The Dark Knight Rises Improving Fight Scenes

[Boom]

Now, now. We don't have to attack each other.

Besides, I just remembered that we have a thread dedicated to TDKR Fight Scenes. Perhaps we should relocate.

 

[Carnotaur3]

Ok, what about him throwing the goon into the gun, which then goes off.

Batman pushed the guy's head down into the gun which made it go off to the floor. Or it might not have. I mean, it's either he gets shot or he doesn't and Batman is no use to save anybody if he bites the dust. You make split decisions in a fight scene that could doom or save you and others.

 

[GregComicFan]

I like this video: http://www.flixya.com/video/1386221/The-Dark-Knight-Fight-Scenes

That was pretty cool. But being Batman is supposed to be well-versed in several fighting styles, I wouldnt mind seeing other styles on screen.

 

[EliteF50]

Now, now. We don't have to attack each other.

Besides, I just remembered that we have a thread dedicated to TDKR Fight Scenes. Perhaps we should relocate.

Agreed.

 

[The Morningstar]

No seriously. I think you are.

Go on, try to counter those points about the Hong Kong fight. Seriously, you can't defend it. No one can. It's terrible. I see better fight choreography on Power Rangers.

 

[Boom]

Bumped, for the sake of the Bane Thread.

Continue away, gentlemen.

 

[Carnotaur3]

Execution, execution, execution. I don't know how much more I can stress that.

Fine, have Batman initiate the fight with a blow to Joker, but at least make it a powerful blow if you want Joker to be knocked back several feet.

Ever heard of Bruce Lee's one inch punch?

That's fine if you want to argue that it wasn't executed well, but you're trying to say that Batman can't be practical in a fight scene, but that's what Nolan is going far. So just man up and admit this is more about how you think Batman should fight over whether the fight scene works.

Edit: Want to mention a bit more as it relates to the practical angle. The fight scene feels improvised because a real fight scene would be improvised. For example, Batman doesn't push Joker toward the end there, because he can't allow that move in the timing it takes Joker to arrive at him, so he uses his body to duck in and push him down with both hands. Totally something you'd improvise on the spot. Like I said, the shortest distance between two points. Love it.

 

[EliteF50]

So, anyone wanna defend the HK fight?

 

[The Morningstar]

The fight scenes don't work. Go watch the Hong Kong clip i posted. Try to address the points i made.

And Batman is a master of multiple martial arts styles. Not just one. Which just so happens to be the most unimpressive to look at.

 

[EliteF50]

Ever heard of Bruce Lee's one inch punch?

Yes, I have. Bruce Wayne isn't as strong as Bruce Lee, not this early on in his crime fighting career at least. Plus, that was just a straight up jab in TDK.

That's fine if you want to argue that it wasn't executed well, but you're trying to say that Batman can't be practical in a fight scene, but that's what Nolan is going far. So just man up and admit this is more about how you think Batman should fight over whether the fight scene works.

No, it's about both. How the fight scene looks and the effectiveness of Batman's moves. I want him to be efficient, but in a flashier way. He just looks like some street brawler, not a master martial artist.

 

[Mr. Earle]

No, it's about both. How the fight scene looks and the effectiveness of Batman's moves. I want him to be efficient, but in a flashier way. He just looks like some street brawler, not a master martial artist.

This!

 

[The Morningstar]

Welcome to terrible fight choreography 101 folks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFnJGt-uYlw

2.30. As Batman comes out of the shadows to attack one of Laus men. Another one is standing there just off screen... armed with a SHOTGUN. He watches his buddy get slapped about, and allows Batman to bash him over the head with his shotgun.

What should have happened? Well apart from better choreography... our Caped Crusader gets his brains blown out by some buck shot. That's what.

Closely followed by one of the most unintentionally hilarious things i've ever seen where Lau goes towards Batman as though he is attacking him (even though he's holding a ****ing handgun...) then just... collapses.

What should have happened? Well apart from better choreography... Lau should have stepped back whilst Batman was dealing with the other two idiots and emptied his clip into him.

So, anyone think they can defend this example of atrocious fight scene choreography?

 

[EliteF50]

This!

I'm glad there are some people on here with taste when it comes to fight scenes. I'd go insane if everyone loved TDK's fights.

 

[EliteF50]

So, anyone think they can defend this example of atrocious fight scene choreography?

Nope, or else they would have said something by now.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

that scene specifically always bothered me. How could they be in the editing room in post production watching that scene and let it into the film?

It just looks plain bad and there's no excuse as to why it made it in the film.

 

[The Morningstar]

Exactly. If this was some low budget piece of crap martial arts movie I wouldn't mind.

But for a massive budgeted Batman movie? **** ain't gonna fly. And i don't understand how anyone in their right mind can defend that scene.

 

[Boom]

I guess you could argue that that is the inherent flaw with Batman taking on multiple armed men out in the open. All someone would have to do is stand back and shoot him while he's engaging the others. I doubt someone like Lau would care much if one of his goons got killed in the process.

In Batman Begins, Batman literally preyed on people. He swooped in and out of the shadows, and took them one at a time. Then, once the rest of the men were terrified, confused, and demoralized, he came in and ****ed their **** up.

That oozed badassery.

 

[The Morningstar]

Yea, I loved that scene at the docks and the one in the basement. Swooping in out of no where... they disappearing back into the shadows.

Of course you always have to suspend your disbelief a little bit when one person takes on multiple enemies. But it's just so poorly done in this scene. It's just so obvious that these guys are just standing around waiting to be taken out. Thusly, there is no tension in the scene, which means it's crap.

 

[Carnotaur3]

What should have happened? Well apart from better choreography... Lau should have stepped back whilst Batman was dealing with the other two idiots and emptied his clip into him.

That is what happened. He shot Lau in the leg. But I'll give you this. The shot comes a half a second too late. This is an audio problem.

 

[EliteF50]

Unless Lau has size 22 feet, he didn't shoot his foot. He shot the ground.

 

[Mr. Earle]

Agreed Boom and Morningstar.

Also, he could have used smoke bombs, batarangs and other tools and gadgets to help him fight multiple armed opponents. He should be a lot faster as well and that's one of the reasons that the heavy rubber suit has to go.

 

[The Morningstar]

Who shot Lau in the leg? Batman swings the shotgun that he took off the other guy at Lau. Lau starts falling waaaaaaaaaay too early. He just kinda, walks towards Batman, then collapses.

 

[Boom]

That's what I want in TDKR.

Smoke bombs.

Smoke bombs + killed lights =

I'm reminded of that scene at the end of Gangs of New York - where Amsterdam is standing amidst thick smoke and Bill the Butcher swoops in and out, taking slashes at him.

I'd kill to see that in a Batman movie.

 

[Carnotaur3]

Unless Lau has size 22 feet, he didn't shoot his foot. He shot the ground.

It is a fault, but an audio one. But it's clear that that's what they were going for unless you want to keep believing that the stunt choreographer taught the actor to just fall for no reason. I'm willing to bet they didn't use any blanks for the scene, so they put the sound of the gun in post ( they do that anyway) and the mix put the shot too late.

 

[Piuchén]

The fight scenes don't work. Go watch the Hong Kong clip i posted. Try to address the points i made.

And Batman is a master of multiple martial arts styles. Not just one. Which just so happens to be the most unimpressive to look at.

The more styles you practice the less of techniques you choose for your arsenal, you take the most effective, you don´t switch to styles, that´s what Nolan is trying to do with errors but at least he is going for something different.