The Dark Knight TDK the first REAL sequel to a batman film

[ray243]

In the burton series of batman, the connection between all the films is rather minor...other than having the same character returning to the film. What happens in the previous film has very little impact in the next film.

In the dark knight, it is the first batman sequel that really explore the consequences of the previous film. What happens in BB result in what has happened in the next film.

For example, the amount of crazies working for the joker, the need for batman in gotham, why he can't take off his mask, why bruce wayne isn't living in his mansion and etc.


So, do you think that TDK requires you to watch BB first to really enjoy this film?

 

[Bat-Mite]

Not at all. I think seeing the first film gives you a lot more background on this one, but I wouldn't say it's a necessity. It can stand on its own very easily, and I think that's what Nolan was going for.

 

[calibud]

It wouldn't hurt to see BB first since it's the first full film introduction to the character, but not really necessary. The first five or ten minutes of TDK is a nice segue into this story from the last (capturing the Scarecrow, establishing the mob's instability, a brief mention of Wayne Manor being rebuilt, Bruce's subtle jealousy), and the rest stands well on its own.

 

[spideymouse]

So, do you think that TDK requires you to watch BB first to really enjoy this film?

It doesn't require you to watch BB first, but it at least requires you to watch it some time in your life.

If for some odd reason a non-Batman movie fan missed it in the past three years, watching TDK almost shouts to that person, "Hey! Watch Batman Begins!".

 

[bkey]

I took one of my friends to see TDK who had never seen a Batman movie before in her life and she really enjoyed it and understood it. So I would say its not a necessity.

 

[CFE]

Y'know, I was wondering when we were gonna get around to even MORE unecessary and pointless bashing/undermining of the prievious franchise upon "TDK"s release...

CFE

 

[Micah12345]

I feel like this would have been the perfect batman trilogy had ledger not died.

now, who knows what direction it will go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz6_vBAvLIA

 

[Coleman Reese]

There are links that tie TDK to BB. But I'm impressed by how well TDK and BB stand alone and apart from each other. Its quite an accomplishment.

 

[weezerspider]

It ties into BB, but at the same time, it can stand alone, which, is good for a sequel.

 

[buff17]

For me, I think to understand the Batman/Gordon relationship that watching the first film is a must. Gives much greater impact, especially in the final moments.

 

[DACrowe]

I'd agree as this is a stand alone movie like Nolan wanted and he could still change the asethetic of what Gotham looks like minorly and a few things, but maintain the initial tone and characters of the first film while writing them in a new and refreshing situation that explores new themes and concepts not seen in a Batman moie before while maintaining the continuity of the last. i.e. Rachel is still around and knows Bruce's secret and their relationship is still "strange," the Wayne Manor is still destroyed and Batman is living temporarily in a pent house, the mob is still in pieces after Falcone's downfall and is called the Falcone crime family, the cops are still corrupt, crazies like Scarecrow and the Joker's thugs are still roaming the streets (and wreacking havoc like Scarecrow's drugs) on Gotham after it's ending, Gordon and Rachel are apparently now friends, Gordon's relationship with Batman is still in "play" and iffy and he is not yet Commish, with Commissioner Loeb still in charge.

Nolan proved you can do something new without discarding continuity or entire looks like Burton did and he just didn't remake the last formula like B&R did to BF. Which is nice. I mean if Godfather Part II can maintain continuity I never got why Batman movies could not.

 

[Lauryn2000]

It doesn't require you to watch BB first, but it at least requires you to watch it some time in your life.

If for some odd reason a non-Batman movie fan missed it in the past three years, watching TDK almost shouts to that person, "Hey! Watch Batman Begins!".

LOL.....

 

[Star]

It's a stand alone, but I'm still making my parents watch BB before they go to TDK

 

[MrQuinn]

I took one of my friends to see TDK who had never seen a Batman movie before in her life and she really enjoyed it and understood it. So I would say its not a necessity.

Similar situation, I went with a friend and before the movie began, I asked her "Did you even see Batman Begins" and she said no. She also did not know who the Joker or Two Face were.

But she loved the movie anyways.

 

[Nirvana]

Actually, I felt that The Dark Knight stood on it's own pretty well. It's not necessary to watch Batman Begins, it adds a background for The Dark Knight, but over all it stands pretty well on it's own.

 

[November Rain]

the dark knight is very much a stand alone piece.


infact i wouldn't recommend watching batman begins before watching it and that really says a lot. I know a large part of the mainstream audience is not going to be looking to watch the original beforehand and i don't blame them

 

[obiwan]

batmam begins was very boring at times. but TDK was just, it makes BB look like a prep for TDK, nothing more.

 

[DarkKnight245]

BB was just the tip of the iceberg as to what Nolan could do with Batman and his universe.

 

[The Batman]

uh...how bout no?

TDK is just like every other directors second outing: Barely mentions the original specifically. one could watch tdk without watching bb

 

[GregComicFan]

I think Lucius Fox's role in TDK would be confusing to someone who didnt see Batman Begins. They wouldnt understand why this guy at Wayne Enterprises knows Bruce is Batman, why Bruce doesnt care about his company (he sleeps at the meeting, to continue to seem like a total twit), and why Morgan Freeman seems to supply Batman with all his stuff....

I think Batman/Gordon's relationship would be a little muddled to a non-BB-viewer or someone who knows nothing about Batman.

A non-BB-viewer would have to be informed by a BB-viewer that Rachel knows Bruce is Batman.

Besides that, it works.

 

[magus]

Is seeing BB first necessary? Absolutely not. Will it enhance the experience if you do? I think so.

 

[spideyman101]

Honestly you could have The Dark Knight given to some weirdo who's never heard of Batman, have him watch it and love it, then he ask "when's the 2nd one coming out?" and you give him "the prequel", Batman Begins and he'd never ask if BB was first made.

But at the same time they're perfectly connected. The Dark Knight is almost the same comparison as "Batman 89" was in some respects.

Which reminds me... my older brother and me watched TDK and afterward's he made it clear to me that he thought Batman Begins and The Dark Knight were prequels to Batman 89! He was asking how, if Two-Face died, how he was in Batman Forever. I looked at him as shocked as I could be and was nearly dumbfounded. He'd watched Batman Begins and loved it, and I had told him several times that it was a different series... must not've sunken in. Needless to say, I corrected him.

By the way, now he loves The Dark Knight and it's his favorite film of this year. He's seen it three times and he still loves it! And for my brother, that's amazing. He doesn't really enjoy comic-book films and he sees my "obsession" over them as stupidity. Just to hear words like "Harvey Dent, Joker, Two-Face, Jim Gordon" and things of that nature thrills me. Before this film he'd never heard of Harvey Dent. That's what I love about this film as opposed to Batman Forever, you leave feeling you know the character really well. In BF it was like "wow... he's a villain with bubblegum on his face"...

 

[Nepenthes]

hhhm. i think the OP is right.

funny that, six movies to get one sequel

 

[Darkfly]

Y'know, I was wondering when we were gonna get around to even MORE unecessary and pointless bashing/undermining of the prievious franchise upon "TDK"s release...

CFE

agreed, its the reason I'm waiting months before I come back to this area of the Hype.

 

[Darknightnomis]

In the dark knight, it is the first batman sequel that really explore the consequences of the previous film. What happens in BB result in what has happened in the next film.

For example, the amount of crazies working for the joker, the need for batman in gotham, why he can't take off his mask, why bruce wayne isn't living in his mansion and etc.

So, do you think that TDK requires you to watch BB first to really enjoy this film?

It's not neccessary... but it does enhance the viewing of TDK knowing what had transpire in BB.

It's like how Star Wars is to Empire Strike Back.

Both are great Stand alone movies, but they really are more enjoyable when put in the the proper perspective.