<![CDATA[Gizmodo: The Dark Knight]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gizmodo.com.png <![CDATA[Gizmodo: The Dark Knight]]> http://gizmodo.com/tag/the dark knight http://gizmodo.com/tag/the dark knight <![CDATA[ Rumor: The Dark Knight Could Coax Warner into BD-Live Release ]]> Warner Bros, along with plenty others, has been skeptical about BD-Live. WTF is BD-Live, you ask? It's that feature in the Blu-ray spec allowing, among other internet-based functionality, people seated on couches across the US to watch movies simultaneously and chat about them. Now rumor has it that the company is considering The Dark Knight as their first BD-Live disc release for the coming holiday season. We can't wait for two and a half straight hours of:

Jason Chen: I'm Batman!
Mark Wilson: I'm Batman!
Jesus Diaz: I'm Batman!
Matt Buchanan: I'm Batman!
John Mahoney: I'm not that guy from Frasier! [DVDTown Thanks Eric!]

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Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EDT Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5034258&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Warner Bros. Delays Dark Knight Piracy for 38 Hours, Deems it Success ]]> Warner Bros. didn't want to lose one penny off of the precious early box office gross for The Dark Knight (one that traditionally favors Hollywood in the split over movie theaters), so they reportedly spent 6 months developing an anti-piracy plan to keep the film off filesharing sites for as long as possible. And through a highly regimented flow of tracking and distribution that included staggering reel delivery to individual theaters (so that no one had the entire film for too long), Warner Bros. was able to delay online piracy for a whole 38 hours. Their president of distribution explains why this was considered a success:

One of the reasons why it's so important to try to protect the first weekend is that it prevents the pirate supply chain from starting. A day or two becomes really, really significant. You've delayed disc manufacturing that then delays distribution, which then delays those discs from ending up on street corners for sale.

But while Warner Bros. is high fiving that they defeated the internet, maybe the executives should learn a different lesson about creating $158.4 million weekend openings—namely by making good movies and tailoring them for the big screen experience. [LATimes]

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Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:50:00 EDT Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5029972&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Nokia Responds to Batphone Allegations ]]> Remember the fancy cellphone in The Dark Knight? It was that touchscreen Nokia that Morgan Freeman was carrying around all like, "Look at me, I'm so cool, I'm Batman's boss as well as the narrator behind many popular films." Some people (OK, CrunchGear) think that it might be the Nokia Tube (we were too busy making "pew pew" noises in the seats to notice). Nokia, however, is denying it.

In the summer blockbuster, The Dark Knight, a Nokia device is prominently featured. We worked closely with the producers of The Dark Knight to develop an appropriate device that would suit the technology-savvy character of Batman. The Nokia device used in the film is not a commercial product—at this point.

So paraphrased, that reads "Yeah, we made the world's most awesome phone for the world's most awesome movie, wouldn't you be lucky to buy it?" So even if it's not the Tube, the phone certainly has that "might go on sale" ring to it. [CrunchGear]

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Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:40:00 EDT Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5027395&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Behind the IMAX in The Dark Knight ]]> One of the many exciting aspects of The Dark Knight is how the movie incorporated IMAX shots. Friends who watched the film have called the shots absolutely stunning and incredibly immersive; another reason why this is the Best. Movie. Ever. Having yet to see it, I can only sigh wistfully and aggregate information on how it was done. Popular Mechanics has a great write-up of the challenges in shooting with an IMAX camera, including a behind-the-scenes video on how the action came together.

IMAX cameras, which use 70mm film, are much larger and heavier than a traditional 35mm machines. Among the plethora of changes to accommodate IMAX, technicians reinforced gyrostabled remote control camera cranes, crafted sturdier rigs to be mounted on cars, and forced one poor cameraman to actually carry the damn thing on his shoulders in an especially tense S.W.A.T. Team sequence.

When you're done checking the video out, head over to Wired (if you haven't already) for even more information on Christopher Nolan's methods and madness. Helicopters, wrangling with the Chinese government; the making of this movie could be its own movie. [Popular Mechanics]

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Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EDT Elaine Chow http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5027001&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Paper-craft Batmobile Recreates Tumbler From The Dark Knight ]]> Despite wanting desperately to watch The Dark Knight, I still haven't gotten a chance to rush out to my nearest movie theater and bask myself in the two-or-so-hours of nerdgasmic delight I know is waiting for me. So as the stellar reviews pour in from the papers and from friends, I need to find creative ways to scratch that Batman itch. Like papercraft! Here's an amazing Batmobile Tumbler design created by paper model expert Claudio. With hundreds of individual pieces, I bet this thing will distract me until my man in shining (black rubber) armor whisks me off to the cinema. [Technabob]



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Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:45:00 EDT Elaine Chow http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5026947&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ <i>The Dark Knight</i> Review: Even Gadgets Can't Stop The Joker's Madness ]]> The Dark Knight does not disappoint. Sure, there are gadgets galore in this one—you've seen a few of them in the trailer, like the Batpod and the new Batsuit—but you're going to be focusing your eyes on two things: The Joker and Harvey Dent. This film is dark, it's gritty, it's arguably more realistic than even the first movie. In short, it's everything you'd expect the sequel to be. And more.

(I'm going to try and get through this review without spoilers.)

First off, the gadgets. The Batmobile is back, and so is Batman's upgraded fighting suit. He's not residing in Wayne Manor anymore after the events of the Batman Begins, so he has to make do with hiding his Bat-gear inside Wayne Towers and various locales around the city. Batman makes do. He's a hero in exile, a thread that continues through to the end of the movie and on to the next.

There's a very good minor plot device that centers around cellphones that would be pretty damn awesome if it we could get our hands on it in real life. Who knows...maybe the government's already using it now. Plus there's are great scenes in the air, both with a plane and "without". He's really earning that "Bat" part of his name.

As good as Christian Bale is as Bats, the real stars of THIS movie are the Joker and Harvey Dent. If there is ever a character that is the complete opposite of the Dark Detective—cold, calculating, and completely logical—it's the Joker. He's simultaneously insane and extremely insane, taking apart bit by bit the fragile peace that Batman has strived to build since the first movie. There is so little logic to the joker that he's probably the one person whose moves Batman can't predict.

What's great about this movie isn't just the writing and the special effects (though they both are still stellar), it's that everything FEELS exactly like you'd imagine Batman and his villains to be in real life. There's even traces of realistic crime flicks like Heat going on throughout, which lends more to making guys as ludicrous on paper as Batman and the Joker believable. How would you portray a man whose sole intent, as Alfred says, is to watch the world burn? This is how. Gone is affable clownish uncle figure that Jack Nicholson played in the 1989 Batman, and in his place is a character that if you saw on the street, you should run away from as fast as you fucking can. Us gadget fans relate more towards with Batman's logic than Joker's lunacy, which is why he's going to be the best villain you'll ever seen in a superhero flick.

See this movie. Go buy this ticket right now and print it out at your office. We didn't get to see it in IMAX, but a good 20 minutes of the film was shot in the format, so we're definitely going to go back and catch it again. In fact, we've been trying to wrap our heads around all the different themes and nuances that Chris Nolan crammed in; ideas that are even more subtle than they were in the first. A second viewing would do us good.

(You'll notice we didn't mention much about Harvey Dent/Two Face in this review. We'll leave that bit of plot for you to discover yourselves.)

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Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:06:00 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5026750&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ We're Not Reading This Article on the Batpod, But Maybe You Should ]]> We're doing our best to shield ourselves from whatever surprises are left in The Dark Knight before we stay up too late to see it, but that doesn't mean you should miss out on this story from Popular Mechanics on the new Batpod. We only skimmed the intro, but it looks to have interesting real-life background on the design and construction of Batman's fictional new ride. That's right. Batman isn't real. Because if he were, Santa Claus would have long since been busted for B&E, and that thieving bitch Tooth Fairy would be missing a few teeth of her own. [Pop Mech]

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Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:40:00 EDT Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5026364&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Batman Tumbler Transformer Eats Jokers and Decepticons for Breakfast ]]> The Tumbler is the most badass Batmobile ever (it's a freakin' tank), but what if it was a Transformer? This is definitely what it would look like: A Decepticon-shredder. Bat-ingenuity, Transformer tech and sheer badassery definitely make this the beastliest 'bot out of Cybertron. Optimus Prime had better watch his back. I want one. [Jester Pictures via Autoblog via io9]

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Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:50:00 EDT matt buchanan http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5024893&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Batpod Makes Its Way to the British Formula One Grand Prix ]]> One of the coolest things about the Batpod from the upcoming Dark Knight movie is the fact that it actually works. Previously seen being straddled by Meredith Viera on The Today Show, the decked out motorcycle burned rubber at the slightly more dignified British Formula One Grand Prix this weekend. Who else would give anything to be Jean-Pierre Goy, Christian Bale's stuntman, right now? [Gizmag]


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Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:30:00 EDT Elaine Chow http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5022315&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ The New Dark Knight Trailer ]]>
Some of you may have already seen this new trailer for The Dark Knight (Batman Begins II) in theaters this weekend, but it's just hit the web. Here it is for your "behind closed doors" enjoyment. There's a ton of new footage of the BatChopper (which is looking even better on film than what we've seen before). Also, what's with that location of the Batmobile? Is that the new Batcave?

Oh, and disregard anything you see happening to the Joker's ride. It's all part of his plan, I'm sure. [atasteforthetheatrical]

Hotness. Hit that link above for the HD version.

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Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:44:01 EST Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=334545&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ A Video of the New Joker Semi! ]]> Remember that badass Joker semi we showed you a few days ago? Here's some video of his ride, but it's a bit of a spoiler for those who want to be completely surprised when good triumphs over evil, and the Joker destroys Batman in The Dark Knight. Oh, and hit the jump for a bonus shot of the carnage. [HollywoodChicago]

Oh, don't worry about our friend and hero, the Joker. He's just on his back waiting to pounce. [georgeaye flickr]

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Sun, 29 Jul 2007 17:10:21 EDT Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=283651&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Joker Mobile Revealed? We Think So. ]]> Guess what we got today from an anonymous Chicago tipster...pictures that we believe to be of the Joker car from the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight. And we immediately realized that it's not a car at all. It's a freakin' semi. Good call on the Joker's part, going all Terminator 2 with the setup (unlike the debunked Joker car).

The side reads "Slaughter is the best medicine," and the front looks like it's been scrapped together with every rusty, sharp object in Gotham (hope Bruce Wayne is up on his tetanus shot). I can't wait until the Joker plows through Batman's dinky motorcycle in this thing. Now we know what happened to his BatHummer...it pissed itself and drove away.

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Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:17:36 EDT Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=283418&view=rss&microfeed=true