Aaron Eckhart aka Harvey Dent ***SPOILERS***

[The Bat]

By relegating my opinion to "useless" merely because I like a take on Batman
(Burton's) that was radically different from Nolan's.

I think I deserve respect even though (gasp!) I really liked Burton's take---not
to mention that I thought Nolan's was okay too in spite of my criticisms.

Fair enough Dude....I'm sorry to ruffle Your Feathers. We all like what We like...and other People will never change our opinions.

[thunderbolt]

Well, my favorite Bat versions are the 66 show, Timm's stuff, Nolan's and the two serials in that order. There are lots of different versions of Bats out there and some appeal to me and some don't, that's ok. I used to really like Burton's two movies, but over the years they have become sort of lame to me.

[huedell]

I knew that would get Your Goat! I'm just funnin' Ya...I like Ya Huedell!

Curious though...how is saying You like the 89 Batman, a cheap shot?

By relegating my opinion to "useless" merely because I like a take on Batman
(Burton's) that was radically different from Nolan's.

I think I deserve respect even though (gasp!) I really liked Burton's take---not
to mention that I thought Nolan's was okay too in spite of my criticisms.

[Vortigern99]

Nicely said, darklord!

[Hector]

I think one of the most brilliant things the kind folks over at Warner's could have done was to keep a lid on Two-Face, the design of his makeup, and his contribution to this story.

When I saw the film on openning day, I was barely aware that Two-Face would make an appearence.

And quite frankly, as I watched the film unfold, Aaron Ekhardt totally drew me in with his portrayal of District attorney Harvey Dent. Sure some of his dialogue was corny. But I suspect that modern society's cynical tendencies may have cast Dent's uncompromising goodness, and his focus upon the eradication of criminals in Gotham in that light.

In my view, Ekhardt turned in an absolutely stellar performance in this film. He was a virtual secondary leading man with real gravatas.
I was really thrown for a pleasent loop during the courtroom scene when he... subdued the witness he was questioning on the stand.

By the time (Christian Bale) Bruce Wayne delivered his beautiful heartfelt speech about Harvey Dent's status as the White Knight of Gotham (during the fundraiser scene) I was already won over. If I could have, I would have voted for Dent in real life.

It was Ekhardt's performance in this film that made me realize in a most poignant way just how VITAL it is to feature Harvey Dent prominently in any film adaptation that presents us with the tradgedy of Two-Face.

The DA's fall from grace is SO much more powerful when we see first what a good, decent man he really was.

The early half of the film developed an interesting structure / dynamic where Gotham's three protectors (The Batman, Gordon, and Dent) were gradually combining forces for the mutual goal of a safer Gotham. Each man brought something different to the justice soup, and there were undoubtedly differences of opinion as to what methods would best be applied. But there was a bond there that the citizens of Gotham were going to benefit GREATLY from.

Sadly, as often happens in these epic, grand type of stories, something horrible always happens to undo the righteousness.

It's no secret that I've always been a big fan of keeping things somewhat faithful to the comics when doing a film adaptation.

However, when it comes to the Harvey Dent / Two Face story, NOTHING pleased me more than to see Director Chris Nolan avoiding a scene with The Batman, in a brightly lit courtroom, leaping over a railing to stop Boss Moroni from hurling acid in Harvey Dent's face during a cross examination. Sheeesh!

What we did get was a believeable, powerful and dramatic kidnapping scenario that resulted in the death of an important character and Harvey Dent's brutal and horrible disfigurement.

NEVER, in my 41 year history as an avid Bat fan, nor in the variously depicted versions of Two-Face's origin, has my heart gone out to Dent like it did while watching this film.

The scene at the hospital where we are finally shown the extent of Harvey Dent's injuries hit me (and indeed the audience) like a brick across the face. A collective gasp went up in the auditorium, one that I was only barely aware that I myself was contributing to.

After I got over the initial shock of seeing the twisted, charred remains of the left side of Dent's face (an absolute TRIUMPH in state of the art SPFX work) , I watched Two-Face for the remainder of the film, and I completely believed the motivation that would cause such a good man to become twisted, destructive, and filled with hatred for The Batman and Jim Gordon. The excellent new motivation provided to the character (by the screen writers), it was perfectly logical, dark, and elegantly dramatic.

But it was Aaron Ekhardt who deserves the real kudos here. It was his tour-de-force anguished performance that owned the Two-Face make up... and NOT the other way around.

As far as I'm concerned, Ekhardt contributed greatly to make a very good screenplay and a stellar acting ensemble into the summer's... indeed the year's finest offering at the cinema.

I simply cannot wait to go back this Sunday for my second viewing.

What was that, Bat?

[The Bat]

Awesome post, Darklord!

Yeah...it really was! It made Me glad I took You off My ignore list...there's definately hope for You Darklord!

[Hector]

Awesome post, Darklord!

[The Bat]

They are apples and oranges...and I happen to like the apples better...
is that okay with you almighty Bat-nerd?

It's not enough that I give praise where I can with these Nolan movies...you
still have to resort to the cheap shots.

Lame.

I knew that would get Your Goat! I'm just funnin' Ya...I like Ya Huedell!

Curious though...how is saying You like the 89 Batman, a cheap shot?

[huedell]

Guys...Hue likes the 89 Burton/Keaton Batman. I believe I don't need to add anything else to that.

They are apples and oranges...and I happen to like the apples better...
is that okay with you almighty Bat-nerd?

It's not enough that I give praise where I can with these Nolan movies...you
still have to resort to the cheap shots.

Lame.

[The Bat]

Whether you like or dislike Batman 89, it ushered in the "serious" Batman era of films and animated shows. Without it, who knows what would have happened?

Perhaps.....but I think the 1st X-Men Movie did a far better job of bringing Superheros into to real world...and remaining "faithful" to the Comics(and Characters) at the same time.

[twilitezoner]

Guys...Hue likes the 89 Burton/Keaton Batman. I believe I don't need to add anything else to that.

Whether you like or dislike Batman 89, it ushered in the "serious" Batman era of films and animated shows. Without it, who knows what would have happened?

[darklord1967]

I think one of the most brilliant things the kind folks over at Warner's could have done was to keep a lid on Two-Face, the design of his makeup, and his contribution to this story.

When I saw the film on openning day, I was barely aware that Two-Face would make an appearence.

And quite frankly, as I watched the film unfold, Aaron Ekhardt totally drew me in with his portrayal of District attorney Harvey Dent. Sure some of his dialogue was corny. But I suspect that modern society's cynical tendencies may have cast Dent's uncompromising goodness, and his focus upon the eradication of criminals in Gotham in that light.

In my view, Ekhardt turned in an absolutely stellar performance in this film. He was a virtual secondary leading man with real gravatas.
I was really thrown for a pleasent loop during the courtroom scene when he... subdued the witness he was questioning on the stand.

By the time (Christian Bale) Bruce Wayne delivered his beautiful heartfelt speech about Harvey Dent's status as the White Knight of Gotham (during the fundraiser scene) I was already won over. If I could have, I would have voted for Dent in real life.

It was Ekhardt's performance in this film that made me realize in a most poignant way just how VITAL it is to feature Harvey Dent prominently in any film adaptation that presents us with the tradgedy of Two-Face.

The DA's fall from grace is SO much more powerful when we see first what a good, decent man he really was.

The early half of the film developed an interesting structure / dynamic where Gotham's three protectors (The Batman, Gordon, and Dent) were gradually combining forces for the mutual goal of a safer Gotham. Each man brought something different to the justice soup, and there were undoubtedly differences of opinion as to what methods would best be applied. But there was a bond there that the citizens of Gotham were going to benefit GREATLY from.

Sadly, as often happens in these epic, grand type of stories, something horrible always happens to undo the righteousness.

It's no secret that I've always been a big fan of keeping things somewhat faithful to the comics when doing a film adaptation.

However, when it comes to the Harvey Dent / Two Face story, NOTHING pleased me more than to see Director Chris Nolan avoiding a scene with The Batman, in a brightly lit courtroom, leaping over a railing to stop Boss Moroni from hurling acid in Harvey Dent's face during a cross examination. Sheeesh!

What we did get was a believeable, powerful and dramatic kidnapping scenario that resulted in the death of an important character and Harvey Dent's brutal and horrible disfigurement.

NEVER, in my 41 year history as an avid Bat fan, nor in the variously depicted versions of Two-Face's origin, has my heart gone out to Dent like it did while watching this film.

The scene at the hospital where we are finally shown the extent of Harvey Dent's injuries hit me (and indeed the audience) like a brick across the face. A collective gasp went up in the auditorium, one that I was only barely aware that I myself was contributing to.

After I got over the initial shock of seeing the twisted, charred remains of the left side of Dent's face (an absolute TRIUMPH in state of the art SPFX work) , I watched Two-Face for the remainder of the film, and I completely believed the motivation that would cause such a good man to become twisted, destructive, and filled with hatred for The Batman and Jim Gordon. The excellent new motivation provided to the character (by the screen writers), it was perfectly logical, dark, and elegantly dramatic.

But it was Aaron Ekhardt who deserves the real kudos here. It was his tour-de-force anguished performance that owned the Two-Face make up... and NOT the other way around.

As far as I'm concerned, Ekhardt contributed greatly to make a very good screenplay and a stellar acting ensemble into the summer's... indeed the year's finest offering at the cinema.

I simply cannot wait to go back this Sunday for my second viewing.

[The Bat]

Guys...Hue likes the 89 Burton/Keaton Batman. I believe I don't need to add anything else to that.

[huedell]

Rolex?

I don't have a watch literally

(altho if anyone's interested, I could get 'em a good deal on one!)

[Hector]

I was looking at my watch.

Rolex?