The Dark Knight Rises The TDKR General Discussion Thread - - - - - - - Part 156

[The Joker]

I think that as the first moment where you were like, "holy **** this Batman is more hardcore than anything we've seen in the movies before"

And it was. One of many reasons why Bale's Batman is best.

 

[The Shape]

I friggin' love Bale's scowl in that scene. That scene is so over the top, but it's classic. I think that as the first moment where you were like, "holy **** this Batman is more hardcore than anything we've seen in the movies before", and yet it felt like such a classic comic book Batman moment.

Yup, I had that exact feeling when watching BB in theaters for the first time. So great.

To this day, the absolute best movie-going experience I've ever had (and possibly ever will have) was watching the Batman/Joker interrogation scene during the first midnight showing of The Dark Knight surrounded by a sell-out crowd.

That scene was like everything I'd ever wanted to see in a Batman movie to the point that I couldn't even believe I was watching it, and thinking back on it now, it was almost like an out-of-body experience for me. Goosebumps, chills, and a stupid grin on my face during the whole scene. As Batman beat down The Joker and he just laughed (which was by far Heath's best Joker laugh in the film), I'll never forget that I grabbed my girlfriend's arm and let out this weird little nervous laugh. It was almost like my body was going through a sensory overload and didn't know how to react.

And while my eyes were fixed on the screen the entire time, as it was physically impossible for me to look away (I probably would have stayed and continued to watch even if a fire broke out in the theater), I could almost feel everyone in the audience around me staring intensely at the screen in awe, dying to know what would happen next.

It's a good possibility that this moment was the absolute peak of my life's movie theater experiences, which is both awesome and really sad at the same time.

 

[The Shape]

I think I finally know why Begins is my favourite of the trilogy, it's not just because I like origin stories the best either. It's Gotham, it feels like something out of a comic book in this film. In the sequels it feels like any other City, but in this one it's dark, it's gritty, it's got a charm to it. I think it actually helped that they built parts of it in a studio. The only times I feel the same way in the sequel are scenes like the Joker chase scene or the Batman returns in Rises.

Yeah. I love the Gotham City from Batman '89 immensely, as well, but the Gotham in BB definitely also had that "Gotham feel" more than the sequels did.

Another thing that excites me about BvS is seeing how Snyder presents Gotham City, as I have little doubt that he'll similarly give the city that special, unique essence that separates Gotham from Metropolis and other real-life major cities.

 

[BH/HHH]

Yeah. I love the Gotham City from Batman '89 immensely, as well, but the Gotham in BB definitely also had that "Gotham feel" more than the sequels did.

Another thing that excites me about BvS is seeing how Snyder presents Gotham City, as I have little doubt that he'll similarly give the city that special, unique essence that separates Gotham from Metropolis and other real-life major cities.

Agreed 100%

 

[The Batman]

I liked the Gotham City we saw in TDK. I think that making Gotham the stand in for Chicago made the actions of Batman and Joker much more palpable. You almost felt like this Bat-themed vigilante and this clown terrorist were actually duking it out in our world. IMO, the tension in, for example, the ferry scene would've been lessened if it took place in the Gotham of B89 or even Batman Begins.

Also, I definitely think that Nolan got the idea of making Gotham Chicago from Donner making Metropolis NYC in STM.

 

[shauner111]

I liked Gotham in Begins but for this trilogy, the scenes where it looked like a regular city that we can go to, it made the most sense and fit what Nolan was trying to do with this trilogy. It was never meant to be an accurate depiction of a comic books aesthetics. That's more Snyders concern.

 

[Decepticonus]

All good points and never considered that Begins has the most Gotham-y look to it and yeah the others are kind of generic city. But yeah for Nolan's universe it works.
At the same time one could argue Gotham has no distinct look. There was an article a while ago pointing out Batman comics prior to '89 had a generic looking Gotham, it wasn't until later into the 90's it got a more distinct, gothic and Burton-esque look. And the same could go for the cartoons and video games.

 

[The Shape]

My favorite Gotham from the trilogy would be TDK, partially because of that real-world feel as you guys said, but I think also because of the way it was shot and the locations they used. The cinematography was off the chain, across the board.

That opening shot that just launches you right into the city and then into the action is great. Remember that in IMAX?

 

[BH/HHH]

I liked Gotham in Begins but for this trilogy, the scenes where it looked like a regular city that we can go to, it made the most sense and fit what Nolan was trying to do with this trilogy. It was never meant to be an accurate depiction of a comic books aesthetics. That's more Snyders concern.

Yet in Begins it did look more like something from a comic book.

 

[The Joker]

I liked the Gotham City we saw in TDK. I think that making Gotham the stand in for Chicago made the actions of Batman and Joker much more palpable. You almost felt like this Bat-themed vigilante and this clown terrorist were actually duking it out in our world. IMO, the tension in, for example, the ferry scene would've been lessened if it took place in the Gotham of B89 or even Batman Begins.

Also, I definitely think that Nolan got the idea of making Gotham Chicago from Donner making Metropolis NYC in STM.

This

Although Gotham has been drawn like NYC many times in the comics, too:

At the same time one could argue Gotham has no distinct look. There was an article a while ago pointing out Batman comics prior to '89 had a generic looking Gotham, it wasn't until later into the 90's it got a more distinct, gothic and Burton-esque look. And the same could go for the cartoons and video games.

This is very true. Gotham has predominantly looked like a regular city in the comics.

 

[shauner111]

Yet in Begins it did look more like something from a comic book.

They actually wanted it to be more like TDK and TDKR but Warner Brothers urged them to do otherwise. So i read.

 

[Decepticonus]

I guess it's because most of us were raised on Burton as well as the art deco style of TAS we wanted something more stylistic, as The Joker even sourced that Gotham does indeed look like NYC. But in the end, not really complaining.
Nolan does well outside of Gotham City like the sewers which has 1,000,000 x the amount of head space than one would think. The Pit looked great.

 

[BH/HHH]

They actually wanted it to be more like TDK and TDKR but Warner Brothers urged them to do otherwise. So i read.

That's interesting didn't know that, still I like it best in Begins

 

[The Shape]

The biggest detractor of Gotham in BB was the obvious use of sound stages at times (and obvious CGI for the overhead shots of the Narrows), instead of nearly always shooting on location for exterior shots as Nolan did in the sequels.

I think sound stages were more acceptable (and even preferable in some ways) for Burton's Gotham in Batman Returns, but I wasn't crazy about it in a 2005 film.

 

[Decepticonus]

The biggest detractor of Gotham in BB was the obvious use of sound stages at times (and obvious CGI for the overhead shots of the Narrows), instead of nearly always shooting on location for exterior shots as Nolan did in the sequels.

I think sound stages were more acceptable (and even preferable in some ways) for Burton's Gotham in Batman Returns, but I wasn't crazy about it in a 2005 film.

Didn't detract for me at all but I get what you mean.

But I disagree on Burton, due to his sets and stages it looked like 18 people lived in Gotham, save for the opening scene in Batman (1989).

 

[The Joker]

Didn't detract for me at all but I get what you mean.

But I disagree on Burton, due to his sets and stages it looked like 18 people lived in Gotham, save for the opening scene in Batman (1989).

I agree. Especially in Returns. Talk about set city. 80% of Gotham seemed to consist of Gotham Plaza.

 

[Infinity9999x]

I agree. Especially in Returns. Talk about set city. 80% of Gotham seemed to consist of Gotham Plaza.

This is true. I loved the style, but It felt like a set. If they could combine the style with the scope it would be perfect.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I agree. Especially in Returns. Talk about set city. 80% of Gotham seemed to consist of Gotham Plaza.

It's as if the whole movie was taking place inside of a snow globe.

Not a complaint, by the way. That's one of the things I love about Returns.

 

[The Batman]

This

Although Gotham has been drawn like NYC many times in the comics, too:

Gotham was basically a stand in for NYC in the 60's show as well.

 

[titansupes]

I liked the Gotham City we saw in TDK. I think that making Gotham the stand in for Chicago made the actions of Batman and Joker much more palpable. You almost felt like this Bat-themed vigilante and this clown terrorist were actually duking it out in our world. IMO, the tension in, for example, the ferry scene would've been lessened if it took place in the Gotham of B89 or even Batman Begins.

Also, I definitely think that Nolan got the idea of making Gotham Chicago from Donner making Metropolis NYC in STM.

My favorite Gotham from the trilogy would be TDK, partially because of that real-world feel as you guys said, but I think also because of the way it was shot and the locations they used. The cinematography was off the chain, across the board.

That opening shot that just launches you right into the city and then into the action is great. Remember that in IMAX?

This

Although Gotham has been drawn like NYC many times in the comics, too:

This is very true. Gotham has predominantly looked like a regular city in the comics.

These. TDK/R is by far my favourite Gotham, and in spite of what some would have you believe, is comic accurate.

 

[BatLobster]

I think it's cool that we got to see different sections of Gotham in each movie. We saw the Narrows, the "Chicago" part, the "Pittsburgh/LA/NYC" part. It gave the city more scope over the course of the trilogy.

 

[batfreakforever]

The Dark Kight Rises really makes more sense when you just watched the first two in a row before it. Girlfriend and I really appreciate the arcs how everything clicks into place. She never once said did they ever consider making a 4th one because she said the story is over and we don't need to know Blake's Batman story. It came full circle.

 

[Decepticonus]

I agree. Especially in Returns. Talk about set city. 80% of Gotham seemed to consist of Gotham Plaza.

Yeah Gotham Plaza, with the tree lighting that is brought to like 18 people. So safe to say that is the last year of the tree lighting.

This is true. I loved the style, but It felt like a set. If they could combine the style with the scope it would be perfect.

Yeah the set is nice, but it's more like Gothamville or Gotham Town, not Gotham CITY. Safe to say Nolan did the right thing in shooting in the real world.

 

[Brother Jack]

I think it's cool that we got to see different sections of Gotham in each movie. We saw the Narrows, the "Chicago" part, the "Pittsburgh/LA/NYC" part. It gave the city more scope over the course of the trilogy.

Yeah, and I've always maintained the changing look of the city through the films was not stylistic inconsistency but story-driven. This Gotham was a gargantuan metropolis that had many different aspects and vibes. Begins has that rainy, claustrophobic Blade Runner feel because the story largely took place in the narrows, very much an exaggerated slum. Knight centered around civic, mid-city locations like Gordon's MCU and Bruce's penthouse so it was appropriate that the visuals were dominated by the steel and glass canyons. Rises takes that further with the focus on Gotham's economic and governmental institutions and broadens the canvas to show the city at its largest and most multi-leveled.

The city was always a character that evolved to suit the story. When you look at it altogether you see the full picture; every piece in its geographic place and the aesthetic to convey it. It's much like the portrait it painted for its hero at the center. A big triptych.

 

[BH/HHH]

These. TDK/R is by far my favourite Gotham, and in spite of what some would have you believe, is comic accurate.

Nobody said it wasn't, a few if us just think the Gotham in Begins feels more like something from a comic with the stuff in the Barrows. In that it feels a little more surreal and gothic. Nobody said there weren't or aren't comics with a more real world feel to Gotham.