best movie they've ever seen, i mean come on the original Batman was far better, Jack Nicholson dancing to Prince? Thats The Joker!

But i do have to say this was a very very good movie;

8.5 - 9/10

[BengalszoneBilly]

'Dark Knight' sets weekend record with $155.34M

LOS ANGELES (AP) Batman has sent Spidey packing as king of Hollywood's box-office superheroes.

"The Dark Knight" took in a record $155.34 million in its first weekend, topping the previous best of $151.1 million for "Spider-Man 3" in May 2007 and pacing Hollywood to its biggest weekend ever, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"We knew it would be big, but we never expected to dominate the marketplace like we did," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., which released "The Dark Knight." The movie should shoot past the $200 million mark by the end of the week, he said.

Hollywood set an overall revenue record of $253 million for a three-day weekend, beating the $218.4 million haul over the weekend of July 7, 2006, according to box-office tracker Media By Numbers.

"This weekend is such a juggernaut," said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal, whose musical "Mamma Mia!" debuted at No. 2 with $27.6 million.

Factoring in higher admission prices, "Spider-Man 3" may have sold slightly more tickets than "The Dark Knight."

At 2007's average price of $6.88, "Spider-Man 3" sold 21.96 million tickets over opening weekend. Media By Numbers estimates today's average movie prices at $7.08, which means "The Dark Knight" would have sold 21.94 million tickets.

Revenue totals for "The Dark Knight" could change when final numbers are released Monday.

The movie's release was preceded by months of buzz and speculation over the performance of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker, Batman's nemesis. Ledger, who died in January from an accidental prescription-drug overdose, played the Joker as a demonic presence, his performance prompting predictions that the role might earn him a posthumous Academy Award nomination.

"The average opening gross of the last five `Batman' movies is $47 million. This tripled that, and for a reason," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers. "A big part of that was the Heath Ledger mystique and a phenomenal performance that absolutely deserves the excitement surrounding it."

"The Dark Knight" reunites director Christopher Nolan with his "Batman Begins" star Christian Bale, whose vigilante crime-fighter is taunted and tested by Ledger's Joker as the villain unleashes violence and chaos on the city of Gotham.

Overseas, "The Dark Knight" added $40 million in 20 countries where it began opening Wednesday, including Australia, Mexico and Brazil. The film opens in Great Britain this weekend and rolls out to most of the rest of the world over the next few weeks.

"The Dark Knight," which cost $185 million to make, also broke the "Spider-Man 3" record for best debut in IMAX large-screen theaters with $6.2 million. "Spider-Man 3" opened with $4.7 million in IMAX cinemas.

"Every single show is sold out," said Greg Foster, IMAX chairman and president. "We're adding shows as much as we can, but we're at 100 percent capacity."

On opening day Friday, "The Dark Knight" also took in more money than previously counted, Fellman said. The film pulled in a record $67.85 million, up nearly $1.5 million from the studio's estimates a day earlier.

The previous opening-day record also had been held by "Spider-Man 3" with $59.8 million.

Women accounted for most of the audience for "Mamma Mia!", which Universal opened as counter-programming to the male-dominated audience for "The Dark Knight."

"With the crowded summer, we knew we would have to find the right weekend, and this seemed like the perfect one considering three-quarters of our audience was female," Rocco said.

Based on the stage musical set to the tunes of ABBA, "Mamma Mia!" features Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski.

The weekend's other new wide release, 20th Century Fox's animated family flick "Space Chimps," opened at No. 7 with $7.4 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.

I'm sure RBB wasn't one seeing the movie this weekend.

[redsbengalsbucks]

'Dark Knight' sets weekend record with $155.34M

LOS ANGELES (AP) Batman has sent Spidey packing as king of Hollywood's box-office superheroes.

"The Dark Knight" took in a record $155.34 million in its first weekend, topping the previous best of $151.1 million for "Spider-Man 3" in May 2007 and pacing Hollywood to its biggest weekend ever, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"We knew it would be big, but we never expected to dominate the marketplace like we did," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., which released "The Dark Knight." The movie should shoot past the $200 million mark by the end of the week, he said.

Hollywood set an overall revenue record of $253 million for a three-day weekend, beating the $218.4 million haul over the weekend of July 7, 2006, according to box-office tracker Media By Numbers.

"This weekend is such a juggernaut," said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal, whose musical "Mamma Mia!" debuted at No. 2 with $27.6 million.

Factoring in higher admission prices, "Spider-Man 3" may have sold slightly more tickets than "The Dark Knight."

At 2007's average price of $6.88, "Spider-Man 3" sold 21.96 million tickets over opening weekend. Media By Numbers estimates today's average movie prices at $7.08, which means "The Dark Knight" would have sold 21.94 million tickets.

Revenue totals for "The Dark Knight" could change when final numbers are released Monday.

The movie's release was preceded by months of buzz and speculation over the performance of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker, Batman's nemesis. Ledger, who died in January from an accidental prescription-drug overdose, played the Joker as a demonic presence, his performance prompting predictions that the role might earn him a posthumous Academy Award nomination.

"The average opening gross of the last five `Batman' movies is $47 million. This tripled that, and for a reason," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers. "A big part of that was the Heath Ledger mystique and a phenomenal performance that absolutely deserves the excitement surrounding it."

"The Dark Knight" reunites director Christopher Nolan with his "Batman Begins" star Christian Bale, whose vigilante crime-fighter is taunted and tested by Ledger's Joker as the villain unleashes violence and chaos on the city of Gotham.

Overseas, "The Dark Knight" added $40 million in 20 countries where it began opening Wednesday, including Australia, Mexico and Brazil. The film opens in Great Britain this weekend and rolls out to most of the rest of the world over the next few weeks.

"The Dark Knight," which cost $185 million to make, also broke the "Spider-Man 3" record for best debut in IMAX large-screen theaters with $6.2 million. "Spider-Man 3" opened with $4.7 million in IMAX cinemas.

"Every single show is sold out," said Greg Foster, IMAX chairman and president. "We're adding shows as much as we can, but we're at 100 percent capacity."

On opening day Friday, "The Dark Knight" also took in more money than previously counted, Fellman said. The film pulled in a record $67.85 million, up nearly $1.5 million from the studio's estimates a day earlier.

The previous opening-day record also had been held by "Spider-Man 3" with $59.8 million.

Women accounted for most of the audience for "Mamma Mia!", which Universal opened as counter-programming to the male-dominated audience for "The Dark Knight."

"With the crowded summer, we knew we would have to find the right weekend, and this seemed like the perfect one considering three-quarters of our audience was female," Rocco said.

Based on the stage musical set to the tunes of ABBA, "Mamma Mia!" features Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski.

The weekend's other new wide release, 20th Century Fox's animated family flick "Space Chimps," opened at No. 7 with $7.4 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.

I'm sure RBB wasn't one seeing the movie this weekend.

You would be 100% correct!

[ChadJohnson-85]

Just got back from watching the dark knight and it is a great movie! 10/10 Heath is the best Joker I have ever seen! R.I.P. Heath Ledger

[Orange and black fanatic]

It is absolutely Oscar worthy. Great acting, plot and character development and directing. The script was very well written and executed. Plus the handling of the ethical challenges was masterful.

This is not just a fun summer romp. I left the theater feeling as though I had I lost something just like Harvey Dent did. But I came away with a better understanding of the various incarnations of the Yin/Yang relationship.

[BengalszoneBilly]

After seeing all these comments about the new Batman movie the little woman and I went to see it. Totally worth the money.

As we were leaving Megan (the aforementioned little woman) said she wanted to see "Mama Mia", so back in we went. I have to say for a total ABBA inspired chick flick, I enjoyed that one too!

The green eyed beauty Amanda Seyfried was something to behold!

[kevinc1129]

I saw The Dark Knight on Saturday and absolutely loved it...the best movie I have seen in a very long time, and well worth all of the hype it is receiving. If you have the opportunity, you need to see it in an IMAX theater...just incredible.

Ledger did a fantastic job and it was definitely an Oscar worthy performance.

[skyline]

I saw The Dark Knight on Saturday and absolutely loved it...the best movie I have seen in a very long time, and well worth all of the hype it is receiving. If you have the opportunity, you need to see it in an IMAX theater...just incredible.

Ledger did a fantastic job and it was definitely an Oscar worthy performance.

Seeing it at an IMAX theater later today. Very much looking forward to it

[Scottishbengal]

Is Heath Ledger just getting the sympathy vote here or was he really THAT good?

I haven't seen the film so can't comment on it but I just wonder if it's the sucking-off the dead guy syndrome in action once again

[BengalszoneBilly]

I just wonder if it's the sucking-off the dead guy syndrome in action once again

Anyone who can suck-cessfully make that happen is GOOD!

To quote the Rolling Stones...

You, you make a dead man come

[skyline]

I have to say that Ledger really was THAT good.

Just got back, and like the rest, came away very impressed. I don't know that I'd say it was the "best action movie EVER" as so many are quick to do, but it was certainly the best I've seen in quite some time.

[kevinc1129]

Is Heath Ledger just getting the sympathy vote here or was he really THAT good?

I haven't seen the film so can't comment on it but I just wonder if it's the sucking-off the dead guy syndrome in action once again

He really was that good in the movie.