why film it in chicago? well, why shoot a film anywhere? why does a film blogger need this answered?

in this case, the aesthetic of chicago closely matches nolan's vision of gotham. chicago played a huge part in batman begins, especially the bridges over the chicago river (used to connect to the narrows) and lower wacker drive (for the car chase). the chicago board of trade was the inspiration for wayne tower.

a large portion of downtown chicago is made of a two vertically stacked layers because of rebuilding in the aftermath of the chicago fire. apparently this aspect proved appealing to nolan who wanted to imbue the film with a "blade runner" type multi-tiered aesthetic.

shooting the sequel in chicago makes a lot of sense.

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What's the point of a secret shooting title if Cinematical publishes it before they start filming?

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in "begins" holmes acted alongside christian bale, cillian murphy, michael caine, liam neeson, ken watanabe, tom wilkinson, rutger hauer, and gary oldman. she was directed by an oscar-nominated director and filmed by an oscar-nominated D.O.P.

i fail to understand how you consider "mad money" -- described as a "low-budged action caper comedy featuring queen latifah" directed by a nobody -- to be "greener pastures".

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I'm rather disappointed in Cinematical for stooping to tabloid proportions by publishing the no-longer-secret filming code name. There's a reason they do this, and it's to prevent looky-loos and spies from harrassing them. I don't find it funny or cool to harrass the actors or any of the crew while they're trying to work. I hope that this code name gets changed or is the wrong one.

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Don't forget Morgan Freeman!!

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man... how could i forget morgan? good call, john. i certainly hope he's back for the sequel, he hasn't been officially confirmed yet.

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Gentlemen, please don't cry over Katie's absence in Batman 2. The main reason for her dismissal is: no other woman ever played the same character twice in Batman franchice- From Silverstone, Uma Thurman, Michelle Pfifer, Nicole Kidman, to Kim Bassinger.

Why should Miss Holmes be an exeption?
Please enjoy the revolving-door-female-disposable policy of Hollywood and movies.

Unless it's Spiderman- then again, even I'm getting a litle annoyed with MJ. That's why SPidey is so self-destructive on #3. he needs a new disposable girl, Pronto!!

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Wait a minute- duh! Cinematical is owned by AOL/TimeWarner- the producers of Batman. No doubt it's a fake fake name created to throw Chicago fanboys on a wild good chase. The real secret title is in fact BrokeBat Mountain.

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Also, Chicago was the basis for Gotham's architecture all the way back.

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Gio: You fail to point out that even Batman has been played by different actors in all but two of the movies so far. Harvey Dent has also been played by two actors so far, soon to be three. How is that any different from the treatment of the female characters? You're looking for controversy where it doesn't exist.

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Tax breaks play a big part actually. Mayor Daley has been trying to get more movies to film here in Chicago. Anyway, the crew stayed at the hotel I worked at and were really nice and seemed to love it here. The Lower Wacker Drive is essential for a lot of their shoots it seems as well.

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Dear Patrick. You fail to point out that change for male characters in the Batman universe was sparked by Michael Keaton, when he refused to do part 3. He was an ok Bat and I would would've gladly seen him in all the films.
Logic dictated they needed Val Kimmer, who unfortunatly began the down-spiral descend of Batman. Thank God for Nolan who breathed fire once again into it.

My point about the female revolving door policy of Hollywood is not to be sexist, but to point out the truth of moviemaking. I hope you are not expecting Marion, Kate Capshaw or Brody to come back for Indiana Jones 4. Or even Zeta Jones and Julia Roberts for Ocean's 13. Nor any Bond girls.

They said Miss Holmes refused to play the role because of time conflict: it's BS, it's all about letting her go with dignity. It's ok, the new girl will be better.

I read that Rush Hour's Zhang Siyi was asked to be part of it. Obviously she won't return for part 3. I know that, Hollywood knows that, and YOU Patrick should know that.

(Sadly) It's still a man's world, and man needs variety, even at the movies. When I pay $11(New York) for the Dark Knight in '08 I want to see a woman who does it for me, and Katie isn't the one. She's like a big sister.

Oh, and speaking of female-revolving door: that's why Pelosi and specially Hillary Clinton will do just one term when she becomes president in 08'
JUST KIDDING, people! let's stick to movies!

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Gio. You couldn';t be more wrong .The females were played by different actresses because they were different women. Plays to the story point that Bruce Wayne could never let anyone get too close. A point that was actually sort of made in BB when Rachel told Bruce she cared for him but couldn't be with him until he could be himself with no masks. She got that Bruce Wayne the Playboy was something he had to do to protect himself.

As for Katie leaving, I suspect that it has less to do with money etc and more to do with the published comments that Tom would love nothing more for her to be a stay at home mom and pop him out another baby sooner rather than later. Dark Knight was going to be months of Chicago, then England and who knows where else. Mad Money is probably 2 months in LA and she'd be home every night. Frankly a lot of folks didn't think Katie was all that great in the role anyway so they would welcome Maggie, Emily, Rachel or whomever to the role. or even Dawes being killed off at some point in the story.

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Gio, the revolving door of women is a story point. one that was actually addressed in BB. Bruce can't let anyone get too close and he uses the dumb rich Playboy image as his 'Clark Kent" to protect himself. that is all.

As for Katie leaving, I suspect that it has less to do with money etc and more to do with the published comments that Tom would love nothing more for her to be a stay at home mom and pop him out another baby sooner rather than later. Dark Knight was going to be months of Chicago, then England and who knows where else. Mad Money is probably 2 months in LA and she'd be home every night. Frankly a lot of folks didn't think Katie was all that great in the role anyway so they would welcome Maggie, Emily, Rachel or whomever to the role. or even Dawes being killed off at some point in the story.

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for those screaming 'why Chicago' consider this. Batman is an American Hero yes. Gotham was always known to be a mock NYC, yes.

given this, which would you rather. that the movie series film all or at least in part in the US or that it pull a runaway production and film in Australia or England.

In this case, the production was able to find a place that fit the look they needed without building huge studio cities, in a place that was welcoming them with open arms and was in the US.

Unlike Superman Returns which I believe shot wholy outside of US borders claiming lack of location and tax breaks. and oh my the flack they got for that.

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I'm on the set of "RFK", that hasn't begun filming but I will keep u guys posted!!! NightWing

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Why Chicago? Many of the buildings here were built almost a hundred years ago and even those built throughout the 1900's maintained a distinct almost gothic architecture. Oh, and because Chicago kicks ass.

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Let's just say I can look out the window and see the offices for "Rory's First Kiss." I need to go talk to some people over there now...

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