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Kevin Smith's Early Thoughts on The Dark Knight

by Alex Billington
June 29, 2008
Source: MySpace

And thus begins the final stretch of The Dark Knight. If you haven't already heard through other means, SlashFilm's guest at The Dark Knight screening that I was at last night was the one-and-only Kevin Smith. The film itself was phenomenal, but this isn't about my thoughts it's about what Kevin Smith has to say. Last year we posted Smith's thoughts on Grindhouse, because he has such a strong opinion and people trust what he says. He's a great filmmaker himself and knows great movies when he sees them. Smith has already posted his initial spoiler-free thoughts on The Dark Knight and they're spot on - he describes exactly what all of us felt upon leaving the theater last night.

Without further ado, here are Kevin Smith's thoughts straight from his latest MySpace blog:

Without giving anything away, this is an epic film (and trust me: based on the sheer size and scope of the visuals and storytelling, that's not an overstatement). It's the "Godfather II" of comic book films and three times more earnest than "Batman Begins" (and fuck, was that an earnest film). Easily the most adult comic book film ever made. Heath Ledger didn't so much give a performance as he disappeared completely into the role; I know I'm not the first to suggest this, but he'll likely get at least an Oscar nod (if not the win) for Best Supporting Actor. Fucking flick's nearly three hours long and only leaves you wanting more (in a great way). I can't imagine anyone being disappointed by it. Nolan and crew have created something close to a masterpiece.

His review reiterates my exact thoughts and reminds me why I loved this movie so damn much. It's such an incredibly epic and thoroughly profound film that I'm still having trouble collecting my thoughts after seeing it, and that's a good thing. Smith really did start the ball rolling on the final buzz for the film. If you're not starting to get very excited for The Dark Knight, with 19 days left until it hits theaters, then don't worry, you'll start to feel the force of the film soon enough anyway. I'm not even sure if Godfather II is the right comparison, because I might call it Godfather instead. But you'll hear a lot more about that in the next few weeks.

Explore tags: Hype, Opinions

jono

this realy is music 2 my ears batmans biggest fan i even have a bat sign tattoo over my chest my full chest alex u lucky bastard long live the bat
http://blog.myspace.com/shero_rauf Shero

By the way I was thinking by that point may times but I didn't want to mention it ...did they give until now an Oscar to an actor after his death ... ? I am sure that his role just from the trailers I saw is a hard and it need a real actor to handle such roles ...would Hollywood give an Oscar to Heath Ledger ????
delco

Man can't wait. To bad tickets for IMAX are already sold out for my area, but great to hear that the Dark Knight with all the hype lives up to and even surpasses it. Its going to be epic.
Robin

@ #2 - Peter Finch got first, and I think only, posthumous winner for acting back in 1977 for Network. http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Academy_Awards_USA/1977
Kenny

Awesome! I can't wait to see The Dark Knight! This only makes me even more excited to see it.. Heath Ledger is going to be amazing as The Joker and I can't wait for it to hit Blu Ray so I can watch it once a week! : )
http://blog.myspace.com/shero_rauf Shero

@#4 Robin : Thanks man ... then I think Heath Ledger will have a big chance ...and I think he deserve it ...not because he is dead ...but because he is in that character and he is so real under that skin ...
adam

Best Supporting Actor is a pretty easy one to get nominated for.
Darrin

I love the statement "It's the "Godfather II" of comic book films". This film must be fuckin epic.
http://blogger.xs4all.nl/vads Vitor

Did no one read my review?! http://blogger.xs4all.nl/vads/
http://www.zigwa.com James

I remember the first time I saw Heath Ledger as the Joker, my pores rose. I was awestruck and continue to be, the closer this film comes to being shown.
http://tj.com TJ

I cannot f-ing wait, total Fangasm every time someone even brings this movie up.
mbembet

Starting today, It will be the longest 3 weeks of my life.
Chris

Kev thought that stinkbox Daredevil movie was great so I tend to take his opinion with a nod and a smile these days. I'm sure TDK will be pretty good but I won't be looking to Mr. Smith for reviews.
Green

Well Ill trust Kevin Smith, love his stuff. And, since he had a cameo in Daredevil I doubt he is going to rag on the movie. Cant wait for Dark Knight wish all superhero movies were like this. I wish Nolan once done with Batman can do other super hero trilogy or something like Superman.
Matt Suhu

YES...down with Iron-Man, in with TDK!
The Enchanted One

Hell yeah. Can't wait. Must resist till July 18th.
http://blog.myspace.com/shero_rauf Shero

Of course he must like Daredevil because he is a good friend with Ben Affleck they got a lot of movies together
M.

Yes, but what is the GODFATHER III of comic-book films?
sam

I can't fuckin' wait!!! I like the comparison to the Godfather II....along with Al Pacino (Bale), comes De Niro (Heath) XD but I'm positive this one reaches the GF I level *g*
Shane

Kevin Smith is a great filmmaker? I'm cool with getting his review on TDK because of his association with comics and that he has made films, but calling him a great filmmaker is really a stretch. What films of his would make you call him a great filmmaker? Clerks I & II, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma (this was funny, I would call this a good not a great film), Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, and Jersey Girl. I would assume one would need to have some "great" films on their resume in order to be considered great, right? Anyway, TDK will be the best film of the summer although I wonder if it will do better than Iron Man due to the dark nature of the film.
http://www.williammize.com William Mize

Kevin Smith? Great filmmaker? Um, no. Kevin Smith? Overrated filmmaker? Um, yes. Kevin Smith? Gifted comic book writer? Very much so.
brocoliskism

oh and i got tix for tdk 4 the midnight show @ city walk Hollywood.
Manfred Powell

I have my reservations about Batman Begins (e.g. limp second half of the script, patchy camerawork, questionable editing, etc), but I think that armed with a Jonah Nolan script and past experience from the first film, Chris will hopefully kick much butt with The Dark Knight.
Boris Van Der Ree

Peter Finch is one of the greatest actors, ever. And it means a lot when I say that Ledger deserves the same honor.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

This movie was AMAZING! EPIC. Godfather II of comic book flicks is a spot on analogy. Seeing it again too opening night on IMAX and I am sure I will be just as shocked and surprised as when I saw it before on all of its big big BIG screen glory.
miracle disease

this sends shivers down my spine... and 19 days is like forever...
aaron

im more excited for this flick than ever as all the positive reviews start to roll in. i thought it might be a bit overhyped, but i guess not.
Retro

For those who are interested it seems Dominos has put up an epic new exclusive trailer if you want to watch. http://www.dominosvault.com/index.aspx?V=UEg9MDAwMDAwMDAwMHxJRD0zMDUxMDgxMjE0ODYwODAzNTE3NjY0MDY4NHw%3D
dustyman1505

JAW LOCK. CARPAL TUNNEL. RIGGER MORTIS. I can't take it anymore!!! I've been waiting since 2005 for this. Why can't I see it yet??? I MUST SEE IT. MUST SEE IT. FULL BODY JOYGASM.
OldSchool

I agree with those who say that Kevin Smith is not a great film maker. I love his films and they are very entertaining but not great cinema. I also agree that he is a great comic book writer, his Daredevil and Green Arrow are some of the best. I am hoping that he isn't fan boy crazy here and this is a super great, awesome flick. I have my reservations though. Unlike most of the the others commenting here, I'm not blown away by any of the trailers I've seen. I see gimmicks and explosions some interesting dialogue but nothing great. I wondered about this. I saw Batman Begins but I couldn't really remember much about it, so I rented it last night. I now know why I don't remember much about it, it's a steaming pile of dog doo. I first third of that movie is so incredibly bad, I put the timer on and it's not until 35 minutes in to the film that there is anything to do with real Batman mythos, it's not until he doesn't kill the prisoner that there is hope that it may be something better than what came before. Sure it's better than Burton's garbage if only that it is set in a real world, sort of. Those 35 minutes could have been a few minutes of flashback. I training montage, after Rocky aren't these things just pointless, is a complete waste of time and film. And look there is Liam Neeson playing another bad mentor and wasting time. Granted he doesn't waste the whole film like SW EP 1 but his Ras Al Ghual is just as usless. By putting Bruce into the League of Shadows, whether he joined or not, changes the story completely. Batman is a loner. There is Alfred and later Robin but he is best and the best stories tell of his past, alone. No one made Batman, he made himself. BB rewrites all that and just makes it silly. The dialogue is heavy handed, cliched and just bad. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong things and everyone will say it's a movie it's about the acting. That's fine and Bale is fine, not great, but better or as good as the others. Just to me, writing is a big part of a great movie and that one doesn't have it and from what I've seen in the trailers of DK neither does it. I hope I'm wrong and it's great. Saying it's Godfather great, long stretch and I don't think any genre/ superhero movie could be. I just know that I won't be watching BB again anytime soon.
Curtis

Im going to take Smiths word for it specially when Alex agrees with him, this movie is going to be the Godfather of all Comic Book movies!! July 18th here i come!!
theotherbluth

wow oldschool you sound like a shitty person to see a movie with. your pessimism is overbearing. all you got from the trailers was some GIMMICKS!!? and explosions. sounds like maybe you should make these movies since Nolan and Burton both suck at it(insert sacastic tone) oh yeah and burton's "garbage" isn't set in the real world because Batman ISN'T REAL. relax and just go to the movies and allow yourself to be entertained
rich

The Godfather II comment wasn't supposed to convey intrinsic greatness so much as it's indicative of how great this sequel is in a world where follow up movies tend to do pretty poorly compared to the original. Godfather II was the exception. The only sequel to ever have won Best Picture, while having the original also win.