The Dark Knight Rises The TDKR General Discussion Thread - Part 150

[Shikamaru]

"For once" sounds misleading in terms of this franchise, since both BB and TDK had their stories take over the focus. Both BB and TDK were stronger stand-alone films than TDKR and still had fan service, IMO.

 

[shauner111]

I meant the trilogy as a whole compared to the Burton/Shumacher/Snyder styles.

But that's just a personal opinion of yours. If i say TDKR was just as great of a stand-alone film, as a retirement story, then that's what it is too. I dont think there was a lot of "fan service" applied to Begins & Knight but not Rises. I dont think that's the case at all.

 

[ThePhantasm]

TDKR's fanservice sucked. A fiery symbol on the bridge? WTF? How did he have time for that? Batman standing on the top of the bridge? WTF? Worst spot to stand and keep watch ever. Only fanservice that gave me chills was the bats flying around Bruce as he climbed out of the pit.

 

[ThePhantasm]

If i say TDKR was just as great of a stand-alone film, as a retirement story

Is this even a genre or category? Never heard of it.

 

[shauner111]

I dont see how that's fan service. He's on top of a bridge watching his city. Who cares how he gets up there, he can because he's Batman, he's done things like this in comics and animation too. Bats flying out of the pit, is that really done just for the fans? Or is it done to represent that he's becoming Batman again? I wouldnt call that fan service.

I didnt see much fan service in any of these movies. Once again, it feels like a few of you are just trying to pick on the 3rd movie while exaggerating the first two.

 

[ThePhantasm]

A shot of him atop a bridge has no other purpose than to be fan service. It doesn't move the story forward in any way. You can equivocate the definition of fan service all you want, but that's how it is.

I'm "picking on the third movie" because this is the TDKR thread, is it not? I can pick on BB and TDK elsewhere. Not sure why you are surprised that I'm discussing TDKR in its own thread.

 

[BatLobster]

To be fair, I don't see how him standing on a gargoyle in Begins helps him watch over Gotham in any practical way either. You can't actually keep watch over everything happening down on the street level from up there.

Those scenes are there to be iconic Batman moments. Fan-service isn't inherently bad, but it's definitely not inherently good either. I judge each moment individually according to how it fits the movie. I thought the point of the bridge shot was there to symbolize the pride before the fall, so to speak. He truly believes that he's the same Batman he was before and that's about to get tested big time. Just like the shot of Batman on the gargoyle in Begins didn't move the story at all, but it punctuated his first night in action and symbolized the DAWN OF JUSTICEEEE oldrazz in Gotham. The bridge fire symbol gave me chills. It never even occurred to me that it was a fan-service moment, it's not like it's something he's known for in the comics.

 

[shauner111]

A shot of him atop a bridge has no other purpose than to be fan service. It doesn't move the story forward in any way. You can equivocate the definition of fan service all you want, but that's how it is.

I'm "picking on the third movie" because this is the TDKR thread, is it not? I can pick on BB and TDK elsewhere. Not sure why you are surprised that I'm discussing TDKR in its own thread.

Wrong. He's watching over his city, first time he's been able to do that in 8 years. He's doing this right before he goes into his final battle (that's what he wants it to be). It also represents a lot more. He's standing on top of the bridge that will later be blown up by the man he's about to fight. It's not just fan service.

 

[ThePhantasm]

If you could cut it out of the movie without causing confusion to the audience, then it doesn't advance the plot or story arc in any way. Sorry, that's just how it is.

I'm sure there could be a billion "thematic" reasons for it (just like in Snyder's films) but at the end of the day its just there to be a "cool" shot.

Which is why it was used in so many trailers.

 

[BatLobster]

Equally valid interpretation shauner, heck I never actually thought it quite that way.

But that bridge (59th St. Bridge) is obviously a big recurring element in the movie with a lot of the themes tied into it. Side note, every time I drove over that bridge I think of Barsad and his men standing guard. t:

Though I will agree, it's more of a "Zack Snyder" type of thing to do than a Chris Nolan thing typically. Only Snyder tends to rely on that kind of stuff a lot more.

 

[Shikamaru]

I actually really liked the fiery symbol on the bridge, especially after Bane saying "Impossible" and seeing that family's reaction. Honestly, it was one of the most Batman moments in the whole film, especially in a film that I overall view as very "un-Batmanny". Those are the types of themes that make me love Batman so much. It's the classic idea of Batman's indomitable will that can't be killed and will always come back to haunt.

 

[BatLobster]

Agreed Shika, I've always loved the idea of the Bat-signal being something not just for Gordon to contact Batman but as a way of sending a message to the city. TDK touched on this when Gordon says that he likes turning on the signal to remind everyone that he's out there.

Batman creating his own makeshift signal during Gotham's bleakest hour, a burning bat-symbol no less, it's a great encapsulation of what I love about the relationship between Batman and Gotham. It's a rallying call, and I love the message it sends to Bane too. Cause Bane knows that Bruce knows that Gotham's doom is inevitable, and Batman is standing in utter defiance of that no matter how slim the chances are. From a practical standpoint, it serves as a war declaration, and that war is really a way to focus the LoS manpower which gives them their best chance of blocking the signal/apprehending the trigger/flooding the bomb. A fire will rise indeed.

 

[Travesty]

-it's a good thing the crackers and rope healed my broke back, and I was able to escape a pretty friendly "hellish" prison, in order to save the city from nuclear annihilation. But before I make my plans to fake my death, I must construct a gasoline Batsymbol so Bane can see I'm back. Because the symbol is more important than the action....and stuff.

 

[BlueLightning]

What plans for his fake death?

The arrangements of the testament is trivial, since he could have done it with keeping in mind that he still could die in the fray. The Bat-Signal was fixed longtime after the events of the film. The fixing of the autopilot was done time before that day, since the technicians can't possibly have access to the destroyed Bat.

 

[Shikamaru]

That's casual comic book stuff. There's things like that in the previous two films, as well as in the Marvel movies. It makes about as much sense as Bruce spending the time to craft that almost-invisible bat logo on his suit. Plus I imagine it wouldn't take long for a guy like Batman to make that.

 

[Green Goblin]

Im happy Nolan didnt go out of his way for fan service. Snyder will on the other hand. It was nice to see the story take over the focus for once instead of the visuals being slammed into our faces every chance the director gets.

I thought there were plenty of iconic Batman shots in TDKR. I could link like 20 pics right now if i wasn't so lazy about it.

I don't get how iconic poses and stuff can get in the way of a movie?

It's just cool nods to fans if you show Spidey crawling like a Spider or Batman gliding like a Bat

 

[Green Goblin]

Batman standing on the top of the bridge? WTF? Worst spot to stand and keep watch ever.

He looked like he was finding it hard to stand too. Maybe all that sex had made him sore?

 

[shauner111]

If you could cut it out of the movie without causing confusion to the audience, then it doesn't advance the plot or story arc in any way. Sorry, that's just how it is.

I'm sure there could be a billion "thematic" reasons for it (just like in Snyder's films) but at the end of the day its just there to be a "cool" shot.

Which is why it was used in so many trailers.

If you look at it that way then there are many of the same shots in Begins and Knight. Come on now.

 

[JackWhite]

We didn't even get a scene of Batman gliding with the cape in TDKR! But that's nitpicking.

TDKR:

1 - Appearing in the tunnels and racing past the cop car on the bat-pod.
2 - Appearing off the side of the screen after Bane's thug runs into the bat-pod
3 - The shot of Batman standing in the streets, soaking up all the attention of the cops swarming him.
4 - The Bat escaping the cops from the ally.
5 - Jumping off the balcony to help Selina fight the thugs on the rooftop.
6 - Standing on top of the bridge right before he goes into the tunnels with Catwoman. I think Lobster named this the pride before the fall. (I think this is the best of the three shots of Batman standing on top of some highrise structure)
7 - He's behind you. Who? ME!
8 - Light it up! Batman walking through the fog. Another great iconic shot.
9 - The shot where Batman appears in the crowd of thugs before confronting Bane.
10 - Batman waiting on the steps while Bane stalks him.
11 - Then you have my permission to die.
12 - Close of Batman's contemplative face in the cockpit of the Bat.

BB:

1 - Where are you? Here!
2 - I'm Batman.
3- Rattle The cages.
4 - Gargoyle shot.
5 - Batman on the building near Gordon's house with his cape fluttering in the wind.
6 - Storms coming.
7 - Swear to me!
8 - Batman scaling the apartment building.
9 - That quick shot of Batman slowing getting up behind Crane and the thugs in the apartment.
10 - Demon Batman!
11 - Backup scene; with Batman gliding down with the Bats surrounding him.
12 - It ends here.
13 - Batman gliding in the air while the Gothamites view him as a monster thanks to the fear toxin.
14 - Batman crashes into the monorail and gives Ra's that beastly glare.
15 - Batman gliding backwards out of the monorail.
16 - Gordon waving at Batman in the sky....gliding...again lol.
17 - Last shot of the film with Batman.....gliding.

TDK:

1 - Appearing off screen and breaking the fake Batman's rifle.
2 - Jumping down on Cranes van from the balcony a few stories up.
3 - Closeup of Batman before he chastises the fake Batman.
4 - Batman once again appearing at random in the bank vault with Gordon and Ramirez.
5 - Batman standing on top of the building in China while the two note motif plays.
6 - Batman gliding in the air before crashing into the window of the building.
7 - Batman and Lau being pulled from the building thanks to skyhook.
8 - Batman standing on top of the highrise Building.
9 - Check the names.
10 - Batman mean mugging Maroni as he lifts him out of his seat in the night club.
11 - I'm counting on it - Batman floating down after dropping Maroni on his ankles.
12 - Batman appearing of screen again, this time catching Dent's coin in mid air.
13 - Bat-pod makes it's first appearance out of a soon to be destroyed Tumbler.
14 - Bat-pods wall-walk.
15 - Batman appearing out of the darkness and smashing the Joker's head on the table.
16 - Batman standing in the rubble where Rachel died and picking up Dent's coin and clenching his fist.
17 - I'm sorry Harvey.
18 - Beautiful, isn't it?
19- Fox, there's something going on on the ferries - Batman standing up on the bat-pod with his cape fluttering in the wind.
20 - Batman gets his five minutes and cape glides into the building opposite.
21 - Fox, I need a picture - Batman with the white eyes!
22 - Batman running off to the bat-pod and the final shot.

Clearly I was bored. Someone can edit the list if they want, lol. But that's everything that came to mind as "Iconic" or just damn fine Batman moments.

 

[JackWhite]

Crap, forgot the burning Bat symbol on the bridge in TDKR, lol.

 

[ThePhantasm]

If you look at it that way then there are many of the same shots in Begins and Knight. Come on now.

I never said that there weren't. You were the one saying that TDKR didn't have much fanservice compared to other films.

 

[shauner111]

huh? I said over and over that i think Nolan dealt with fan service the same way in all 3 movies. It's just that they all didnt have as much fan service as say Burton or Shumacher or what's probably to come with Snyder.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Burton didn't give the fans much consideration.

 

[Green Goblin]

Burton's theme was awesome, so was his Gotham but only the latter is fan service.

 

[BatLobster]

I think we're starting to abuse the term a bit. To me, something like the scene between Quicksilver and Magneto in DOFP...that's fan-service. It's clearly there just as a wink to the fans and it didn't really need to be there. I don't think the inclusion of iconic visuals is quite the same. That's just trying to present the movie as big and grand as its title character deserves, and people other than fans can enjoy that too. I do not think Anton Furst's Gotham qualifies as fan-service, nor do I think Anton himself gave a crap about the fans.