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Check this out - Keaton interviewed at Sundance and gave Batman begind and Dark Knight props as well as saying Christian Bale and Chris Nolan are awesome! Goos on ya Mike. I'm sure Trugayvision will be pissed his boyfriend Michael Keaton likes Bale ha ha!

Michael Keaton Endorses Chris Nolan's Batman Flicks, Looks Forward To 'Dark Knight'

MTV: I want to take you back to "Batman" for a second. I got a chance to talk to Jack Nicholson recently.

Keaton: That's fun if you can hang with that stream of consciousness. It's like reading [Bob] Dylan's book "Tarantula." I bought it, and by page 15 I go, "Did I just eat mescaline? This is unbelievable."

MTV: He told me he's furious that they didn't asked him to play the Joker again.

Keaton: No! Is he serious? I've got to call him up on that, give him a hard time.

MTV: What's your take on the latest Batman?

Keaton: I've only seen a little piece [of the sequels] here and there since I finished mine, not for any reason except that I didn't have any real interest. The reason they weren't interesting was the reason I didn't want to do them anymore. I read the script [for "Batman Forever"]. I wasn't into it. But how I wanted to do the third one is what they did in ["Batman Begins"]. I read an article about how they were going about it and I said, "That's exactly what I thought should be done." [Christopher Nolan] is so good and [Christian Bale] is so good. I really would like to see ["Batman Begins"]. I'm sure it's good and I'm sure ["The Dark Knight"] is going to be better.

MTV: Has a superhero film ever come calling with a villain role for you?

Keaton: No, but it would be fun. I don't think I'd take Jack's stance on it. I think it'd be fun because those are the roles where you get to chew it up. I'll always stand by the first [Batman]. Even for its imperfections, people will never know how hard that movie was to do. A lot of that still holds up.

I agree Joker, I wasn't impressed with Katie Holmes and I actually considere dher to be teh only weak link in an otherwise flawless film. I just don't rate "Mrs Cruise" as an actress. I thought some of the way she did her lines were a bit lame and cheesy. I'm sure Maggie will do a good job and from the the small buts Ive seen it looks like she will - and anyway she's better lookin! Go Bale you lucky bastard!

Sorry! Posted it twice by accident - I accept my punishment accordingly!

Holy crap this film is going to be so good!

Jack was great and he is respected for his role as the Joker but he was a bit too pantomime for me. Ledgers take on the role from what we are told is a fresh approach and absolutely phsycotic which is what I want. Jack's great and a legend but hes not realistic about being asked to play the Joker again - your f*cking old Jack thats why!

I am excited about Ledgers performance from what I have just read from MTV.com (they have seen the 1st 6 minutes) which I have copied below for anyone who has not see thjis check it out! :

MTV.com:
NEW YORK - If the opening frames of "The Dark Knight" are any indication, Batman will have his hands full come June. The Joker is on the loose, and MTV News has seen just how devilishly maniacal and dangerous he can be.

On Monday night, a small crowd in New York gathered to watch the first six minutes of director Christopher Nolan's eagerly awaited sequel to "Batman Begins" and, holy extended trailer, the footage did not disappoint. Introduced by the beaming director and displayed on an 80-foot-tall IMAX screen, the opening of the film welcomed Heath Ledger's Joker to the Nolan/Batman universe.

And it was clear from the start, much as you might have loved Jack Nicholson's villain, the purple-clad bad man won't have the time or inclination to dance to Prince this time around. Nolan spoke at length with MTV News immediately prior to and following the special event, clearly proud of his new villain. "I think what Heath is doing is very adventurous," he said. "What he's doing is very radical. It's very much what I wanted. I knew I needed someone really fearless."

The opening sequence - specially filmed in the IMAX format, and set to debut December 14 with prints of "I Am Legend" in theaters - fulfilled a dream for Nolan, who said he had been wanting to shoot in the format for 15 years. "In the finished film, there will be four or five IMAX sequences," Nolan explained. He continued excitedly before the screening: "Everything about doing this in the IMAX format is trying to get that feeling back when I was a little kid when I'd sit in a movie theater and see images that were larger than life. That's what I'm trying to get back to with this material. I felt like introducing the Joker in this way because he's such a huge character [and it] would be a very fun thing to do."

But Nolan also revealed that not all the IMAX scenes will be action-filled. "Some of them are actually quiet scenes which pictorially we thought would be interesting. It's not all the slam-bam scenes," he said.

As the lights dimmed, the first images were revealed, of a gleaming and bright Gotham City. The camera moves in close on a building when suddenly the calm is shattered, quite literally, by a broken window. A group of clown-mask-clad robbers are about to seize a bank. They bicker about the mysterious man who has employed them. "Why do they call him the Joker?" one asks another. It's a refrain almost identical to those rooftop thugs who wonder about the mysterious "bat" in the opening frames of Tim Burton's "Batman."

Soon we are inside the bank as a tense standoff is under way. None of the employees resist, save one played by character-actor extraordinaire William Fichtner. This is a mob bank, we learn, and the wrong place to mess with, even for a group of seasoned criminals.

The controlled heist degenerates into a mess quickly enough, with each of the robbers mysteriously getting taken out. But it's not Batman knocking them off - rather, it's one of the robbers themselves. Just as the final two robbers are set to leave, one pulls a gun on the other. "I bet the Joker told you to kill me as soon as we loaded the cash," he says, clearly with the upper hand.

The eerily calm but playful response comes. "No, no, no. He killed the bus driver."

Before the gun-toting clown can finish asking, "What bus driver?," he is taken out by a school bus crashing into the bank. "School's out. Time to go!" screams the sole survivor of the gang.

All that remains for him is the bank employee (Fichtner) lying at his feet. By now we're pretty sure these are going to be his last words: "The criminals in this town used to believe in things. Honor. Respect. What do you believe in?" He screams it again, louder, "What do you believe in?"

And the mask comes off. The grinning, scarred face of the Joker is revealed at last. His face filled the 8-story-high screen as the clip played. "I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you ...," he said. He pauses on the last word: " ... stranger."

As the Joker made his getaway, the sequence ended, but before the lights returned, the audience was treated to quick tantalizing flashes of the rest of the film. The Joker firing what looks to be an automatic weapon in a city street. Police Commissioner Gordon raising an ax dramatically. Batman whizzing by in his batpod. And finally, Gordon lowering the ax, destroying what we see now was the bat signal. Troubled times clearly await in Gotham. And it's clear who's to blame.

Nolan explained to MTV News that the Joker we meet in "The Dark Knight" is fully formed. Don't look for an origin story here. "To me, the Joker is an absolute," he said. "There are no shades of gray to him - maybe shades of purple. He's unbelievably dark. He bursts in just as he did in the comics."

Though there was no sign of much of the supporting cast in this extended preview, Nolan stressed there's much more to the story. Asked about Aaron Eckhart's Harvey "Two-Face" Dent, the director said "his story is in some ways the backbone of the film. [Bruce Wayne and Harvey] have an interesting relationship. They're friends and rivals."

And what about the caped crusader we left at the end of "Batman Begins"? Nolan explained that "he's a little more sure of himself" in the new film. "We didn't want him sitting around wrestling with the same angst. It's all-new angst," he laughed.

Nolan, who wrapped filming just two weeks ago, said he's shooting for a running time comparable to the first film's 140 minutes. Congratulated on the ambitious slam-bang start to his sequel, MTV News asked if the next six minutes could help but live up to the first. The director smiled and sighed nearly in unison. "That's what I'm working on now."

Jack was great and he is respected for his role as the Joker but he was a bit too pantomime for me. Ledgers take on the role from what we are told is a fresh approach and absolutely phsycotic which is what I want. Jack's great and a legend but hes not realistic about being asked to play the Joker again - your f*cking old Jack thats why!

I am excited about Ledgers performance from what I have just read from MTV.com (they have seen the 1st 6 minutes) which I have copied below for anyone who has not see thjis check it out! :

MTV.com:
NEW YORK - If the opening frames of "The Dark Knight" are any indication, Batman will have his hands full come June. The Joker is on the loose, and MTV News has seen just how devilishly maniacal and dangerous he can be.

On Monday night, a small crowd in New York gathered to watch the first six minutes of director Christopher Nolan's eagerly awaited sequel to "Batman Begins" and, holy extended trailer, the footage did not disappoint. Introduced by the beaming director and displayed on an 80-foot-tall IMAX screen, the opening of the film welcomed Heath Ledger's Joker to the Nolan/Batman universe.

And it was clear from the start, much as you might have loved Jack Nicholson's villain, the purple-clad bad man won't have the time or inclination to dance to Prince this time around. Nolan spoke at length with MTV News immediately prior to and following the special event, clearly proud of his new villain. "I think what Heath is doing is very adventurous," he said. "What he's doing is very radical. It's very much what I wanted. I knew I needed someone really fearless."

The opening sequence - specially filmed in the IMAX format, and set to debut December 14 with prints of "I Am Legend" in theaters - fulfilled a dream for Nolan, who said he had been wanting to shoot in the format for 15 years. "In the finished film, there will be four or five IMAX sequences," Nolan explained. He continued excitedly before the screening: "Everything about doing this in the IMAX format is trying to get that feeling back when I was a little kid when I'd sit in a movie theater and see images that were larger than life. That's what I'm trying to get back to with this material. I felt like introducing the Joker in this way because he's such a huge character [and it] would be a very fun thing to do."

But Nolan also revealed that not all the IMAX scenes will be action-filled. "Some of them are actually quiet scenes which pictorially we thought would be interesting. It's not all the slam-bam scenes," he said.

As the lights dimmed, the first images were revealed, of a gleaming and bright Gotham City. The camera moves in close on a building when suddenly the calm is shattered, quite literally, by a broken window. A group of clown-mask-clad robbers are about to seize a bank. They bicker about the mysterious man who has employed them. "Why do they call him the Joker?" one asks another. It's a refrain almost identical to those rooftop thugs who wonder about the mysterious "bat" in the opening frames of Tim Burton's "Batman."

Soon we are inside the bank as a tense standoff is under way. None of the employees resist, save one played by character-actor extraordinaire William Fichtner. This is a mob bank, we learn, and the wrong place to mess with, even for a group of seasoned criminals.

The controlled heist degenerates into a mess quickly enough, with each of the robbers mysteriously getting taken out. But it's not Batman knocking them off - rather, it's one of the robbers themselves. Just as the final two robbers are set to leave, one pulls a gun on the other. "I bet the Joker told you to kill me as soon as we loaded the cash," he says, clearly with the upper hand.

The eerily calm but playful response comes. "No, no, no. He killed the bus driver."

Before the gun-toting clown can finish asking, "What bus driver?," he is taken out by a school bus crashing into the bank. "School's out. Time to go!" screams the sole survivor of the gang.

All that remains for him is the bank employee (Fichtner) lying at his feet. By now we're pretty sure these are going to be his last words: "The criminals in this town used to believe in things. Honor. Respect. What do you believe in?" He screams it again, louder, "What do you believe in?"

And the mask comes off. The grinning, scarred face of the Joker is revealed at last. His face filled the 8-story-high screen as the clip played. "I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you ...," he said. He pauses on the last word: " ... stranger."

As the Joker made his getaway, the sequence ended, but before the lights returned, the audience was treated to quick tantalizing flashes of the rest of the film. The Joker firing what looks to be an automatic weapon in a city street. Police Commissioner Gordon raising an ax dramatically. Batman whizzing by in his batpod. And finally, Gordon lowering the ax, destroying what we see now was the bat signal. Troubled times clearly await in Gotham. And it's clear who's to blame.

Nolan explained to MTV News that the Joker we meet in "The Dark Knight" is fully formed. Don't look for an origin story here. "To me, the Joker is an absolute," he said. "There are no shades of gray to him - maybe shades of purple. He's unbelievably dark. He bursts in just as he did in the comics."

Though there was no sign of much of the supporting cast in this extended preview, Nolan stressed there's much more to the story. Asked about Aaron Eckhart's Harvey "Two-Face" Dent, the director said "his story is in some ways the backbone of the film. [Bruce Wayne and Harvey] have an interesting relationship. They're friends and rivals."

And what about the caped crusader we left at the end of "Batman Begins"? Nolan explained that "he's a little more sure of himself" in the new film. "We didn't want him sitting around wrestling with the same angst. It's all-new angst," he laughed.

Nolan, who wrapped filming just two weeks ago, said he's shooting for a running time comparable to the first film's 140 minutes. Congratulated on the ambitious slam-bang start to his sequel, MTV News asked if the next six minutes could help but live up to the first. The director smiled and sighed nearly in unison. "That's what I'm working on now."

Hey Joker dude - yeah sorry been really busy these days! The new pictures are really impressive - I bought the new issue of empire with him on the cover! I like what they have done with Heath regarding the makeup - sort of like a phsyco messy punk feel to the Joker which is very cool. It adds to Chris Nolans idea of making Batman more realistic. From what the rest of the actors are saying Heath is going to be an absolute psycho! Can't believe he made Michael Caine forget his lines he scared him so much lol!! I loved Batman Begins but I have the feeling dark knight is going to be unbelievable -like the defining batman film! I like what jack Nicholson did with the role but he was a bit too pantomime for my tastes! I'm so glad we are now gonna have 2 awesome batman films that really define what the comics were all about! I feel spoilt - bring on summer 2008!!!

Yeah I agree the definitely need to step it up with the next Superman. I think Singer will as he knows Superman Returns didn't quite do what it should of at the box office. From what Ive heard there will be alot more action & asskicking in the next one. He needs to make it a bit more brutal like Nolan did with batman begins. But saying that I though superman returns was decent & there are some awesome scenes in it - when he rescues that plane - wow! You can only do that with 2days technology!

Sh*t tru-gay-vision I didn't even know ledger was in brokeback mountain? I haven't seen the film cos gay cowboys really aren't my thing. I guess thats your thing which is cool man - its ok - if ur gay I won't judge - I mean i do try and not be homophobic. Only thing I know about ledger was that apparently he's been in a few cheesy chick flicks but has apparently since redeemed himself. Serioulsy I wish you Michael Keaton the best - you are obviously both happy together! Try not to cry too much when dark knight hits the cinema & cleans up next summer like you know it will!

Ha ha ha TRU(GAY)VISION is getting all emotional because were making fun of Michael Keaton - aw bless. U complete f*ckwit! Man I could slap keaton around he's that soft - I wouldn't mess with Bale though. Batman Begins did its numbers - it wasn't expected to rake in spiderman numbers. Talking of FLOPS - lets not forget Batman returns poor box office showing in comparison to the first film - it BOMBED - do a quick google search if you need proof. Burton f*cked up thats why joel gaymaker did the next few & managed to make them somehow worse! You're the only idiot here - not sure where you get these statistics from where batman begins is the second lowest selling batman film?????!! Go to bed little boy & put on batman returns & have sweet dreams about michael ha ha! Numbers aside ask anyone who has seen the film & read the majority of reviews - they are positive. people love batman begins - it is THE batman film (until dark knight that is) So why don'y you go & lick michael keatons dick like you know u want to & we will all enjoy nolans batman films! If you are on a site to look at the trailor for a film you already don't like then you clearly have no life! Lol!

Can't wait for this! TRUVISION you are a complete c*ckface! Seriously u crack me up. Michael Keaton the best Batman? WTF!!!! Little midget man Keaton was the funniest looking Batman ever put on screen. He is about as intimidating as roger moore as james bond - not very! Not to mention barely being able to move in his rediculous looking batsuit. Hell catwoman kicked more arse than him in the sequel. Nolans batman is as authentic as it gets for anyone who is a real fan of the batman comics. Its the only film to do it justice & Dark Knight is going to blow every1 away. Its hardly worth commenting on a few still pictures which look like they are taken behind the scenes as opposed to actual camera shots. Wait for the film then comment. The reason Bales Batman set himself on fire & called for help wa sbecause the films called batman begins dickweed - i.e. he is a novice - still working things out - thats the realism which elevates Nolan's batman from any other. hell even Michael Keaton would probably admit that Bale is better than him. Bring on this sequel - if you don't like it don't watch it - watch batman returns on repeat instead!

Can't wait for this! TRUVISION you are a complete c*ckface! Seriously u crack me up. Michael Keaton the best Batman? WTF!!!! Little midget man Keaton was the funniest looking Batman ever put on screen. He is about as intimidating as roger moore as james bond - not very! Not to mention barely being able to move in his rediculous looking batsuit. Hell catwoman kicked more arse than him in the sequel. Nolans batman is as authentic as it gets for anyone who is a real fan of the batman comics. Its the only film to do it justice & Dark Knight is going to blow every1 away. Its hardly worth commenting on a few still pictures which look like they are taken behind the scenes as opposed to actual camera shots. Wait for the film then comment. The reason Bales Batman set himself on fire & called for help wa sbecause the films called batman begins dickweed - i.e. he is a novice - still working things out - thats the realism which elevates Nolan's batman from any other. hell even Michael Keaton would probably admit that Bale is better than him. Bring on this sequel - if you don't like it don't watch it - watch batman returns on repeat instead!