The Dark Knight news

[ALIASd]

Academy disqualifies 'Dark' score

Music cue sheet lists five names as composers

Posted: Wed., Nov. 12, 2008, 8:53pm PT
By Jon Burlingame
Variety

The score for 'The Dark Knight" has been disqualified by the executive committee of the Academy music branch.

Formal letters to that effect are expected to go out this week to composers Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard who collaborated on the music.

Their previous collaboration, on "Batman Begins," was similarly disqualified in 2005.

Sources inside the committee said that the big issue was the fact that five names were listed as composers on the music cue sheet, the official studio document that specifies every piece of music (along with its duration and copyright owner) in the film.

Zimmer said, in an interview with Variety prior to this week's Acad action, that listing multiple names on the cue sheet was a way of financially rewarding parts of the music team who helped make the overall work successful. (Performing-rights societies like ASCAP and BMI use the cue sheet to distribute royalties to composers.)

Zimmer, Howard and the other three individuals -- music editor Alex Gibson, ambient music designer Mel Wesson and composer Lorne Balfe -- reportedly signed an affidavit stating that the score was primarily the work of Zimmer and Howard.

That apparently wasn't enough for the majority of the committee, which was also supplied with documentation indicating that more than 60%, but less than 70%, of the score was credited to Zimmer and Howard.

The "Dark Knight" score -- and the whole issue of multiple-composer collaboration, which is on the rise in Hollywood these days -- has occupied about four hours of discussion over the past two executive committee meetings.

Some members sided with Zimmer and Howard; citing the originality and cutting-edge nature of the music, they urged others to keep the "Dark Knight" score eligible despite the cue-sheet issue. Both Zimmer and Howard declined comment on the ruling. Both are seven-time nominees; Zimmer won for 'The Lion King."

Academy disqualifies 'Dark' score - Entertainment News, Oscar News, Media - Variety

[Browncoat]

lol, totally just printed out the script =]

Originally Posted by ALIASd

The OSCAR campaign is on!

Warner Bros. Pictures has launched a FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION site featuring the complete shooting script by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan

Warner Bros. Awards

[ALIASd]

Posted: Tue., Dec. 2, 2008, 3:21pm PT

'Dark Knight' riding early to VOD

WB to distribute pic before DVD release

'The Dark Knight'

By Han Sunhee
Variety

SEOUL -- Warner Bros. will distribute "The Dark Knight" on video-on-demand in South Korea, two weeks before its DVD release, making it the first Hollywood studio to release a blockbuster on VOD before DVD.

Pic will be offered through IPTV channels Mega TV and Broad&TV as well as digital cable TV service Home Choice from Friday.

"Warner is planning to do active business with digital distribution, based on Korea's strong digital infrastructure as a test bed for a pre-DVD VOD service. We will collaborate with local business partners of digital content, while coping with illegal downloads," said Cho Hong-yeon, director of Warner Korea's digital distribution unit.

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'Dark Knight' riding early to VOD - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety

[sir clinksalot]

I got all excited there that I was going to have it On Demand. But alas, I'm not in South Korea.

[ALIASd]

Me too!

Batman already blitzing iTunes

'Dark Knight' is best-selling movie before its release

By Paul Bond
The Hollywood Reporter
Dec 2, 2008, 08:57 PM ET


"The Dark Knight"

Not that Warner Bros. needs more evidence that its Batman film franchise is a phenomenon, but it got some Tuesday from Apple anyway.

Apple said that the best-selling movie download of the year at its online iTunes store is "The Dark Knight," an especially notable accomplishment considering the film isn't even available there yet.

According to Apple, consumers have been pre-ordering the movie for purchase and rental at such a fast clip that it has surpassed Disney's "WALL-E" as this year's top iTunes movie download.

Rounding out the iTunes Top 5 are "Kung Fu Panda," "Iron Man" and "National Treasure: Book of Secrets."

Batman already blitzing iTunes

[ALIASd]

Posted: Thurs., Dec. 4, 2008, 6:04pm PT

Warner to re-release 'Knight' Jan. 23

Film could become fourth to gross over $1 bil

'The Dark Knight'

By Dave Mcnary
Variety

Warner Bros. will re-release "The Dark Knight" on Jan. 23 in a nationwide launch, guaranteeing that it will become the fourth film to take in more than $1 billion in worldwide box office.

"Knight" has cumed $530.3 million domestically and $465.9 million internationally, leaving it less than $4 million short of the billion-dollar milestone. Only "Titanic," "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" have topped that mark.

"Knight" also is the second-highest domestic grosser of all time, trailing only "Titanic."

The re-release will come six weeks after the DVD launch of "Knight," set for Tuesday.

Dan Fellman, president of Warner's domestic distribution, made the announcement Thursday. "We wanted to provide one more opportunity for moviegoers to experience it on the bigscreen as it was meant to be seen," he added.

Warner to re-release 'Knight' Jan. 23 - Entertainment News, The Dark Knight, Media - Variety

[ALIASd]

The Dark Knight will be re-released in U.S. theaters on January 23 -- one day after the announcement of this year's Oscar nominations and, incidentally, one day after the anniversary of Heath Ledger's death.

The extra shows will surely bump the film's box office gross to over a billion dollars globally. It has only made $996 million to date, which is really not enough. Just three other films have hit a billion: Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

'The Dark Knight': Will you go out to see it again? | PopWatch Blog | EW.com

[aimster]

I pre-ordered my copy this past week from Amazon. $20.99 for the widescreen special edition.

[Disney Wrassler]

I personally can't wait to get a copy on DVD. But It will probably be awhile before I can buy it because I have other things to save up for right now.

Academy disqualifies 'Dark' score

Music cue sheet lists five names as composers

Posted: Wed., Nov. 12, 2008, 8:53pm PT
By Jon Burlingame
Variety

Personally, I don't like the soundtrack, so it not being nominated does not bother me. Yes, it's great with the movie, but by itself, on CD, I think it's rather lackluster.

Only listened to part of the CD once and never touched it since.

[JerrodDRagon]

The Move came out today! Who got it? I got the DVD, Im pissed that only the Blue Ray had the two hours of special features I wanted.

[ALIASd]

Originally Posted by ALIASd

Academy disqualifies 'Dark' score

Music cue sheet lists five names as composers

Posted: Wed., Nov. 12, 2008, 8:53pm PT
By Jon Burlingame
Variety
Academy disqualifies 'Dark' score - Entertainment News, Oscar News, Media - Variety

'Dark Knight' score is Oscar eligible

Academy reverses Nov. 10 decision citing too many composers

By Steven Zeitchik
The Hollywood Reporter
Dec 8, 2008, 11:41 PM ET


"The Dark Knight"

The executive committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' music branch has reversed a decision on the original score from "The Dark Knight" and deemed it eligible for an Oscar in the best original score category.

The branch initially ruled Nov. 10 that there were too many composers involved in the score; the Academy generally only considers scores that are the work of one or at most two composers.

But after reviewing the submission, it concluded that Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard were the main composers and accepted the duo's work for Warner Bros.' Batman film as eligible.

The Academy said that since ballots had not been mailed, the decision would not affect the voting process.

'Dark Knight' score is Oscar eligible

[Gone2Disneyland]

I got both the TDK Blu-ray with Bat-pod and the TDK Special Edition 2-disc Soundtrack. I registered with WB BD-Live to try and be a part of the Chris Nolan chat but haven't had time to watch the whole movie yet, just sneaked a peek at some bits from the beginning. Maybe this weekend or next week I'll have time. I did listen to disc 2 of the soundtrack while at work and like it a lot.

[sir clinksalot]

Originally Posted by JerrodDRagon

The Move came out today! Who got it? I got the DVD, Im pissed that only the Blue Ray had the two hours of special features I wanted.

Yeah, I'm really starting to despise the fact that I can't get all of the special features if I don't get an expensive new player and expensive new discs.

They should be putting all of the special features that can be done on regular DVD with the regular DVD's.

I don't care about all of the BDLive crap. I don't want to talk to people while I'm watching a movie, I don't want to watch special features as I'm watching a movie. I just want the movie, and the special features seperately. I'm not a big fan of special features anyway, but I would be for this movie.

[Gone2Disneyland]

Originally Posted by sir clinksalot

Yeah, I'm really starting to despise the fact that I can't get all of the special features if I don't get an expensive new player and expensive new discs.

They should be putting all of the special features that can be done on regular DVD with the regular DVD's.

They ought to, but I think the studios are using what carrots they can to support the growth of Blu-ray, suggested by what was posted at The Digital Bits yesterday:

Well... my Blu-Con 1.0 panel yesterday went well, I think. ... As I said Friday, there's meant to be no reporting on the event, and I was certainly not there as a reporter, so I'm just going to give you a couple of general impressions on the day as a whole. I was very impressed with the event itself. Attendance was excellent, with people on hand from the studios, replicators, support companies, manufacturers, etc, including very senior executives. Panels, reports and demonstrations were offered on a variety of informative topics. The latest Blu-ray format sales numbers will be made public at CES, so be patient - all will be made clear then. I'll just say that this Blu-Con event was really terrific - sort of a meeting of the minds, and therefore different than any other such event I've had the good fortune to attend in this industry in well over a decade of involvement with it. One thing is absolutely clear: Anyone who doubts Hollywood's level of commitment to Blu-ray Disc is in for a serious eye-opener.

For some reason, the studios seem focused on Blu-ray growth. So I'd expect Blu-ray exclusives - including those silly bonus digital copies - to continue for some time.

I was like you now, really envious I was missing out on features as well as picture quality after so many trips to Best Buy last Christmas and seeing how damn terrific PotC looked on store models! So I bit the bullet and invested in my 37" HDTV and PS3 over a few months earlier this year. Enchanted was my first Blu-ray Disc, and after hosting several potluck movie nights at my place, my friends and I have gotten a lot more excited about watching films at home since then. Two friends ended up with their own PS3 afterwards to go with their (much larger) HDTV that she received as a Christmas present from her parents.

[mcow1]

Originally Posted by Gone2Disneyland

For some reason, the studios seem focused on Blu-ray growth. So I'd expect Blu-ray exclusives - including those silly bonus digital copies - to continue for some time.

A write up on the two disc edition.

HTF DVD REVIEW: The Dark Knight: Two-Disc Special Edition - Home Theater Forum

Which includes this:

Purchasers are advised not to overlook the digital copy which presents the film in a different format than on the DVD by dedicating additional video frame space for the IMAX sequences.