Dark Knight Stigma... any thoughts?

[BStecke]

I remember when The Crow came out, the buzz was ALL the fact that it was Brandon Lee's last film. It turned out to be a great film, and he is remembered for the great job he did. I think TDK and Heath Ledger will be very similar, in that it was the final role, and perhaps the best of his career, of a promising young star. The movie will most certainly get more media buzz from it being Ledger's final role. I don't think Warner has to do anything different from what they were doing before, the media will do that for them. There's nothing wrong with publicizing his role in the film . . . from the buzz, he did a fantastic job. If it gets more people to see the movie to watch his final role, so be it. Isn't the goal of actors to have people appreciate their work?

[The Don]

it's eerie that someone mentioned The Crow...both Heath and Brandon wore white face paint in the wake of the movies they died during the filming or post-filming...

they can promote TDK the same way, but they should tone down the Joker scenes and show more Harvey Dent etc...

[Knight-Errant]

Originally Posted by The Don

it's eerie that someone mentioned The Crow...both Heath and Brandon wore white face paint in the wake of the movies they died during the filming or post-filming...

they can promote TDK the same way, but they should tone down the Joker scenes and show more Harvey Dent etc...

In the trailers?

[Rothwilder Blu]

When Heath was cast as the Joker, I immediately was joyed at the casting choice. It is, and even before his death, my personal belief that THIS performance will be the best of his career.

His death has profoundly affected me, but I still stick with my original thoughts.

Ledger's Joker WILL BE the definitive Joker for all time.

Anyone else?

[Sylin]

Originally Posted by FriedEggs

Didn't they finish 'Gladiator' after Oliver Reed died? Some of his parts were CGI. I'm not saying they've done this with Batman, as it's probably already in the can. I just thought I had remembered hearing something about this in Gladiator...

Yup, they sure did. They used stand-ins and digitally added his face to them. It was kinda crappy that no one really noticed his death--that guy was a barrel of laughs and a total heathen (but in that funny way that makes you like him more).

I think WB is moving away from the Joker as the focus of their marketing just out of respect, and because the tagline was "Why so serious?" which many people might take offense at. But have you seen the new trailer? Heath is BRILLIANT!

Originally Posted by glenn22

Do you know how involved Heath was to be in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus? I know they were supposed to be here in Vancouver next week to do something... blue screen effects work I think.

They had wrapped with shooting, and were supposed to do some audio polishing and effects work next month. Ironically, I read they would've done this sooner but were giving Heath a chance to get over his pneumonia (not sure if there's truth in that, tho). CNN's article on this movie made it seem like the director was unsure if they could complete this in budget now, which is around $30m. Apparently the financiers only backed it because Heath agreed to star, and now he might need to be replaced or dubbed out, or the project scrapped entirely.

Oddly enough, there is already talk on NPR that Heath may win a posthumous Oscar for The Dark Knight, just because pre-release screenings have given his performance two thumbs up. I think it would be a fine honor. I'm sure it is well deserved. We'll find out this summer.

[bhampton]

I'll say one thing...

I have the teaser trailer from the PS Store and the creepy-ness of it went off the charts the other day.

At least that trailer became more effective. I think the movie will be a major blockbuster. I can't wait to see it.

-Brian