As my illustrious colleague Robert just illustrated, there are movie choices this weekend to be made. I mean, from where I stand the only choice was when and how many times would I be seeing The Dark Knight (answer: not until tomorrow, and then I'll decide), but I understand there are other movies coming out, including this Mamma Mia! thing which some people seem to be excited over. So I ask you, my moviegoing compatriots: What will you be watching this weekend? Will it be Mamma Mia! or The Dark Knight, or perhaps Mamma Mia! and The Dark Knight, or something else altogether...
And then, once you have seen either/or/neither, do come back and tell us what you thought! Even if you don't see anything. Personally I'd love to hear what hours of watching paint dry looks like. Or maybe you'll stoop really low on the desperation ladder and read a book, or - and I shudder at the thought - go outdoors and enjoy the weather. Gasp! Never.
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And then, once you have seen either/or/neither, do come back and tell us what you thought! Even if you don't see anything. Personally I'd love to hear what hours of watching paint dry looks like. Or maybe you'll stoop really low on the desperation ladder and read a book, or - and I shudder at the thought - go outdoors and enjoy the weather. Gasp! Never.
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47 comments:
JA if i have nightmares of Heath Ledger chasing me beloved Meryl with a huge knife tonight. I BLAME YOU!
Heh. Then I have done my job! ;-)
I saw The Dark Knight at midnight. Remember the final scene of Pierrot le Fou, where Belmondo straps dynamite to himself and he blows up? That's what The Dark Knight does to the action/superhero genre. It wraps it in explosives and blows it all to hell. It's been a long time since I've been affected on such a gut, visceral level. Thus, it bothers me to read all of these reviews that try to be objective, get the "point," analyze themes, etc.(i.e., almost every single review). Because this is not a neat, tidy movie. It does not have the narrative completeness of the previous film. It raises so many questions with few decisive answers. Plus, there wasn't so much a narrative to be followed as an experience and emotions to be had. And I found it nearly impossible to take it all in during a single screening. My reaction to the film is in part conditioned by the fact that I was sitting in the third row. From that position, the movie was absolutely overwhelming, washing over me with equal parts poetry and horror.
I met get lynched for this, but I have no desire to see the new Batman, which is what I call it, not "The Dark Knight." I find Christian Bale off-putting and have little interest in the collective Heath Ledger adoration. I will be seeing Mamma Mia because I've heard it's really bad and awkward and because there are cute people singing and the best living actress wears overalls throughout.
Is Australia here yet?
My priority list for the weekend:
1. Batman Begins (haven't seen it yet *hides*)
2. Porco Rosso
3. Antoine et Colette
4. Hellboy
5. The Dark Knight (it's low because I don't expect any open show times until at least next Wednesday)
6. Hellboy II
7. 2nd viewing of WALL•E (AKA shamefully sneaking into Mamma Mia!)
Saw "The Dark Knight" last night-- hate to jump on the bandwagon, but it's terrific.
Going to "Mamma Mia!" tonight at the Ziegfeld, roaringly drunk. After seeing the stage show, I decided it's best not to watch the movie sober.
Waiting until Sunday to see The Dark Knight (but will probably see it twice).
My Cinematheque is having a Mikhail Kalatozov feature so I'll be seeing The Unsent Letter tomorrow.
It's gonna be a good movie weekend.
I'm surprised Mamma Mia beat Dark Knight to the Ziegfeld.
I myself am hoping to see Dark Knight in IMAX sometime in the next few days. But it's kinda sold out, and very far away, so it'll be an adventure, and will require proper planning.
If someone do read Chinese, please have a look on my review of "The Dark Knight", I gave the movie 99 out of 100. A real classic!!!
http://donaldkwanmovies.blogspot.com/2008/07/dark-knight.html
Seeing The Dark Knight for a second time tonight, and hopefully doing something fun and cheerful aftewards, because that is one dark movie. If anyone hasn't seen Wall-E yet, see it after Dark Knight and restore a little faith in humanity.
adam --the zeigfeld always gets the musicals on opening weekend
saw TDK at midnight show last night (probaby won't see it again unless it's weeks from now on IMAX). Seeing MM! tonight.
both at the Arclight
I loved The Dark Knight. I don't think there are SPOILERS in what I have to say, but I'm going to say SPOILERS just in case.
Strengths:
Heath, Maggie, Aaron, the first two of the three main action sequences
Only Gripes:
-Christian Bale's breathy delivery was distracting even though Bruce is trying to disguise his voice
-the last 1/2 hour was good (but the pacing was different/rushed/awkward from the first 2 hours and a little off-putting [for me])
-no memorable button like the last film (the Joker's calling card)
I was surprised by the content of Harvey Dent and Rachels' characters. There were surprises there for me.
The Dark Knight for sure...I think I will be skipping Mamma Mia.
I didn't even like Hairspray, how am I gonna sit through an even worse debacle.
Oh why can't we have musicals like we used to...Sweet Charity and Singing In The Rain?
Hairspray was a step up from Disney, and Mamma Mia looks to be a first time director blunder.
I did love Once and Across The Universe because they didn't pretend to be typical. They were something new, and hybrid-ish and interesting to watch.
As far as Oscar for Ledger, they said the same thing about Nicholson 19 (!) years ago. But, Ledger's performance is darker, deeper and more malicious. It's definite worth a nod for supporting, not sure if I would put him for the win until I see everything else, but definitely not lead. And I would say the same thing if his life hadn't ended earlier this year.
by the way, does any know if there is going to be another installment of Batman with Nolan/Bale? Is there going to be a Catwoman?
Mamma Mia - because it's the kind of movie you want to see with the other crazy Abba and Meryl fans. TDK can wait until the crowds die down. If it's really as good as it sounds, I'd prefer a less rambunctious crowd.
Saw TDK at midnight last night - all I can say is "wow." It was truly mesmerizing. Heath Ledger was absolutely brilliant - miles ahead of Nicholson's Joker. She should and will deserve a nomination in the very least. My first 10/10 for the year - Bale and Eckhart were fantastic as well, while Gyllenhaal played a more feisty Rachel, which was definitely a plus.
Overall, the film was enthralling, exciting, and creepy - I doubt it will reach best picture status, but Nolan may definitely be finding himself as a future nominee.
Saw The Dark Knight at midnight and I must say I thought it was pretty terrific. Going to see Mamma Mia! tonight.
I saw the midnight showing of The Dark Knight. The scene flow of the film was a little eratic at times, the emsemble nature of the film - which was a great strength to the film - defused Bale's performance a little and the resolution of Dent's character was a (slightly) disappointing.
Despite those things, the performances by most of the cast were top-notch and the overall film was well-made in every other way. I won't go too in-depth about me feelings on the film because I need to see it again (which I'll be doing tomorrow morning). Overall, though, I'd say The Dark Knight was a big success and easily the best film I've seen all year.
As for Mamma Mia, I'm (slowly) warming up to the musical genre but I have no interest in seeing a film based on music largely before my time (I just turned 23 on Wednesday), so I'm gonna pass on this one.
The Dark Knight or Mamma Mia!? I addressed this exact question earlier today, with hilarious French/Iranian results (and I'm neither French nor Iranian).
The Dark Knight
My Winnipeg
and if time permits:
Tell No One
and
Encounters at the end of the World.
If I still have $$, then Mamma Mia.
I will be watching Dark Knight, cause Mamma Mia will debut only in September here in Brazil.
I will watch tomorrow too NAT, wanna go with me and my cousin CIDA?
Encounters at the end of the World is my pick.
EATEOTW is fuckin great.
tony... buy me a plane ticket to Brazil and i'll be there with bells on ;)
i saw Batman last night and all i have to say is that it was greati found it very entertaining, and i have to see it again... Mamma Mia! i'm watching that 2night... god bless courtesy tickets....
If anyone's worried about TDK crowds being rowdy, the midnight opening was actually quite tame once the movie started. The longer you wait, the more likely it gets that you'll be stuck with a bunch of people who don't care about the movie and chat on their cell phones the whole time. Fans are actually quiet and respectful.
Well, "Mamma Mia" didn't open in Brazil, so I have seen today "The Dark Knight".
Saw Mamma Mia last weekend. Saw The Dark Knight last night (arrived at the cinema at 8pm, the 9pm session was sold out already, so we drove across town to the other cinema for the 9.30 session, got tickets). I agree exactly with Vinci up above about Bale's weird throaty voice thing (I know why he does it but even when he's around people who know who he is he still does it, why?) and the final act, which just felt a bit... awkwardly stages. Like they didn't really know what to do with it. Ledger was fantastic though.
I respectfully disagree with the assertion that fans are more quiet and respectful. I saw Spider-Man 3 at the opening midnight show, and people were nuts. They were screaming and shining those little laser things onto the screen. Yes, someone actually shined the little red laser on the screen, for a LONG time, right over Dunst. People were pissed.
I just got back from Mama Mia. It was by far the worst experience I have had in a movie theatre since my sister draged me to see Hilary Swank "act" in P.S. I Love You, on Christmas day last year.
mamma mia! ... stupid bad fun. One of the dumbest films I've ever seen in a theatre, yet one of the funnest times I've had in a while. You can't help but laugh at it and revel in its ridiculousness. What an experience!
I don't know why Nat thought briefly that Streep (or anyone) would get oscar play for this. At best, it would've been a Hairspray. Now it looks like more of a My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Er, without the screenplay nod.
But whatever, I'm totally still gonna see it.
I saw both of them back-to-back yesterday afternoon, because I really couldn't decide. Mamma Mia! was fun and cheesy and I'm proud to say I liked it (even though it was often really bad.) Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters were standouts for me.
And The Dark Knight was pretty great, although I'm not ready to jump and down calling it the Bible of the superhero movie. Heath Ledger is amazing, yes, and Aaron Eckhart too.
I can´t afford the ticket,but you could always get the ´´Cuba ticket ´´and there I can pick you up!
P.S I´m feeling a little bi-curious now (thanks for that James Wanted in my bed) so I don´t know if it´s safe for you to come!
You can watch Mamma Mia in my PC!
Sorry if I´m being too honest NAT!
hey Camila, de Recife e você?
Probably Dark Night. We'll see...
John Briner
LA
Saw both, loved TDK and partially enjoyed Mamma Mia.
I don't know, it was an interesting experience for the latter. The energy from the cast was infectious, but there were some cringe-worthy moments as the film started and enough screaming to make my eardrums bleed. It was alternately entertaining and excruciating, but I enjoyed seeing it if only for the cast.
TDK wrap-up:
-Didn't much care for 'Begins', I didn't find the storyline that involving personally. I also much prefer the stylization of Burton's vision personally. (I never read the comics.) That being said, this film won me over.
-Ledger is brilliant. Big surprise. 'Nuff said.
-Seeing Gyllenhaal walk onscreen made my heart leap for joy. Any recollection of Holmes' boring, bland perf immediately got knocked off the charts. It was like, "Bye honey, thanks for playing. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out now."
-Eckhart registered more than I ever expected him to. Really brought a pathos to the role that I thought would be lacking. Glad I was mistaken.
-Action sequences are top notch. Put Spielberg's crap in 'Indy 4' to shame. Directors sans Tarantino need to take a lesson.
-Truly contemplates the mythology and innate sadness of the Batman saga - loved its tragic feel, loved its care and sympathy for its characters, and just the all-around attention paid to the story.
A great film.
saw mama mia.....just awful. particularly bad: every time they begin singing, they run somewhere! sing/ run. sing/ climb steep stairs. then there was christine baranski's horrible number on the beach in which she's flailing around her boney legs. then of course, any time pierce sand was embarrassing. even meryl was pretty awful....rolling her eyes, pushing back her hair. omg -it's all just terrible. there's a reasons why we like our movie stars young. 60 year old women singing & dandcning to "dancing queen" - icky. sorry, i only speak the truth.
SPOILERS
Even with Maggie, Rachel dying was a blessing!
Hated her, the fact it was Katie Holmes playing made easier to me!
Jimmy, the running thing was indeed very strange. I actually liked Baranski's "Does Your Mother Know" big though. I thought it was fun.
I saw both this weekend, actually!
THE DARK KNIGHT must be experienced on the IMAX screen at least once. It's the best way to see the city-scape. There was no way to prepare myself for how good it was. And yes, Heath Ledger is fantastic, amazing, an immortal performance--but Aaron Eckhart did a damn fine job as Harvey Dent, and Gary Oldman nearly stole the show.
MAMMA MIA! is pure dumb fun. A cheesy story, a sloppy first half-hour, and--sorry to say--Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper are really very weak. But OH what fun to be had! Julie Walters has a lot of energy. Scarily so. Wish she'd do more of this, though.
THE DARK KNIGHT was even better the second time around.
Oh Heath was too good to be true! It actually brought tears to my eyes, just thinking what cinema has lost and seeing his name like that in the end credits.
Get that Oscar now!
i don't get why people are surprised at Aaron Eckhart registering. I mean: IN THE COMPANY OF MEN, ERIN BROCKOVICH, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING... he's got starpower. He just hasn't had that one role to push him over into household name'ish
jimmy as per your age comments. careful now. TFE is sacred ground for older actresses. ;) I hate that Hollywood prefers utterly yawn inducing interchangeable actresses so long as they're young. That's only OK if the young ones are better or just as compelling (winslet, hathaway, etcetera...)
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