The Batman Spoiler Discussion Thread

[WayneMB]

So I have a request.
Does anyone have the opening monologue from Bruce quoted?

"Thursday, October 31st. The city streets are crowded for the holiday, even with the rain. Hidden in the chaos is the element, waiting to strike like snakes — but I'm there, too. Watching. Two years of nights have turned me into a nocturnal animal. I must choose my targets carefully. It's a big city... I can't be everywhere — but they don't know where I am. We have a signal now, for when I'm needed. But when that light hits the sky, it's not just a call, it's a warning... To them. Fear is a tool. They think I'm hiding in the shadows — but I am the shadows."

 

[DeadlyWest]

"Thursday, October 31st. The city streets are crowded for the holiday, even with the rain. Hidden in the chaos is the element, waiting to strike like snakes — but I'm there, too. Watching. Two years of nights have turned me into a nocturnal animal. I must choose my targets carefully. It's a big city... I can't be everywhere — but they don't know where I am. We have a signal now, for when I'm needed. But when that light hits the sky, it's not just a call, it's a warning... To them. Fear is a tool. They think I'm hiding in the shadows — but I am the shadows."

Here's the second part

"I wish I could say I'm making a difference, but I don't know. Murder, robberies, assault... two years later they're all up. And now this. The city's eating itself. Maybe it's beyond saving. But I have to try... push myself. These nights all rush together in a rush, behind the mask. Sometimes, in the morning, I have to force myself to remember everything that happened."

 

[Kindred]

Thank you both so much! much appreciated!

 

[Quixotica]

"October 12th, 1985. Dog carcass in alley this morning, tire tread on burst stomach. This city is afraid of me. I have seen its true face."

Oops wrong character

"Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets."

DAMN IT

 

[VonRomberg]

Nice, I can see it inspiring others... totally.

That's how I can see them handling robin, if at all - a kid that is inspired and bruce takes him under his wing to protect him - he can't protect them all, but if he saves one, it's good.
so many aspects of the batman lore can be translated to screen, even robin... it's just how it's handled.

I was thinking about his suit - robin that is.. i have faith in Reeves for sure.

I wouldn’t have said so before but now I think this universe could handle a Robin for sure. I’m quite a fan of Dick Grayson, his origins, and the mirror image he is of Batman.

Given that this universe is a little more personal and cerebral I think an exploration of Grayson being a parallel to Bruce, but essentially a “whole” and less pathological version would be great. We see Bruce a complete mess in this movie, and it’s because he never resolved his parents’ murder and being incapable of doing anything about it.

In the best source material I feel like Dick Grayson is actually Bruce being given an opportunity to fix a kid who would’ve ended up just like him, but due to Bruce’s intervention becomes a better and less dark version of Batman. It’s almost as though Bruce can cathartically fix himself through helping Dick. It’ll be tricky to do well, but I’d be curious about how they’d approach it.

 

[chintai80]

haha his narration did make me think of rorschach right away.

his bat-voice even sounded a bit like jackie earle haley's rorschach's voice at that moment.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Had a Frank Miller bent to it. I haven't read Year One in years, but did they lift any of the narration from it?

 

[moviedoors]

Saw it a 4th time. Here's what I noticed this time, and it's such a great detail:

Eye contact.

When he's Batman, he's all intense eye contact. When he's Bruce, he can barely hold it at all.

And what's the one scene where Batman can't maintain eye contact?

In the interrogation scene, when he thinks Riddler knows who he is. He slips into Bruce Wayne's body language and lack of eye contact. And the moment he realizes he's misread it, what's he do? He locks eyes with Riddler and doesn't break it for the rest of the scene.

I love this movie.

 

[Kane52630]

 

[DKDetective]

Saw it a 4th time. Here's what I noticed this time, and it's such a great detail:

Eye contact.

When he's Batman, he's all intense eye contact. When he's Bruce, he can barely hold it at all.

And what's the one scene where Batman can't maintain eye contact?

In the interrogation scene, when he thinks Riddler knows who he is. He slips into Bruce Wayne's body language and lack of eye contact. And the moment he realizes he's misread it, what's he do? He locks eyes with Riddler and doesn't break it for the rest of the scene.

I love this movie.

Another reason why I am so against lens/white eyes with this version of Batman. All of that would be lost.

 

[Gold Samurai]

Nice, I can see it inspiring others... totally.

That's how I can see them handling robin, if at all - a kid that is inspired and bruce takes him under his wing to protect him - he can't protect them all, but if he saves one, it's good.
so many aspects of the batman lore can be translated to screen, even robin... it's just how it's handled.

I was thinking about his suit - robin that is.. i have faith in Reeves for sure.

The Dark Knight Rises did an 8 year time jump. I think it would interesting if the movie did a time jump. Five years?

 

[Blade Hoarder]

Just saw it for the second time. I have to admit, the Arkham Riddler/Batman confrontation is almost as good as the Joker/Batman interrogation scene from TDK. It’s as good as the Bane/Bruce prison scene from Rises for sure. We are blessed to have so many good confrontation scenes.

 

[Gothamsknight]

The slow pan down shot over gotham while "Can't fight city halloween" plays is one of the most atmospheric scenes I've seen in a while. I still can't get over how incredible the opening to this film is.

 

[Rick190293]

The slow pan down shot over gotham while "Can't fight city halloween" plays is one of the most atmospheric scenes I've seen in a while. I still can't get over how incredible the opening to this film is.

True. With the theme growing, it's my favorite introduction of Batman on movies ever.

 

[Quixotica]

Another reason why I am so against lens/white eyes with this version of Batman. All of that would be lost.

With white contact lenses (likely have to be CGI'd in post, but in the story they would be contacts) he would have to make up for it by using his head and eyelids a little more when looking away/down or staring at someone. There would be compromises (compromises I don't necessarily agree are worth making) but it wouldn't make that scene impossible to quietly act through.

And before I get accused of not appreciating the majesty of Battinson's acting (he's my favorite Batman now, trust me I get it), this is just for discussion's sake.

 

[AndyTrevino]

People are really saying Reeves should've cast Cameron Monaghan as Joker instead of Barry

 

[Vaibow]

The Dark Knight Rises did an 8 year time jump. I think it would interesting if the movie did a time jump. Five years?

That's an interesting idea, I think it works as we already see an established Batman, of sorts, like it wasn't a complete origins movie so another time jump is good, however, would we miss not seeing more of a transition of 'character'. This movie was over a week or so, tot hen go 5 years later we would have missed a lot of his growth and that may be weird juxtaposition - certainly seeing a more confident bruce persona is needed, especially if he is to use his wealth and business now to help.
It's definitely an interesting idea - also, In the real world, people do hide away for a year or two and work on things.

Just saw it for the second time. I have to admit, the Arkham Riddler/Batman confrontation is almost as good as the Joker/Batman interrogation scene from TDK. It’s as good as the Bane/Bruce prison scene from Rises for sure. We are blessed to have so many good confrontation scenes.

I was saying to pals that the atmosphere Reeves creates, is so much better than Nolan, for me. Like when Batman was in the police station with joker and in Begins, the lighting is bright, it kinda looks like cosplay now, looking back... but the way Reeves made it dark, natural earthy, wood colours in the station, the cell scene was like framed in darkness, for me, it just flowed better - honestly, Reeves has done a fantastic job, bettering things that I didn't could be.


This was so cool...

But this to me, beats them all..

I understand the hesitancy of the darkness for some, but it works so much better and I love Jim in this, I even love how his moustache and hair line is sculpted to resemble Gordon, like, it's perfection.

 

[OnLeatherWings]

How do you guys respond to the statements from Holy BatCast that The Batman borrows heavily from The Dark Knight (not intentionally, necessarily)?

Here's a summary of their comments -

“Thinking of a Batman film that starts with a Batman that’s been around long enough that the urban legend is there, throughout Gotham. To the point where the Batsignal in the sky is enough to make criminals ditch whatever they’re doing because they’re scared.

This new Batman has a strong relationship with Lieutenant James Gordon. To the point where James Gordon allows him into crime scenes to the dismay of his fellow officers and superiors. And their first meeting in the film is to a crime scene to investigate this new criminal in Gotham.

And this new criminal in Gotham is going to bring Gotham to its knees by killing the Mayor, the police Commissioner, trying to kill the District Attorney. And he’s going to make sure everyone knows about it because he has these homemade videos that he’s going to send the Gotham News where not only does he make his threats known, but he also shows you what he does to his victims.

This new criminal is so bold that he ends up blowing up one of the people closest to Batman/Bruce Wayne and when Batman finds out it’s about to happen, he has to race through the city to stop it – but does not make it in time.

In his investigation, Batman goes to a nightclub and gets into a fight in order to get to and interrogate a mobster.

This new villain is always one step ahead of Batman – and Batman doesn’t even catch him initially. The villain intentionally gives himself up to Batman and Gordon. He ends up in jail so Batman can have a scene with him in an interrogation room where he and Batman can talk. Where the villain tells Batman he was inspired by him, where they’re the same and that there is a plan in motion already and Batman can’t do much to stop it.

But Batman does his best to do what he can and makes big sacrifices to save Gotham and we end the film with Batman riding off into the light on his motorcycle to fight another day.

Which Batman film am I thinking of?”

Holy BatCast #335 - The Batman Review - YouTube
@53:00

 

[WayneMB]

That's an interesting idea, I think it works as we already see an established Batman, of sorts, like it wasn't a complete origins movie so another time jump is good, however, would we miss not seeing more of a transition of 'character'. This movie was over a week or so, tot hen go 5 years later we would have missed a lot of his growth and that may be weird juxtaposition - certainly seeing a more confident bruce persona is needed, especially if he is to use his wealth and business now to help.
It's definitely an interesting idea - also, In the real world, people do hide away for a year or two and work on things.


I was saying to pals that the atmosphere Reeves creates, is so much better than Nolan, for me. Like when Batman was in the police station with joker and in Begins, the lighting is bright, it kinda looks like cosplay now, looking back... but the way Reeves made it dark, natural earthy, wood colours in the station, the cell scene was like framed in darkness, for me, it just flowed better - honestly, Reeves has done a fantastic job, bettering things that I didn't could be.

View attachment 54080
This was so cool...
View attachment 54081
But this to me, beats them all..
View attachment 54082 View attachment 54083
I understand the hesitancy of the darkness for some, but it works so much better and I love Jim in this, I even love how his moustache and hair line is sculpted to resemble Gordon, like, it's perfection.

something i never truly understood was why Nolan had Gordon sitting in the dark with joker and then batman in brightest light possible. i don't really care that much because the scene is one of the best of its decade but still... a little weird to me.

 

[Captain Tired]

I took it as Batman/Gordon's attempt to further disorient the Joker and make him crack easier. Didn't work obviously. The Joker was made of tougher stuff than they guessed.

 

[VonRomberg]

How do you guys respond to the statements from Holy BatCast that The Batman borrows heavily from The Dark Knight (not intentionally, necessarily)?

Here's a summary of their comments -

“Thinking of a Batman film that starts with a Batman that’s been around long enough that the urban legend is there, throughout Gotham. To the point where the Batsignal in the sky is enough to make criminals ditch whatever they’re doing because they’re scared.

This new Batman has a strong relationship with Lieutenant James Gordon. To the point where James Gordon allows him into crime scenes to the dismay of his fellow officers and superiors. And their first meeting in the film is to a crime scene to investigate this new criminal in Gotham.

And this new criminal in Gotham is going to bring Gotham to its knees by killing the Mayor, the police Commissioner, trying to kill the District Attorney. And he’s going to make sure everyone knows about it because he has these homemade videos that he’s going to send the Gotham News where not only does he make his threats known, but he also shows you what he does to his victims.

This new criminal is so bold that he ends up blowing up one of the people closest to Batman/Bruce Wayne and when Batman finds out it’s about to happen, he has to race through the city to stop it – but does not make it in time.

In his investigation, Batman goes to a nightclub and gets into a fight in order to get to and interrogate a mobster.

This new villain is always one step ahead of Batman – and Batman doesn’t even catch him initially. The villain intentionally gives himself up to Batman and Gordon. He ends up in jail so Batman can have a scene with him in an interrogation room where he and Batman can talk. Where the villain tells Batman he was inspired by him, where they’re the same and that there is a plan in motion already and Batman can’t do much to stop it.

But Batman does his best to do what he can and makes big sacrifices to save Gotham and we end the film with Batman riding off into the light on his motorcycle to fight another day.

Which Batman film am I thinking of?”

Holy BatCast #335 - The Batman Review - YouTube
@53:00

Lots of similar looking moments, for sure. I actually like that I see traces of TDK, the Arkham Games, and BTAS sprinkled throughout The Batman.

The first time I saw it I almost permanently had the sensation that A) I’d seen elements of this before and B) I’ve never seen anything like this. It was quite bizarre, recognizing inspirations and source material all the time, but it still feeling entirely novel and unique.

It’s fair to say this borrowed from TDK, but some of those similarities are so generic they’ve been in probably 50% of all Batman/comic plots. “Villain is two steps ahead” happens with many of the intelligent villains like Joker, Strange, Riddler, or Freeze. IMO The Batman borrowed sensibly, it didn’t veer towards plagiarism.

 

[chintai80]

also if anything, i thought ledger's joker in the dark knight was more like the riddler in some ways....how he'd leave clues and his scheming.

there's some similarities btwn the two villains.

 

[BatLobster]

How do you guys respond to the statements from Holy BatCast that The Batman borrows heavily from The Dark Knight (not intentionally, necessarily)?

Here's a summary of their comments -

“Thinking of a Batman film that starts with a Batman that’s been around long enough that the urban legend is there, throughout Gotham. To the point where the Batsignal in the sky is enough to make criminals ditch whatever they’re doing because they’re scared.

This new Batman has a strong relationship with Lieutenant James Gordon. To the point where James Gordon allows him into crime scenes to the dismay of his fellow officers and superiors. And their first meeting in the film is to a crime scene to investigate this new criminal in Gotham.

And this new criminal in Gotham is going to bring Gotham to its knees by killing the Mayor, the police Commissioner, trying to kill the District Attorney. And he’s going to make sure everyone knows about it because he has these homemade videos that he’s going to send the Gotham News where not only does he make his threats known, but he also shows you what he does to his victims.

This new criminal is so bold that he ends up blowing up one of the people closest to Batman/Bruce Wayne and when Batman finds out it’s about to happen, he has to race through the city to stop it – but does not make it in time.

In his investigation, Batman goes to a nightclub and gets into a fight in order to get to and interrogate a mobster.

This new villain is always one step ahead of Batman – and Batman doesn’t even catch him initially. The villain intentionally gives himself up to Batman and Gordon. He ends up in jail so Batman can have a scene with him in an interrogation room where he and Batman can talk. Where the villain tells Batman he was inspired by him, where they’re the same and that there is a plan in motion already and Batman can’t do much to stop it.

But Batman does his best to do what he can and makes big sacrifices to save Gotham and we end the film with Batman riding off into the light on his motorcycle to fight another day.

Which Batman film am I thinking of?”

Holy BatCast #335 - The Batman Review - YouTube
@53:00

I understand that all iterations are bound to have some overlap and some similar beats....but Andy makes some real solid points. There are a heck of a lot of similar beats to TDK specifically. And I'm not saying it ripped it off or anything. I understand that it is its own film and it has a different approach. But I think Reeves may be the biggest TDK fan of them all.

also if anything, i thought ledger's joker in the dark knight was more like the riddler in some ways....how he'd leave clues and his scheming.

there's some similarities btwn the two villains.

Well, Joker announcing his victims before he commits the murders was a direct reference to Batman #1.

Granted, it does look like Dano's Riddler would've taken inspiration from TDK's viral marketing campaign, so I get what you mean.

 

[Eddie Dean]

How do you guys respond to the statements from Holy BatCast that The Batman borrows heavily from The Dark Knight (not intentionally, necessarily)?

Here's a summary of their comments -

“Thinking of a Batman film that starts with a Batman that’s been around long enough that the urban legend is there, throughout Gotham. To the point where the Batsignal in the sky is enough to make criminals ditch whatever they’re doing because they’re scared.

This new Batman has a strong relationship with Lieutenant James Gordon. To the point where James Gordon allows him into crime scenes to the dismay of his fellow officers and superiors. And their first meeting in the film is to a crime scene to investigate this new criminal in Gotham.

And this new criminal in Gotham is going to bring Gotham to its knees by killing the Mayor, the police Commissioner, trying to kill the District Attorney. And he’s going to make sure everyone knows about it because he has these homemade videos that he’s going to send the Gotham News where not only does he make his threats known, but he also shows you what he does to his victims.

This new criminal is so bold that he ends up blowing up one of the people closest to Batman/Bruce Wayne and when Batman finds out it’s about to happen, he has to race through the city to stop it – but does not make it in time.

In his investigation, Batman goes to a nightclub and gets into a fight in order to get to and interrogate a mobster.

This new villain is always one step ahead of Batman – and Batman doesn’t even catch him initially. The villain intentionally gives himself up to Batman and Gordon. He ends up in jail so Batman can have a scene with him in an interrogation room where he and Batman can talk. Where the villain tells Batman he was inspired by him, where they’re the same and that there is a plan in motion already and Batman can’t do much to stop it.

But Batman does his best to do what he can and makes big sacrifices to save Gotham and we end the film with Batman riding off into the light on his motorcycle to fight another day.

Which Batman film am I thinking of?”

Holy BatCast #335 - The Batman Review - YouTube
@53:00

About half of this is in any Batman story.

 

[OnLeatherWings]

About half of this is in any Batman story.

About half is a lot.

Which, in particular?

Because the same beats aren't present in any other Batman film and there's been many.