Movie Reviews & More
More new “The Dark Knight” Photos – Batman & Joker
I don’t think I will say anything new here on the new “Dark Knight” photos of Batman and Joker that debuted in the last 24 hours that hasn’t already been written somewhere else.
I will just say that I am impressed with the Batman suit. These photos show that there are some significant changes visually to the cape and cowl from Batman Begins, and structurally. Any aficionado has heard that the Batman suit is more maneuverable, and isn’t as cumbersome to wear for Christian Bale in this sequel. A coupe of the images of Ledger’s Joker, immediately made me think of Tim Burton. Not Tim Burton’s treatment of Batman or Joker, but just the white, faceless, ghostlike expression seemed like a page out of Burton’s morbid dreamscapes.
I just hope that Christopher Nolan, who has been so great at relating the wealth of information in these stories to some sort of modern, believable explanation. I am sure he will explain, subtly, why the suit changed and why it was necessary. Not like Joel Schumacher (*hiss*), who just thought the suit needed something…oh! Nipples (Sang with an Opera voice).
Today’s New Dark Knight Joker Image
I am late to the game, but I have gotten so much interest through my website about The Dark Knight, that I thought I would keep the viral media pipeline flowing.
Here is the cover of Wizard magazine, a tongue in cheek comic book price guide, news, and review vehicle.
I am not crazy about this image of Heath Ledger as the Joker, it wasn’t the best shot for Wizard Magazine to use. Joker looks a little constipated.
~ Edit 12/10/07 I knew it was only a matter of time before we saw this photo of the Joker without the trade dress. The full body photo showing all of the Joker is much better in my opinion, much more maniacal.
New Joker Image Leaked!
Earlier today I saw that there is a new “anticipation” hype site that is slowly releasing a new image of Heath Ledger as the Joker, “He is coming”. Empire Online is slowly flipping over cards, and over a three day span, will reveal a sinistar looking image of the Joker from The Dark Knight.
Sure enough, the image got leaked, and we don’t have to wait until the three days are up. That is, we don’t have to wait to see most of the Dark Knight Joker image….but I am waiting to see what is in the background without the magazine trade dress messing everything up. Wouldn’t it be awesome is they threw in some images of Harvey Dent in the shadows in the back jail cell, or another famous Batman villian like Riddler or the after effects Scarecrow?
Take a look below. One of the few images showing Heath as the Joker to premiere in full body length, and not some snap scene from the movie. Very maniacal! Very Awesome!
Joker’s Personality Profile
I can’t find the source of how this website was found, (www.whysoserious.com/personalityprofile) but if you now go to WhySoSerious.com, you can continue following the viral campaign for The Dark Knight by taking Joker’s personality profile.
As you can see, on the personality questionairre I scored a “Belly Buster”. I tried to answer all of Joker’s questions how I thought he wanted them answered, but I still few a number of notches short from the top.
The imagry for the Dark Knight movie is right on, just look at the style and the subject matter, such awesome ideas to get people involed and excited.
It was asked if anyone has gotten “A Scream” on the profile test, and if anything happens. I haven’t found anyone who has, and it appears right now as if this is just a fun test. So many other viral websites are popping up that it appears this is just one more cog in the whole campaign wheel that adds to the fun, not something you solved for an additional clue. Hence the “Send to a friend”. They want you to get other people interested in the Dark Knight movie to get involved in this hype.
‘The Gotham Times’ Now Online!
I checked “Hollywood Chicago” earlier today, in what has been a regular checkup since last Saturday / Sunday. Usually they are good about breaking any news related to “The Dark Knight” viral campaigns.
The last viral campaign for the movie was “Rory’s Death Kiss.com”, a website dedicated to taking photos of Batman fans dressing up a Joker’s and taking photos of themselves all over the world. From group photos of Joker’s to single Joker’s, there were a ton of submissions, and a lot of them were really fun. The whole Dark Knight campaign was to end at 11:59 on November 17th, the last time anyone could submit a group Joker photo. So everyone anticipated that on the 18th, something new would happen. Well, I was up at Midnight, and there was a message on the website. Those Joker photos that were chosen as the best would be receiving something in the mail. Regular mail.
Today, I finally heard what that object was. It was a fully mocked up “Gotham Times” newspaper! How lucky for those Batman fans. I had thought about trying to submit something, and now I wish I had.
So, photos went online of the “Gotham Times” newspaper that the fans got, with a message saying that the new www.thegothamtimes.com website would go online today, November 23rd.
I just check five minutes ago, and it is now online. I should be doing something else, but I will be reading this 4 page Batman Dark Knight newspaper first! Viral marketing is awesome, this has taken some great creativity.
I am sure the main point of interest in the Batman themed newspaper is the next charge for those who have participated in the campaign up to this point. There is an ad in the newspaper that reads;
Correction
A classified ad in our last issue was incorrect. It should have read:
Charming, handsome man with dazzling smile seeks amateur clowns for discreet encounters. No previous sense of humor necessary. Criminal record a plus. Interested? Write to humanresources@whysoserious.com in the full understanding that we have your email address and might send you alarming, disturbing, or annoying material at any moment.
Hollywood Chicago reports when e-mailed, the following auto-reply message is returned:
See you found my little message. So, do you think you have what it takes to be a part of my circle of friends?
Are you a backstabbing, self-promoting, ambitious clown who will do anything to prove yourself to me?
If so, the first step of your application process awaits … if you know where to look.
In the style of the other websites, there is a tear you can pull back on the front page of the Gotham Times. It has a bunch of “Ha Ha’s” written underneath. Seems odd to me that there is only one Joker touch that I could find, but maybe that will come to light in the next couple of hours.
~Edit www.wearetheanswer.com is now online as well. The Gotham Knight newspaper mentioned this website, and it wasn’t online at all until the paper went online. The website is dedicated to Harvey Dent’s crusade to take back the corrupt Gotham Police Force, offering this website as a annoynomous website to submit your tips through.
Also now online, an IMAX featurette on The Dark Knight 7 minute prologue debuting in front of I Am Legend on December 7th.
~Edit – 2:20 I sent a letter to the email address for “Letters To The Editor” (letterstotheeditor@thegothamtimes.com), a section in the Gotham Times. Here is the automated response I got back;
Dear Contributor:
Thank you for submission. Although we cannot run all letters we receive, please be assured that we read all letters. If we do use your letter in an upcoming edition of The Gotham Times, we may edit it for space considerations. We appreciate your letters and hope that you will continue to submit to us. And thank you for your support of The Gotham Times.
Sincerely,
The Editors
I also sent a tip through the wearetheanswer.com website. I didn’t get the automated response back that was mentioned above. That is promising.
There will be some clues in the newspaper about the next campaign. I have noticed some asterisks above random letters that may spell some sort of Dark Knight themed message. Will I investigate it all? I doubt it. I am done time wise for now. It also could be some website being launched about Gina Tortericci. Who knows. I just know I want to be involved in the next viral thing, and not miss out like I did on dressing up like the Joker.
~Edit – 6:25 I did end up getting an answer from wearetheanswer.com. It was just a confirmation email to make sure that I wasn’t posing as someone I wasn’t. I tried to write some really creative things, alluding to former Batman artists and the facts that were presented in the paper. I imagine everyone will get a response either way, whether they were creative or not…
Since earlier in the afternoon, the dedicated individuals at Hollywood Chicago.com have uncovered (as I figured they would pick everything apart) a number of other website launches. They are;
- http://www.thehahahatimes.com
- http://www.gothamnationalbank.com
- http://www.gothampolice.com
- http://www.rememberinggina.org
- http://www.gothamcityhall.com (Under Construction Still)
I was right about the website about “Gina”, just couldn’t find the address. The best site is probably the Ha Ha Ha Times website, with is just a copy of the Gotham Times website, with Joker’s special touches:)
I read about 60% of the paper, but apparently missed the phone number, 866-237-6480. If you call it, I guess it just directs you to visit The Gotham Times website. I will have to try it later.
~Edit – 11/24 10:45 AM – Got an email back today from wearetheanswer.com Tips line. I had used a cop with the name “Bolland”, just for a test, as a tip to the well known Batman comic artist Brian Bolland. This is what I got back;
The District Attorney’s office is not aware of an officer by that name.
Please be assured that the Gotham City DA takes all information seriously and confidentially.
Thank you for doing your part in making Gotham City better, safer, stronger. Together, We Are The Answer.
Reply
Thanks to Matt! for the great tip on entering in the cops names from the Gotham Times at wearetheanswer.com, should have been obvious….I will have to try and see if I get the same message.
Halloween reveal of Two-Face at Why So Serious.com?
Late last week I had seen posts about Why So Serious.com pop up on my radar. If you remember, this is the website that has had a couple of different “Dark Knight” viral marketing campaigns.
The newest addition was a Joker Jack-o-latern, with a creepy grin and a burning candle. I visited the site and didn’t think too much of it.
But then, the Joker pumpkin’s candle kept burning further and further down, and it was obvious something was going to happen. What new inside bit would we see about The Dark Knight movie coming up.
Well, on Friday and over the weekend, the pumpkin started to rot! I know it sound stupid to get so excited, but for a Batman geek this is a big deal. All of us are excited about Christopher Nolan’s treatment of Batman, and all of the photos of the movie we have seen so far. We’ve already seen the joker, and Heath Ledger looks awesome. But what about an image of Aaron Eckhart as Two-Face?
Here are some progression images showing the original pumpkings, and then the pumpkin rotting on only one side. The pace of the changes makes it appears as if the final reveal will take place on Halloween. How cool, something for the geeky comic book legions to look forward to!
(I know this is mostly re-regurgitating information from a ton of blogs, like HollywoodChicago…but not all of my readers visit those sites:)
“Dark Knight” Chicago filming completed
According to a couple of sources, including “Batman On Film”, the filming of The Dark Knight in Chicago has wrapped. They finished sometime in early September, don’t really have the time or the inclination to search for an exact date.
Kind of bummed. I had intentions to get up there to try to see something from afar, but the cost of gas kept me home. I will always probably be “I wish I would’ve”. I was kind of hoping to tie a trip to Chicago to try to catch Dark Knight filming with a couple of others things:) But they didn’t shoot long enough.
Well, now I guess I’ll just have to look forward to December for the trailer. It should be attached to Will Smith’s “I Am Legend”.
