Over at RopeOfSilcon.com the word is that the international version of The Dark Knight is 152 minutes long. For those of you weaker in the math skills department, that’s two minutes past the 2 1/2 hour mark.
Two and a half hours. Damn.
I have nothing against long movies, but I think it’s much harder to maintain a decent pace and high quality level in a longer film than in a shorter one. No, I’m not saying that a long movie always equals a bad movie - I’ve just seen my share of films that might have been better with a just a bit more trimming in the edit bay.
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Now keep in mind this is the running time for the overseas version, but as Brad over at ROS points out, it’s likely the U.S. release will be just as long.
Based on Chris Nolan’s first film in this franchise I think we’re in for something very, very good. Having said that, however, I’m quite curious to see how this does at the box office. A 2 1/2 hour, dark, not-kid-friendly superhero movie… the box office results should be interesting.
The Dark Knight opens on July 18, 2008.
Source: Hollywood Elsewhere
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21 Comments
I would have to disagree I genuinely enjoy long movies more for the most part. I find the vast majority of movies to be to short.
Yeah, I love long movies, such as the Seven Samurai and the Godfather.
If a film has the story to fill the time, no problem. If it has only 80 minutes worth then 90 minutes is too long for me.
Vic
Agreed, Steven. If the story has the chops for a 2.5 hr movie, then I can enjoy it (such as the LOTR trilogy). Other movies can stand to leave some more stuff on the editting room floor (i.e. American Gangster). I’m personally stoked that TDK is going to be a long movie!!
The Joel Schumacher movies were way too long!
More Bat for my bucks!
Doesn’t matter how long it is
It will be great
Long movies tend to make movies better,but the length of the film has to do with characterization and flushing out story. It’s when it wanders into meaningless long sud-stories, or has too much action that by the end of the film you wish they all die and never come back exp. of grate long films that may have been edited but because of DVD are released in their full leangth glory — Dances with wolves probably the best three hour movie in history. The four hour film just made it better.
Stephen Kings Needful Things was released as a two hour movie and no one like it since it didn’t make sense.One it was released as a hour movie it was actually quite good.
I personally hate sitting through long movies that do not hold my interest. A four hour movie on Wuthering Heights is not my idea of fun.
It all depends on the movie.
With longer films you get to know the characters better and when they die it holds moe meaning. Thats it for me tonight.
From what I’ve seen this movie should feel like a one hour roller-coaster ride.
Top 3 film of the year, easy.
I heard a rumor that Harley Quinn was going to be in the movie, nothing comfirmed, though.
I think that’d make things interesting.
Well, seeing as though they had to go back and reshape the movie because of Heath’s.. well, yeah (RIP)
I just hope it’s not tacked on the end to make up for anything. I imagine they had to add quite a bit to make it watchable with just good ol’ Harv
Rev
I don’t think they altered ANY part of Ledger’s performance…that was the point, to preserve his character in full(including that rumored body bag scene).
Besides Nolan isn’t a director that would put any “useless” scenes in his movie. Just look at the awesome editing job he did with Memento and the Prestige.
They did have to change the marketing campaign a little though. I heard they had tv spots with JUST the joker staged as a viral interruptions.
Steven, the Schumacher films only FELT long
Im sure the material calls for it, I have no problem with large films when there is not fat that could had been cut.
Wile Superman Returns could have done with a huge fucking trim as did Hulk03 most of the extended versions of comicbook films have been bether than the choppy teatricals.
Yeah, did they ever! How many ice puns can you do anyway. sigh.
I do think there will be plenty to fit into this movie with Batman versus Joker, plus Harvey Dent. I was a big fan of the cartoons they did after Burton’s first movie and I loved the Two Face origin. One of the best.
It annyoed the hell out of me when I saw Two Face wasted in Schumacher’s film. Especially when you had Tommy Lee Jones to play him. In fact, give credit, the casting of the villains was excellent - Thurman as Poison Ivy, Arnie as Freeze, and Carrey as the Riddler. They were all wasted though.
I know what Vic means, I think many people will look at a movie this long, and dark, and bottle out of it, but their loss. I agree that Nolan knows what he is doing. I also agree with Rapid River, this length could do the characters justice.
I’m still really looking forward to this movie. And I believe they have what ot takes to make it worth that long. If you have the story, you can make up the length. We’ve seen some movies in the past that were too long, or just too short and wrapped up too quickly at the end (like they had to be home for dinner or something). The last time I remember when a hated the film was too long (in theatre) was for the Superman film, boy that movie was bad, and waaaay too long for my taste.
But I believe in the Batman, alongside with the the two other main characters it will be a hell of ride, and it will sure to be end up in my dvd collection!
Steven
2 1/2 is perfect. Nolan can make repeating sequences (Memento) more interesting than other directors.And Batman story can span a number of comic books,. im sure Nolan will blow us away Plot wise.
The Length of a movie does not influence how good it is, A bad movie is bad no matter how long it is and a good movie is good no matter how long it is.
Batman Begins is 2 1/2 hours long too by the way.
Batman Begins was 140 mintues, TDK is not that much longer. Nolan didn’t drag out the first one (IMO), I cannot wait for TDK - I’ve posted that many times.
Some long movies are great and don’t feel like long movies, others drag with what feels like three or four endings (Clear and Present Danger comes to mind). One of my favorite movies of all time is Contact which was 260+ minutes, but the time went by so quickly.
Braveheart is another favorite of mine, but the end dragged (with a torture scen of all things!)
TDK will be excellent, I have no (ok, very little) doubt.
Wow, like you said, Batman Begins and Contact (little mistake there, 260 minutes would really be a bit long :), 150 will do) really did not feel that long. Another example if you can make it right, it just feels perfect.
Steven
Oh my goodness, I love the sound of this, I can’t wait! I mean I was already about to kill myself because I couldn’t wait, but now that I know we have a bunch more Dark knight goodness, this means we will get a bunch more joker stuff, YES!
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