New Moon Beats The Dark Knight, WTF?!?!?!
For those of you who are already overloaded on the Twilight saga, things are only going to get worse. This weekend Twilight beat The Dark Knight for the biggest opening day EVAR, with a bank of $72.7 million dollars. I was at my local Borders and didn’t see a girl under the age of 18 without a Twilight shirt and I think I even saw a boy wearing one(insert inappropriate “team” joke here). For a film not doing a tent pole summer opening this is an insane feat and a sign that the film has leaked past its teen girl demographic, more than doubling Twilights opening. I could see how this would happen; they have definitely tried to broaden their marketing strategy playing up the action in the film a bit more than the romance that was the center of the first marketing campaign. When I saw Zombieland there was a trailer for New Moon and I actually thought it looked pretty cool, some guys behind me even remarked, “This looks pretty kick-ass, would we have to see Twilight first to have to see this?”
Crap, I’m now disappointed I help contribute to that. I mean wait a second, no… I didn’t see New Moon – what are you talking about?
Meh I thought the Dark Knight kind of stunk actually. I found myself checking my watch about halfway through – as did the 3 people I saw it with. Twilight was at least somewhat entertaining. (I maintain I am fully hetero)
“Meh I thought the Dark Knight kind of stunk actually. I found myself checking my watch about halfway through – as did the 3 people I saw it with. Twilight was at least somewhat entertaining. (I maintain I am fully hetero)”
I… can’t even process this statement correctly. It shut my brain off.
I have to concur with Gavin. The Dark Knight is such a significant film for so many reasons and to simply write it off like that is a little off putting and close minded.
“Twilight beat The Dark Knight for the biggest opening weekend EVAR, with a bank of $72.7 million dollars.”
Correction…it beat Dark Knight for biggest opening DAY ever with $72.7 million. It came in 3rd for all-time opening weekends (Dark Knight remains #1 there).
” I have to concur with Gavin. The Dark Knight is such a significant film for so many reasons and to simply write it off like that is a little off putting and close minded.”
Wait a second here. So if I don’t like the Dark Knight that makes me close minded? How does that make any sense at all?
I realize people have been felating this movie since before it was released but to call somebody’s opinion of the movie off putting and close minded simply because it goes against popular fanboy opinion is laughable. Also quite ironic.
To simply dismiss the film as you did seems a bit close minded to me, no offense. I mean I have tried to watch films and even though I did not enjoy them, I could see why they were touchstones and iconic in their own way. Take Lord of the Rings for example, I didn’t quite like the movies as much as some did due to pacing, but I realize how important they are and will be in the future, The Dark Knight is the same way. I mean I am all for personal opinion but I also have to say with certain films they become more than just films and become movements in our culture and The Dark Knight is one of those that will live on and be a benchmark for a long time to come.
The Dark Knight will be remembered as the 2nd best Batman movie ever when all is said and done. Fellas let’s not fight over this though let’s see how the next movie in each of these franchises do. I think the fans and their purchasing power will determine which is more significant.
I know for one I’m excited to see how this Ledger fellow steps up his game in the next movie in the Dark Knight series.
In what way is this movie so significant? I noticed nothing that made it groundbreaking in any way. It was a comic book action movie that for the most part was poorly acted. Bale’s grumbly batman voice is laughable, Harvey Dent’s metamorphasis from a stand up guy to a villain that flips coins to make decisions is completely implausible and Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the joker was overacted IMO. There was a good 40 minutes of the movie just showing how crazy he is – WE GET IT…you’re crazy…lets move on with the plot already. I’m all for giving a movie credit if it is something that pushes the envelope or has some redeeming quality. That doesn’t necessarily mean I have to love the movie, but the Dark Knight offers nothing special.
@Chris it’s not “fanboyism” to like a movie that revolutionized the transition from comic book to blockbuster action movie.
It’s simply the BEST example of film interpretation from a legendary hero. I know it’s hard to swallow, but try to understand that it stands out head and shoulders above everything else that has been offered to fans and moviegoers.
I don’t know why you guys are taking this personally. The movie isn’t that good. Its not very entertaining, its pretty boring, has a plot that lumbers forward and culminates in a jumbled mess.
There is nothing difficult about admitting that a movie is legit even if I don’t like it – this is not one of those movies. Try to understand that somebody can have an opinion that differs from yours.
A lot of people went to see that movie because Heath Ledger was dead, its numbers wouldn’t be nearly as strong if he was still alive.
If you thought Dark Knight was not entertaining & boring, you need to re-examine your taste in movies.
I am not taking anything personally I am just stating the facts, I mean even the internet says you are wrong. http://www.flixster.com/news/2009/08/19/imdbs-the-top-rated-films-of-the-new-millennium
Wow, there is a list from the internet that says Dark Knight is the top rated film of the year. I think what Chris is saying here is that the film as a whole is long, drawn out, contains implausible antagonists and overall is overrated. I’m not saying New Moon is going to win any Oscars for best picture this year but neither did Dark Knight. The original Batman with Keaton and Nicholson has stood the test of time as the top Batman movie ever, this new franchise will continue to rake in cash but will not receive any acclaims (which btw ALL of the LOTR movies did).
Wait a minute, Heath Ledger is dead? How come I hadn’t heard about this?
Finally somebody who isn’t brainwashed – Jon you ARE the man…
“If you thought Dark Knight was not entertaining & boring, you need to re-examine your taste in movies.”
I don’t like the taste of brussel sprouts, but using your logic perhaps I should re-examine my culinary palette? What an obtuse statement. Dude…seriously….grow up – I think your movie sucks allow another person to have an opinion and get over it.
And Dan – stating that a movie is good as fact is completely illogical. Saying a movie is good is an opinion and cannot be proven. “The Dark Knight has Christian Bale in it” is a fact. “The Dark Knight is the best thing ever and anybody who doesn’t like it is dumb” is an opinion. Big difference.
I find it to be a conflicting criticism to label TDK as “long” and “drawn out” with “implausible antagonists” when you’re comparing it to a massive piece of fantastical work such as LOTR.
What line are you trying to draw here?
For the record, I’m not arguing that LOTR didn’t deserve acclaim – just that Twilight doesn’t, and TDK did.
“Overrated” has grounds for argument, because the death of Heath has sensationalized the movie to great heights – but that doesn’t make it any less of an accomplishment for Nolan / Ledger.
“I don’t like the taste of brussel sprouts, but using your logic perhaps I should re-examine my culinary palette?”
I was implying that the level of entertainment evident in TDK can hardly be claimed as “boring”
also
applying the logic in that statement in an entirely different context will trivialize it’s meaning – so of course your culinary preferences have no bearing on this topic — I’m just saying that it’s NOT POSSIBLE for TDK to be boring unless you’re dumb, deaf, AND blind.
You know its funny getting a lesson in logic from someone who states “Dude…seriously….grow up – I think your movie sucks”. I honestly try to keep an open mind to most things that have reached a certain epoch in our culture because, like Dark Knight and even Twilight: they are there for a reason. I may not understand why they are there or even care to investigate but to be dismissive to me seems close minded. It may not be your cup of tea but simply stating “Meh I thought the Dark Knight kind of stunk actually.” is not the most intelligent thing to say, and on a geek website and is simply asking for trouble. By posting that link I was trying to show you that you have a different opinion than most, and even though I respect your opinion you could be a bit more constructive about it and get a bit more respect for that.
How Twilight Works!
http://theoatmeal.com/story/twilight
YOU GOTTA PAY THE TROLL TOLL TO GET INTO THE BOY’S HOLE
YOU GOTTA PAY THE TROLL TOLL TO GET IN
“Applying the logic in that statement in an entirely different context will trivialize it’s meaning – so of course your culinary preferences have no bearing on this topic — I’m just saying that it’s NOT POSSIBLE for TDK to be boring unless you’re dumb, deaf, AND blind.”
Tim if I were to say brussel sprouts stink to somebody who loves brussel sprouts they would say I was dumb. So tell me in this situation who is correct? Is it possible for brussel sprouts to taste bad? Can they taste good?
My point, and this is about as simple as I can make it for you, is that it is my opinion that the movie is boring. It is your opinion that it is not. Professing your love for batman does not make the movie any better in my eyes. You are trying to pass off opinion as fact and as anybody with half a brain can tell you – it doesn’t work.
Why even bother having movie reviews? This movie is factually good or factually bad – there is no room for interpretation!! I’m just glad you’re not in any position of power.
@ Dan – Why is saying that I thought the movie stunk not intelligent? Is it because it goes against your opinion? I watched the movie – I hardly call that dismissing it. I didn’t like it at all and so what if I posted it on a Geek site. I’m sure there are plenty of geeks who love Twilight and New Moon too who would take your thread as insulting. Its a good healthy debate which I have no problem with.
“The original Batman with Keaton and Nicholson has stood the test of time as the top Batman movie ever, this new franchise will continue to rake in cash but will not receive any acclaims (which btw ALL of the LOTR movies did).”
Not Quite…http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm . Batman ’89 has definitely aged. Jack Nicholson is way more over the top than Heath Ledger but I’m okay with that. I grew up with that Batman so I enjoy it, warts and all. Best Batman movie ever? In my opinion, no. Also, don’t underestimate the power of Adam West.
Moving on:
Twilight made money because it was aimed at the biggest demographic: females. More specifically the “Tween” females. The same group that made Titanic the biggest movie ever can easily make “New Moon” the biggest movie ever. And before we count it out of Oscar race contention, let me remind you that the best picture category has been bumped up from five to Ten. It can happen. Slim-to-none chance, but it could very well happen. Interestingly enough, a lot of folks outside of the “geek” community believed these additional spots were added after last year’s show saw a bunch of films were left out of the Best Picture race, TDK included. Although, Slumdog Millionaire was invincible.
This female demographic was also underestimated during last summer’s Comic Con when many raving fanboys whined that they wouldn’t get to see Avatar footage because the New Moon fans outfanboyed them. I created a new word!
Is it true TDK made money because of Heath Ledger’s Death? Yes, but he completely owns that role now. For the new generation of kids, Heath Ledger will forever be the Joker. And he deserved every award and “Best of” list he won.
TDK, IMO, is the best Batman film so far. I say that because this franchise will never die. It is the James Bond of Comic Book Movies. We had our Roger Moore era with the Schumacher films and now we’re all Daniel Craig like and stuff with Christian Bale and Chis Nolan…
As for someone being bored by TDK, it happens. Liking Twilight over TDK is surprising coming from a guy, but it’s not sacrilege. Chris thinks it was boring, I think Twilight is boring. More than that I think Twilight makes women seem like unstable creatures who need the approval of a devious looking man in order to enjoy life. Everything in that relationship screams “GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!” to me. It’s a very warped, and disturbed vision of love and relationships. In short, Twilight is a horrible way for young girls to learn about love. It’s reminds me of all those people who complained that young women who grew up on Fairy Tales and Disney Princesses had a warped idea of what real love and relationships were like. At least with Disney, they get a castle and singing animals. With Twilight you get Linkin’ Park. Linkin Park sung the Transformers 2 theme so they are instantly evil. Also, you really can’t avoid Taylor Lautners’ abs of steel forever. They will get to you.
@Chris: “In what way is this movie so significant?”
The Dark Knight is significant for a couple of reasons. First, it inspired a new trend of “How to make a film successful”. To this day, everyone uses TDK as a template for how to frame their films. Even when companies are remaking failed comic book movies! Everything from the Fantastic Four, to Daredevil, and even Superman are under consideration for the “Dark and Gritty” treatment. Most people believe that “Dark and Gritty” is the way to go. Batman is one of the few Characters in which that style fits with perfectly. But Iron Man, and also Spider-man, prove that you can be successful and not have to have everything be explained or be realistic. The down side of this is that EVERYTHING is to be TDK’d. Every villain for the foreseeable future will be based on Heath Ledgers performance. Every tick, lip smack, limp, laugh, random crazy man outburst will be attributed to him. Look at Nero from Star Trek, or Cobra Commander from G.I. Joe. Those characters are loosely or completely inspired by Ledger’s iconic performance.
It’s also significant for being one of the few blockbuster films worthy of all the money it made. Despite the ideas of fanboyism and such, a majority of the people who saw TDK were the average moviegoers. That’s what sustained the film. Same with Transformers 2. A lot of the people who saw that movie were not guys and gals who collected all the toys and DVD’s. Twilight will probably drop off next week more than likely because every female in the world has seen it at this point.
Finally, The Dark Knight helped push the Comic Book Film into a legitimate, honest to goodness film genre. Comic Book movies have been hit, miss, or completely dismissed as having no artistic value whatsoever. Even though films such as A History of Violence and Road to Perdition are based on comics, not many people know that or care to acknowledge it. TDK pretty much relishes in the fact that it was based on comic books and invited those who thought/think of it as kids stuff to give it a shot.
@jonistheman “this new franchise will continue to rake in cash but will not receive any acclaims (which btw ALL of the LOTR movies did).”
So if a film wins acclaim (which I’m guessing means awards) like LOTR, then that means it is better than one that doesn’t? Which means Heath Ledgers’ win for Best Supporting actor makes him better than EVERY actor in LOTR? Does that also make Hitchcock less talented than Spielberg? The Dark Knight and LOTR Trilogy were both acclaimed films. But it sounds like what you’re trying to say is LOTR is the better franchise because it won Oscars. WHich btw, is your opinion and you’re very well entitled to it.
Personally I find LOTR to be boring and overrated. I watched all of those movies and I was not really interested in anything that happened. Well, I did like Gollum, but the entire story was not my cup of tea. It just drags on and on and on. But good for everyone who worked on those films. I’m not knocking anyone who likes the films because they are well made. It’s just not interesting to me.
TDK had flaws, because every movie not called The Godfather has them. Nowadays if it’s not the effects, it’s the story. If it’s not the story, it’s the effects. If it’s actually a great character driven movie with no need for special effects, people complain that there was a bunch of talking and nothing blew up. Personally, I think every film needs a Cloverfield monster…but that’s just me.