The Dark Knight Limited Edition Reviews

• Comparison of regular version vs. limited edition

  
  By A146D2LYLICNLS on 2008-07-15
  While this soundtrack score didn't blow me away, I think it's certainly a worthy addition to the "Batman" catalog of scores as well as fitting music for "The Dark Knight." I find track 3, "Harvey Two-Face," to easily be the best track here...almost a ballad so to speak, and yet flows with the rest of the album. This score isn't significantly different than the music of "Batman Begins" but then again, exploring some familiar territory adds a sense of continuity between the films. After all, this is a sequel.
  
  I purchased both the regular version as well as the limited edition today, so I'll now give some comparisons for those of you undecided about which to buy:
  
  -Track listing is identical for both. No bonus track on limited edition. Certainly would have been nice, but alas.
  
  -Although the 2 versions have different cover art, note that the inside booklet of the limited edition has the same cover art as the regular version, as it's the exact same booklet. Booklet itself is the typical kind with various photos and album credits.
  
  -Regular version has an exclusive photo of Batman looking at a wall covered with "HA HA HA" all over it, whereas limited edition has an exclusive 3-way fold-out collage photo of Joker playing cards with Batman in the middle vandalized with red lipstick. In addition, limited edition version has a very cool exclusive photo of the Joker walking down a street with his back to us, holding a playing card in one hand and a knife behind his back with the other.
  
  -Limited edition version comes with 3 two-sided trading cards containing photos of Batman, Joker and Harvey Dent.
  
  To sum up, the limited edition version doesn't offer that much more than the regular version, and is only worth getting for the novelty of a limited edition collectible, or if you're a die-hard fan of the film.
  
  

• Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard Return With A Superb And More Grounded Score

  
  By A27CHILBK6HIL2 on 2008-07-17
  The score for The Dark Knight is in one word, incredible. Zimmer and Howard have crafted a complete soundscape for this character and the world he exists in. I love the original Batman Begins score to death and the only way that this score surpasses the previous one is that it feels more grounded. The characters and world are already established so the score has something to build off of.
  
  The two-note motif has already become iconic and synonymous with Batman. With this score we get two new themes. The first one is the new motif for The Joker. It's only one note and Hans spent 3 months fine tuning it to become the perfect sound. The first track is pretty much all of The Joker's music. It's harsh, industrial and gritty and I love it. It works so well even if you are more of a traditional score fan and don't like it one cannot deny how well it works with the image.
  
  James Newton Howard was in charge of Harvey Dent. This music had to represent a fallen idol; someone who was good but became corrupted. So tragic is a word that can be used to describe it. It's very emotional. It stands apart from the intense action music in the score and is really wonderful. The emotional arc of it takes you from light to dark, it's great scoring.
  
  Fans of Hans Zimmer and/or James Newton Howard will be extremely pleased with this score (I very much am). Hans' structure and style is heard well throughout. The score pulses with intensity very much like the original. There is really NO downtime on this entire album. The music carries you every step of the way, the listen on its own is a journey in itself. Now and then you will hear the 1-note Joker theme pop up and it indeed can get your hairs standing on end. It absorbs you and assaults you while leaving you wanting more. Hans and James both share one thing in common in that they score everything for real, meaning they aren't treating this movie as a work of fiction. They are carefully crafting an emotional story arc and building an atmosphere for it to exist in. There is no grandiose and heroic theme. Everything stands on its own and is so much powerful for doing so. The Dark Knight will be one of if not the best score of the year and will be hard to beat in terms of scope and emotional complexity.
  
  

• Fine The Dark Knight Film Score from Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard

  
  By AKT8TGIT6VVZ5 on 2008-07-30
  Two of Hollywood's most respected, most popular, film composers, Hans Zimmer and James Newtown Howard, have joined forces in composing the most exciting film score I have heard this year not composed by John Williams. Theirs for " The Dark Knight" is quite riveting, with a substantial emphasis on a brooding, melancholy quality for much of the film's music. Indeed, I believe they've surpassed Danny Elfman in composing a score which captures so vividly, the many personal demons which beset Bruce Wayne (Batman), while also giving memorable musical motifs too to his long-time lady friend Rachel Dawes and the dashing young Gotham district attorney Harvey Dent, and, of course, the Joker. Fans of contemporary film music will surely want to add this CD to their collections; it is, without question, among the best of this year.
  
  

• The absolute best superhero score ever crafted

  
  By AJKWF4W7QD4NS on 2008-08-24
  Just like Christopher Nolan took everything he started with Batman Begins to new heights with The Dark Knight, composers Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard take the superhero film score to new heights as well. From the creepily opening epic "Why So Serious?" to the tension-laced and hair raising "Always a Catch"; Zimmer and Howard have not only once again crafted a classic film score, but have raised the bar for superhero film scores, just as Nolan raised the bar for superhero films. The real standout of The Dark Knight's score however is the emotional "Harvey Two-Face", which depicts the tragic fall of the heroic "white knight" Harvey Dent. Other compositions, including "I'm Not a Hero", "Like a Dog Chasing Cars", "Agent of Chaos", and the grandoise closer "A Dark Knight" are masterpieces that are feasts of the ears. All in all, the soundtrack to The Dark Knight is absolutely the best superhero score ever crafted, and like the film itself, will stand as a masterwork to be cherished and imitated for years to come.
  
  

• Danny Elfman?

  
  By A1QZHKHLX8SW9P on 2008-07-18
  I could go on about how perfect this score was for such a dark movie...but did anyone notice any similarities to Elfman's score? Particularly in the track "I'm not a Hero"? Not that thats a bad thing at all...I think it fits perfectly.
  
  
• A 5-Star Soundtrack, a Disappointing "Limited Edition"
  By A1TXPWO46J0PPQ on 2008-08-12
  The music and track listing on the "limited edition" are exactly the same as those on the regular CD/iTunes release...so you're paying a couple of dollars more for different packaging, which includes exclusive photos. With the advent of digital music stores and the decrease of CDs, I would have expected more "incentive" to buy the physical CD. Consumers have spoken in droves: They want the music, not the plastic, and voting with their money by buying from Amazon's music store and iTunes. Why the record company decided to release two CD versions for the same music is a mystery.
  
  
• Stronger and intenser !
  By AO8W30FFULIKG on 2008-08-28
  Indeed , this second installement of Nolan's Batman movies has a soundtrack much stronger and intenser then Batman Begins from a few years ago . I listened to the track samples on the official site , those are way too short to get an idea of how good Zimmer and Newton composed this fine piece of music . This is not background music while you're eating dinner , this is a cd filled with emotions and I even use some tracks like "I thought my jokes were bad" while I'm running to keep me going , otherwise in the car when I turn up the volume I relive some of the scenes of the movie again . But even if you haven't seen the movie and you can appreciate a good quality soundtrack this is highly recommended .
  The special edition doesn't cost a lot more so I opted for the fancy cover , otherwise there is not much special about this edition compared to the reular version .
  
  
  
• Works better with the film than by itself
  By A3K91X9X2ARDOK on 2008-09-09
  After watching the film the first time, I got my hands on the score and after having heard it on its own two feet, I was kind of disappointed. The first track on the soundtrack, "Why So Serious?" is without a doubt, the best track of them all. It brings you back to those first ten minutes of the film, where the Joker is introduced in what could arguably be one of the most memorable opening scenes ever filmed. But from there on, the score becomes little more than repetitive. There are some good pieces, namely "A Dark Knight" and "Harvey Two-Face" but this score doesn't really stand up to a solo listen and sounds like the same thing over and over. I think Zimmer and Howard's work on Batman Begins was a little better than this or at least easier to listen to on its own merits.
  
  Now this isn't to say that the music is bad. When watching the film with the score in place, the film and music work together perfectly. On its own though, it comes off as a bit dull.
  
  
• Excellent
  By ASB7PD2Z882QB on 2008-07-16
  I'm a huge JNH and HZ fan and my GF bought me this as a gift. They really went all out on the album art for the limited addition. Pretty epic. 16 page booklet w/ 3 trading cards.
  
  As the other review said , it keeps pretty much the same theme the previous "Batman Begins" soundtrack that JNH and Hans Zimmer composed but it has a more unique feel to it. I can't wait to see the movie!
  
  Pick this one up! It's worth it! :)
  
  
• Perfect Compliment to the Movie!!
  By ABW2JHI3766O6 on 2008-07-21
  This soundtrack is beyond great. You can't help but visualize the joker's twisted smile or see batman soaring through Hong Kong when listening to it. The ballads are even more beautiful than those in Batman Begins. You can hear the hope, and yet feel dread at the same time. 'Like a dog chasing cars' is definitely my favorite track, but the entire cd is superb!!
  
  
• So dark it's brilliant.
  By A1AXY4L5LCL052 on 2008-07-25
  I'll keep this short. If you liked the movie, you'll love the score. If you liked the Batman Begins score, this builds on themes from that, mixed with new themes from the Dark Knight, so truly it is a perfect sequel soundtrack. I can't wait to see what the do when the 3rd movie comes out. To reiterate, this soundtrack conveys the insanity, rage, sorrow, and intensity that the movie does. How anyone could enjoy this without a big grin again & again is a mystery. After all, why so serious?
  
  
• Take time to listen to it
  By A20QJSS96HDTY6 on 2008-08-27
  Since the movie and the score was hyped so much I was a bit disappointed the first time I listened to it. But the more time I took to really listen the more I figured how good this soundtrack really is. Take the time and listen to it multiple times... it's an amazing score from HZ and JNH... once more.
  
  
• The best soundtrack of the year
  By A2R31GWK1ITVD on 2008-09-01
  
  I love everything about this limited edition soundtrack... the stunning color pictures on the front and insides of it, the accompanying booklet, and the three reversible trading cards that come along, too.
  
  And of course, let's not forget the music.
  
  This soundtrack is even better than that of Batman Begins. We have many of the same heroic themes that we have come to associate with Batman due to the previous film's soundtrack, but at the same time they are accompanied by completely new themes for the completely new characters.
  
  For example, the most important newcomer to this movie: The Joker. The very first track "Why So Serious?" is his theme song, if it can even be called a song. It is as unpredictable and crazy as he is, and when you listen to it you really feel as if the Joker could be right there with you. That's how well they have nailed the theme music for this character.
  
  Turning to the track "Harvey Two-Face" we find a much different sort of theme... one that is more emotional and human sounding. The track hits notes of hope and also of tragedy, which is excellect considering that that is exactly what Harvey's role is like in this movie.
  
  The music continues to play out these themes of beauty, fear, and emotion throughout the CD. It is absolutely breathtaking in its entirety.
  
  I would definitely recommend you to get the special edition because the case is so well put together and beautiful. Besides, for a soundtrack this amazing, it's worth the extra dollar or two to get the special edition simply in order to celebrate the music more.
  
  
  
• Why So Serious?
  By A1DFZE3SUF7H22 on 2008-09-10
  If you enjoyed the Dark Knight movie as much as I did then you will love to hear the great soundtrack over and over. Each strain of music brings the exciting memories of the movie back to my mind. I especially love to blast it in my car and I can see Batman soaring through the air and also visualize the sinister Joker. What a crime that we've lost Heath Ledyard, his WONDERFUL performance was unforgetable to say the least!
  I simply love this soundtrack and find it very exciting to listen to. Many thanks. LCJ
  
  
• The REAL Dark Knight VINYL review!
  By A2EYO7D7R8SNNC on 2008-09-17
  So having had this vinyl for awhile now and listened to the vinyl...I am impressed, but not overly so. The sound is, indeed, warmer and the instruments stand out much better than the CD. Those wanting the overly done bass should stick with the CD for sure. I don't mean this in a bad thing. But from my comparison while having the CD play and the LP playing the same tracks and flipping back and forth between phono and CD, surprisingly the CD's bass is thicker, but almost TOO thick. It comes across too boomy and you almost lose depth to the music if that makes sense. The LP maintains that bass as if it were a concert and you FELT it rather than feeling like your head is going to explode. It's definitely mastered differently so that's a plus. I would only recommend this vinyl for those who are highly sensative to noticing these types of differences though. As this isn't as super obvious as some LP's are compared to their CD offspring.
  
  
• BEWARE Limited Edition DEFECT
  By A2RTYWYP2RX6RF on 2008-09-27
  The soundtrack is great but the Limited Edition is defective. I have had four copies sent to me and everyone starts skipping at 15:50 of the last track (14). The regular edition doesn't. Beware because you can't reach anyone at Warner Bros. Records and Amazon will just send you a new one over and over again but they're all defective. Won't even import into iTunes correctly.
  
  
• An Epic Soundtrack
  By A1VUSE21B8PY2J on 2008-09-30
  The Dark Knight Soundtrack truly is epic. I loved the movie so much, and listening to the soundtrack just brings the amawing scenes and dialogues back to mind. This is a great sequel to Batman Begins Soundtrack....There's a little more excitement and drama in this one.
  
  
• Epic Knight
  By A2TVJ0YDW3QO63 on 2008-07-16
  The best word to use to describe the score to The Dark Knight is EPIC. Having loved the score to Batman Begins by Howard and Zimmer I was really looking forward to this collaboration. Listening to this dark, brooding score it's clear that we've moved on from the introduction to Batman with slower, nicer themes overall and are presented with a negative aspect in the film and the music within. The best tracks are the Joker's theme "Why So Serious" and "Like a Dog Chasing Cars". The Joker's theme is warped, misaligned, off with a rough edge that you don't expect. This could be used to describe the acting by Heath Ledger and I feel that the composers really got 'it'. 'Like a Dog' is set for the action part(s) of the film and it works well.
  
  From the Batman Begins soundtrack there were a couple of themes that I absolutely loved and while I still give this work 5 stars, I feel that the Begins soundtrack might be a bit better. Maybe it's because when you have a sequel there are recycled themes that while you might enjoy/love, the fact they are not new makes it not as fresh.
  
  Having said all that, this is a great score to the EPIC movie that accompanies it. Easy to recommend, perfect for enjoying years to come, if you enjoy movie scores, Zimmer/Howard work or the Nolan Batman films, you will be happily satisfied with this effort.
  
  ***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
  
  
• Hans Zimmer has done it again!
  By A3K64ATSYIR498 on 2008-07-27
  First off Hans Zimmers music is very easy to identify. His music is filled was darkness, passion and epicness unlike anything you have ever heard. The Dark Knight Limited Edition is a must own. Each track has it's own level of awesomeness and evokes alot of deep emotions while listening. My personal favorite is "Like a Dog Chasing Cars" hehe. That track will get you pumped up! Turn the bass up on that one and blast your stero. It's a rip roaring hardcore track that gives justice to a beloved legend we all know......Batman!
  
  If your a Batman fan or a fan of Hans Zimmers work, don't miss this one.
  
  
• sweet
  By A1YI8OIYYF5T4A on 2008-08-06
  The music is definately a major component to the movie being so awesome. Just buy this CD to see for yourself. You can truly appreciate this on any sound system especially with ones that have nice speakers.
  
  
• A Beautifully Dark And Epic Score
  By AQZKKNNG6GWKV on 2008-08-06
  James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer, already two of my favorite score composers, have laid music on the table that parallels it's film counterpart film in the deep and the dark, the breathtaking and the jaw-droppingness.
  
  Each composer brings their own unique styles to create a score with as much depth as I have ever heard. The CDs opening track, 'Why So Serious?' begins with strange, screeching strings that slowly rise. The rest of the song is a mixture of orchestral genius and strange noises (ticking...) that absolutely capture the dark intrigue of the Joker.
  
  My other favorite tracks are 'Harvey Two Face,' which features a tune familiar to those who know the first score. The song moves through different emotions, all the while hinting at a nobility and tragedy.
  
  'Like a Dog Chasing Cars' also features a familiar tune, but the composers throw us a bone by layering new themes onto it, keeping it fresh, and amazing.
  
  And then, the culmination of the entire score, 'A Dark Knight' is a 16 minute ride through even more of Howard and Zimmer's wonderful music. All you can do is sit back and marvel.
  
  A wonderful score.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Movie Score Of The Year.
  By AYSIGFYKISNHB on 2008-08-13
  I was impressed with Hans Zimmer's score for Batman Begins. But I'm even more impressed his score, along with James Newton Howard for The Dark Knight. All the scores in the film are excellent. But the best is "Why So Serious?". That score really is errie and matches for The Joker.
  
  I bought the limited edition CD because it comes with a booklet and 3 two-side cards of Batman, The Joker and Harvey "Two-Face" Dent. If you heard the score in the movie, and love it, get this soundtrack.
  
  
• This soundtrack is another casualty in the loudness war
  By AQ3494Z3RFPR2 on 2008-08-14
  The music on this album is great, but the mastering of the CD itself is terrible. There's so much dynamic compression that many parts of it are unlistenable -- some are even painful. I haven't heard mastering this bad since the soundtracks for the last two Pirates of the Caribbean movies (also by Hans Zimmer, interestingly).
  
  If you're going to make MP3s from this album and listen to them with a pair of cheap earbuds, you might not notice the problem. But with a decent set of headphones or a real stereo system you'll hear some harsh digital distortion in the loud parts of the tracks.
  
  Audiophiles, don't buy this album. Complain to Warner Sunset/Warner Bros. instead.
  
  For more information, do a Google search for "loudness war."
  
  
• Excellent music for an amazing movie
  By A7TYZEJPT2Y87 on 2008-08-25
  In short,the OST is what The Dark Knight is to Batman Begins...a bigger,more polished,more emotional,more accomplished version of it's predecessor.
  
  
• Dark Knight CD
  By A1R5E0WHQR9IKU on 2008-08-25
  Loved the music. The titles where much better this time. I liked the different names of bats last times but it made it hard to keep up with where it occured in the movie unless you memorized the list. Another great soundtrack!
  
  
• Gotham Gardian
  By A3P8ZWW2YAPSSR on 2008-08-26
  Unlike a lot of sequal soundtracks I've heard. The Dark Knight soundtrack has similar elements, but with a totally new take. You won't get bored with it.
  
  
• Dark Knight's score
  By A3MWUPZCID0QJ6 on 2008-08-26
  An amazing work from my favorites composer, the team Zimmer / Newton Howard is perfect.
  
  It's just what we wanted for the movie !
  
  
• awesome
  By A2Q1AG09Y93HMG on 2008-09-09
  love it...always makes me want to see the movie again so can't wait till the movie comes out on DVD!!!
  
  
• This soundtrack is great!
  By A13A6Z8NASFKJA on 2008-09-12
  When I saw the movie in theater, I fell in love with the music. I bought the soundtrack and it is perfect for fans! The music is beatiful!
  
  
• a real modern action movie soundtrack
  By A2OMF35MGGDNY on 2008-10-15
  When i heard for the first time Batman Begins soundtrack, i said " it's shame, the Danny Elfman theme, from the first Batman 1989, was completely erased". But after listening again entire soundtrack, i said "Wouahh! It's really huge!!!"
  And this soundtrack push even further all Batman theme. It's amazing how much orchestral instruments, percussions elements and electronic sounds mix perfectly together.
  Very impressive on a good Hi-Fi system.
  
  

• The Dark Knight: Featuring Production Art and Full Shooting Script
• Batman Begins (Widescreen Edition)
• The Incredible Hulk
• The Dark Knight (+ Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray]
• Batman Gotham Knight (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)