The Dark Knight Quick question

[Longshot777]

Just wanted to know when exactly the events of the dark knight took place??

We can assume only a year after Batman Begins because the Joker was robbing banks at the end of Batman Begins.

Probably took place even before that, like 8 months after Batman Begins.

Which means, Batman was only around for a year.

Then he disappeared for 8 more years until saving Gotham from Bane.

So his legend as Gotham's superhero was very brief.

 

[The Joker]

Joker: "A year ago these Cops and lawyers wouldn't dare cross any of you"

 

[Longshot777]

Oh yeah thanks

So The Batman was only around for a year then in Nolan's universe.

 

[The Joker]

Approximately that length yes.

 

[frakkingoff]

More specifically, looking at the seasons, one can assume that somewhere around 15 months elapse between Bruce's return to Gotham (late spring or summer) and the events of "The Dark Knight" (autumn).

And while "The Dark Knight" seems to occur over the short time span of a few days or a week, most seem to forget that the events of "Batman Begins" (at least, those set in the "present-day" Gotham) span at least several weeks, if not months.

In particular, there must be a great length of time between Batman's defeat of Ra's on the train and his meeting with Gordon on the rooftops at the end (long enough for Gordon and the GCPD to have rounded up half of the escaped Arkham inmates).

 

[The Joker]

Well Begins keeps jumping back and forth in time. We certainly do not feel like we watched 7 years go by when Bruce is doing his traveling/training. I remember being surprised when Alfred says on the plane that Bruce has been gone 7 years.

 

[BatLobster]

Well, that's probably because most of Bruce's traveling happens before Ra's finds him in the Tibet prison. The fact that Bruce demonstrates multiple fighting styles when he first arrives at the monastery is the movie's way of showing us that he's been abroad for a while.

I figure Bruce's time training with the LoS was somewhere between a few months to 1 year max.

 

[The Joker]

I know, but the way the movie presents it doesn't feel like years.

 

[KneelBeforeZod]

Here's how I see the timeline ...

- November 8, 1983 -- Thomas Wayne murdered. Bruce is 8. (Date from some casefile or something).
- 1996 -- Joe Chill paroled. Bruce expelled from Princeton and leaves Gotham. He is 21.
- 1996-2003 -- Seven year absence from Gotham. Training.
- 2003 -- Bruce returns to Gotham at 28yo. R&D for Batman. Batman's first night.
- 2005 -- League of Shadows attack on Gotham on Bruce's 30th birthday. There is about 2-years between Bruce's return and the LOS attack.
- 2005-2008 -- three year off-screen war on crime;
- 2008 -- events of The Dark Knight occur. New Batsuit. Bruce is 33;
- 2008 -- last confirmed sighting of Batman after Dent's death;
- 2008-2016 -- eight year gap between confirmed sightings;
- 2016 -- Events of The Dark Knight Rises, Bruce is 41.

To support the three-year gap between Begins/TDK.
- Jim Gordon's son is 2-years-old in Begins. He's clearly older than 3 in TDK. At least 6.
- The Dark Knight manual references that Batman used the Begins suit for 5-years. 2003-2008. First night through TDK's new Batsuit.
- A gap between Begins and TDK explains why the Joker has a reputation with the mobsters and his bank robbery accomplices.
- The gap between Batman's first night and the LOS attack also allows time for Ras al Ghul to exile Bane before his death.

That would mean Bruce was Batman for 5-years ... 2003-2005 (Begins); 2005-2008 (b/w Begins and TDK); 2016 (TDKR). I also like the idea of unconfirmed Batman sightings in 2009 and 2010, before Bruce's injury and official retirement. So, you might be able to stretch it to 6-years.

Joker: "A year ago these Cops and lawyers wouldn't dare cross any of you"

This may not reference a year since Batman's initial appearance. Just one year since Batman is having enough impact to scare them into daylight meetings.

KBZ

 

[The Joker]

This may not reference a year since Batman's initial appearance. Just one year since Batman is having enough impact to scare them into daylight meetings

That quote doesn't mention Batman at all. He was talking about when the Cops (like Gordon) and the lawyers (like Finch, Rachel, Dent) wouldn't dare cross any of the mob.

That all changed in Begins when Batman showed up.

 

[KneelBeforeZod]

He didn't say that either. He said "a year ago, they wouldn't touch any of you." That's it. He didn't say why, specifically, except "The Batman" is why they have their little meetings in broad daylight. Maybe a year ago was Batman's first appearance. Maybe a year ago was about the time Batman made enough progress against the mob & cop corruption to make a dent in the city's crime problem. Maybe a year ago, the cops and lawyers jumped on the Batman bandwagon. Either way, you're filling in a blank.

But, it is clear there's much more than a year between Begins and TDK just from the age of Gordon's son. He goes from 3ish to 7ish between Begins and TDK.

KBZ

 

[The Joker]

He didn't say that either. He said "a year ago, they wouldn't touch any of you." That's it.

Right. Until Batman Begins when they did start daring to touch them. Unless you missed Rachel and Finch going after Falcone and having him indited after Batman gave them all the dirt on him.

It's not hard to put two and two together here.

But, it is clear there's much more than a year between Begins and TDK just from the age of Gordon's son. He goes from 3ish to 7ish between Begins and TDK.

That was a continuity goof. After all it wouldn't take 4 years to rebuild Wayne Manor. It certainly wouldn't take Joker 4 years of being a bank robber before he eventually made his big move.

 

[KneelBeforeZod]

Right. Until Batman Begins when they did start daring to touch them. Unless you missed Rachel and Finch going after Falcone and having him indited after Batman gave them all the dirt on him.

It's not hard to put two and two together here.



That was a continuity goof. After all it wouldn't take 4 years to rebuild Wayne Manor. It certainly wouldn't take Joker 4 years of being a bank robber before he eventually made his big move.

Choose your interpretation. If you insist on interpreting the "year ago" line that way ... it seems at least as likely that the "year ago" throwaway line is a continuity goof. If you're going to just ignore an annoying detail ... why not ignore that one?

A three-year gap makes more sense in the timeline. It coincides with the kids ages. It coincides with the 5-years of using the Begins suit (as referenced in one of the movie tie-in manuals). And, it makes Wayne's Batman service-time work better for the overall story (five-years before the 'retirement' + plus a year during the Bane incident). Makes far more sense in continuity than the whole first two movies happening within a year ... at which point Wayne retires at 31, and has already acquired a chronic injury. Makes no sense at all.

KBZ

 

[The Joker]

Choose your interpretation. If you insist on interpreting the "year ago" line that way ... it seems at least as likely that the "year ago" throwaway line is a continuity goof. If you're going to just ignore an annoying detail ... why not ignore that one?

Because it's not an annoying detail. Even if your 4 year gap was right, it would still be a continuity goof. Gordon's kid in Begins was a little crying baby being spoon fed by Mrs. Gordon. In TDK he was at the very least 8 years old.

No matter who's math you choose, it's a continuity goof.

A three-year gap makes more sense in the timeline. It coincides with the kids ages.

No it doesn't. I've just proven that.

It coincides with the 5-years of using the Begins suit (as referenced in one of the movie tie-in manuals).

Manuals are as valid as Novelizations. As in not at all.

And, it makes Wayne's Batman service-time work better for the overall story (five-years before the 'retirement' + plus a year during the Bane incident).

Except the time line of the movies doesn't support that. That's just wishful thinking on your part.

Makes far more sense in continuity than the whole first two movies happening within a year.

It doesn't make one lick of sense. Not for the ages of the kid, not for the idea that Joker sat around being a thief for 5 years, and not that it took 5 long years just to rebuild Wayne Manor.

Your 5 year timeline is false.

 

[KneelBeforeZod]

Your 5 year timeline is false.

Haha. Of course its false. Its fiction. There is no timeline. Using any timeline at all is an exercise in retroactively choosing which continuity errors to ignore to try to fit it together in a way that makes sense.

You ignore the kids ages. You ignore the ridiculously short duration of use of the first batsuit. You ignore the absurdity of super-ninja Bruce Wayne acquiring a chronic injury in a year. Or the absurdity of cleaning up a corrupt-to-the-core city and retiring that fast. Or that Ras had no time to train, use and exile Bane between Bruce leaving him for dead the first time (in the Himalayas) and Bruce leaving him for dead the second time (on the train).

All because the Joker said "a year ago these cops and lawyers wouldn't dare cross any of you", which you interpret to coincide with Batman's first appearance.

For what its worth ... I said a 3-year gap between BB and TDK. On my timeline, the events of Begins took 2-years from his initial return to Gotham to the League of Shadows attack. 2-years for BB + 3-years between BB & TDK = 5-years total service time by the time he retires.

So, the Joker would've been operating as a small-time criminal for 2 or 3-years between BB and TDK ... not 5. He didn't start at the same time as Batman. Sounds fine to me.

KBZ

 

[The Joker]

Haha. Of course its false. Its fiction. There is no timeline. Using any timeline is an exercise in choosing which continuity errors to ignore.

There is a timeline in the continuity of these movies. Don't pretend you don't know I was referring to that.

You ignore the kids ages.

Yeah I'm the one selling the notion that 3 years can turn a baby from this:

into this:

You ignore the ridiculously short duration of use of the first batsuit.

Yeah why shouldn't I? It wouldn't take Batman 3 flipping years to realize the suit is too heavy and cumbersome and causing him to make mistakes before he asks for a new one.

How stupid do you think he is?

You ignore the absurdity of super-ninja Bruce Wayne acquiring a chronic injury in a year.

What chronic injury?

Or the absurdity of cleaning up a corrupt-to-the-core city and retiring that fast.

What clean up? Were you watching the same movie as me? There was no clean up. The only difference between BB and TDK regarding the mob was Maroni replaced Falcone, the criminals were fearing Batman's rep, and the mob adopted their methods to meet in day time instead of night.

That's it. Nothing there that would require 3 years to happen.

Or that Ras had no time to train, use and exile Bane between Bruce leaving him for dead the first time (in the Himalayas) and Bruce leaving him for dead the second time (on the train).

What the hell are you even talking about here? What makes you think Bane was not trained and exiled BEFORE Bruce came along? Looking at Begins it makes more sense that he was trained and exiled before Bruce showed up since there was not a sign of Talia anywhere around her father because she wasn't talking to him because he had exiled Bane.

I don't know where you pulled that from.

All because the Joker said "a year ago these cops and lawyers wouldn't dare cross any of you."

Exactly. And all supported by the events of the movies.

For what its worth ... I said a 3-year gap between BB and TDK.

Yeah that doesn't make it any less implausible or unsupported by the movies.

On my timeline, the events of Begins took 2-years from his initial return to Gotham to the League of Shadows attack.

Two years from the return to Gotham to Ra's Al Ghul's attack?

You're having a laugh. Not a thing in the movie to support that either. Not even a hint of it. You just made that up, too.

2-years for BB + 3-years between BB & TDK = 5-years total service time by the time he retires.

So, the Joker would've been operating for 2 or 3-years between BB and TDK ... not 5. He didn't start at the same time as Batman.

You indulge in your belief that your fan fiction is correct. I'll stick to the reality of what the movies say and show us.

 

[KneelBeforeZod]

There is no official timeline. Its all fan fiction. Yours is no more official than mine ... unless your last name is Nolan.

The events of the movies support your timeline ... excepting those details you choose write-off as continuity errors.

Wayne's chronic leg injury that required a cane in TDKR ... lack of cartilage, etc. No way he does that to his knees in a year.

Bane couldn't have been trained before Wayne ... unless he was trained as a pre-teen. Bruce is in his 40s in TDKR ... Bane is barely in his 30s, if that. He even calls Wayne an "old man". Wayne was in his mid-20s during LOS training ... which means Bane would be in his mid-teens around that time. He'd have had to be exiled when he was like 12 for Wayne to come in and train after him. Your timeline makes complete sense.

There had to be a gap between the burning of Ras' house on the mountain and his attack on Gotham, during which he trained and exiled Bane. Bane would've been about 20 at that time. Makes far more sense.

KBZ

 

[The Joker]

There is no official timeline. Its all fan fiction. Yours is no more official than mine ... unless your last name is Nolan.

You don't get more official than Joker's quote. A character in the movie saying it. It puts an official time stamp on the events between BB and TDK.

The events of the movies support your timeline ... excepting those details you choose write-off as continuity errors.

No errors, just one. The age of Gordon's kid. We know that was a genuine goof because the timeline between BB and TDK would have to be at least 7-8 years for Gordon's kid to age to the age he did in TDK, and we know it certainly is not the case of a gap as large as that.

That's the only error.

Wayne's chronic leg injury that required a cane in TDKR ... lack of cartilage, etc. No way he does that to his knees in a year.

What in the name of God are you talking about? I never said Bruce got that leg injury in a year. I never even brought the leg injury up. You did. That's got nothing to do with the time gap between BB and TDK. That's a result of his fall with Harvey Dent at the end of TDK. Which he left unhealed for 8 years.

Are you following our discussion here?

Bane couldn't have been trained before Wayne ... unless he was trained as a pre-teen.

You are living in some kind of alternate reality to ours. Bane was rescued from the pit while Talia was still a child and Ra's was a younger man. Remember seeing the young Ra's finding Bane in the pit? Did you even watch TDKR?

Bruce is in his 40s in TDKR

Bruce was 39.

30 in BB:

31 in TDK, 39 in TDKR.

Bane is barely in his 30s, if that.

Your math leaves a lot to be desired. Talia was about 8 or 9 years old when she escaped the pit. Bane was at the very least in his late 20's to early 30's when he was her protector. Talia was a grown up was in her 30's in TDKR. That's over 20 years, which puts Bane at the very least in his late 40's in TDKR.

He even calls Wayne an "old man".

No he doesn't.

Wayne was in his mid-20s during LOS training ... which means Bane would be in his mid-teens around that time. He'd have had to be exiled when he was like 12 for Wayne to come in and train after him. Your timeline makes complete sense.

KBZ, you have not the slightest idea what you are talking about. I am flabbergasted by your opinions. It's like you watched an alternate reality version to the rest of us.

There had to be a gap between the burning of Ras' house on the mountain and his attack on Gotham, during which he trained and exiled Bane. Bane would've been about 20 at that time. Makes far more sense

You are hilarious lol. I'll repeat again with pictorial proof. YOUNG RA'S AL GHUL finding Bane:

Which proves Bane got his training BEFORE Bruce did. End of story. No offense but please get these simple facts straight before you start these kinds of discussions.

 

[Calavera]

if it was 2005 or so would it make sense for dark knight rises to be in 2012?

 

[The Joker]

if it was 2005 or so would it make sense for dark knight rises to be in 2012?

The math there doesn't add up either if TDKR was 8 years after TDK.

 

[shauner111]

Choose your interpretation. If you insist on interpreting the "year ago" line that way ... it seems at least as likely that the "year ago" throwaway line is a continuity goof. If you're going to just ignore an annoying detail ... why not ignore that one?

A three-year gap makes more sense in the timeline. It coincides with the kids ages. It coincides with the 5-years of using the Begins suit (as referenced in one of the movie tie-in manuals). And, it makes Wayne's Batman service-time work better for the overall story (five-years before the 'retirement' + plus a year during the Bane incident). Makes far more sense in continuity than the whole first two movies happening within a year ... at which point Wayne retires at 31, and has already acquired a chronic injury. Makes no sense at all.

KBZ

Plus Harvey starts hinting at commitment like marriage to Rachel. If they were together for 1 year max or even 8 months, it just doesn't make sense.

The 3 years of them being together would make sense within the story of TDK and adds even more weight to Harvey's pain than if he was dating her for 8 months or whatever. Of course he would still lose it but it just adds a lot more weight to everything.

BUT Joker could be right.

Bane is older than Bruce in TDKR. He trained with Ras before Bruce and was excommunicated. Talia is in her early 30s in Rises, even though Marion's older than Anne I got the impression they were closer in age in the movie. Im assuming young Talia in the pit, was about the age of 8 like Bruce was when his parents were shot down. Bane should be about 21/22 (think college Bruce). Younger Ras looks to be in his late 20s like when Bruce was dumped on the side of the road in order to find that rare blue flower. There's a reason why they all mirror each other.

So, since Ras is about 50 in Begins, we can assume that it's been somewhere between 20 to 25 years since. Ill guess 23.

This puts Talia at about 31. Bane at about 44/45. Somebody on the film in an interview (was it Emma?) said Bane is a lot older than we think.

We know TDK is July/August 2008. So TDKR begins in August-ish of 2016 for Harvey Dent Day. It ends within the first couple of months of 2017 and then probably fast forward to March or April for the ending reveals where Bruce gives each of his friends signs of him being alive.

If you go by the popular opinion. He's 30 in Begins, he's 31 in TDK, 39 when Rises starts and closer to 40 when the trilogy ends. But some people who think a few years passed between BB & TDK? He would be 33 in TDK and 41 going on 42 in TDKR.

But finally, I do think that it's possible months flew by while Bruce was creating everything to become Batman. He is 30 in Begins but I think there could be a significant jump from the moment Bruce/Rachel/Alfred are at the sight of Wayne Manor to the rooftop scene where Gordon shows Bats the Joker card. Months? Close to a year? There's a lot of inmates to gather up. Then you got Joker building his reputation while Rachel and Harvey are dating and getting more serious.

 

[ThePhantasm]

I think it is funny that The Joker here is being accused of creating a fan fiction timeline when he is drawing conclusions exclusively from what the films themselves state.

 

[The Joker]

Plus Harvey starts hinting at commitment like marriage to Rachel. If they were together for 1 year max or even 8 months, it just doesn't make sense.

Why not? People have got engaged after a few months of dating. When you know, you know.

I mean Batman Begins asked us to believe Rachel and Bruce were in love when Bruce had been gone for 7 years. The last time she saw him she slapped his face and told him his dad would be ashamed of him. We never saw the vaguest hint there was anything romantic between them until their final scene in BB.

Then we have The Dark Knight Rises, where we're told Bruce gave up on a normal life because a woman he never even dated or had sex with was dead, and he thought she had been his only shot at a normal life. We won't even get started on Bruce and Selina running away abroad together after knowing each other for like a day and a half (not counting the months he was locked away abroad in the pit thanks to her betrayal of him).

Compare all of that nonsense to Harvey and Rachel intimately dating for several months before considering marriage which is far more plausible, not to mention common in the real world.

I think it is funny that The Joker here is being accused of creating a fan fiction timeline when he is drawing conclusions exclusively from what the films themselves state.

 

[Calavera]

well the joker also likes multiple choice origins

 

[shauner111]

Well, I find that far-fetched with Harvey and Rachel. That's not the same thing (Rachel and bruce) because they've been best friends since children. They were teenagers together and early 20s. It's a different story.

There was no love stuff being thrown at the audience between Selina and Bruce, they just felt connected and took a chance with each other at the end because they had that stuff in common with wanting to start over. Very different from all of it.