This  featured discussion is an experimental idea on Sci-Fi Heaven.  It’s intended to be like a forum thread rather than your traditional blog post.

It’s been a few weeks since The Dark Knight splashed onto our home screens in DVD and Blu-Ray glory, and so hopefully those of you who didn’t see the movie an unhealthy number of times in the cinemas now have had the chance to do so.

Now that the hype has settled, and the dust begins to form on top of what is widely considered to be a modern day masterpiece, there have been one or two voices in the distance crying out to be heard.  They proclaim The Dark Knight to be overrated: a over-hyped piece of cinema that’s simply too dark to be enjoyed.  Some say it’s just not that good.

So what’s it to be?  Is The Dark Knight truly a 21st Century wonder that will sit atop the favourite lists of film critics for decades to come, or is it simply much ado about nothing: a film made famous in no small part by the very tragic passing away of Heath Ledger.  Is that too cynical?

Discuss.

According to GeeksOfDoom, the word coming out of Chicago is that they’ve begun hiring staff and crew with a view to commencing pre-production early next year.

Batman On Film has multiple sources — some who worked on both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight — saying that things are shaping up for pre-production to start in February 2009 in order to shoot the actual movie in the summer of 2009.

Should the rumour be true, we’d expect the third Batman movie to fall some time in summer 2010, probably early July. 

However, it goes without saying that this is entirely speculative at this point.  Some weeks you’re led to believe that Johnny Depp has been cast, the next is that Christian Bale hasn’t heard anything about a movie.  I estimate that by next week the rumour will be that the movie was shot back to back with The Dark Knight, in line for a December 25th 2008 release.

Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law, who completed the late Heath Ledger’s partially filmed role in the upcoming movie “The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus“, have all donated their salaries to Batman star’s daughter.

“They didn’t take money – it goes to Heath’s daughter,” confirmed The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus director Terry Gilliam. “That’s extraordinary. And wonderful and when you’re part of that, you think, ‘Ah, this is maybe why I went into the movies in the beginning’.”

Ledger’s will, drawn up before the birth of his daughter, Matilda, does not include Matilda’s mother, and there had been concerns over the child’s future.

According to Box Office Mojo, the new Batman movie grossed $155.3 million last weekend, which awards it the title of  largest weekend opening, snatching the coveted slot from Spider-Man 3.

According to reports surfacing online, fans have bought out a popular New York toy stores’ entire supply of the new Batman movie’s Joker (Heath Ledger) action figure within minutes of them going on sale.

Not only this, but apparently warehouse supplies have been sold. Where does one turn in such a situation?

You guessed it. eBay.

Figures, with a retail price of $9.99 have been seen selling on the auction site at $55 each.

Heath Ledger, star of Brokeback Mountain and the upcoming Batman movie, The Dark Knight, was found dead on January 22 this year from an accidental prescription drug overdose at age 28.

Another look at the very slick, stylish promotional approach being taken for this movie.

Very shiny.

Additionally, there’s a pretty great fan music video to “Jesus Christ” by Brand New that caught my attention on YouTube.

Does this make me sue-able? I surely hope not. Pathetic Disclaimer: I don’t own this music. Go buy the album “The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me” by Brand New. And I’d advise you to. It’s rather funky.

Is that amazing?

Or is it just amazing.