See 'The Dark Knight' a Little Too Early
Filed under: Fandom, Exhibition, Comic/Superhero/Geek
How hot is The Dark Knight? So hot that we've done eight (8) posts about it in the last nine days. So hot, moreover, that in some markets, a frenzy of sales for July 18th midnight shows have prompted theaters to add 3am shows and -- I kid you not -- 6am shows. Why would anyone go at six in the morning instead of just waiting for a freakin' 10am show? I can think of two reasons: 1) they can't get into the earlier shows, have to go to work on July 18th, and refuse to wait until the weekend, and/or 2) the rest of Friday's shows have already sold out. The latter is certainly true if you want to see the film in IMAX -- the New York Times reports that tickets for all of the first week's showings in Manhattan's Lincoln Square are gone, with the exception of some 6 am shows. Chris Nolan, what hast thou donst?
Though I'm usually itching to participate in fan frenzies, the funny thing is that I have no desire to see The Dark Knight in IMAX. What's more, I'm surprised that people who are familiar with Batman Begins are this eager to do so. Does no one remember the quick-cut visual assaults that were that film's action scenes? Are people dying for a ride on the Vomit Comet? No thank you. Anyone with me?
UPDATED: Okay, okay! I admit I hadn't read (or maybe read and forgot) about Nolan making IMAX-specific adjustments for The Dark Knight. I stand by my comments to the extent that I think seeing any movie for the first time in IMAX is often a nauseating and confusing experience. But by all means have fun.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-09-2008 @ 3:09PM
Corey Atad said...
No offense, but what you just said about not wanting to see it in IMAX is plain stupid. The film was shot with IMAX and certain scenes were shot with IMAX cameras. Clearly Nolan would have changed the shaky quick-cut editing style to suit the IMAX format.
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7-09-2008 @ 3:12PM
Eugene Novikov said...
None taken. But I'll believe it when I see it -- and it won't be in IMAX, at least not the first time.
7-09-2008 @ 3:23PM
David R said...
i read an article with nolan stating that he thinks that the film should be seen in imax. he did, in fact, take in account for those quick cuts during his 6 imax shot sequences and took longer shots with less cuts so the audience could take in the whole picture in all its ginormous picture and detail. but in the words of levar burton, "of course, you don't have to take my word for it" : http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/16-07/ff_darknight
3 and 6am is ridiculous though.
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7-09-2008 @ 3:42PM
Will C said...
David, you must be the only person I know who can make a Levar Burton quote relevant again. Bravo to you sir for such an appropriate reference. Back to the topic at hand, if the director tells us point blank that we should see his movie in IMAX, then I think I'll trust his judgement. Besides, I think Eugene is just pissed he didn't think to buy his IMAX tickets last week before they sold out like the rest of us.
7-09-2008 @ 3:30PM
jAY said...
The action that occured in the trailer was proof enough that they've been able to rectify Mr. Nolan's upclose shaky-cam fight scenes.
They appear to have pulled that camera back. Way back, and let the action take place amongst fantastic scenery.
That deserves an IMAX experience.
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7-09-2008 @ 3:34PM
Slappy said...
Gotta agree that it's plain stupid to take such a stance. You're robbing yourself of the experience. It has to be seen in IMAX (and yes I've seen the film). It's breathtaking.
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7-09-2008 @ 3:44PM
Joe said...
If you think the film is gonna have more shaky cam, you oughta be paying more attention. Nolan's said numerous times there wasn't enough time get fight choreography together for BB. They had plenty of time now. The marketing shows clear cut fighting. And Imax is expensive to shoot it; would they really waste all that moo-lah on quick cuts? And on top of it all, critics who've seen the film say the problem was rectified. You really have nothing to worry about.
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7-09-2008 @ 3:44PM
Erik Davis said...
I checked Fandango before and IMAX tix were still available for a lot of the NYC IMAX shows. In fact, only one (6pm) on Friday was sold out and all of Saturday was still open. Not sure what it's like in other cities, though.
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7-09-2008 @ 4:14PM
Mike said...
Did you actually click on the showtimes and try to order tickets, for man of the showings Fandango didn't remove (grey-out) the link for the sold-out IMAX showings. They did for the NYC screenings I tried to get last week and the same thing happened for 300 in IMAX, it got my hopes way up.
7-09-2008 @ 3:51PM
Rob said...
Yikes! Sorry Eugene! I guess you are in the minority here. I purchased IMAX tickets for a Saturday afternoon show and I am driving from Cleveland to Columbus! Of course it just so happens my wife wanted to go shopping down there so it worked out well...
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7-09-2008 @ 3:57PM
Anis said...
I'm one of the ones who got a 6 am show for saturday morning at the IMAX in Lincoln Square, and I for one cannot wait. With the viral marketing campaign going on for ages, I have been looking forward to this movie for the longest time. IMAX is the only way to go, besides its cheaper at 6 am than 2 am :)
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7-09-2008 @ 3:57PM
Will C said...
Erik,
I think theres a glitch on Fandango for the NYC IMAX. Because when you actually click to buy the tickets, it then tells you sorry they're sold out. For some reason, they are all still red and allow to click on them, when they should be greyed out.
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7-09-2008 @ 4:18PM
Peter Martin said...
Oh, you kids today! Why, it was only yesterday -- er, OK, 25 years ago -- when I attended a completely sold out 3 AM screening of 'Return of the Jedi' at the Cinerama Dome on opening night. (I had to wait four hours in line because the Midnight show sold out in those days before pre-sales.)
And then, a little more than 24 hours later, my sister and I attended the 6 AM show, which was admittedly pretty empty. I have no regrets.
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7-09-2008 @ 4:32PM
Erik Davis said...
Ah, ok, I never clicked the button. Good call.
I saw one movie in IMAX once and got a headache after the first 20 minutes. It's tough because part of me really wants to see it the way Nolan wants people to see it, but another part of me is afraid the experience will make me all sorts of dizzy and take me out of the film. So I'll probably just stick to the regular viewing (since I have a Bon Jovi concert the day of the NYC press screenings) and then, maybe, hit up IMAX later on.
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7-09-2008 @ 4:43PM
Jordan M. said...
i for one am seeing the dark knight at 3 am because i just know if i wait any longer after that, someone somewhere will spoil the entire movie for me. it seems like the internet is out to get those of us who dont want the movie spoiled, every website i go to has pictures from the movie up, including parts from the ending and full on shots of two-face. what happened to wanting to save everything for the film? and i was pretty skeptical about the IMAX thing until i saw the prologue way back in december, and that sold me 100%. i wouldn't see the movie any other way.
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7-09-2008 @ 4:55PM
Eddy said...
You're just a sorry loser who couldn't get tix like me. Suck it up and stop bitching.
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7-09-2008 @ 5:00PM
Jonathan Kuhn said...
Yeah, I'm still debating whether to wait and see it in IMAX or not.
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7-09-2008 @ 5:31PM
Slappy said...
As Arnold would say, "Stop being such a pussy!"
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7-09-2008 @ 7:20PM
Steven said...
The theater in my town is running The Dark Knight for a whole 24 hours on opening day. So there's a midnight showing, and a 3 a.m. showing, and a 6 a.m. showing and a 9 a.m. showing and so on. It's not just in 1 theater either. It's in several(including the IMAX, which is what I'm seeing it in first), so technically there's a showing starting like every half hour.
The only other movies playing that day are Mamma Mia, and Space Chimps. All the other movies aren't playing or only have 3 showings the whole day.
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7-10-2008 @ 5:19AM
Gary said...
For probably the first time ever being in Australia is actually working out cool for movies!
I will be watching it on the 16th, which is actually the 15th in the US.
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