I had a lot riding on this movie.

In Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan proved that Batman's story is worth telling.  Previous films had infused either style (Tim Burton's Batman and Batman Returns) or camp (Schumacher's Batman Forever and Batman & Robin), but none had really established character development or believable writing.  Batman Begins raised the bar not just for Batman, but for all superhero films.  (Iron Man passed, Spider-Man 3 failed.)

Nolan set such a high standard for himself with The Dark Knight.  And prior to seeing the film, I told myself that if it's almost as good as Batman Begins, I'd be satisfied.

I am happy to report that The Dark Knight is just as good--if not better--than Batman Begins.

My review will keep plot details to a minimum; I loved watching this movie because I purposely stayed away from reviews, news, buzz and hype relating to the film.  I hope you'll appreciate that I'll do the same.

What's it about? Gotham City's a safer place thanks to Batman, but also Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and the new district attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart).  The bad guys don't like the stranglehold these three have on organized crime and are forced to use extreme measures in order to maintain their operations.

Enter the Joker (Heath Ledger).  Nobody knows who he really is or where he came from.  But he's crazy.  And oh, so evil.  He wants to tear Gotham City apart.  And, if things don't improve for themselves, the mafia just might let him.

What's good about it? Where Batman Begins established Batman as a character, The Dark Knight establishes Gotham City.  We dig deep into the politics of the city.  We see the struggle of Gordon against corruption in his own police force.  We see the legal red tape Dent and assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) must fight to clean up Gotham's streets.  Things are messy.  Things are not what they seem.  And things are never black and white.

Backing up Nolan's expert direction is a phenomenal cast.  Ledger's Joker is like nothing I've ever seen before--he is absolutely frightening.  This is a performance that will stick with you.  Whereas Jack Nicholson's Joker is a scenery-chewing villain, Ledger's Joker is truly bipolar, switching from manic to maniacal, often within seconds of each other.

Gyllenhall, replacing Katie Holmes (who played Rachel Dawes in the first film), brings a much-needed spark to what essentially was a throwaway part in the first film.  This time Rachel is less of the token damsel in distress but an integral part of the story.  Eckhart is also great as Havey Dent--he crackles with charisma.

Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, and Michael Caine as Alfred have less screen time than in the first film, but that is expected, seeing how we already know who and what they are.

Bale, as Bruce Wayne/Batman, also has plenty of screen time but less development, for the same reason as Freeman and Caine's characters.

What's bad about it? At two-and-a-half hours, The Dark Knight may feel a little long (because it is), but not to the point where you want the movie to end (because you don't).  And it's a hard PG-13; leave the kids at home.

Perfect for: anyone looking for an excellent movie, comic book-themed or otherwise.

Um novo clássico nasce.

Melhor filme de 2008?! The Dark Knight é um dos melhores filmes da década.

Obs.: assistirei, pelo menos, mais três vezes no cinema e postarei minha mini(³)resenha posteriormente. ;)

First, let me point out I’m a big fan of the bat and, based on my love for director Chris Nolan’s Batman Begins, and the tremendous advance buzz, my expectations were mighty high. Having said that, Chris Nolan does not disappoint as The Dark Knight is a highly ambitious and tremendously intense movie going experience that must be witnessed on the big screen. In so many ways director and co-writer Nolan have opened the scope of the comic book movie by such a wide margin that any future films in the genre will have an almost impossible task to outdo it. Although it’s being sold as a pure comic book movie The Dark Knight has the feel of a great crime drama similar in tone to Brian DePalma’s classic 1987 movie “The Untouchables” with Batman and the Joker taking the parts of Elliot Ness and Al Capone.

What makes this film so satisfying is that it plays liked a perfectly executed ensemble piece with all the main characters getting rich and equal screen time. Christian Bale is once again terrific as Bruce Wayne/Batman and really proves there could be no other actor better for the part. The screenplay fleshes out the character’s inner conflict of dealing with the ramifications of the things he’s set in motion. Aaron Eckhart is perfectly cast in the role of Gothams white knight; district Attorney Harvey Dent, who ultimately evolves into Two-Face (the make up work is stunning). I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved his story arc of Dent, a man set out to finish the job Batman has started. Eckhart is so good in the role that you’ll actually wish he never takes the turn. In terms of Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker, there’s nothing else to be said that hasn’t been said already - it demands to be seen by all movie fans. Nothing in his previous work prepared me for his demented take on the famed character, here written as an insane terrorist. As the story goes on and the criminal threat continues to escalate, the tension mounts to a pulse pounding level and the Joker is the mastermind behind it all. The character is given just the right amount of time on screen and every second he’s on it is absolutely memorizing. There’s one sequence where he’s alone in a room with Gary Odlman’s Lt.Gordon that’s beautifully acted and shot with the director using a brilliant choice of lighting. It’s one of the films best scenes.

Oldman is once again terrific as the conflicted Lt Gordon. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a big upgrade from Katie Holmes in the role of Assistant DA Rachel Dawes and still sweetheart to Bruce. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine once again give the proceedings their usual class as gadget man Lucius Fox, and Alfred, the confidant and butler of Bruce Wayne. The action set pieces are pretty impressive with the highlight being a confrontation between Batman on a high tech bat pod motorcycle and the Joker driving a huge Mac truck. It’s a real showstopper! If there is one minor flaw it might be that the movie goes on a tad too long. At 152 minutes, I wish it were shaved down by about 15 minutes toward the end but that’s a minor point in an overall great movie going experience! POST your comments and let me know what YOU think!

Hype is a double-edged sword. For entertainment, like movies, the hype can get people out to the theater with high hopes and expectations. Failing to serve on that hype serves to drive let-down audiences away. Rarely does a huge film ever come close to fulfilling the advertising promises and the trailer highlights. Even rarer, but thrilling, is when the film not only meets those expectations, but blows them apart.

This is The Dark Knight.

The movie starts with a complicated and well rehearsed bank heist. Men in clown masks break into a large bank, but start killing each other off as soon as the operation becomes an obvious success. One man in a mask, who we later find out is the Joker (Heath Ledger), goes to many of the bank employees placing grenades in their mouths that will explode once any pressure is relieved on the pin. Once the heist is through and the getaway car (a schoolbus) is secured, the Joker shoots the remaining accomplices and leaves the bank amidst school traffic.

From the very beginning, the audience understands, or at least recognizes, the kind of role the Joker will play in the movie. Bruce Wayne’s Batman (Christian Bale) doesn’t. This clash of character and worldviews – the fact that some men are not always motivated in ways we can understand, if at all – drives the movie. At its heart, the whole production is about motivation, and how it divides heroes and villains. Batman fights crime with a sense of right and wrong that errs on the side of zealotry. Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) does the same, but does it without the mask. As Bruce Wayne calls him, he is the “White Knight” of Gotham, just as Batman is the Dark Knight. The fact that they are the light and dark side of the same coin is not at all a lost message, as Nolan drives it to the forefront as the focus of the film. Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman) is a mobilizer and a planner. While he stricken to ineptitude when Batman makes a decision that contradicts his own, he understands his place in the system and accepts it for the sake of Gotham. Yet when men like Dent, Wayne, and Gordon, men of integrity, idealism, and justice, are challenged by men like the Joker, who is nothing if not their antithesis, their foundations are shaken. The Joker introduces chaos unlike the lawmen of Gotham have ever seen, and the audience invited to bear witness to the destruction. As the movie progresses, the viewers see more and more that they did not expect and were not prepared for. From the destruction of Batman’s security as a hero in Gotham to the advent of Two-Face and the death that Gotham faces in between, we are there to see it all.

Technically, the movie is beautifully shot and introduces parts of Gotham not seen in Batman Begins. The costumes and makeup (notably the Joker’s) are impeccable and believable. Christian Bale looks like he just walked off of the set of Wall Street (or more appropriately American Psycho) in his impeccable Armani suits. The Batman suit underwent a redesign from three pieces to over a hundred to allow more mobility (this happens in the film as well as being an actual practical change).

As for the acting, Heath Ledger’s performance steals the movie. His rendition of the Joker is at once insane, frightening, and believable. Everything from his mannerisms to his laugh was spot on. It differs too much from Nicholson’s portrayal of the villain to really say whether it is surpassed by Ledger’s, but it certainly is a different, and probably more successful, approach. On the other hand, Bale-as-Wayne is par, but Bale-as-Batman is fine only as long as Batman is beating someone up. When the beatings stop and his mouth starts, the voice he uses is absolutely awful. Of course Batman would need to disguise his voice, but he sounds like he needs a Hall’s cough drop the way he rasps and growls outside of the lower range of his voice. It is this voice that almost breaks the spell the film casts, as it is so distracting and laughable that it’s amazing they didn’t find another alternative.

The supporting cast is beyond solid: Michael Caine reprises his role as Alfred, Wayne’s butler, perfectly; Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox does what Morgan Freeman always does and shines in off-center stage roles; Gary Oldman as Lt. James Gordon gives another human performance of the same character he played in Batman Begins. Eric Roberts appearances are solid as well. The weakest link in the bunch is Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes. It’s not that Katie Holmes was any better, but out of all of the characters in the film, Gyllenhaal gives hers the least believable performance, and looks as though she’s a complete amateur on the set. The fact that she’s very much not an amateur, and has given much better performances, is all the more troubling.

The story is indeed a saga, and I found myself wondering when the movie was going to end, but not out of boredom. The movie is so packed with action sequences, philosophical and psychological questions, horror, shocks, and surprises, that it seemed impossible for it to be strong from beginning to end of the entire 152 minutes. The only complaint I have about the story is the reveal of Two-Face’s face, which I felt came too soon for true effect. Yet as my only criticism of the storyline, it is almost too petty to voice.

I was expecting to get my money’s worth when I went to this theater. I’m a believer in the backlash from hype, and that more hype usually means a proportionally worse movie. Yet after only a few minutes of the movie, which lacked the stereotypical awful action one-liners and exhibitionist derailments of other similar films, I realized that it was going to be worth every penny. Christopher Nolan breathed life into a tired, flat, and melodramatic genre with his first take on Batman. With this film, Nolan not only makes it breathe, but he makes it walk, think, and surpass all other comic book movies in almost every way. It is, without a doubt, a fantastic film, and hopefully the herald of a new era of comic book movies to come.

To change things up, I'm not really going to review the movie per se. Instead, I'm going to answer all your burning questions about The Dark Knight. There aren't any real spoilers here, but I do discuss plot points that you may not want to know before seeing it. Let's begin:

Is Heath Ledger really that good?

Yes. 

This was the cinematic Joker I've always wanted. He's not out for revenge or money. He has no easily explained origin. That's the Penguin, or The Riddler, or even Two-Face. Heath Ledger's Joker is an evil god of chaos. He's a psychopath. He's scary. All he wants is pain and disorder. He wants to watch people eat each other alive and there's nothing you can say, nothing you can give him, nothing you can do to save yourself or your loved ones. Every time Ledger appeared on the screen, there was a buzz in the theatre. You could feel this weird energy. This is a result of a filmmaker and an actor willing to take a character to the edge, and that's right where The Joker belongs.

Okay, Heath Ledger kicks ass, what about the rest of the cast?

There all awesome.

Christian Bale is the perfect Batman/Bruce Wayne. Michael Keaton was a good Batman, but he never played Bruce Wayne right. Christian Bale nails both roles with a sledge hammer. Michael Caine is still the perfect Alfred and Gary Oldman still rocks as James Gordon. Morgan Freeman is also great as Lucius Fox, a chacter that's much more interesting in the films than he is in the comics. Of course, we know all that going in. The wild card is Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent. If you don't buy his transformation from truly good guy  ("the best of us all") in to something... else, the whole movie would fall apart like a house of (Joker) cards. Luckily, he's more than up to it and gives a superstar making performance. By the end of the film you realize this wasn't so much a Batman and Joker story, but rather a Harvey Dent story. Superman made you believe a man can fly. The Dark Knight makes you believe a man can fall. 

Maggie Gyllenhaal is also a major upgrade over Tom Cruise's current wife.

Is the movie as dark as people say it is?

Yes.

There's a point halfway through The Dark Knight when it looks like good will prevail and the heroes will be victorious. Of course, the movie is only half over, so you know things are gonna turn again. There's a real sense of dread as you wait for the Joker's next unpredictable move while the good guys celebrate. No one gets off lightly in this one folks. Amongst all the fear, however, there does lie hope. At least, there lies the possibility of hope. You'll just have to see it for yourselves.

Does this movie really have something to say about 9/11?

 I think so. 

The Joker is a terrorist. He's a terrorist with no political agenda, but a terrorist nonetheless. The people of Gotham City are afraid, but they never know exactly what they should be afraid off. It's very much how the Western world felt after Sept 11. Fear and panic can have devastating effects on otherwise good people.

If Gotham City represents the fear caused by terrorism in the Western world, Harvey Dent represents the rage. He starts out as a fearless defender of justice. But then he's attacked in ways he never could have imagined. So he lashes out, but maybe not at those that deserve it. 

Batman has his own 9/11 moments. He must ask himself at what point does freedom take a back seat to justice and can they even be mutually exclusive? Do the ends always justify the means? How much collateral damage can we take? How far can you go to stop injustice before you cause injustice? 

Of course, I might be reading too much in to it. Again, you'll have to see it and decide for yourself.

Is the movie 100% perfect?

I'm gonna say 99%.

I'm still not satisfied with the Bat suit (although it's an an improvement over the one in Batman Begins) and there's a particular Bat gadget that really stretches the limits of believability. Otherwise, this is a pretty pristine flick. Kudos to uber talented Director Christopher Nolan for bringing it all together. 

Did you like it?

Yes, yes I did. 

Half way through the movie, things kick in to a whole new gear. Up to that point, it met my expectations but I was expecting at least that. Suddenly, the volume gets turned up to 11 and it becomes something else entirely. That's the point in the film that you know your watching an epic unfold. To call The Dark Knight a "comic book" movie is to call The Godfather a "novel" movie. It's simply a great film, a cinematic experience. And it kicks all sorts of ass.

10 out of 10 stars

Ricky Gervais on David Letterman Part I (Congrats Ricky on your Emmy nominations for brilliant show Extra's!)  There is a lot of tension going back and forth with Gervais and Letterman.

Ricky Gervais Part 2 (Please make more Extra's!)

Coldplay performs on Tonight Show

Aaron Eckhart chats about The Dark Knight

Philadelphia's Dr. Dog performs on Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Jordana Spiro from My Boys, on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Kim Kardashian on Jimmy Kimmel

Justin Timberlake on Jimmy Kimmel

Justin Timberlake Part 2

Maggie Gyllenhaal on The Daily Show

Ever since it came out, I held Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 in the highest of regards.  I considered it the best comic book movie Hollywood's ever made, even with competition from Sin City and Batman Begins.  The reason why is because of the way Peter Parker views his responsibilities; there's even a nice scene between him and his aunt that pretty much spells everything out.  What he understands, by the end of the movie, is that there are a select few people that must sacrifice everything they have, and possibly everyone they love, for the greater good.  Parker knows that in order to be what he is destined to be, he must be prepared to lose it all.  Even though the Spider-Man movies are 'cartoony', they handle the more mature subtext nicely.  That is why Spider-Man 2 holds the mantle in my personal film collection as the greatest comic book movie ever made.

Until now.

In 2005, Christopher Nolan, along with veteran comic book movie scriptwriter David S. Goyer, took the reins on one of Warner Bros.' most troubled projects: the continuation of the Batman film franchise.  Deciding on a complete reboot of the series, instead of trying to pick up the pieces Joel Schumacher made, Nolan and Goyer returned to the series' dark roots, citing many of the Caped Crusader's earlier graphic novels as a foundation.  Frank Miller's Batman: Year One,  and Dennis O'Neil and Dick Giordano's Batman: The Man Who Falls, were among the collection of stories chosen as inspiration for what would eventually be Batman Begins.

The film was well-recieved by both audiences and critics; it's main selling point the darker and grittier tone of the film, going beyond what was seen in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman.  Fans and critics were eager to see what the cast and crew were going to churn out for the next installment.  Batman Begins was already praised for its mature themes, how could it possibly get any darker?  Simple.  Throw in Batman's sworn arch-nemesis, someone who is willing to break every rule Batman follows (even if people perceive Batman to follow no rules).

The Dark Knight picks up some time after Batman Begins left off.  Arkham Asylum's rogues gallery is loose and Batman (Christian Bale), the police, and the District Attorney's office are all working overtime to capture them all.  One in particular concerns Lt. Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), one of Gotham's last 'untouchable' cops.  The Joker (Heath Ledger) has been masterminding a series of daring bank robberies, but there seems to be a connection.  With the help of Gotham's new D.A., Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), the police raid several banks that are suspected of having mob ties.  Unfortunately, the man that they're looking for, the one who can help them tie everything together, flees to China.

To make a long story short, the criminals the good guys are after in the beginning are eventual all caught, and the city is thankful.  This poses a problem for the remainder of Gotham's underworld.  Enter The Joker.  His plan: deal with the problem.  In this case, it happens to be Batman; he's the only one with no jurisdiction lines to obey, he can punhc first, ask questions later, and he answers to no one.  Batman's the one nabbing the bad guys, the police and the D.A. are there to read their Miranda Rights.  The Joker offers to kill Batman, setting in motion events that will alter the course of the entire city, as well as those of Batman, Gordon, and Dent.

What makes this film brilliant is not the plot.  While I admire the plot, it would be nothing without something pushing it along.  A plot is just a series of events, what a good plot needs is a driving force, something to move everything toward an eventual conclusion.  Even 'slow parts' of a film have a momentum; we're being told something about a character or characters.  The Joker is The Dark Knight's driving force, the unstoppable momentum, the rules by which everyone is going by.

The criminals of Gotham City take all the social rules and throw them out the window.  The Joker takes all the criminal rules, and dices them up.  With him, everything is fair game and nothing is sacred.  This is what makes him such an effective bad guy.  There is no line he won't cross in order to attain his goals.  The Joker is played brilliantly by Heath Ledger.  In one of his last performances, Ledger gives us a Joker that is truly chilling.  Intelligent.  Violent.  Bold.  Psychotic.  The Joker is all of these.  In fact, I'd throw in fearless as well.  He has absolutely nothing to lose, and he care even less about his enemies, save for one.  Batman.

Batman and the Joker are almost like two halves of the same coin.  They're both willing to do whatever it takes to 'win', they both are shunned by society and even the 'friends' they keep they're like enigmas.  However, the Joker is willing to do away with all the conformities of society, cross every line, break every rule.  Batman doesn't realize this until it's too late and the lives of innocent people are put in real danger.

Another thing that wowed me was the film's use of violence and language.  Basically, there's nothing here that isn't more graphic than the first film, but it just feels like there's more.  The Dark Knight is rated PG-13, due to acts of physical violence, although there's no blood and no swearing.  Save for a few scenes that involve the Joker and sharp objects, it's your standard comic book action fare.  What the film has, in spades, is very mature themes dealing with the nature of good and evil, innocent and guilty.  The Joker makes Gordon, Dent, Batman, and Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) reconsider their chosen path.  Is what they're doing enough to rid Gotham of crime and corruption?  What else can they possibly do?  Batman knows the only other option that's left: become what it is they're all fighting, become a true vigilante.  The Joker knows this, as well, and he's willing to risk his own life to show Batman it's a path he must take.

The Dark Knight exceeds on all fronts.  Even supporting roles like Alfred (Michael Caine) and Lucius (Morgan Freeman) are expanded and given more prominence.  Some may complain the movies is too long, and indeed there was a time when I thought to myself, "Wow, this movie feels long."  That doesn't mean that each minute isn't earned.  The performances, all of them, are spot on.  Unfortunately, Bale's 'Batman voice' sounds more like Bale with a sore throat and a cold this time around, but I can say the maybe Katie Holmes dropping out wasn't such a bad thing.  Replacing her with Maggie Gyllenhaal was smart, as she brings a sense of fierceness to the role that Holmes lacked in Batman Begins.  Also, there's something slightly off about Batman's cowl.  It's like the lower half of Bale's face is struggling to burst free.  And another thing about the Batman costume: the new utility built reminds me of the Michael Keaton Batman, a nice touch.

This is one of the few examples of a sequel exceeding its predecessor.  It belongs among the likes of The Empire Strikes Back, The Wrath of Kahn, and Spider-Man 2 as some of the best sequels of all time.  The Dark Knight also deserves to be ranked among the best, if not the best, comic-book-to-film adaptations ever made.  I believe they should let some more time past between this and the third installment, since this film lays it on thick with dark atmosphere.  People may have a hard time going from this to the next one as it, in my opinion, seems like it's just too much.  Gotham lies in a state of near-ruin, and the people have nearly lost all hope.  This film showed us what a true villain is, and the third can make us see what a true hero is.

From the darkness, comes the Knight.

10/10

The IMAX Experience

I saw this film at the IMAX theatre in San Francisco, the world's largest digital projection screen in the world.  The last movie I saw here was Zack Snyder's 300, and I was blown away.  Not necassarily because of the mammoth screen, but because of the sound.  There's over 10,000 watts of sound being pumped throughout that theatre.  The Dark Knight uses each watt to the max.  Every punch, gunshot, explosion, car engine, even footstep is clearly audible.  It was so loud, at times I thought I heard a speaker or two start to distort.  This film is loud.  Quite possibly louder than 300, and that movie literally shook the seats.

Waiting in line for this was like waiting in line for a Star Wars movie, or Halloween candy.  Lots of people dressed up, a long-ass line, and plenty of smelly nerds.  And I mean S-T-I-N-K-Y; I was wondering if some of the people in line were there for the past few days since they smelled so bad.  Anyway, waiting 3 hours in line was something I kind of miss.  There aren't too many movies that would make me want to stand in the same spot for 3 or more hours, and I enjoy the atmosphere (smell not withstanding).  These are people that share your same passion, your interests, your joys.  It's almost 'fun' to be a part of it.  Granted, I wasn't talking up every guy who was dressed up as Batman (I was busy playing some multiplayer DS), I still got some weird sense of enjoyment out of it.  Plus, there were a few girls in line that didn't look too bad in a Catwoman suit, or a tight-fitting Batman shirt.

However, I think the theatre is still too small for a screen of that size.  They should really build the seating after the IMAX theatre in Virginia Beach, using more stadium-style seating with balconies.  You can't look at the screen and take everything in, and from a cinematography point-of-view, that can be bad.  I don't want to have to move my entire head in order to see something.

Overall, a nice experience, minus the slightly uncomfortable viewing angle and the smelly comic book geeks.

-Vman

I agree. Everyone is stunning. The Nolans present a brilliant and dark film. Gary Oldman is great. Christian Bale's Batman is the definitive screen portrait. His Bruce Wayne is a pitch-perfect playboy caricature. Heath Ledger is creepy, disturbing and utterly brilliant. He is the Joker. The underrated score by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. Aaron Eckhart puts on a successful performance. Maggie Gyllenhaal works out well as the love interest.

This is a pretty great movie. The Dark Knight is another testament to the fact that Batman is the best superhero character ever created.

- R.H.

Han pasado un poco más de 7 horas desde que vi The Dark Knight y creo que recién puedo sentarme a hablar de esa increíble experiencia. Como fan de Batman, y habiendo visto el trabajo de Christopher Nolan en Batman Begins y degustado recientemente la genial Batman: Gotham Knight (cuya crítica pueden leer AQUÍ), no me esperaba nada menos que una excelente película... ¡como me equivoqué! Nolan no reinventa el cine, eso ténganlo claro, pero nos entrega a los fans un regalo enorme, ya que no sólo supera las enormes expectativas que se tenían, sino que además se supera a si mismo y deja a Begins en un segundo plano. The Dark Knight no es excelente, es magistral y más que una digna secuela, permite que el espectador se sumerga profundamente en el extraordinario e hiper realista imaginario creado por Chris Nolan, su sobrino Jonathan, David S. Goyer, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger y el resto del equipo. Estamos frente al mejor comic llevado a la pantalla grande y ante un thriller policial sórdido y brutal que nos transporta no a las oscuras calles de Ciudad Caótica Gótica, sino que a los rincones más oscuros del alma humana. Sean bienvenidos a un mundo sin reglas.

ARGUMENTO

Ha pasado el tiempo y Ciudad Gótica lucha contra el caos heredado desde antes de la aparición de Batman. Las calles, ahora protegidas por un cuerpo de policia cada vez más honesto, son los campos de batalla para las distintas mafias que tratan de hacerse con el control de los negocios ilegales. En este contexto, el recientemente elegido fiscal de distrito Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) se unirá al Teniente Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), flamante líder de la unidad de grandes crímenes, para lograr apresar a los jefes mafiosos y limpiar de una vez y para siempre las calles de la ciudad. Aunque con dudas al principio Dent, conocido popularmente como "el caballero blanco", aceptará la ayuda de Batman (Christian Bale) a medida que ve los buenos resultados logrados. Sin embargo, la aparición de un misterioso criminal, sin registros previos y que aparentemente controla a los jefes de la mafia, a través del miedo (misma arma usada por Batman), llevará el caos a niveles insospechados. El Guasón/The Joker (Heath Ledger) pondrá a Batman, a Dent, a la policia y a la ciudad completa en jaque, mientras que sus cada vez más osadas apariciones convertirán a Ciudad Gótica en una ciudad en guerra, provocando pánico entre sus habitantes. Con el paso de los días y ante la amenaza latente de un gran baño de sangre, Batman, Dent y Gordon tendrán que poner todo su intelecto en la búsqueda de una solución de cómo detener al psicópata llamado Joker antes que sea demasiado tarde... aunque, tal vez, ya lo sea.

CRÍTICA

Es dificil ser parcial cuando estas criticando algo que te lleva a ser poco objetivo. Soy un fan, no lo puedo ocultar y como tal creo que puedo decir que para los fans como yo, esta es sin duda una película magnífica en todo sentido, imperdible y necesaria de volver a ver... y volver a ver. The Dark Knight, es una película épica, que trasciende el mundo de los superhéroes y se transforma en un fantástico thriller policial. Resulta que Christopher Nolan nos presenta una vez más una cosmovisión hiper realista del mundo de Batman, lo cual se agradece. En Begins pudimos ver los orígenes del personaje, mientras que en esta película conocemos más de su entorno, de esa fascinante y peligrosa Gotham City, que brilla más que nunca. Siempre me pregunté por qué todas las películas hacían de esta ciudad, supuestamente hermana de Nueva York, tan inhospita, oscura y descuidada, cuando, siendo una ciudad grande, debería ser todo lo contrario. Pues bien, Nolan nos transporta a una ciudad que es Gótica, pero no por eso marginal, al contrario, sus luces brillan, sus rascacielos son altísimos, su esplendor es digno de cualquier metropolis moderna. El problema de Gotham no son sus edificios, sino que su gente, que lleva años atemorizada debido a la endémica corrupción policiaca y a las poderosas organizaciones criminales que desangran la ciudad. En este sentido, Nolan nos hace volver a Chicago de los años 20's (interesante, ya que la Gotham de The Dark Knight fue principalmente filmada en esa ciudad), donde los policias honestos escaseaban y debían enfrentarse a monstruos del crimen, difíciles de vencer. En este sentido, todo funciona como relojito suizo, Nolan lo hace genial... en esta ciudad todo tiene su razón de ser y cada pequeño detalle que nos va mostrando el director, se suma a la gran pieza de ingenieria visual que está montando frente a nuestros propios ojos.

La historia es sencillamente magnífica y aunque no era condicionante ver la campaña de marketing previa al estreno, muchas cosas aprendidas ahí y personajes conocidos, tienen cabida en la cinta. Los buenos, Dent y Gordon, quieren acabar con el crimen organizado de una buena vez y ayudados por el Caballero Oscuro, logran idear un atrevido plan que finalmente se convierte en la razón por la cual surge el psicópata que finalmente pone a la ciudad de pies a cabeza. En este sentido, Nolan no se da muchas vueltas, la historia es simple y se entiende muy bien... las motivaciones de cada uno están más que claras y a ratos impresiona la frialdad, locura o audacia con la que actúan.

Respecto a las actuaciones, el director logró reunir nuevamente a un muy talentoso grupo de actores, partiendo por aquellos a quienes ya habíamos visto en la primera entrega. Maggie Gyllenhaal como Rachel Dawes es muy convincente y es la imagen viva de la Rachel interpretada por Katie Holmes en Begins, a quien no se echa de menos. Aaron Eckhart está notable, el mejor papel de su vida. Como Harvey Dent logra mostrar su transformación, de honorable fiscal de distrito a desesperado, perdido y peligroso individuo como Dos Caras. El resto del reparto, Nestor Carbonell, Chin Han, Anthony Michael Hall, Ron Dean, Monique Curnen y en especial Eric Roberts como el jefe mafioso Salvatore Maroni, están de lujo y aportan todos en el genial desarrollo de la cinta. Sin embargo, quien se roba la película es quien todos esperabamos... Heath Ledger, o mejor dicho The Joker, ya que durante las 2 horas y media de metraje, en ningun momento vi a Ledger, sólo al psicópata deforme. No sé si Ledger se merece un Oscar o no, pero por lo menos se merece una nominación, ya que sobre sus hombros carga con todo el caos non-stop que se ve en pantalla. Hace un tiempo dije en la crítica de No Country for Old Men que el personaje de Javier Bardem había superado al Doctor Lecter de Anthony Hopkins, pues bien, en locura el Joker de Ledger supera al Anton de Bardem... si esta fuera una película para mayores de 18 (y no para mayores de 13) habríamos visto espantosas escenas explícitas de los crímenes del payaso asesino. Ledger logra brillar con luz propia y, aunque no opaca al Caballero Oscuro (sin duda más de alguno opinará lo contrario), se apropia de esta película, casi como si fuera The Joker Begins. No podía ser de otra forma, estamos ante una de las películas más oscuras del año y como tal, el mal necesita un gran protagonista.

Nolan y su equipo de producción nos presentan una joyita. Sin fallas, donde todo funciona a la perfección. Los efectos especiales no son excesivos y están muy bien hechos, prolijidad al máximo... ese Dos Caras... ¡Dios mio! Por otra parte, los efectos de sonido y la música, de los geniales Hans Zimmer y James Newton Howard, son los grandes acompañamientos de la cinta, logrando momentos en que harán que más de alguno salte del asiento. No le doy 5 estrellas a esta película, le doy 5 batrangs, porque está muy por encima las demás... y si no me creen, pasen a ver el Top 250 películas de todos los tiempos de IMDb, ya que en este momento The Dark Knight, con nota 9,7 de 10, está en el 4to lugar. Viendo el cine como un todo, tal vez eso sea demasiado, sin embargo para quienes somos fans, les aseguro que esta película llegará fácilmente al primer lugar y no se extrañen de emocionarse casi hasta las lágrimas. Quienes no son fans la disfrutarán en otro nivel y, aunque no lleguen al climax de la emotividad, quedarán gratamente sorprendidos por este excelente thriller policial, por su muy bien contada historia, por su guión de ricos diálogos y por sus actuaciones difíciles de olvidar. Felicitaciones a todos los que participaron en esta producción, they put a smile on my face ;)

CLICK AQUÍ PARA DESCARGAR EL SOUNDTRACK DE THE DARK KNIGHT
(El archivo de descarga es un .torrent, por ende debes tener instalado algun
programa de descarga de torrents antes de iniciar la descarga de la película)

TRAILER: THE DARK KNIGHT

FICHA TÉCNICA:
Nombre: The Dark Knight
Año: 2008
Duración: 152 minutos
Dirigida por: Christopher Nolan
Escrita por: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan y David S. Goyer
Basada en los personajes de: Bob Kane
Protagonizada por: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Chin Han, Eric Roberts, Anthony Michael Hall, Nestor Carbonell, Cillian Murphy, Colin McFarlane, Ron Dean y Monique Curnen
Producida por: Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, DC Comics, Syncopy

]]> http://quadrinhos.wordpress.com/?p=155 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:15:08 +0000 Francisco http://quadrinhos.wordpress.com/?p=155
Daqui a pouco estréia o filme Batman - O Cavaleiro das Trevas nos cinemas. É que algumas salas farão pré-estréias nesta madrugada. Para comemorar, além de baixar estes três papéis de parede que fiz com fotos de divulgação para imprensa (portanto, são wallpapers exclusivos que você só deveria encontrar aqui), leia também este texto sobre o filme do Batman baseado na série camp dos anos 60 que foi publicado hoje no blog quixotesco da Georgina. O blog Quixotando (que conheci hoje e já fiquei fã) fala de filmes – muitos clássicos – e não economiza no tamanho das imagens, o que é bem legal.

Outra coisa que você pode fazer antes de ir ao cinema (ou depois que chegar) é ler este rápido artigo sobre a história do batmóvel no cinema, publicado no G1, o portal de notícias da Globo na internet. Claro que na matéria não consta o batmóvel desenhado por Giger (artista responsável pela criação do Alien), pois ele não foi usado nas filmagens.

CLIQUE AQUI para ler mais sobre Batman e Coringa.

If you visit the Why So Serious? main page, a rather creepy recording mash-up will start to play immediately. The site also now has a listing of all the viral pages that the Joker vandalized, which led up to the Kicking and Screening page (thanks commenter BubbaShelby for the tip!). On the hit list is also Harvey Dent's campaign page.

Even the main TDK website was "Jokerized."

There are also two more WSS? pages: Bamboozle and Operator. Anyone know what you have to do for these?

Via /Film, a new Nokia/The Dark Knight promotion lets you commit yourself or a friend to Arkham Asylum. It's actually really freaky.

Superhero Hype! reports that changes are being discussed for Warner Brothers and DC Comics due to the recent success of Marvel movies. Yup, it's definitely time for DC to improve their game (not counting Batman Begins or The Dark Knight here, guys).

Batman-On-Film.com has the Youtubed version of HBO's TDK First Look, as well as a vid of Gary Oldman on The View and Christian Bale on The Today Show (7-14-08). Gary Oldman was on Late Night with Conan O'Brien Tuesday (7-15-08). Aaron Eckhart and Maggie Gyllenhaal were on The Today Show yesterday (7-16-08),

Tomorrow's the big day: The Dark Knight is finally here! There are just mere hours left until its release. You'll be seeing a review of the film from me and ComicNerd.com's other writer, Redhollywood, hopefully on Monday. I can't wait! Squee! :P

WARNING: Now here's where you should stop clicking links, because I haven't read/looked/watched any of these hereafter. If you want to avoid spoilers, then I suggest you do the same. Come back after you've seen the movie if you're worried, because I can't guarantee whether any of these articles or videos have some.

Part One of BOF's Q&A with Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan is up (some info about the event is here). Gary Oldman talks about TDK on IESB.net (I might have posted this before, but it's been archived in my bookmarks folder, so whatever). VH1.com has an article about Jim Gordon in The Dark Knight. Superhero Hype! has CS/SHH! video interviews with Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, and Gary Oldman. Suntimes.com is supposed to have a great article about Heath Ledger/The Joker here, and CBSnews.com has an article on Christopher Nolan here.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it now. Batman: The Dark Knight will be the highest grossing film of all time. This weekend will smash all box office records. I'm rarely right, but who cares, really?

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Intense is the word for Dark Knight. Without a doubt, it was the most terrifying, suspenseful, and dark superhero movie that I have seen. While this is its greatest asset, it also serves as its flaw. Yes, we get tons of violence, tons of jump moments, tons of scenes keeping you on the edge of your seat, but this dip into the world of dark gives viewers very little chances to “come up for air” as it were. Maybe I just enjoy humor too much, but this entire movie had a rain cloud hovering, if not down pouring, for almost the full two-and-a-half hours, with not but a rare short ray of sunshine (and most of the humor was dark humor anyway). Despite this, it was still very satisfying to me as a general movie-goer, and as a comic book fan.

If you do not want SPOILERS, READ NO FURTHER.

First off, I was worried that the Joker might be a little over-the-top cheesy. After all, he’s the Joker! But not only was Heath Ledger able to perfectly play his character, the Joker came off as believable. The entire persona was that of a crazed murderer, who was anything but funny, and definitely frightening. It’s only once in a very great while that you see someone acting in a role they were born to play (superhero examples include Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man), but that was exactly the case here. It is therefore very unfortunate that this was Ledger’s final role. I’m sure the Joker will be in the next Batman movie, like the Scarecrow was featured here, but no matter how good the replacement, I highly doubt they will be able to recreate the insanity that Ledger brought to the role.

Speaking of role changes, Maggie Gyllenhaal successfully replaces Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes. While the “torn-between-two-men” scenario displayed here is certainly not new, especially to superhero lore, it is told here in a believable way. Perhaps most tragic is Bruce’s belief that she will wait for Batman to “save Gotham” and then unite with him, when in reality she knows that he will never forsake the Batman persona, and therefore intends to marry Harvey Dent. While this movie had many shocking scenes, her death tops the list. Of course, the Joker’s trick which leads to her death further shows that despite his chaotic manner, there lies a true criminal mastermind underneath, one with the perfect brain for creating maximum emotional torture.

Yet the most surprisingly good character progression was that of Harvey Dent. Despite not knowing too much DC-lore, I knew that he was destined to become Two-Face. But as we got to meet his character, I felt more and more that he wasn’t going to be able to believably transfer from the unashamed do-gooder that he was to a merciless villain. I’ll be the first to admit that I was wrong. The death of his beloved Rachel, the severe disfigurement of his face, and the city-wide emotion of absolute-terror seemed more than enough to cause his already weakened mind to snap.

But what about Batman himself? This movie certainly decided to take the “symbol more than a person” route. As such, we mostly just see Batman reacting to situations, and going to any measures to stop the spread of evil. While this provides a lot of entertainment, we don’t get to see too much of the man behind the mask. And while I can appreciate the heroic and sacrificial themes of the movie, I really wish this movie would have been more about Bruce Wayne, and less about virtually everyone else. Indeed, Bruce himself seemed more like a supporting character rather than the main character. Still, despite minor complaints, this movie is certainly a must see.

-LOTRKing

Only to have out heart sink once again. What is this? From the velvet Glad bag couture line? With a matching Zsa Zsa Gabor head turban and a chest rosette? Why, Lord, why? Why does she tease us so? Why are do we allow our hopes to rise, only to be dashed again?

so here's the thing about the screening i went to; i didn't even get to see the last 15 minutes of the movie. the IMAX projector broke twice during the movie. luckily they fixed it the first time. but the second time it broke, we were about 15 minutes from the end. the thing about it though, is that i'm not even really mad. i feel like i saw a complete film up until that point. that's just how good it is. of course, i need to see the final minutes as soon as possible, but the movie was awesome by that point. i'll tell you what though, if that projector breaks during the movie when people actually paid for it, there's gonna be some trouble. maybe even some riots. i might be there with my camera hoping to catch some dressed up fans rioting.

second of all, i don't think there was any better suited director for this new Batman series than Christopher Nolan. he has created a masterpiece. he directed this in the same vein as Heat by Michael Mann. it's a crime noir. very dark and disturbing and beautiful. it's so suspenseful that my palms were sweating the whole time. also, i'm fully on board for Heath Ledger winning an Oscar for this. you will completely forget that this is Ledger in the role. he's so creepy and crazy, yet funny and emotional. as you would expect, the Joker has some funny lines throughout. the rest of the cast is phenomenal as well, but they're just overshadowed by Ledger. Bale is great once again (except for the growling Batman voice; my only complaint). Aaron Eckhart is really effective as Harvey Dent. his character is fully realized and goes through some real life-changing shit. Gary Oldman (one of my all-time faves) is superb this time around. he was given much more of a story this time around and he definitely took advantage of it. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman both brought more to the table in this one. they bring a real sense of friendship to the movie when dealing with Bruce Wayne. and Maggie Gyllenhaal is 100 times better than Katie Holmes.

so all in all, get the eff out there and see this movie. it's balls-to-the-wall bad ass. it's got everything; very tight script, great acting performances, beautifully shot scenes, ass-kickery action and some funny thrown in there too. even without seeing the closing minutes, i give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. and luckily i got a free pass to go back and finish the film. now i just have to stay off the internets for the weekend so i don't spoil the ending.

With an IMAX, start with tons of potential and high expectations. Add two of Hollywood’s most talented men, a step-up from Katie Holmes and that same charming smile of Nick Naylor. Add some film alumni; mix well. Seep in defined acting chops. Add action; cut it up. Suspend disbelief; stir constantly. Boil with disappointing dialogue and cheesy, unbelievable monologues. Process for two hours and thirty-two minutes before setting the jars out on the shelves to be ferociously consumed by the masses.

Tastes a Lot Like: Bartlett Harlequin Jam- everything about it is seemingly delicious and then you have to go and add those damn fake, contrived Maraschino cherries.

Let’s start with Batman Begins. Well written and excellently executed, the film upped the ante in the latex smothered superhero department. Christian Bale is by far one of the supreme and dedicated talents in Hollywood (hello, did anyone see the The Machinist?) and brought a true sense of soul to the identity conflicted protagonist Bruce Wayne… not to mention a gym bag full of good looks. With a foundation like Begins, it’s hard to imagine its successor being anything but stellar.
The Dark Knight tells the tale of Batman and his escapades with the Joker. When I say “escapades” this includes a number of intense action sequences taking place in the streets and (watch out!) the sky. Not being much of an action fan myself, they were still incredible. It also has exactly what you want in a cast. Christian Bale still looks good in any suit from Bat to Gucci and performs so wholeheartedly it resonates within his relationships with all the characters. That carton of lukewarm milk casually known as the beard of Tom-Kat was rightfully replaced with a woman of substance and ability- Maggie Gyllenhaal. Aaron Eckhart is as honorably heartwarming as ever (mostly). Morgan Freeman and Michael Cane are genuinely talented gentlemen, as always. Heath was obviously the best in show. Maniacal and creepy, he was the epitome of The Joker. From his disgusting mannerisms to his eerie cadence, he filled the purple suit first worn by Jack Nicholson (much to his dismay) with an extra ounce of evil. All the performances were great- especially given the material.
Yes, that was an allusion to the fact that director Christopher Nolan and brother Jonathan are not writers. Look, I know I’m going into this not being able to believe every motorcycle/bus/plane/ferry/starship-cruiser chase I see. But if you have believable characters, I will totally eat up any technological tomfoolery scheme or military machine mumbojumbo. Unfortunately, the dialogue was cliché and there were a number of moments where more than a few of the audience members flat laughed out loud. I particularly liked the “We’ve got company!” sort of fillers and cheap speeches. I expected more from the good citizens of Gotham.
Besides the lame convos and the fact it is about two and a half hours long, it’s good. If you liked the first one, you should go. If you’re looking to get laid, this is a good date movie- you got your action, you got a nice little romantic through line, you got Gary Oldman; you’re set. Unless it’s some liberal babe who hates… Gary Oldman. Because no self-respecting human being hates Batman. And that’s a fact.

Arkham Asylum Collector Set

E finalmente, quer ver figuras como a Marta Suplicy, Chaves, Yeda Crusius, José Serra, Lula e outras personalidades com a marca do Coringa estampadas em seus lindos rostinhos? Então CLIQUE JÁ AQUI. E, para baixar papéis de parede do Batman e do Coringa, CLIQUE AQUI e divirta-se!

From wikipedia: Margaret "Maggie" Ruth Gyllenhaal (born November 16, 1977) is an American actress. She is the daughter of director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner, and the older sister of Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal began her acting career in a film directed by her father, and later achieved recognition in her own right playing her real-life brother's on-screen sister in the cult hit Donnie Darko. Gyllenhaal made her breakthrough in the sadomasochistic romance, Secretary, for which she received critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination.^[1]

A muy pocas horas del estreno oficial de The Dark Knight en Chile (hace algunas ya fue el pre estreno en 3 salas de Santiago y 2 de Viña del Mar), se ha producido la que debe ser la última parte de la fabulosa campaña de marketing viral que ha acompañado la película de Christopher Nolan. Al igual que la imagen que encabeza esta entrada, los muchos sitios de internet creados especialmente para promocionar las nuevas aventuras del Caballero Oscuro, fueron vandalizados por el Joker (o mejor dicho "jokerizados"). A saber, los sitios de The Gotham Times, The Gotham Election Board (La Junta de Elecciones de Ciudad Gótica), I Believe in Harvey Dent (sitio de campaña de Harvey Dent), Trust Garcetti (sitio de campaña de Roger Garcetti), Dana Worthington (sitio de campaña de Dana Worthington), Gotham City Rail (sistema de transportes de Ciudad Gótica), The Gotham Cab Company (empresa de taxis), Gotham Police Department, Gotham Police Internal Affairs (asuntos internos de la policia), We Are The Answer (sitio de denuncias de corrupción policiaca) y Gotham Cable News, han sido víctimas del hackeo. En dichas páginas se repiten las risas en rojo de la banda encabezada por el Joker (Heath Ledger) y algunos textos sobrepuestos como burla bastante buenos. Estos hackeos vienen a ser el broche de oro de la campaña, la cual dio cátedra para futuras acciones de marketing viral a la hora de promocionar una película. The Dark Knight con Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Eric Roberts, Cillian Murphy, Anthony Michael Hall, Monique Curnen y Nestor Carbonell se estrena hoy jueves 17 en Chile y algunos otros países de América. En España tendrán aún que esperar 24 horas más.

Chris Nolan, director of The Dark Knight, said Heath Ledger got a chance to see himself on the big screen before he died in January. I thought that was really nice, seeing I keep hearing how great a job Heath did in character. All of his fellow actors said his performance was absolutely unbelievable. According to Nolan, Ledger started preparing and studying for his role even before the script was written. At the premier of the film, there was a tribute at the end of the movie. Hopefully they put the tribute in theaters as well as the DVD. S and I bought K some AWESOME bobble heads the other day, one of the Joker and Batman for the Dark Knight movie. They are so realistic looking, the Joker one scares me. I can't look at him, over there bobbing his head from across the room. Sends shivers down my spine!

I'll be seeing The Dark Knight on IMAX this weekend and I can't wait, I've been looking forward to this since Batman Begins, which I will say is the best superhero movie ever to come out of Hollywood. (Iron Man runs a close second.) Although I am a little upset about them changing Rachel Dawes to Maggie Gyllenhaal. Don't get me wrong, I love Maggie and I think she is a pretty decent actress, however, I always hate when they try to pass different people off as the same character. I understand that Katie Holmes is a looney toony scientologist now, but come on. With a great series like this, you really shouldn't change the characters or else the movie just isn't the same. Mostly I am blaming Katie Holmes for this, for not being able to pull it together for this one film. Instead she made some other dumb film where she stole money with a bunch of old women. Gayyy. True, also, that Holmes probably didn't deserve her role in Batman Begins to begin with, but too late for that now. Holmes is definitely going to regret turning down the role.

The movie is already selling out for opening day, both in regular and IMAX theaters. I've had tickets for about 2 weeks now. I told you I've been waiting! Besides being a huge fan, I'm mainly looking forward to seeing Heath Ledger. It's all the rage about his performance. Even the trailer is creepy. Christian Bale said Ledger was able to change his voice and it just flowed by itself in this scary, creepy tone. Even Ledger said he was scaring himself when filming. In the early filming days, Ledger was seeing some sort of therapist or doctor because he was having trouble sleeping at night. Perhaps his own performance was what creeped him out. I wouldn't doubt it, given everything I've been hearing so far.

There has already been talk about a posthumous Oscar nomination and academy award for Heath Ledger. Critics who have already seen the movie think Ledger created a brand new type of Joker that will be remembered forever. I hope after seeing the movie I will agree (I have no doubts). His co-actors have already backed him and stated their support. Audiences who have seen the movie say it was more than they could have ever expected.

After seeing the premier in New York City with his family, Ledger's dad stated: "The Dark Knight is everything we hoped it would be and more. Heath loved the experience of creating this character and working on the film. We are so proud of our boy."

I almost cried when I read that. I really hope Heath Ledger wins that award. I really really really hope so.

The Dark Knight Trailer:

Christian Bale is H-O-T!
Batman has a sick ride in this movie!
R.I.P. Heath Ledger