The Dark Knight Rises The Official "What Do YOU Want in the Sequel?" Thread

[The Joker]

Yeah, more of Oldman's Gordon is always great. One of TDK's many strengths was Gordon having a bigger role in the story.

 

[The Demon's Head]

I recently re-read both TLH and DV, and it's now clearer to me than ever that this Jeph Loeb's version of Gordon is the biggest influence on Nolan's Gordon. While Frank Miller's "Year One" was a big influence as well, as he's the one who portrayed Gordon as the only honest cop in a corrupt city, Miller's Gordon had a bit of a dark side. He cheated on his wife, and was portrayed as a violent man at times. Loeb presents a more idealized version of the character. He's the guy who sticks to his morals, and refuses to cross the line, and is deeply affected when Dent and argubly Batman, do.

Like Nolan and Goyer, TLH is my favorite Batman story, and I'm thrilled to see how much it influenced their work.

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

Like Nolan and Goyer, TLH is my favorite Batman story, and I'm thrilled to see how much it influenced their work.

Ergh, I hate TLH, so many horrible plot-holes, pointless character cameos and twists that make no sense whatsoever. Tim Sale's art at least makes it look pretty, but beyond that it may as well have been a series of nice looking pictures.

Looking back, it doesn't surprise me now that Nolan's Two-Face was so weak in comparison to Harvey Dent, considering that TLH places little to no focus on his psychosis and reasons for snapping, and has the coin merely as a gimmick with no other personality explained.

 

[Nave 'Torment']

I never liked Tim Sale's art, but that's just me. The Long Halloween is still one of the best Batman stories to date. However, I think I liked the Gordon from Year One more - he was an everyman, very fallible, he struggled with himself and I think that's a very good way to write the character. We all have our demons. Nolan and crew drew from both books and that's brilliant. Gordon is, as he said in the TLH, willing to bend the rules but not break them, and I think that is established really well in the films. Didn't Loeb say he based the character on Archie Goodwin?

One other significant character was Commissioner Loeb, he should've been portrayed more as the corrupt ring-leader we see in Year One for the films than the ineffective cop, but what they did isn't bad either. They left Loeb so vague that we don't know what he's doing most of the time, so for all we know he might have been just as corrupt as he is in the books.

 

[elgaz]

If Batman is being hunted by the law in the next film, I'd like to see him being challenged. Gotham cops present no challenge to Batman. Why wouldn't they call in FBI, or some kind of special forces team?

The trailer for the new Arkham City game hints at this nicely, with what looks like a special forces team using night vision to spot Batman

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiijcSJaC9Q[/YT]

 

[Dark Knight]

If Batman is being hunted by the law in the next film, I'd like to see him being challenged. Gotham cops present no challenge to Batman. Why wouldn't they call in FBI, or some kind of special forces team?

The trailer for the new Arkham City game hints at this nicely, with what looks like a special forces team using night vision to spot Batman

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiijcSJaC9Q[/YT]

Yep!

Those type of things that were shown in the AWESOME Arkham City Trailer, I would love to see in TDK Rises film!

I want to see Batman break some arms, legs, and use more batarangs as slicing razor blades, his grappling hook and more SMOKE BOMBS!

 

[Nave 'Torment']

The Arkham...games do good to remind people of many incarnations of Batman, and especially the films.

For TDKR, with the cops making the Dark Knight their focal point, it would've been awesome if the story took from Dark Knight Returns. Alas, that ain't happening.

 

[RustyCage]

The Arkham...games do good to remind people of many incarnations of Batman, and especially the films.

For TDKR, with the cops making the Dark Knight their focal point, it would've been awesome if the story took from Dark Knight Returns. Alas, that ain't happening.

Don't be so sure. TDK was partly inspired by The Killing Joke, etc. Begins also had it's comic roots.

 

[jazzmatik]

I mentioned this before, but what do you guys think about a Dr. Harleen Quinzel cameo near the beginning of the movie? She simply walks out of an Arkham cell with a patient file saying "Joker". Is it a good idea to reference the Joker non-verbally like this?

 

[Micah12345]

I mentioned this before, but what do you guys think about a Dr. Harleen Quinzel cameo near the beginning of the movie? She simply walks out of an Arkham cell with a patient file saying "Joker". Is it a good idea to reference the Joker non-verbally like this?

That's probably the best idea for a reference/cameo that I've heard.

 

[Figs]

I mentioned this before, but what do you guys think about a Dr. Harleen Quinzel cameo near the beginning of the movie? She simply walks out of an Arkham cell with a patient file saying "Joker". Is it a good idea to reference the Joker non-verbally like this?

I don't care for that idea. It's pointless fan-wank. It serves no purpose other than to give Batman fans a little chubby.

Nolan hasn't really had any of those wink wink moments in his films so I doubt he would do one in this next movie.

 

[Bat-Mite]

I don't care for that idea. It's pointless fan-wank. It serves no purpose other than to give Batman fans a little chubby.

Nolan hasn't really had any of those wink wink moments in his films so I doubt he would do one in this next movie.

QFT. It would be corny and would probably take me out of the film. The closest thing Nolan's come to that kind of thing is with Zsasz, but his appearance actually had a point in the story and he didn't have fanfare and spotlights announcing to the audience that he was a character from the comics.

 

[Brother Jack]

Don't be so sure. TDK was partly inspired by The Killing Joke, etc. Begins also had it's comic roots.

And there's been some DKR influence sprinkled about the films, like Sons of Batman and the tank-like batmobile.

I don't care for that idea. It's pointless fan-wank. It serves no purpose other than to give Batman fans a little chubby.

Nolan hasn't really had any of those wink wink moments in his films so I doubt he would do one in this next movie.

Yep. Doesn't need to be there.

 

[jazzmatik]

I don't care for that idea. It's pointless fan-wank. It serves no purpose other than to give Batman fans a little chubby.

Nolan hasn't really had any of those wink wink moments in his films so I doubt he would do one in this next movie.

Actually, he had a Scarecrow cameo in TDK which wasn't necessary, but he did that to please the fans.

 

[KILLING JOKER]

Actually, he had a Scarecrow cameo in TDK which wasn't necessary, but he did that to please the fans.

Do we know that for sure? Nolan doesen't seem like he does anything unless it serves the story. At the end of "Begins" it mentions Crane being loose. So, he had to tie that up anyways. Don't think it was for the fans at all.

 

[Paste Pot Pete]

Do we know that for sure? Nolan doesen't seem like he does anything unless it serves the story. At the end of "Begins" it mentions Crane being loose. So, he had to tie that up anyways. Don't think it was for the fans at all.

Yeah, people seem to have some trouble making the distinction. Crane was the definition of a loose end that required tying. Joker's done. He's in Arkham.

 

[jazzmatik]

Do we know that for sure? Nolan doesen't seem like he does anything unless it serves the story. At the end of "Begins" it mentions Crane being loose. So, he had to tie that up anyways. Don't think it was for the fans at all.

I reckon with that and retract what I said earlier.

 

[Nave 'Torment']

Don't be so sure. TDK was partly inspired by The Killing Joke, etc. Begins also had it's comic roots.

Actually I should've been much more clear - by the last chapter of DK:R I meant Batman v Superman! I posted a long and tiresome post on another page regarding Batman v. Cops, so don't want to go through writing that up again here.

I mentioned this before, but what do you guys think about a Dr. Harleen Quinzel cameo near the beginning of the movie? She simply walks out of an Arkham cell with a patient file saying "Joker". Is it a good idea to reference the Joker non-verbally like this?

That actually sounds really good! I want to see more of what happened to Arkham Asylum ever since it spewed out into the Narrows. With more 'Freaks' coming into the city and coming into conflict with the Dark Knight, I'm assuming a scene inside Arkham should be fundamental to the story.

I don't care for that idea. It's pointless fan-wank. It serves no purpose other than to give Batman fans a little chubby.

Nolan hasn't really had any of those wink wink moments in his films so I doubt he would do one in this next movie.

First, this entire board is about what fans want to see! Anyway, I think Nolan and co. have had more wink-wink moments in their films than most other directors. The bulk of the two films draw heavily from the comics, we have characters making cameo appearances, dialogues with double-meaning, hell a lot of the individual scenes are nods to the source material anyway (Year One, The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Killing Joke, Dark Knight Returns etc.)

QFT. It would be corny and would probably take me out of the film. The closest thing Nolan's come to that kind of thing is with Zsasz, but his appearance actually had a point in the story and he didn't have fanfare and spotlights announcing to the audience that he was a character from the comics.

That's the point of the winks though right? Not spotlighting/announcing them? So that people who're paying close attention (the fans) get a kick out of it? What purpose did Zsasz have that any other Falcone goon didn't? Hell, why didn't they just go and use a Falcone-related character from the Year One/TLH (any of his thugs or relatives, or both as is the case) if they were not all about the cameo of a traditional bat-villain?

Do we know that for sure? Nolan doesen't seem like he does anything unless it serves the story. At the end of "Begins" it mentions Crane being loose. So, he had to tie that up anyways. Don't think it was for the fans at all.

That's up to interpretation really, I mean as I see it the whole of TDK stands on its own without BB, and makes it a better sequel because of it. They could've wrapped up Crane in the virals, or the DTV. As I've said, the fate of the Narrows was a much more important loose-end at the end of the first film. But the Scarecrow scene does have significance in that it introduced a) the Chechen, and the condition of the mob, b) the Sons of the Bat, c) a visible reason why Bruce felt he needed to change the suit.

But to be honest, I'm a big fan of closure. And I want Cillian Murphy for another cameo just one last time to make things feel complete and consistent.

 

[Nave 'Torment']

Yeah, people seem to have some trouble making the distinction. Crane was the definition of a loose end that required tying. Joker's done. He's in Arkham.

I agree, that makes the real loose-end from TDK Two-Face, or to be exact, the people he killed. Wait wait, the real loose ends are RAMIREZ and REESE! It's high time these two are "hushed" up good.

 

[Mister Meddle]

I hope Batman will get a new outfit that will actually look more like a Batsuit. I never liked the Halo costume Batman wears in TDK.... it would look cool for Terry McGinnis in a Batman Beyond film. At least he kept the ears.

Wayne Manor will be rebuilt so this calls for a new Batcave. Hopefully it'll be a decent sized cave with many more features. It will be cool to see Bruce Wayne spending some time in the Batcave trying to research the villains and doing some expiriments.... kind of like what he did in the Bat-Basement in TDK.

Batmobile! The Tumbler was cool however Batman needs his Batmobile. It's hard to picture something that surpasses the Batmobile used in Batman and Batman Returns but I'm sure the good people working for Nolan are creative enough to come up with something decent.

Batman needs to be darker in TDK Rises! TDK was great mostly due to the Joker and a fresh storyline however the only downside was the Batman character. Aside from the action, the character was a toned down version of what he was in Batman Begins.

I don't want to see Bruce Wayne being so damn calm all the time. I think he should show some signs that he is struggling with his emotions. This guy witnessed the murder of his parents first hand and it ate him up for like 25 years - realistically you're going to have some psychological problems which will prove an important point; Batman is just as crazy as the villains (though he stands for something positive). Christopher Nolan really ditched the psychology aspect of Bruce Wayne/Batman in The Dark Knight however IMO this is something that shouldn't be ignored.

Create your own set, don't rely on the streets of Chicago too much! Probably the number one thing I didn't like about TDK (which isn't a huge deal) was Gotham City. When I watched TDK with my dad (he used to read the comics when he was a kid), the first thing he said was "that looks nothing like Gotham City". At least they created part of the city in a studio for Batman Begins, which looked pretty damn impressive and gave it more of a "Batman Universe" feel.

 

[Gianakin_]

Batmobile! The Tumbler was cool however Batman needs his Batmobile. It's hard to picture something that surpasses the Batmobile used in Batman and Batman Returns but I'm sure the good people working for Nolan are creative enough to come up with something decent.

I fear you're not going to get your wish. The Tumbler IS the Batmobile.

Aside from the action, the character was a toned down version of what he was in Batman Begins.

How do you mean? He kept and pretty much evolved his ideas from BB.

I don't want to see Bruce Wayne being so damn calm all the time. I think he should show some signs that he is struggling with his emotions. Christopher Nolan really ditched the psychology aspect of Bruce Wayne/Batman in The Dark Knight however IMO this is something that shouldn't be ignored.

Hm, see, unless the script calls for it, there's no need to see him like that in TDKR. We got glimpses of it in TDK. And Batman's psychology in TDK was not ditched at all. It was his struggle, eventually, that led him to dedcisions which would later affect the rest of the film.

Oh, and... welcome to the Hype!

 

[Bat-Mite]

Batmobile! The Tumbler was cool however Batman needs his Batmobile. It's hard to picture something that surpasses the Batmobile used in Batman and Batman Returns but I'm sure the good people working for Nolan are creative enough to come up with something decent.

The tumbler was the batmobile. As others here have pointed out before, it's never called the tumbler by anyone but Fox. I'm sure he'll have a replacement vehicle in the new film, but I'll doubt it'll be anything like the style over substance batmobile of the Burton films. This Batman is all about function and intimidation. And even though the Burton batmobile was intimidating in its own way, it's not quite the same as seeing a miniature tank than can crush cars lumbering towards you.

Batman needs to be darker in TDK Rises! TDK was great mostly due to the Joker and a fresh storyline however the only downside was the Batman character. Aside from the action, the character was a toned down version of what he was in Batman Begins.

His suit was less intimidating, but personality wise, I think he was darker. The Batman of Begins wasn't nearly as violent as the TDK one. I don't remember him treating anyone the way he did Maroni when he dropped him from that building, for example. "I've seen what I would have to become to stop men like him." We saw a glimpse of what he would become when he makes a giant computer capable of spying on the entire city of Gotham. Not only would Batman be dealing with crime on the streets, but he would be able to spy on the private lives of people and could deal with any activities that didn't meet his approval. Lucius saw that, it scared him, and he wasn't going to have any part of it. Not only that, but he's standing there behind the thing and calling it beautiful while Lucius is horrified by the way his work has been magnified and perverted by Batman. I can't see the Batman from Begins doing something like that. It was only temporary, but it still had frightening implications.

I don't want to see Bruce Wayne being so damn calm all the time. I think he should show some signs that he is struggling with his emotions. This guy witnessed the murder of his parents first hand and it ate him up for like 25 years - realistically you're going to have some psychological problems which will prove an important point; Batman is just as crazy as the villains (though he stands for something positive). Christopher Nolan really ditched the psychology aspect of Bruce Wayne/Batman in The Dark Knight however IMO this is something that shouldn't be ignored.

I found his calmness to actually be unsettling and fitting for the character in parts. Instead of being a blatant neurotic like Keaton's Batman, Bale's Batman is cold and frigid, except for those times when he's putting on a show or joking around with Alfred. I think the best example of it is when the Joker has just infiltrated the party, Bruce knocks Harvey out and tells Rachel that they're coming in his Batman voice, then beats up a Joker goon and dismantles his gun without so much as a flinch.

Create your own set, don't rely on the streets of Chicago too much! Probably the number one thing I didn't like about TDK (which isn't a huge deal) was Gotham City. When I watched TDK with my dad (he used to read the comics when he was a kid), the first thing he said was "that looks nothing like Gotham City". At least they created part of the city in a studio for Batman Begins, which looked pretty damn impressive and gave it more of a "Batman Universe" feel.

Agreed. I think they intentionally made it look like a regular city to make the Joker's actions more frightening, but I'd rather Gotham looked like Gotham.

Welcome to the Hype, by the way!

 

[Mister Meddle]

I fear you're not going to get your wish. The Tumbler IS the Batmobile.

I always viewed the Tumbler as the tank-like automobile that Batman (in Nolan's films) used before actually using more of a car-like version that would eventually get called the Batmobile (yes, I do remember in TDK Returns Batman said Robin used to call his tank the Batmobile). I guess it could go either way. Perhaps we'll really find out in TDK Rises if they do make a slimmer war-machine that actually gets called the Batmobile.

I found his calmness to actually be unsettling and fitting for the character in parts. Instead of being a blatant neurotic like Keaton's Batman, Bale's Batman is cold and frigid, except for those times when he's putting on a show or joking around with Alfred. I think the best example of it is when the Joker has just infiltrated the party, Bruce knocks Harvey out and tells Rachel that they're coming in his Batman voice, then beats up a Joker goon and dismantles his gun without so much as a flinch.

Hm, see, unless the script calls for it, there's no need to see him like that in TDKR. We got glimpses of it in TDK. And Batman's psychology in TDK was not ditched at all. It was his struggle, eventually, that led him to dedcisions which would later affect the rest of the film.

I understand his struggle lead to Bruce becoming Batman for the rest of his life however that wasn't what I was implying. In TDK Batman was more of a vigilante however the character is much more than that. In the Killing Joke the Joker said it takes only one bad day to completely change somebody forever and then the Joker and Batman "shared a laugh". It proved that although they both stand for something different, in ways they're much alike. In other words, Batman is just as crazy as the villains he hunts. And we all know Batman/Bruce Wayne isn't completely 'straight in the head' because of his past. In Batman Begins Bruce Wayne learned to control his pain and fears however regardless of that, we know that the pain and fear is still inside of him. IMO it's important to be able to get inside a characters head rather than just focusing on his actions - or at least there should be a decent balance between the two.

I still like both Michael Keaton and Bale's Bruce Wayne. Michael Keaton provided the psychological aspect of Bruce Wayne while Christian Bale was the opposite; he provided what Keaton didn't.

How do you mean? He kept and pretty much evolved his ideas from BB.

Actually this isn't a big deal however I feel it makes the portrayal of the character more enjoyable. What I liked about Batman Begins was Batman really revolved around 'fear' and used his dark side to help advantage him. Keep in mind he is BATman, not Night-Time-Vigilante-Man. What I really like about Batman in some approaches is he has the presence of a bat, and it's more than jumping off of towers and being out at night. However in a way it's a 'visual thing' but hey, films in general are based on seeing, right?

EDIT: Thanks for the welcome guys

 

[Victarion]

Would it reek of fanfiction if some of Black Mask's men captured Reese and tortured him in order to gain access to the weapon plans of Wayne Enterprises' military division? I think Sionis trying to ruin Wayne by having their tech leaked to the Underworld and attempting to bring down Batman by supplying the GPD or the anti-Batman task force with their own technology to aid in their hunt for Batman.

 

[jazzmatik]

I want to see Batman speak less in front of his enemies because he is more terrifying when he is silent.