The Dark Knight Opens This Weekend

A summer of comic book-inspired box-office successes has shown moviegoers and cynical film appraisers what the purveyors of the long-box, aficionados of the paneled page have known since their first experience peeling back the cover of a 22-page superhero drama – superheroes are cool and their sometimes colorful, over-the-top, and inspiring, sometimes dark, gritty, and cerebral adventures are the great mythologies of our time.

Robert Downey Jr. suited up in gold and hot-rod red as a capricious, self-centered Tony Stark in Director Jon Favreau’s Iron Man. A harmonious reconciliation of critical achievement and commercial pacification, Old Bucket head’s first venture into Hollywood approaches a colossal $600 million gross.

The Incredible Hulk, starring versatile talent Edward Norton as the titular monster’s compassionate yet somber alter ego, told a simple tale of a man seeking redemption, meshing muscle-fueled, cityscape shredding battles with believable, motivated characters, appropriately, atones for 2003’s cluttered Hulk.

Donning the grease paint and filed-down horns, Ron Perlman returned to the realm of devils and ghouls with the sequel Hellboy 2: The Golden Army as the tough but lovable red-skinned paranormal investigator. Guillermo del Toro’s second outing behind the lens of the Mike Mignola noir-comic adaptation trounced its predecessors opening weekend number and garnered superior reviews.

Enter: Dark Knight

Three consecutive comic-to-film triumphs should be enough for one summer – you would think. This Friday, July 18th, the main attraction takes stage as the most anticipated film of the year, The Dark Knight, debuts on over 9,000 screens (a record number). Following up Batman Begins, an oddity of a film in that it appeased the jaded fan community and pretentious arty film reviewers both, Dark Knight continues the saga of the shadowy avenger prowling Gotham’s rooftops.

Under the cape and cowl again is Christian Bale (American Psycho). His intellectual interpretation and brilliant handling of the role’s duality won approval of comic geeks nationwide. Also returning, Gary Oldman as James Gordon, the sanctioned arm of Batman’s war on crime, and Michael Cain, inescapably great in the role of Alfred, Bruce Wayne‘s butler turned surrogate father.

In some inspired (and ultimately tragic) casting, the late Heath Ledger fills the shoes last worn by screen legend Jack Nicholson, depicting the psychotic killer clown and Crown Prince of Crime, the Joker.

Box Office Billionaire Bruce Wayne

Begins, released in ’05, grossed a paltry $370. While a financial hit, it hardly boasted summer blockbuster numbers. The film, though, worked off its back. Coming off dud Batman and Robin, the franchise bore the stigmata of George Clooney’s witless Dark Knight and those ridiculous bat-nipples; turned off audiences moved on to the more spectacular heroics of Spider-Man and the X-Men.

After helming cult-favorite Memento, director Christopher Nolan co-scripted a reiteration of the Batman mythos with maestro of macabre David S. Goyer (Dark City, Blade). The screenplay closely mined the source material, more so than any previous superhero adaptations, appropriating from acclaimed graphic novels, Batman: Year One and Batman: the Long Halloween. Dazzling cinematics, a smart script, forceful performances, and Nolan’s touch of keeping the fantastical grounded in reality equaled renewed interest in the Caped Crusader.

Early estimates, based on buzz and presold tickets, project a startling $60 million first day take, and a $130 million weekend for The Bat. Those are the conservative figures: some predict the Dark Knight to supplant Spider-Man 3 as the opening weekend champion by delivering a $150 million plus three-day total. Record setting opening numbers coupled with positive word-of-mouth and repeat viewings from Bat-maniacs could see the sequel rake in $1 billion worldwide. That’s serious bank, even for Bruce Wayne.

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