The Dark Knight Let's talk differences in cinemetography

[Ammo]

In many ways, TDK had a different "look and feel" to it than Batman Begins. It wasn't as drastic as, say, the Burton to Schumacher switch, but it felt like the differences were clearly apparent. Gotham looked completely different this time around, I'm not so sure I liked that. You'd figure they would have rebuilt the monorail or at least had a project in place to do so.

There were no real pans on "signature" places in Gotham this time around, this time around it just looked like Chicago to me. No Narrows or the seedy buildings that came with it.

Everything felt "bigger," which is understandable with a sequel, but was it necessary to stray that far from the original movie in terms of the look of Gotham?

I noticed more "swirling" cameras this time around, and I did like the bluish palatte they used in the film, I hope they keep it for the 3rd film. One of the most obvious changes were the action sequences, and quite frankly, it was a welcome change.

What other differences did you notice?

 

[The_Raganork]

The camera moved around more this time I feel.

Batman Begins seemed very stationary at points.

I felt there were less shots of Chicago; but, the ones that were were stunning.

In Batman Begins we got some of that Shaky Camera thing during a conversation with Rachel and DaFinch; but, in the Dark Knight we got a lot more of that with the GCN stuff as well as Harvey taking that guy to the warehouse and questioning him.

most notable


Joker during Gordon's Interrogation...

his head is like floating; it's so dark you cannot see his body; this shot was missing from BB; then the contrasting shot where the lights come on.


Good VS. Evil

Dark VS. Light;

when Batman is revealed the light floods out the Darkness; but, what happens next? Joker reveals it's not about them it's really about everyone else and saving Gotham's soul.

Just wonderful

 

[The_Raganork]

Also When Harvey and Rachel are about to die they are casted; one in light, one in Darkness.


Lighting told a lot of the story int he film; I felt that more than BB where everything was essentially dark

 

[Rishi]

I made a topic about it on the Begins board, but after seeing this movie the chase in the last is just pitiful. All around, every action sequence is an improvement. He really listened to the criticism.

The city does feel different, but it could just be a result of alot of the movie taking place during the daytime. Perhaps its something else, though...

 

[SheldonLevene]

I can't believe no one saw the monorail. I've seen the film twice and it was clearly there both times they just didn't allude to it b/c doing so would have added nothing to the film save a nod to BB. In the shot of the building that says WAYNE real big at the top the monorail is to the left.

 

[flavio_lebeau]

Gotham does look like another city. Any big city.

I love this movie though.

 

[DSET]

-The bluish tint was a welcome addition
-It was alot better than the cinematography in begins
-Alot more rotating and moving Cameras
-Alot more Long shots (can really see into the distance in this movie)
-They had the hesitating type camera (hand held feel) thing going on even in SOME calm (or non action) scenes for dramatic effect
-Instead of a dramatically shaking camera during fight scenes they had alot of cut to the outcome of a anction(punch, gunfire etc), alot of the fighting was off screen and half hidden I thought it worked better than in BB but still not the absolute best it can be
-The slaughter truck vs the tumbler scene was filmed very uniquely I couldnt put my finger on it but there was something i didnt like about and then something I loved about it, it was very different from everything else in the film.
-some really quick POV shots with the batpod especially in narrows which is a given with motorcycles.

 

[DSET]

- I didnt catch the light and dark \good vs evil
I look forward to recognizing it in the second screening.

 

[KyleSBeaver]

I didn't like the change in Batman's fighting style.

In BB, he was very much like a ninja. Taking on 5+ guys at once. Swooping out of darkness, the bad guys barely got a glimpse of him before they were out cold.

In this one, he shows up head-butting people and just fighting like a guy in a bar room brawl.

Amazing film, though.

 

[DSET]

i didnt notice in the movie but in the trailer theres a ton of money shots-museum and action poses at times I guess you need a freeze frame to caputure them but it gives a good essence of posing and shot angles they use in comic books.

 

[Batman jr.]

What's "cinemetography"?

Oh and the fighting scenes are improved, one of the few complaints I had about BB! ==> who else thinks this way?


(About the monorail: It's there, but not very noticable. Screencaps needed lol)

 

[Conebone69]

Basically to me, TDK looks like a mainstream movie

 

[DSET]

Basically to me, TDK looks like a mainstream movie

"facepalm"

 

[Ender Durden]

TDK looked much much more expansive the BB. i mean im sure this has everything to do with the fact the the first movie was filmed mainly in a warehouse, it felt really claustrophobic.

now in TDK you got outdoor shots everywhere, even when the filming is inside! you could actually see what was going out on the streets below while they were in their offices. this made everything seem so much more real, i really feel like it was one of the factors that leads people to comparisons to Heat and Departed.

 

[MMoralN10Tion]

I must agree, part of my complaints with BB (other than the fighting) was the fact that it felt just a tad bit claustrophobic in some parts. Whether that had to do with the lighting or the way it was filmed, I can't tell. The only complaint I have with this movie is that the editing, at times, was too quick. I wanted to see more of Bruce's reaction to Rachel's death and how that effected him. That's not a cinemetography complaint though...

 

[TheBat812]

In many ways, TDK had a different "look and feel" to it than Batman Begins. It wasn't as drastic as, say, the Burton to Schumacher switch, but it felt like the differences were clearly apparent. Gotham looked completely different this time around, I'm not so sure I liked that. You'd figure they would have rebuilt the monorail or at least had a project in place to do so.

There were no real pans on "signature" places in Gotham this time around, this time around it just looked like Chicago to me. No Narrows or the seedy buildings that came with it.

Everything felt "bigger," which is understandable with a sequel, but was it necessary to stray that far from the original movie in terms of the look of Gotham?

I noticed more "swirling" cameras this time around, and I did like the bluish palatte they used in the film, I hope they keep it for the 3rd film. One of the most obvious changes were the action sequences, and quite frankly, it was a welcome change.

What other differences did you notice?

The part about Gotham isn't cinematography but production design. They didn't do as many set ups because we already know Gotham, to an extent. the swirling camera is to keep building tension. One thing I noticed was that it was very much more steadicammed than BB, which was more handheld. The hues were definitely more blue than brown (think of the opening batman symbols for the respective films) to showcase the more dour and hopeless mood (I believe Heat did this as well.) Overall, beautifully shot, I wouldnt' be surprised if this was also nominated for best cinematography.

 

[Octoberist]

Basically to me, TDK looks like a mainstream movie

OMG

 

[daywalker2007]

Basically to me, TDK looks like a mainstream movie

wow, you must have learnt from sherlock holmes himself!

when something like the Dark knight is better than having sex,

its no wonder the mainstream have gone in their droves to see what real film making is about.

no need for campy stuff like spiderman.

batman is the for the audience who desires intelligent film making with no need for watered down crap.

all hail the nolan.

 

[The Guard]

They filmed Batman himself in a very different manner. Less closeups, more full "scene" shots, which made even the BEGINS suit looks sort of odd in some shots.

 

[mavsmaniac21]

I can't believe no one saw the monorail. I've seen the film twice and it was clearly there both times they just didn't allude to it b/c doing so would have added nothing to the film save a nod to BB. In the shot of the building that says WAYNE real big at the top the monorail is to the left.

thats good news. i would think nolan wouldnt miss that. i didnt see it the first time i watched it but i will look for it tonight. cant wait to see it again. the movie is just great. this lady sat next to me and they were middle aged and you could tell they were there mostly due to the hype. she couldnt shut up about how great heath was.

 

[wootbaby]

I think it was a stylistic choice.

The first movie was from Batman's point of view, and the criminals. That's why we had all that shaky-cam with the crappy krav maga fight choreography... using Nolan's own words it was how the criminals saw him.. bits and pieces and shadows. A lot of people have said it felt claustrophobic and I agree. In the first movie, Gotham city was not a happy place for Bruce. It was the place he wanted the most to run away from, the place in the world the most painful to be in, and probably a much much darker place for Bruce than the criminals or citizens of Gotham. That's why you had that dark palate etc. I also believe Nolan is a truly thoughtful man and he plans everything ahead like a chess match... obviously the palate of BB is also closer to that of Burton's films, which would ease the transition for the audience and also get the studio off his back

The 2nd movie, Gotham is much more of a character in the movie. It's not all about Batman and how he sees the city, it's about all these different people invested in the city interacting with it. It being cleaner and more familiar makes you connect better with everything going on.

From a technical standpoint, the fact that it was shot in IMAX and huge real-life action sequences (like the truck flip) also influenced the use of more pan/full scene type shots. You could argue the choice to change up the cinematography came first and the IMAX and larger action shots came later but they probably go hand in hand