The Dark Knight Action Sequences

[Road Warrior]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed or not, but the trailer had some interesting action scenes. The Batman movies have never been known for their great action sequences. They've been good, but not great. I wonder if this movie will finally give us something impressive in the action department. I think the Spider-Man movies have set new standards for superhero/comic book adaptations in terms of action scenes. Perhaps Nolan is trying to live up to that.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

I liked BB's action sequences barring the train scene, the ice lake scene is awesome imo.

Spiderman set new standards?
Barring doc fights in spiderman 2, it's like the god dam power rangers, the fighting scenes in spiderman 1 are exceptionally bad.

 

[TLH]

Not sure. I enjoyed the action in Batman Begins because it centered more on the tension, while Spider-Man is centered on its CGI style.

Nolan hates CGI and is making his Batman films with as little of it as possible, and I love this aspect of his films the best. I don't think he'll sacrifice drama, twists, character development etc...in favor of shallow Spider-Man action sequences (I'm alluding specifically to Spider-Man 1 and 3 however).

Nolan just likes to do it old school: blow it up, use a stuntman, great chase scenes, etc...

 

[Yurka]

I loved the Tumbler chase scene in BB, and I expect the chase involving the Jokers Slaughter-mobile to be even better.

 

[Doomofman]

I loved the Tumbler chase scene in BB, and I expect the chase involving the Jokers Slaughter-mobile to be even better.

I think you're right... I expect the Truck scene to be similar.. Maybe slightly longer.. definatly bigger with the chopper getting blown up and the truck doing a swan dive

 

[Starbird]

The bank scene will hopefully be packed with action, also what Yurka added AND the final battle between Joker and Bats.

 

[Ama Zing]

The Bat-pod's going to have some really good scenes in it, which will be awesome if the Tumbler chase scene was any indication.

 

[Road Warrior]

Spiderman set new standards?

The train fight in Spider-Man 2 was awesome.

Nolan hates CGI and is making his Batman films with as little of it as possible, and I love this aspect of his films the best.

The old Batman movies didn't have a lot of CGI either (B89 had none), but Nolan is still using improved technology. So, I don't think technology is the answer. Technology gets better every year. You can't compare what Nolan is using to what Burton had in 1988/89. It's the idea/approach that makes an action scene work or not. WB has always spent good cash on this movies, so budget isn't the answer either. So...if the action scenes in TDK are great mainly because of the writing.

 

[fabman]

-- and Christopher Nolan's directing!

 

[thejestergod6]

KFM for batman all the way

 

[TLH]

The old Batman movies didn't have a lot of CGI either (B89 had none), but Nolan is still using improved technology. So, I don't think technology is the answer. Technology gets better every year. You can't compare what Nolan is using to what Burton had in 1988/89. It's the idea/approach that makes an action scene work or not. WB has always spent good cash on this movies, so budget isn't the answer either. So...if the action scenes in TDK are great mainly because of the writing.

You're missing the point. I never once mentioned or alluded to Burton's Batman films, as that would be an unfair comparison. The fact is that your initial post alludes to Spider-Man's action sequences in accordance to Nolan's Batman films (Batman Begins and the prospective action in TDK).

The simple answer is no. Nolan is not trying to live up to Spider-Man's action sequences (which outside of Spider-Man 2 were quite honestly not very good). The train sequence was great, yes, but it is completely CGI.

Technology is approach when it comes to action sequences. What Nolan is creating is a different type of superhero series that has a completely different approach from the usual CGI dominated films we've seen. This is why Live Free or Die Hard was such a great action film, because it was a throwback to the old style of blow-it-up-for-real instead of using CGI.

 

[Infinity9999x]

I like Nolan's action sequences, I just don't want to see another Tumbler chase where he looks like he's trying to kill cops. And it was downright unrealistic that none of them were killed. I was disappointed in that, Batman wouldn't have been dumb enough to deploy explosives in front of a speeding police car and believe that no one would get hurt.

Besides that, I think Nolan just needs to move the camera back a tad in the fight scenes. If he can make something look as good as the awesomeness in the Bourne Ultimatum apartment fight, then I'll be one happy Batfan.

 

[Spidey-Sean]

You're missing the point. I never once mentioned or alluded to Burton's Batman films, as that would be an unfair comparison. The fact is that your initial post alludes to Spider-Man's action sequences in accordance to Nolan's Batman films (Batman Begins and the prospective action in TDK).

The simple answer is no. Nolan is not trying to live up to Spider-Man's action sequences (which outside of Spider-Man 2 were quite honestly not very good). The train sequence was great, yes, but it is completely CGI.

Technology is approach when it comes to action sequences. What Nolan is creating is a different type of superhero series that has a completely different approach from the usual CGI dominated films we've seen. This is why Live Free or Die Hard was such a great action film, because it was a throwback to the old style of blow-it-up-for-real instead of using CGI.

Just to make things clear, the train sequence wasn't completley CGI. It relied on CGI heavily yes, but there was a lot of real footage mixed in.

But yes, I agree the fact Nolan is relying on real footage for the Batman action scenes works well for the universe of Batman and the universe he's created in these movies as compared to the high flying, superhuman aspect to the Spidey films where CGI is more appropriate. Having CGI laden Batman movies wouldn't really make that much sense anyway as Batman's character is built around that grounded fantasy anyway.

Anyone think the bank heist prologue will be filled in a little more? There seemed to be some quick and strange cuts in there, especially around the time the bags of money were being dragged together in one spot. More action I don't even need necessarily, but I'd like it to last just a bit longer.

 

[sglass03]

I also like Nolan's reliance on old-time movie techniques (i.e., tense chases, fights, explosions, etc.) rather than CGI. New technology has taken some of the fun out of action sequences nowadays, IMO - it seems like directors and designers are interested more in outdoing each other visually, rather than actually generating excitement and suspense.

When I first saw "Begins," the audience was supremely "wowed" by the Tumbler sequence. It reminded me of one of those old-time action movies, like the original "Die Hard," in which everything was low-tech but highly suspenseful. The train sequence was exciting, too, and I thought the glacial swordfight with Ducard was one of the best scenes in the film.

I expect the semi sequence to be the same - the truck flipping over in the trailer looks awesome, let's hope the rest of the sequence follows suit.

 

[Nessy]

I loved the Tumbler chase scene in BB and I hope there will be a cool Tumbler / or Batpod and Jokers Truck chase scene in DK^^

I liked the fighting scenes in Spiderman (1&2) but something like that wouldn't fit in Nolans Batman universe

 

[Matt Mortem]

I dont really know if action is gonna be the centerpoint of this filim. I think it will be more akin to supsenful action with lots of detective work on batmans part. Action may take a backseat to storytelling which is pretty ok with me.

 

[Anita18]

Anyone think the bank heist prologue will be filled in a little more? There seemed to be some quick and strange cuts in there, especially around the time the bags of money were being dragged together in one spot. More action I don't even need necessarily, but I'd like it to last just a bit longer.

I think/hope so. The first time I watched it, I lost track of robbers (except for Joker) since the cuts were just a tad too short and it was difficult to gauge continuity. I LOVED how the camera moved in it though, especially the bit where the camera lurched out the window with the zipline and pointed to the ground.

And BB's Tumbler sequence was sweet. The best fight scene was the docks, though. That was the very first time I actually understood how Batman was meant to move.

I have faith in Nolan. He's made relatively few films so far and he's learned so much in such a short period of time. I'm sure he'll get the hang of doing action in no time flat.

 

[Anita18]

Nolan hates CGI and is making his Batman films with as little of it as possible, and I love this aspect of his films the best. I don't think he'll sacrifice drama, twists, character development etc...in favor of shallow Spider-Man action sequences (I'm alluding specifically to Spider-Man 1 and 3 however).

Nolan just likes to do it old school: blow it up, use a stuntman, great chase scenes, etc...

I love that aspect as well. Explosions and car chases are relatively easy to do with CGI now (and they look pretty darned good), but there's still nothing like blowing it up or flipping it yourself. There's just this extra weight to it that CGI can't completely grasp currently.

Plus it's fun to show people that they actually flipped that semi for real and blew up an entire building for real. t:

 

[az824]

Spiderman's action scenes sucked. xmen set the standards. we need a fight similar to wolverine's and lady deathstrike's fight.

 

[Matt Mortem]

Spiderman's action scenes sucked. xmen set the standards. we need a fight similar to wolverine's and lady deathstrike's fight.

that fight was ok. kind of dragged out of boring i think. I dont think we've ever seen a fight scene thats conveid the kind of comic book type feel we all crave. Except maybe the last fight in Blade 2. Now that was a fight.

 

[az824]

that fight was ok. kind of dragged out of boring i think. I dont think we've ever seen a fight scene thats conveid the kind of comic book type feel we all crave. Except maybe the last fight in Blade 2. Now that was a fight.

regardless it still better than any of the ones on the spiderman's series

 

[Infinity9999x]

Spiderman's action scenes sucked. xmen set the standards. we need a fight similar to wolverine's and lady deathstrike's fight.

Your joking right? The fight scenes were one of the biggest criticisms of the Singer X-men franchise.

LD and Wolverine's fight was mediocre, but you could clearly tell some areas where wire work was used. Not only that, they were completley unfaithful to how Wolverine fights. He's quick, vicious, and has a full knowledge of martial arts skills. In the movie they made him look little better then a brawler with claws.

The train sequence in SM2 blew any fight scene in X-men out of the water.

 

[The Mighty Wind]

I like Nolan's action sequences, I just don't want to see another Tumbler chase where he looks like he's trying to kill cops. And it was downright unrealistic that none of them were killed. I was disappointed in that, Batman wouldn't have been dumb enough to deploy explosives in front of a speeding police car and believe that no one would get hurt.

Besides that, I think Nolan just needs to move the camera back a tad in the fight scenes. If he can make something look as good as the awesomeness in the Bourne Ultimatum apartment fight, then I'll be one happy Batfan.

Agreed. Giving Batman someone to chase instead of someone to be chased by is going to be a big improvement in this chase scene as the blatant disregard for the safety of police officers was a major disappointment for me with the Begins chase.

As far as action scenes go, I'm expecting something solid, definitely enough to top the Begins scenes, but nothing exceptionally revolutionary (if the Joker is going with a blow it all to the ground philosophy, I will gladly sit back and watch).

 

[Marvin]

personally I've never looked to nolan for action..
what he's known for is making cohesive engaging stories out of good scripts...he does it well

good job

as far as translating action
he's sub par..

In batman begins Goyer concieved the potential for epic action bits
that movie isn't going into any books for it's action no matter how bat we fan boys cover our eyes and ears and say it was.
cause it was...on paper

half the reason is cause nolan, the ice lake for instance, shot stuff on location and what not so they had like an hour to achieve such and such shots

the ice fight could have been so much more
that batman vs the ninjas in the temple could have been insane with bats establishing to the audience that he is the most jacked ninja to come out of that dojo...instead he's just the only one that knows how to say no..
and it all came down to the way it was filmed

i'm always at a loss as to why ppl are so impressed with the action in batmanbegins..
it was lame imo

and that car and it's scenes
instead of a vehicle that could do rampless leaps, flip itself over if ever upside down and fully utilize the jet engine on it's rear..

we got some scenes that again impressed ppl i think that wanted to be impressed.

as far as the falling from roof top to roof top...i think i'll pass

in theory the editing on the fight scenes plays for maybe the first in costume fight..but to have every fight even the early bruce ones shot so we "feel" but don't see is stupid in my humble opinion.

i could rant on but i think the point has been made...

I also think this new trailer has some very great stuff, no doubt the studio demand chris up the kineticism as that first one came out and these very boards were a flame about the poor action

that motorcycle tracking shot is straight out of a bay movie
and the car concaving is a nice touch
we'll see if nolans hip to upping the kinetic feel of the action this time round

if not
well
at least Letirrier(sp) and peter berg has hero movies out this summer

in all fairness...it could be worse, just look at Returns


and yes the spidey2 train fight vs the begins train fight is no contest

 

[Marvin]

check the sig...(if it works)

the begins alley fight and swordfights(on lake or what not) coud've been half as good if they tried