After a mere 45 days in theaters The Dark Knight has grossed over 500 Million dollars, becoming only the 2nd movie to do so. And it did it in half the time it took Titanic (which took over 3 months to earn that much)! Titanic grossed 601 Million and Warner Brothers execs say they expect The Dark Knight to finish around $530 Million, but wouldn’t be surprised by $550 Million. OK everyone go see it ONE more time (on IMAX)! Lets crush the Titanic record!

via OMGBlog and ComicsContinuum

The only fault I found with Dark Knight was the a bit over the top Clint Eastwood style gruff whisper that Christian Bale uses for Batman’s speaking voice. Seems I wasn’t alone.

via Newsarama

2008 has been THE year for Summer comic book movies!

According to figures on boxofficemojo.com, sometime on Friday, the combined box office might of the comic book-inspired The Dark Knight, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Wanted, and Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, eclipsed the $1 billion dollar mark for 2008, standing roughly at $1.01 billion.

I think we can safely say there will be a deluge of silver screen adaptions of more comic book properties from DC, Marvel and even independent publishers in the next few years. Here’s hoping DC can use the momentum from Dark knight and map out a feasible strategy to getting us a blockbuster-level Justice League of America movie in the next 10 years. First we need a well received Superman movie, then Flash, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman movies (with minor cameos for Martian Manhunter and Aquaman in one or two of those movies). Finally, you get the stars of those movies to do the JLA movie and you have a DC equivalent of what Marvel rolled out after Iron Man came out strong.

via Newsarama

It was only a matter of time before comments from the peanut gallery (that’d be me) and the rest of the jokers out there started sprouting up everywhere. Once the story broke that Christian Bale, star of the movie of the year had been arrested for allegedly assaulting his Mother and Sister before the London premiere of The Dark Knight, you had to know it was going to be big. Apparently his mother is a part time clown so perhaps Bale simply has some leftover Joker issues due to method acting? Already out on YouTube is this “exclusive audio tape.” By the way, in case you didn’t know, Bale’s step-mother is Gloria Steinem.

No word on whether his mom had her clown make-up on at the time of the assault.

here is Websters is My Bitch’s hysterical albeit purely hypothetical reenactment of just how the altercation may have played out…

So, let’s read between the lines here, OK?

So, Jenny was like, “I need some grocery and cigarette money. Just a loan. I’ll pay you back. I swear! Can you help a sister out?” And Christian was probably like, “Fuck you. Where were you when I was making movies nobody ever heard of, like Metroland and The Secret Agent.” And she was probably, like: “We’ve always stood behind you, in our hearts!” And then he said, “I earned this money wearing a rubber suit for 12 hours a day. You chose to be a circus clown. I’m not going to pay for your bad decisions.” And then Jenny probably said, “Your wife is a whore.” And Christian probably got up in her grill and went all apeshit on her, “Do you know who I am? I’m Batman, bitch. I will cut you.”

via LATimes and WebstersIsMyBitch

With an opening weekend box office of $158.3 million, The Dark Knight is already well on the way to surpassing the entire gross of Batman Begins (the Christopher Nolan relaunch of the franchise only grossed $205m domestically). I’m not one to buy the hype hook line and batarang, but in this case I must admit I was REALLY psyched to see this movie. And I want to see it again.

The Dark Knight transcends being a “Comic Book Movie” and draws the viewer into a psychological battle for nothing less than the very soul of Gotham City. (I’m keeping it cryptic so as not to spoil anything.)

Christian Bale returns to bring deeper pathos to the early years of Batman’s fight illuminate the dark streets of Gotham city. I love his Bruce Wayne and his presence as Batman, but his over the top billy goat gruff Bats voice bugs me a bit - that is my only criticism of anything in the movie. Well that and that I think the GCPD would do a better job recognizing and avoiding being corralled by Joker.

Heath Leger’s deeply disturbed Joker is an amazing update of Jack Nicholson’s 1990 far more manic interpretation of the Clown Prince of Crime. I knew from the previews that I approved of the direction the movie was going in, but I have to admit I was surprised at just how good Heath was at being bad. My heart goes out to his family, friends and costars who see this performance in a very melancholy light - I’m sure they expected to see it with him by their side. His Joker is far from your ordinary madman. In addition to being a vicious and completely demented homicidal maniac, he’s a brilliant strategist with a taste for the perversely unexpected.

Aaron Eckhart’s performance as Gotham’s tragic white knight, District Attorney Harvey Dent is as compelling as his later visage is frightening. With only 1/2 a face, Eckhart powerfully expresses the anger and hatred that birthed Two-Face.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is lovely as Rachel Dawes. Screw all the mean spirited alpha bloggers who need to make themselves feel superior by slamming anyone who isn’t a Barbie doll poster girl for plastic surgery. Maggie is a charming actress and a beautiful woman. And for all those who keep asking why Katie Holmes didn’t play her. Katie has been married to/ leased to a religious zealot who probably didn’t want her kissing anyone onscreen who might remind her what a man kisses like.

Veteran actors Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman’s portrayals of Alfred Pennyworth, Lt. James Gordon and Lucius Fox respectively are as every bit as brilliant as you would expect from consummate professionals of their caliber. Caine brings power and emotion to the smallest gestures. With the fate of one small envelope, Alfred shows just how much he cares.

See it today dammit!

via Newsarama

CBR article on simultaneous Joker events Monday April 28, 2008
New Joker Website

With The Dark Knight coming on July 18, the toy hype should be starting soon. Heres a few shots of what is to come.

Entertainment Weekly’s suggestions for summer reading…

Before you see Iron Man (out May 2), read Iron Man: Demon in a Bottle by David Michelinie and Bob Layton

I’m really excited to see this. I love the look of the armor and think Robert Downey Jr. is actually inspired casting, and Gwyneth looks great as redhead Pepper Potts!

More Trailers and reading suggestions after the jump…
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