kefrank

I'm sure he does, but he probably has a constant image height setup with his projector, which is problematic when the movie has shifting aspect ratios of different heights.

Josh Z

With a Constant Image Height screen, 1.85:1 and 1.78:1 movies are pillarboxed in the middle.

Nick Martin

Interesting. I've never seen a screen/projector that has that feature.

I've learned something new. Thanks.

Josh Z

Here's mine:







(Yes, I know, the speakers aren't centered. It's a limitation of the room.)

Nick Martin

Wow.

I'm going to check out how this actually works, as it looks very interesting (and a little confusing).

I checked out the Cinema link, and I am amazed that you created that in an extra bedroom! That's a fantastic idea, and something to strongly keep in mind. Wishful thinking and all.

PopcornTreeCt

Wow, 2.35:1 film looks a lot bigger than the 1.33:1.

Nick Martin

THE DARK KNIGHT Special Edition soundtrack details:



Disc: 1 (same as the original soundtrack, so it's a double-dip if anyone gets this)

1. Why So Serious?
2. I'm Not A Hero
3. Harvey Two-Face
4. Aggressive Expansion
5. Always A Catch
6. Blood On My Hands
7. A Little Push
8. Like A Dog Chasing Cars
9. I Am The Batman
10. And I Thought My Jokes Were Bad
11. Agent Of Chaos
12. Introduce A Little Anarchy
13. Watch The World Burn
14. A Dark Knight

Disc: 2

1. Bank Robbery (Prologue)
2. Buyer Beware
3. Halfway To Hong Kong
4. Decent Men In An Indecent Time
5. You're Gonna Love Me
6. Chance
7. You Complete Me
8. The Ferries
9. We Are Tonight's Entertainment
10. A Watchful Guardian
11. Why So Serious?(The Crystal Method Remix)
12. Poor Choice Of Words(Paul van Dyk Remix)
13. Gunpowder And Gasoline(Remix by Mel Wesson)
14. Rory's First Kiss(Remix by Ryeland Allison)

Product Description
'The Dark Knight: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack' returns with the ASCAP-winning composers from Batman Begins- Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard for a powerful orchestral score. The Special Edition features the complete score on two CD's plus four bonus remix tracks; it also contains an 8x8x40 page hardbound book.

DthRdrX

I'm hoping that Track 10 on disc 2 is the music that heads into the credits. I couldn't believe they left it off the OST.

TheMovieman

Damn, already bought the album (download on Amazon) but I really want those extra tracks. Hopefully I can buy them separately otherwise maybe I'll go and get the CD this time.

Nick Martin

That's just the opening of track 14 'A Dark Knight' with the opening of track 4 'Aggressive Expansion' edited into the ending.

Here is a sample of what I mean (I cut this together a while back, here's an excerpt of it):

TDK Ending sample

DthRdrX

That's it Nick. Sounds good.

kefrank

Anyone know if that special edition soundtrack will be coming out on vinyl as well?

Gizmo

Now that would be sweet!

Nick Martin

That album was a terrible mix. The gain was boosted so far to the point of excessive clipping, then lowered to prevent that clipping when listening (load a track into an audio editor and see the waveform to see) but the distortion is permanent, the damage is done. Whoever engineered the album mix treated it like a rock/pop album. Therefore the recording is hardly something worth listening to on high-end vinyl.

Superman07

It seems like those two discs are out of sync with the sequence of the film. I wish they would have correct the listing rather than slap another disc on with supplemental material.

dizzlle01

I heard rumors there will be steelbook of these in the U.S. That would be awesome if true.

mattysemo247

The Batpod blu ray preorder is up on Amazon for $44.95

kefrank

I have not heard the currently-available original soundtrack, but have you analyzed the CD version or the vinyl version? Are the problems definitely in the mix or in the mastering? Obviously, the vinyl master would be different from the CD master (or at least, hopefully, if the mastering house was remotely competent).

Nick Martin

I'm basing that on the CD version. From what I recall of the audio quality in theaters viewing the film, I'd say the clipping was only present on the album and not the film's original mix. In theaters the music was too loud, but I don't remember any distortion because of that loudness.

It's mastered to sound like the average pop or rock album. In other words, loud as hell. While there is great dynamic range (unlike albums of that type) the loudest parts are just too loud and distorted. Whoever mastered it simply boosted the gain too much, and the bass is ridiculously overpowering.

As for the album's track titles, they have NO direct link to where that particular music is heard in the film. Zimmer's "The Simpsons Movie" soundtrack (one of VERY few Zimmer scores I really truly enjoy) used the exact same idea: lines of dialogue to serve as track titles. No connection between where the music and that line are heard. In addition to that, the music on album is not entirely in chronological order.

Example:

"Like A Dog Chasing Cars" is a line spoken by Joker in the hospital to Dent. However, that track has nothing to do with that scene at all. The music in that track is actually part of the Tower fight between Batman and the SWAT team. The track "Introduce A Little Anarchy" is actually the remainder of the music from that whole sequence, ending with Joker smashing Batman through that glass panel.

The hospital evacuation music is titled "And I Thought My Jokes Were Bad", once again a line that has nothing to do with the scene in the film.

DthRdrX

German Cover

kefrank

that german cover brings to mind something i've been mulling over for awhile. does it bother anyone else that the primary (non-slipcover) cover art for the BD features the Joker and not Batman (the title character!). taking nothing away from Heath Ledger, whose portrayal was outstanding, but the movie is still ultimately about Batman and his character arc.

Nick Martin

Yeah, I think this one:



would have been more appropriate.

I made a custom Blu-ray cover using this image.

Certainly better than the Batpod poster-as-cover.

Mr. Cinema

I wonder why the German cover has the BD logo and DVD logo on the spine?

Nick Martin

Fan-made cover that got screwed up?

StephenX

Though I'm not sure, but the Joker has so much of a deep and lasting impact on Batman and his character arc, along with changing his entire personal life, that maybe he is seen as THAT important? It's still about Batman, but I see what you are saying. I, myself, would have preferred the "joker-card collage creating Batman's face" cover.