Also, with the Dark Knight, did everyone notice all the special guess character actors showing up? I mean, Batmanuel and Eric Roberts were the obvious ones, but William Fitchner, Anthony Michael Hall and that weird ass return by Cillian Murphy? I wonder if there were others in less prominent roles - off to the imdb.

Oh, one question on the story details: Gordon said Harvey had killed 5 people including two cops. I know he killed the one in the bar, but I thought the female cop got the good head up, and Harvey just knocked her out. Who was the other cop (or was that a continuity gaffe)? Damn, Aaron Eckhart was good, and the damaged face was truly horrifying. I'm guessing they had to CGI that (with a green mask over half the actor's face, I presume) given how much less of his face it looked.

Also, one little thing that was gnawing at me until I got home. Heath Ledger kept reminding me of someone else with some of the lip/tongue/twitchy line readings he was doing, and I finally realized it was like Jeff Goldblum's performance towards the end of The Fly.

Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon has been one of the most pleasent surprises in both films, even more than his Sirius Black, where I thought the casting was spot on. Casting him in the role is something I would have never considered, but it works SO well.

I haven't seen TDK yet, but I totally agree with you. I was so unenthused about Oldman as Jim Gordon, and more than just about any of the other actors in Batman Begins, he completely disappeared into the character. It was stunning.

We're planning on seeing TDK tonight, even if it means fighting the crowds. I saw Batman Begins on opening night -- with a migraine -- and it's just FUN to see it in a full theatre, especially (as with, for instance, the LotR movies, or Harry Potter) when the theatre is likely full of fanboys/girls.

(At the end of BB, when Gordon says to Batman, "I never said 'thank you," and Batman replies, "And you'll never have to," and dove off the building and then the credits rolled, I think I did a fist pump and said "FUCK YEAH!!!" Because the guy next to me [I went by myself] pounded me on the shoulder and said "HELL fuck yeah!!!" You know, just the convivial fraternity of fanboys.)

when Gordon says to Batman, "I never said 'thank you," and Batman replies, "And you'll never have to,"

Is that straight from the comics? Or just true to their relationship?

I couldn't believe how crowded the midnight shows were. There were at least 4 large theaters (probably more), and mine was completely packed. Several people came in costume too.

when Gordon says to Batman, "I never said 'thank you," and Batman replies, "And you'll never have to,"

Is that straight from the comics? Or just true to their relationship?

True to the characters, I suppose. Plus it was such a kick-ass ending, given that the movie, despite being a superhero movie, was really a character study of sorts.

Several people came in costume too.

Dang it, I only have a Superman shirt. (And a Wonder Woman nightshirt, but I ain't wearing that to the movies.)

Someone came as Alfred, and I think there was Jim Gordon too (glasses and moustache, plus rumpled suit). A lot of Jokers, a couple of Batmans, one Harley Quinn, and a bandaged DKR Harvey. I'm guessing none of those options are going to work for you.

I gotta say, I agree with whoever said it when BB came out - Jim Gordon's ride in the Batmobile was one of the most iconic superhero moments in a movie ever.

We had all kinds of people in makeup and costume. I was pretty surprised.

We also had theaters PACKED. 482 people in my theater alone and I think there were 2-3 other theaters also showing the movie. I had never seen the parking lot at my theater packed like that EVER.

This fucking movie is going to make a LOT of $$. For real.

We also had theaters PACKED. 482 people in my theater alone and I think there were 2-3 other theaters also showing the movie.

I thought I got the link from here, but maybe not -- in NYC (and possibly other big cities), since the midnight shows sold out so quickly, some theatres added 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. shows: [link] Crazy!

At the screening, they told people to line up an hour early, and that they would be confiscating cell phones. When we got there, we found out that they were actually confiscating ALL electronic devices, so even though we'd hidden the phones in the bottom of E's backpack we still had to turn in our iPods. It was BEYOND FUCKING RIDICULOUS.

They had a 6am showing here in suburban Denver.

Kids and I are going at 12:20. Told the folks I work with that I'm leaving early (worked my 40 already) to see a movie and they were quite supportive. Love my new group.