The Dark Knight vs Captain America: The Winter Soldier

[Godzillasaurus]

So, which of these two films did you find superior? Your reasons?

For me, Winter Soldier takes the cake easily. While The Dark Knight certainly isn't a bad film, I can watch it over and over again and still lack the tiniest clue as to what the plot is about and why everything is happening within the film. Too much is going on, and it soils the experience a bit. On the other hand, the plot of Winter Soldier is much more straightforward yet still very interesting in its own right (HYDRA taking over SHIELD and such as well as using Barnes as an underling).

The action in Winter Soldier is just phenomenal, and the fight scenes are still so exciting to watch, whereas the action in TDK, while improved from the previous film (the action in Batman Begins was, dare I say it, absolutely terrible), was decent, it lacked the excitement found in TWS.

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[Godzillasaurus]

Oops... Forgot to add a poll.... How do I do that when editing? I can't find any options that allow you to do so

 

[Snow Queen]

Easily Dark Knight, however Winter Soldier's no slouch. But Dark Knight I prefer in just about every aspect apart from female lead (since come on, Black Widow is awesome and Rachel is....eh) and Winter Soldier, though I get more invested in the action in Dark Knight, has better hand to hand fight choreography.

 

[Greens]

The Dark Knight, no contest. Winter Soldier is fun but I don't really care about the characters and story that much compared to TDK. Plus in terms of music, cinematography, acting etc. TDK is better. Sure, the hand-to-hand combat could have been better but that's such a small part of the film that it doesn't bother me.

 

[Skrilla31]

Winter Soldier

More entertaining, more fun, more cohesive.

Better action as well, by far.

Plus I just liked Steve/Cap better than I did Bruce/Batman.

 

[Mandon Knight]

CA : Winter Soldier is Marvel's Dark Knight.

As an overall experience, TDK but much kudos to Marvel and the Russo bros for ramping up the ante and quality to such a level.

 

[titansupes]

I count TWS as my favourite or second favourite MCU movie, depending on the day. I count TDK as my favourite film ever from day of release to now, without falter.

 

[Thoix]

Easily Dark Knight, however Winter Soldier's no slouch. But Dark Knight I prefer in just about every aspect apart from female lead (since come on, Black Widow is awesome and Rachel is....eh) and Winter Soldier, though I get more invested in the action in Dark Knight, has better hand to hand fight choreography.

Couldn't have said it any better myself. I agree on all accounts.

 

[Godzillasaurus]

Dark Knight isn't a bad movie, but damn... I cannot figure out a single thing about the plot!

Every scene, I am scratching my head asking myself "why is this happening?"

 

[FeedOnATreeFrog]

I like WS quite a bit, but TDK is on another level.

WD has a few seriously awesome fights, a great heroic lead character, and tasty 70's stylistic flourishes (especially that ending montage) ....but the overall story isnt great imo from both a plot and character pov. ScarJo' Black Widow also annoys me, some of the cinematography/lighting is flat at times, and some of the cg is iffy.

7.5-8 out of 10

TDK is just riveting imo. Almost everything is so well thought out and memorable, right from the opening bank heist. It's immaculately shot and wonderfully scored. It has performances and countless moments that became instantly iconic. Although it loses a bit of steam in the third act due to its relentless pacing (which did make for an exciting, unpredictable experience throughout), the immensely satisfying ending totally makes up for it.

9/10.

 

[The Sage]

So, which of these two films did you find superior? Your reasons?

For me, Winter Soldier takes the cake easily. While The Dark Knight certainly isn't a bad film, I can watch it over and over again and still lack the tiniest clue as to what the plot is about and why everything is happening within the film. Too much is going on, and it soils the experience a bit. On the other hand, the plot of Winter Soldier is much more straightforward yet still very interesting in its own right (HYDRA taking over SHIELD and such as well as using Barnes as an underling).

The action in Winter Soldier is just phenomenal, and the fight scenes are still so exciting to watch, whereas the action in TDK, while improved from the previous film (the action in Batman Begins was, dare I say it, absolutely terrible), was decent, it lacked the excitement found in TWS.

DISCLAIMER- IF THERE ALREADY EXISTS A THREAD LIKE THIS, OR IF YOU FIND THIS TOPIC RIDICULOUS, PLEASE NOTIFY ME POLITELY

The Dark Knight is pretty straightforward. Not complicated or convoluted. I'm surprised you didn't understand the plot.

 

[giveyourself12%]

The Dark Knight bores me to tears except for the Heath Ledger stuff. I sometimes put it on to fall asleep at night.

The Heath stuff is great, though, and it's funny sometimes with the "I'm NoT ThE OnE WeArInG HoCkEy PThHhHsSsS" and "ThIs CiTy JuSt ShOwEd YoU ThAt It'S FuLl Of PeOpLe ReAdY To BeLiEvE In GoOoOoOoOoOoOdDdD!!!!!!" or something...I"m usually asleep by that point.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

TDK feels a bit overlong and at times even dull when Ledger isn't onscreen.

I'd give Winter Soldier an A, TDK a B-

 

[flickchick85]

TDK easily for me.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

The Dark Knight is in a class by itself when it comes to superhero films. No other superhero movie is even in the same conversation.

 

[kedrell]

Cap2 all the way. I despise that other P.O.S.

 

[The Joker]

The Dark Knight all the way.

 

[spiderman2]

Both great movies but I think dark knight Is better but dark knight is overrated though.

 

[Flint Marko]

The Dark Knight

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

TDK for me, by some way, it is still The number 1 CBM for me 7 years later because its such a brilliant movie with superb acting, plotting and performances. And I am not even a big batman fan.

TWS is a very good movie that has superior action, but that is it. As someone else mentioned you dont feel that invested in the characters in TWS. It is definitely a step in the right direction for the MCU. But while marvel has been very consistent with the quality of their movies, they haven't made a truly exceptional movie like TDK yet IMO.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Without question, The Dark Knight.

 

[Johnny-Oh]

The Winter Soldier by far, its better in every single aspect.

The Dark Knight is a good film but mostly because of Heath Ledger's Joker, I don't find anything else in that movie interesting or engaging, the dialogue can be pretty cheesy and I don't like any of the characters.

 

[Squaremaster316]

TDK, and it's not even close.

When your main plot narrative hinges on a "super duper important beyond all comparison" flash drive getting put inside a vending machine where anyone with the munchies could come along and purchase it along with a Snickers bar, it's safe to say that having the tightest script isn't a prerequisite.

 

[Flint Marko]

TDK, and it's not even close.

When your main plot narrative hinges on a "super duper important beyond all comparison" flash drive getting put inside a vending machine where anyone with the munchies could come along and purchase it along with a Snickers bar, it's safe to say that having the tightest script isn't a prerequisite.

If that's your biggest criticism, then that in and of itself shows how tight the script is.
And for the record I also voted for TDK.

 

[DA_Champion]

The Dark Knight.

I think Winter Soldier does well (very well) through the first two thirds, but it falls apart in the climax. Harvey Dent's fall from grace is riveting, in contrast the Bucky-Steve dynamic is nauseating.

With that said, I don't see why these movie vs movie polls are so popular on this site.

ETA: I'll try and be more detailed:

The Winter Soldier has better martial arts choreography, better humour.
The Dark Knight has better cinematography, better musical score, better editing, a stronger antagonist, stronger world building, better respect of causality, and better character arcs.

The strongest character arc of either movie is that of Harvey Dent. There is no close second.