The Dark Knight Did Nolan redefine the comic book movie genre with Batman?

[gqxsensazn]

I've noticed in the past couple of years that other comic book movies are comparing themselves to either Batman Begins or The Dark Knight. Do you think Nolan's vision set a new standard on how to adapt a comic book character into a movie?

 

[Franklin Richards]

No. He just copied what they did with X-Men.



"We gotta make it more REAL!"


Bleh.

 

[ross2287]

No, he just made it intelligent.

It would have been interesting to see if TDK came out after Watchmen to see how people reacted and compared the two.

 

[Anita18]

Set a new standard, absolutely yes. Redefined it, I'm not so sure. I see most comic book movies in the future following IM's path than TDK. It's simply easier to make a high-quality film within the typical comic book movie formula than to really step out of the box as TDK did.

It would have been interesting to see if TDK came out after Watchmen to see how people reacted and compared the two.

Indeed. In terms of movie quality, the consensus would probably be the same, but in terms of comic book deconstruction, I think it's easy to gloss over what Watchmen does differently because "TDK did it first."

 

[dsfjr1190]

No. Both of Nolan's Batman movies are overrated. They are great, but not as amazing as people make them out to be

 

[Ibn]

Indeed. In terms of movie quality, the consensus would probably be the same, but in terms of comic book deconstruction, I think it's easy to gloss over what Watchmen does differently because "TDK did it first."

very well put.

 

[Marx]

I wouldn't necessarily say that he redefined it, he definitely set a new standard though.

 

[Fenrir]

No. He just copied what they did with X-Men.

"We gotta make it more REAL!"

Bleh.

Nolan did copy from a comic book movie, but it was Donner's Superman not X-Men. Besides, what made you think X-Men was in any way 'realistic' enough that Nolan would copy from? Just because Singer didn't have his cast wear spandex and colorful costumers?

 

[DAMU RYDER]

^^ lol

 

[redfirebird2008]

No, he didn't re-define anything. He made a couple of good movies and I hope he makes another good one.

 

[Ryan]

I believe he did redefine it, although it appears i'm in the minority. I say this not because of the worldwide boxoffice, not because he went darker,but because of his treatment of the genre and the characters. He took a character and 'reinvented' him by not going in new fads and directions but by going to the actual comic source material for inspiration. What a novel concept! Sure there are some "hollywoodish' spins here and there, but the core of the movies stays true to what people have loved about comics and in this case, specifically the batman comics in the first place. Where else but in Batman Begins or in TDK do you see such care given not only to the 'bad guy's and love interests as you do with Com. Gordon? He's been as much a factor and probably shares as much screen time as Batman int he last film. The Dark Knight was a movie about characters, plot and main ideas rather then the typical focusses being on the good guy vs bad guy. In that way, I would say he has reinvented what we could and should expect from future superhero movies.

 

[nathaniel]

I just hope not ALL comicbook films follow a dark style Spiderman 2 is still the second best ever made (after X2) imo because it balances tradegy and the lightheartedness of some spiderman stories so well.

 

[El Payaso]

I've noticed in the past couple of years that other comic book movies are comparing themselves to either Batman Begins or The Dark Knight. Do you think Nolan's vision set a new standard on how to adapt a comic book character into a movie?

Yes. Absolutely. Set new standards and re-defined to some extent.

I just hope not ALL comicbook films follow a dark style Spiderman 2 is still the second best ever made (after X2) imo because it balances tradegy and the lightheartedness of some spiderman stories so well.

I like Spiderman 2 a lot. But much of its "lightheartedness" is quite bad.

 

[raynorWilm]

Ive noticed alot of comparisons to BB and TDK as well lately. Most of the comparisons are to BB, in the sense that it was an origin story to a franchise that had already been established. I think I read somewhere that Jackman said "Wolverine" was in the style of BB and I think Ive heard it somewhere else also. Nolan gets more credit for bringing back a dead movie franchise and turning it into legit films, not just good superhero based films.

 

[rashad]

Set a new standard, absolutely yes. Redefined it, I'm not so sure. I see most comic book movies in the future following IM's path than TDK. It's simply easier to make a high-quality film within the typical comic book movie formula than to really step out of the box as TDK did.

I agree. t:

 

[jmc]

Isn't setting a new and intelligent standard re defying the genre?

 

[voyzovrezon]

After having watched "Batman and Robin" again recently, I'd say that the new Batman franchise is much more sophisticated and intelligent, especially when it comes to the plot. The villains don't act like they're in a high school play.

 

[El Payaso]

After having watched "Batman and Robin" again recently, I'd say that the new Batman franchise is much more sophisticated and intelligent, especially when it comes to the plot. The villains don't act like they're in a high school play.

Compared to B&R, any movie is re-defining the genre to which it belongs.

 

[voyzovrezon]

Compared to B&R, any movie is re-defining the genre to which it belongs.

You have a point.

 

[raynorWilm]

B&R is like a permanent skid mark in my jeans

 

[Rolf]

Regardless of weather he redefined it or simply set a new standard, I do not think many directors will be able to duplicate his approach with much succsess.

And in a way, I don't want villains like the Joker becoming overused. just look at what happened after Dafoe's Green Goblin, suddenly everyone was using the insane corparate macihalovelianist angle, just look at Julian McMahon's Doctor Doom, that wasnt even his origional backstory, but they used it anyway.

Do we really want the same thing happening with the Joker? The last thing we want is for every villain to be a Joker rip off.

Sadly, I think this is exactly what is going to happen, movie studios are going to start seizing every ounce of creative control and start scrapping anything that isnt a Dark Knight rip-off.

Before you know it the comic book movie genre will be overpopulated with obviouse and balant TDK rip-offs, and Nolan will have to re-redefine the comic book movie genre all over again with his next movie.

 

[Carmine Falcone]

Do we really want the same thing happening with the Joker? The last thing we want is for every villain to be a Joker rip off.

Sadly, I think this is exactly what is going to happen, movie studios are going to start seizing every ounce of creative control and start scrapping anything that isnt a Dark Knight rip-off.

Before you know it the comic book movie genre will be overpopulated with obviouse and balant TDK rip-offs, and Nolan will have to re-redefine the comic book movie genre all over again with his next movie.

Yeah, I think you're right. There's been plenty of talk about ''darker'' Superman/Daredevil reboots. everything that has failed in the superhero genre might have a darker kickstart. Which is ridiculous.

But then again, Marvel seems to be going the route of less heavy-handed stuff, although I haven't seen The Incredible Hulk. Iron Man was pretty breezy.

 

[namtaB]

You can slap on any term you want "redefine" "elevated" "set a new standard" etc. They're weasel words better saved for a car commercial and don't really mean anything. His achievement was that he made people receive these films differently than the usual "Its a good summer popcorn comic book film."

 

[mjbull23]

well the word coming from wb studios is that they want to adapt the creative "style" that was deployed in tdk and adapt it to their other superhero properties, so to that end, it certainly seems that nolans film is going to have a substantial effect in the treatment of future hero films.

 

[Boom]

Not at all, because there is no "defined" way to make a comic book movie in the first place.