The Dark Knight The Dark Knight and repeat viewing

[ultimatefan]

I don´t care what any usually biased fanboys try to nitpick, I just saw The Dark Knight again, and every time it´s a rich and irresistibly compelling experience. Every time I see more of the little nuances and intricacy of the plot - which most attempts of people to criticize reveal nothing more than lack of attention -, its challenging themes, it´s relentless tension and brutal, devastating outcomes. I always wonder if I ever saw, or will see again a summer blockbuster this uncompromised, this bald of going to places summer movies usually avoid like the plage, and still entertain this much.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Very unlike Batman Begins. Begins gets worse every time I see it, TDK gets better.

 

[The Joker]

Every time I watch it is a joy.

Still the best comic book movie to date, IMO.

 

[Brother Jack]

I've seen it I don't know how many times and I still love it just as much as I did on opening day. Actually maybe even a little bit more, because now I've been able to fully digest and understand it.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

The ending still makes me tear up.

 

[Bruce Malone]

Same for me, the funny thing im not actually much of a repeat viewer guy. Usually seeing a filme a couple of times is enough for me but not so for this film.

 

[J.Howlett]

Batman Begins only gets a little worse once the third act gets in. No doubt about it, but it does finish strong with the scene at the leveled Wayne Manor and the final scene. Nolan finishes off Batman's beginnings strong.

But, yeah with the Dark Knight, it still works. It just works extremely well as a film. You sit down just to watch a piece of it and the next thing you know, you've watched the whole damn thing again. The relentlessness of its tone is what always gets me. That sense of the darkness, the dread to come, keeps me glued to the TV.

I think one of the must underrated aspects that doesn't really get that much attention as it should is the score. It's epic, dark, scary, relentless, slightly skewed, and hopeful all at the same time. It's a masterpiece of a score.

And the damn ending. It gets me every time. Every time, I get goosebumps. I've seen this film well over 50 times since the theatre and it's home video release and that ending gets me so jazzed for the third and final film. It hits you so hard emotionally, what Bruce did, that you want to see Batman prevail in the end so that sense of the coming third film after the Dark Knight title card shows up gets you fired up with the possibilities of what Nolan has in store.

I'm of the opinion that Nolan can't surpass the Dark Knight but it won't be for lack of trying. All I need for the Dark Knight sequel is for it to be better than Batman Begins and thematically finish off this story of Bruce Wayne the right way. That's it. Everything else about the film will be top notch.

 

[ultimatefan]

Indeed. TDK is a tough act to follow.

Another thing I only paid attention to in recent viewings is, narrative structure is always pretty important thematically in Nolan´s movies. Even though this is one of his most linear movies, there´s an abundance of parallel montage. Of course it helps increase the suspense, the high multiple stakes, but it also fits the theme of duality, that everything that happens in the movie has more than one side, good and bad consequences, and also of chaos and anarchy, the heroes desperately trying to control things, but there´s just too much going on, too many variables.

 

[J.Howlett]

Absolutely on point with the parallel montages. I noticed that too after the second viewing. That, along with the score, are the exact reasons that the suspense and the sense of dread just keep building and building to the climax and really go beyond the climax.

I have to be honest. If Inception is as good as it seems to look and Nolan delivers a worthy final chapter to his Batman Trilogy, if I'm WB, I keep Nolan on the WB lot forever...in the same way they did with Clint Eastwood. Every film Nolan does, whether it's small or large, would be at WB. I would do whatever it takes to keep that guy making pictures at WB.

I mean, the success of the Dark Knight is the only reason (plus hoping he finishes his Batman trilogy) is the reason why he got 200 million to make Inception. No other studio would've done that on an original concept these days. If it's not prepackaged, it's not getting that kind of budget.

 

[El Payaso]

Ah, I could say so many things that are already said.

This is a masterpiece of the genre. The one you can find every one or two decades.

 

[Bads316]

Its perfect, repeat viewings only confirm that. Its like Raiders or Jaws - its only after repeat viewings that you truly realize how its structure and pace are genius.

Cant remember which review it was but some critic said that The Dark Knight for two hours emotionally exhausts its viewer and perfectly sets up a third film which then, without mercy, plays out before you - I like that.

 

[Bad Superman]

It's a very entertaining film. No matter if it's 1 hour and 15 minutes into the action I always see the rest and enjoy it as much as the first time.

 

[Sonic1002]

The ending still makes me tear up.

Goose bumps every single time I hear that ending monologue.

 

[ultimatefan]

that´s one of those endings you can´t forget, like the ending of Empire Strikes Back or the ending of Planet Of The Apes.

 

[Bad Superman]

that´s one of those endings you can´t forget, like the ending of Empire Strikes Back or the ending of Planet Of The Apes.

Totally agree. It leaves the viewer looking forward to the next film.

 

[Bats]

Still love the movie about as much as I did when it first came out. Repeat viewings is an understatement with me. Not only do I put on the blu-ray once in awhile, but most days at work I listen to it via my mp3/video player. There's never been a case where I've gotten sick of it either. Hope I never do.

 

[Doc Ock]

I can't accurately tell how many times I have rewatched The Dark Knight, it is a fantastic film. Too many superhero/comic-book movies focus on action and suffer from bad writing, which is a shame. The future X-Men films really need to take an example of this IMO.

 

[Ipodman]

I actually didnt like TDK on first viewing... but after repeated times, i grew to like it...
Although i think Begins is a tad better

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

I would go as far as to say that Batman's sacrifice at the end of the movie is the greatest thing the character has ever done.

 

[ultimatefan]

^Possibly.

 

[bane]

Yes everything about the ending is perfect.
The score, the cinematography, it's just perfect and the best in a Batman movie by far.

 

[CrimsonDeath]

I actually didnt like TDK on first viewing... but after repeated times, i grew to like it...
Although i think Begins is a tad better

First time I saw it in an early screening I did not think it was as good as Begins, because I guess I was expecting the same kind of film. The Joker, Gordon, everyone else just gave amazing, thrilling performances. TDK just hits you and does not let up....I went back to see it opening day and realized it had so much more than Begins. TDK is just a great movie which I have seen no less than 20 times and it is still moving and exciting in its writing, performances, execution, cinematography...the movie has soul.

 

[Anita18]

I've actually avoided watching TDK in its entirety after it left theaters. The IMAX experience was always such a joy to me and I don't want to ruin the memory of it. But I always did recall the relentless drive running throughout the narrative, which is really the most amazing thing about it. That and the tone it was able to achieve. The atmosphere is just something I've never seen before, and especially unexpected in a superhero movie.

And yeah, I know people who have issues with some of the writing and story choices, and I see how they would feel that way. I just don't care.

 

[I'm Old Greg]

I just finished watching it, its being played a lot this month on cable.
I must have left it on 4 times this week.
I went to see TDK with a girl we both painted our faces like the joker, the movie just surprised the hell out of me and Heath Ledger just left a smile on my face.

it makes me sad when i hear the somber tone in the score at the credits and think about 2008 the excitement for its release and sadness about Heath Ledger. thats why I just signed on here now to read about the movie again..

it is a great movie with great performances.

 

[ImWithTeamConan]

I still remember opening night like it was yesterday. Most people have a childhood experience as their favorite cinematic experience but for me it was TDK.

Me and a group of loyal friends (none of them hardcore Batman fans although they were happy to watch the movie, they wanted to share the experience with me cause they knew how much I loved Batman) planned an entire night out. A bromantic evening, if you will. I hadn't had fried foods in a year so we went out to Five Guys Burgers and Fries. WOW. Followed that up by my house watching Batman and Robin then we go to the local AMC.

Place is PACKED! I'm amazed, I'd never (and probably will never) seen it that packed. All kinds of people, all kinds of ages, to my surprise a lot of people were in full on Joker makeup. When we bought tickets the day before there was four screenings at 12:01 midnight. By the time we got there, there was 10 screenings and there was lines for all of them. We snuck into a different time because ours was packed (we were late).

I remember one of the early quotes from a reviewer, I think it was from BOF, that when Batman Begins ended you were in a state of adrenaline, high-fiving your friends but TDK left you emotionally exhausted.

And he was right.

I was enthralled by that movie. Beginning to end I was in every second of it. There were so many things that I missed though, so many nuances that I picked up on the second viewing, on the third viewing, etc. I always thought I'd get sick of it when it got on DVD.

But I never did, and I don't think I ever will......unless Nolan outdoes himself with the third movie, in which case I might be rewatching that movie instead.