Rotten Tomatoes/Critical Reception Thread

[Brotherhood]

TDK is just a freaking electric movie, man. There is a specific energy that film captured that is frankly to this day, hard for me to really put into words. It's not something that can be recreated. 'Topped' is a different discussion, and that's where it gets more subjective IMO.

That doesn't mean its flawless, and by the sounds of it, neither is The Batman. I think TDK's status is well-deserved, and it will/should continue to be celebrated years from now.

The whole idea of it being "better in people's memory than it actually is"....I actually take issue with that. Because to me, the best films are the ones that live on and take that kind of a hold in your mind. That initial viewing experience leaves an impression on you that you can never quite shake off. And Nolan is an exceptional filmmaker precisely because of his ability to construct films that do just that. That is the magic of cinema. Sure, you can go back and pick apart some flaws in retrospect. But you really, really can do that for just about any movie. Especially movies that you watch over and over and over.

I don't think anyones doubting its greatness, I completely agree its the best Batman film so far, but I personally feel that the idea that it can't ever be beaten also comes from its legend and cultural impact. That's my point anyway.

 

[Gothamsknight]

I mean, TDK is often in the same conversation as T2, Empire, Aliens, godfather part 2, etc as one of the best sequels ever made. For me, TDK is a phenomenal film. I never think about any flaws because, to me, they don't exist when I watch them. Take the opening scene for example. People love to bring up how "nobody notices the bus?!", But I'm sitting here still speechless over Ledgers iconic delivery of "whatever doesnt kill you simply makes you stranger" and his otherworldly entrance and exit. Films are about how they make you feel, and so long as they don't insult your intelligence and they keep you engaged all the way, it's done it's job. I thought TDK was robbed of a best pic nom, personally speaking. And even as I've brought up The Batman, most people around somehow bring TDK into the conversation. I've never known anybody that mentions the flaws. With TDKR they do, but not TDK because the movie succeeds enough where it should.

If The Batman can keep me engaged and take me on an intense emotional journey, then I'll be one happy Batman fan. It doesnt have to top TDK to do that, and if it does, thats fantastic. TDK can be topped, and nobody is saying it can't.

EDIT: typing on mobile sucks haha.

 

[The Joker]

I don't think anyones doubting its greatness, I completely agree its the best Batman film so far, but I personally feel that the idea that it can't ever be beaten also comes from its legend and cultural impact. That's my point anyway.

Ah well anyone who says it can't be beaten is just being silly. There's always room for improvement.

 

[Iceman]

Anything can be beaten. It’s part of the nature of…being a thing. I’m just too eloquent sometimes

 

[TheScarecrow]

Scores on Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes are both holding firm.

73 / 85

For those that care, that 73 is above No Way Home, Batman Begins, Joker, Infinity War, The Suicide Squad, etc.

 

[Boom]

The SF Chronicle killed the Metacritic average.

 

[emielaen]

25 right? Lol more power to em

 

[Brotherhood]

The SF Chronicle killed the Metacritic average.

Its interesting that particular review is not avaliable in certain regions. Has anyone actually read it?

 

[TheScarecrow]

The bad review may not have impacted it that much.

MetaCritic is weighted, so it's not just an average of all the scores.

Ironically, the average of all of its scores is 73.98 so it seems pretty on the money. But reviews from Variety, Empire, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline etc. would all receive a higher weight than others.

 

[BMW 224]

As much as I love The Dark Knight, I do wonder whether its extreme high regard at this point in time is due to its cultural impact as opposed to the film itself.

Trust me it's not.

If anything alot of the claim's of "overrated" fantastic crime thriller but not a fantastic Batman movie" is due to it's cultural impact.

If the only thing that made Dark Knight a masterpiece was Heath Ledger Joker than maybe.

But the every thing about TDK is just so emotionally compelling and above and beyond most films in this genre.

Its just that good.

At least in my opinion.

 

[Iceman]

As much as I love The Dark Knight, I do wonder whether its extreme high regard at this point in time is due to its cultural impact as opposed to the film itself.

It’s the film that causes the cultural impact though.

 

[TheScarecrow]

Two more added to Metacritic, down to 72.

Stand by my prediction it will end up at 71-72 - higher than Begins, but significantly lower than TDK or TDKR.

Top Critics on RT is now at 76%, with 50 reviews. Average rating has also gone up to a 7.

For comparison, BB has 68% with Top Critics (av rating of 6.9), TDK has 88% with Top Critics (av rating of 8) and TDKR has 79% (av rating 7.6).

 

[Holy Slapper]

Down to 85% after 233 reviews. I'm really sucking at these thread polls here, RT score or box office, lately I'm predicting everything too high or too low..

 

[antsman41]

The SF Chronicle killed the Metacritic average.

Deep down... I think they're weird about Zodiac related fiction. They always have been, since Dirty Harry.

 

[The Batman]

Even with the slew of MCU fans who fight to say their movies are the best. There's no fear or apprehension of saying TDK ain't all that. Its as common as rain to see someone say it around here. Every time a half way decent CBM comes out there's versus threads made for them against TDK here because someone is just dying to see it knocked off its throne.

IMO, It's funny how blatant the bolded is even when its just limited to Batfans on here. Whether its some of the Burton fans, the Batfans who nitpick the trilogy to death because it wasn't comic booky enough or whatever, or some of the Reeves fans.

 

[metaphysician]

When will the audience score be revealed on Rotten Tomatoes. Not very familiar with how it works.

Well, it *shouldn't* be revealed yet, since there shouldn't actually be any audience scores. . . as the movie isn't out. *cough*

( Yes yes, "previews". . . that is a sufficiently tiny subset of the audience that it rounds down to zero. An unverified score submitted before the movie's wide release should reasonably be assumed to be a "prospective" score posted by a fan who hasn't seen it yet. )

 

[Boom]

Down to 85% after 233 reviews. I'm really sucking at these thread polls her, RT score or box office, lately I'm predicting everything too high or too low..

That's the frustrating thing about averages. All it takes is one bad review to drop the overall rating by a whole percentage point, yet it takes 10+ positive reviews to pull it back up. Given we still probably have 2-3 days of reviews ahead of us, I'd say it's unlikely this movie finishes above 85%. Pretty confident it stays above 80% though.

 

[TheSmoothKnight]

Finally in 200's (202) of fresh reviews. Yeah, it sucks how 1 rotten score can drop the percentage point by that much.

 

[BatLobster]

I think it's averaging out pretty much as expected.

People who get caught up on the score-- just think of every single movie you've ever loved or held dear. Are they all above 90%? I find it unlikely. So remember, it's just a stupid number. And The Batman still has a really good score! Especially in an age of divisive films and critics not always being receptive to dark and serious DC films, Batman fatigue (fair or unfair), etc.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

People really still keep acting like 80-something is a bad score. The vibe the day the reviews dropped was miserable for what amounted to pretty consistently good to great reviews.

 

[Holy Slapper]

Finally in 200's (202) of fresh reviews. Yeah, it sucks how 1 rotten score can drop the percentage point by that much.

Well that's math.

 

[Boom]

People really still keep acting like 80-something is a bad score. The vibe the day the reviews dropped was miserable for what amounted to pretty consistently good to great reviews.

Right.

Also worth considering the average score as well. The bad reviews are driving the percentage down (85% as of now) but the positive reviews are strong enough that the movie is still maintaining a high average of 7.8/10.

In other words, opinions are stronger with this movie. It's not a cookie-cutter, check-all-the-boxes type of product.

 

[metaphysician]

If cultural impact had that sort of effect then Batman 1989 would be regarded as one of the all time greats.

I mean, that's certainly why people *should* respect Batman 89, because it absolutely did have a major lasting impact.

 

[Boom]

 

[emielaen]

In other words, opinions are stronger with this movie. It's not a cookie-cutter, check-all-the-boxes type of product.

My favorite type of blockbuster.