The Dark Knight Rises The Trailers Ruined the Dark Knight Rises' Suspense

[TDKR2012]

Don't watch the Skyfall trailer in that case. Pretty much guess the whole film just from a 2 minute preview.

Yup. In true Sony fashion (cough cough Amazing Spiderman Trailers showing us EVERYTHING)

 

[The Guard]

Personally, I think a lack of suspense and tension building in the film is the culprit for the suspense lacking in TDKR, not the trailers ruining anything.

 

[747]

My friends and family, all loved the Talia twist and didn't see it coming at all. among other things. To much of the general audience (to me too but in different ways) this film was very unpredictable, surprising and suspenseful, believe me.

The movie can't help that the minority that is us obsessive fanboys – analyze, look and indulge in every detail of leaked footage, leaked information and trailers.

Personally I do it cause it's not a huge deal-breaker to me at all. Since if things are done well and to my liking, I'm often so immersed and invested in things that it – no matter how spoiled I am – still has a great impact on me. Same also with seeing the visuals and the story coming together on screen and in context.

But if things like this lessens your experience and opinion of the movie so much, I recommend staying as much in the dark as possible.

 

[The Shape]

My friends and family, all loved the Talia twist and didn't see it coming at all. among other things. To the general audience this film was very unpredictable, surprising and suspenseful, believe me.

The movie can't help that the minority that is us obsessive fanboys – analyze, look and indulge in every detail of leaked footage, leaked information and trailers.

Personally I do it cause it's not a huge deal-breaker to me at all. Since if things are done well and to my liking, I'm often so immersed and invested in things that it – no matter how spoiled I am – still has a great impact on me. Same with seeing the visuals and the story coming together on screen and in context.

But if things like this lessens your experience and opinion of the movie so much, I recommend staying as much in the dark as possible.

This.

I've seen the film with several 'uninitiated' folks, and by that I mean people who are fans of the movie series but are nowhere close to sharing our passion for the Batman character. They never saw any spy photos, didn't really know who Talia was prior to this film, and they loved every single second of the film.

Also, a normal person doesn't obsessively watch every trailer or TV spots dozens of times -- freezing, dissecting, and discussing them for a full year. Upon seeing the film, this didn't affect me much, but I can tell that it ruined the experience for many other posters here.

 

[747]

I especially loved how you could almost touch the silence of suspense in the GA during the first Bane vs Batman fight. The decision to not score that part was brilliant, it was totally quiet in my showing at that part, like everyone just stopped with everything, even the chewing of their popcorn.

 

[danoyse]

This.

I've seen the film with several 'uninitiated' folks, and by that I mean people who are fans of the movie series but are nowhere close to sharing our passion for the Batman character. They never saw any spy photos, didn't really know who Talia was prior to this film, and they loved every single second of the film.

Also, a normal person doesn't obsessively watch every trailer or TV spots dozens of times -- freezing, dissecting, and discussing them for a full year. Upon seeing the film, this didn't affect me much, but I can tell that it ruined the experience for many other posters here.

I didn't look at set photos, and I don't seek out spoilers online. I watched the trailers, but none of the other officially released clips.

And I'm not all that familiar with the Batman comics, so I had no idea who the hell Talia was until I saw the movie. In fact, when she said her name a bunch of people in the audience gasped, and I thought I actually missed it being mentioned before. When I saw it the second time, I realized it was a comics thing.

In short, since I loved the first two movies and was really looking forward to this one, I did my usual thing and ignored this movie's existence until I was actually sitting in a movie theater watching it. Best way to watch a movie.

 

[Troy_Parker]

jacobed.
in 2011 normal movie sites spoiled Talia. it started when Marion filmed the scene where she walks down the stairs into the tumbler.

common sense. you build the stairs outside the soundstages. you add a big greenscreen behind Marion. and then you tell the CGI guys to add the building. voila.

there was no need to film Marion in 2011 outside for everyone to see.

Agreed completely.

 

[Deserana]

jacobed.
in 2011 normal movie sites spoiled Talia. it started when Marion filmed the scene where she walks down the stairs into the tumbler.

common sense. you build the stairs outside the soundstages. you add a big greenscreen behind Marion. and then you tell the CGI guys to add the building. voila.

there was no need to film Marion in 2011 outside for everyone to see.

Exactly!!!!! This is what I said and got shot down for it.

 

[The Joker]

Personally, I think a lack of suspense and tension building in the film is the culprit for the suspense lacking in TDKR, not the trailers ruining anything.

I'm inclined to agree.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

I'm inclined to agree.

I disagree to disagree.

 

[BlackFox]

Yeah agreed, this was the reason I avoided the trailers completely for the first time ever for a film I was looking forward to, I think it seems to be happening more and more these days with trailers.

Other than the first teaser one of Gordon in hospital and the back of Bane moving towards Batman I managed to avoid all info and spoilers for the film, which I did deliberately to avoid such problems, thank goodness I did would have hated myself if I had ruined this film due to my own lack of self control.

Going back to watch trailers and pictures now it seems I was lucky, wayyyy too much info in them it seems.

And there was plenty of suspense in the film for me, as well as surprises on first viewing, its a shame others feel different but I guess they can only tell it as they see it.

 

[solidsnake86]

jacobed.
in 2011 normal movie sites spoiled Talia. it started when Marion filmed the scene where she walks down the stairs into the tumbler.

common sense. you build the stairs outside the soundstages. you add a big greenscreen behind Marion. and then you tell the CGI guys to add the building. voila.

there was no need to film Marion in 2011 outside for everyone to see.

Sorry Dark b but this is utter nonsense. They were filming there already, why would they go spend a few hundred thousand to recreate the set and use CGI just because fans can't control themselves with spoilers. This is a business after all, that would just be a very big waste of money.

Being a batman fan the movie isnt really that suprising when they use characters from the comics because fans already know everything. If tate didn't turn out to be talia fans would be **** and moaning about why he created a new character.

 

[Deserana]

Sorry Dark b but this is utter nonsense. They were filming there already, why would they go spend a few hundred thousand to recreate the set and use CGI just because fans can't control themselves with spoilers.

Being a batman fan the movie isnt really that suprising when they use characters from the comics because fans already know everything. If tate didn't turn out to be talia fans would be **** and moaning about why he created a new character.

Uhhhh what??? The Talia reveal is theee reveal of the film. Nolan is all about keeping stuff secret, look at how much repeated stuff was in trailers and TV spots, look at how little the cast can say in interviews, the cast had to read the script behind closed doors, even the biggest people in the film had the ending cut from the script, only about 4 clips released and Nolan had a go at a press guy for talking about the reveal!!! Why would go to those lengths if he films it for everyone to see???? The leak didn't annoy me much but that is NOT the point. The point is that Nolan filmed this reveal when he had two soundstages at his disposal. What would you rather... have the big reveal out there on the net, or film it on a soundstage and keep it secret until the film? The answer is obvious.

The way Marion kept having to deny it in interviews that she was Talia, that clearly proves that Nolan wanted the info secret.

Ra's had already been used and Bane was already being promoted as the main villain. If we didn't get that shot Marion would have just been Miranda and maybe just speculated to being Talia. If the video wasn't seen there was no way Talia fans would lose their **** as the only thing to connect Miranda and Talia was because Joey King shares the slightest resemblance of Marion and she spoiled she was playing Talia. It was a silly desicion from Nolan.

Maybe only fanboys and people searching about the film saw it but so what? The reveal was out there for people to see.

 

[solidsnake86]

At the end of the day Desarana, it was up to you to click on the video and keep up with the set videos, that isnt Nolan's fault that people were hiding in buildings to film scenes for there own instant gratification.

And really, did you watch the film, I could have told you talia was the kid just paying attention to how the prisoners kept on cutting off the story when bruce asked if the child was bane. On top of all that they cast a girl as the child, which you already knew. You guys are just reaching now.

As much as I don't agree with Jett and BOF, I do agree with his no spoilers policy.

 

[BatLobster]

It's pretty ironic...so many people were complaining that the teaser and first trailer didn't show enough, got boring after a while, there was a total "we want moar" mentality. And I have no doubt that many of those same people are now the ones saying the trailers gave too much away (not addressed at thread-author, just a general statement). I don't entirely disagree though, I think Trailer 3 and Nokia Trailer 4 might have pushed it a little too far....though Trailer 3 is one of my favorite trailers ever. A little piece of art in its own right, so I'm glad we have it.

Being a batman fan the movie isnt really that suprising when they use characters from the comics because fans already know everything. If tate didn't turn out to be talia fans would be **** and moaning about why he created a new character.

True. A lot of fans (not all) wanted Tate to be Talia, and seemingly wanted to be completely surprised at the same time.

I guess I'm kind of lucky. I knew someone who saw it before me, and he completely faked me out. He told me not to think too much about Tate and Blake, saying not to get my hopes up that they'll turn out to be anyone else. And I had some hesitation to believe that, but he really sold it well! So while I was very suspicious of Miranda throughout the movie, it still caught me pretty off guard when she actually revealed herself as Talia. Blake, I kind of had a hunch about after his first scene with Bruce, but I still never thought in a million years that the word "Robin" would be uttered in this franchise.

Also, leaked pic or no leaked pic...once the film starts talking about "the child of Ra's al Ghul", I think that is the moment that cues the fans into start thinking about Talia. I don't think it would have been a huge surprise for the fans no matter what, and the Nolans knew that. I think it's meant to play as a genuine surprise for the mainstream audience, but a "you probably should have seen this coming" moment for the hardcore fans.

To me the bigger revelations of the film were everything about the ending. And luckily I had absolutely none of that spoiled for me going in.

 

[Shpati]

Honestly, I did not see any of the spy photos.

I was just a little surprised that the trailers showed a good amount if footage from the last fight scene.

I for one, am not blaming the Taila plot twist on the trailers at all.

 

[BlackFox]

Trailer 3 is one of my favorite trailers ever. A little piece of art in its own right, so I'm glad we have it.

It sure is but I would have been if I had seen it before the film, pretty much shows you the entire prologue and that Bruce was in for a whooping from Bane.

Still dat music

 

[solidsnake86]

Also, leaked pic or no leaked pic...once the film starts talking about "the child of Ra's al Ghul", I think that is the moment that cues the fans into start thinking about Talia. I don't think it would have been a huge surprise for the fans no matter what, and the Nolans knew that. I think it's meant to play as a genuine surprise for the mainstream audience, but a "you probably should have seen this coming" moment for the hardcore fans.

To me the bigger revelations of the film were everything about the ending. And luckily I had absolutely none of that spoiled for me going in.

Absolutely. Really its the fans own fault if they arent surprised. Dissecting trailers frame by frame is where it starts. Back when the internet didnt exist you couldnt do that. I''m pretty sure the only way to see the b89 trailer was in front of whatever movie they played it with.

Now, people watch the trailer 40-50 times on repeat. How can you generally be surprised with anything. The big action set pieces lose there value as well.

I agree with the opening poster, trailers do spoil things. But its a catch 22, so many fans were complaining about no marketing.

 

[Deserana]

At the end of the day Desarana, it was up to you to click on the video and keep up with the set videos, that isnt Nolan's fault that people were hiding in buildings to film scenes for there own instant gratification.

And really, did you watch the film, I could have told you talia was the kid just paying attention to how the prisoners kept on cutting off the story when bruce asked if the child was bane. On top of all that they cast a girl as the child, which you already knew. You guys are just reaching now.

As much as I don't agree with Jett and BOF, I do agree with his no spoilers policy.

You missed everything I posted in that last post and what I've posted in the thread...

Earlier in the thread I said I had not watched the set video. I also said my problem is NOT with the fact the video was released. My problem is the fact that it was the big reveal and Nolan is all about secrecy so why, for the most anticipated film of 2012, would Nolan film it for all to see. I don't care if the fans saw it, I don't care if the GA never saw it my point is that he filmed it out in the open and then had Marion deny she filmed such a scene...

Nolan had two huge soundstages to use. I love he films practically but for such a big moment why couldn't he just keep it a secret. I really don't see how what I'm saying is wrong.

No one is reaching at anything. We knew the kid was Talia due to Joey King spoiling it. We knew Marion was Talia due to the video. If he filmed it on a soundstage, as obvious as it may be it would still have been speculation.

You can say "Oh but even I could have told you that..." or "Well we are supposed to be thinking about Talia when..." the truth is all of that is confirmed in that scene before that it is just presumption.

 

[solidsnake86]

You missed everything I posted in that last post and what I've posted in the thread...

Earlier in the thread I said I had not watched the set video. I also said my problem is NOT with the fact the video was released. My problem is the fact that it was the big reveal and Nolan is all about secrecy so why, for the most anticipated film of 2012, would Nolan film it for all to see. I don't care if the fans saw it, I don't care if the GA never saw it my point is that he filmed it out in the open and then had Marion deny she filmed such a scene...

Nolan had two huge soundstages to use. I love he films practically but for such a big moment why couldn't he just keep it a secret. I really don't see how what I'm saying is wrong.

No one is reaching at anything. We knew the kid was Talia due to Joey King spoiling it. We knew Marion was Talia due to the video. If he filmed it on a soundstage, as obvious as it may be it would still have been speculation.

You can say "Oh but even I could have told you that..." or "Well we are supposed to be thinking about Talia when..." the truth is all of that is confirmed in that scene before that it is just presumption.

So if I'm reading your post correctly, you weren't spoiled by it, but you are surprised Nolan filmed it outside so that others were spoiled by it?

It surprises me too, but when you stop and think about it, why spend the money and time to build a completely new set. Yes they could have done it, but they saved themselves a lot of money. Thats why Nolan usually has his films on budget because he's not wasting it for things that aren't needed.

On top of all that, it goes back to the fans being the only ones spoiled by it, no one else even cares in the general public.

When Joey King herself said she was playing talia I think that is a much bigger spoiler. Like you said, it was all presumption up to that point, even Miranda walking out, she could have just been generic villain number 3 for all you know. So picking at this one scene outside when there were other things spoiling the reveal (that were much bigger) is what I call "reaching."

Your not saying anything wrong, but its not really a big deal due to other things that came out before and after that scene, so its all a moot point whether or not it was caught on film.

 

[BatManFan_NYC]

Interesting that I'd find this as a discussion point.
I've seen it 10 times, and I've still got a few more viewings in me..
the reason we like to go see it again and again, especially with the "un-initiated" [hat tip to Shape] is because we like to see / re-live their awe \ surprise the first time they see the Bat, or the first time they see Batman get owned by Bane, or the first time JGL is revealed as R.. I still love the movie, maybe a little more than TDK, maybe a little less than BB, but 3% of me wishes I could have seen it without seeing the Prologue and watching \ memorizing the bootleg versions we've been watching since December...

take the voice changes of Bane in the prologue...
when I was in line at AMC listening outside the door while they were doing a sound test...
I clearly heard that Bane's dialogue had been "changed", and even through the wall, I recognized that the only thing that stayed the same was

"CRASHING THIS PLAAAANNNNEEE"

[which I loved of course]

but I was sooooo disappointed and upset because I loved the inaudible quality of the voice behind the mask. It worked for me..

so much so that with each repeat viewing, It's a little ruined for me.

[except for crashing this plane]

take this line

"Of course, Dr Pavel refused our offer in favor of yours... we had to find out what he'd told you about us"

I'd memorized that line and all the various inflections since January...

can you imagine how disappointed I was that they cut out the "about us"

I dunno....

had I not seen the prologue, It would have been awesome, I would have been blown away.. and wouldn't have had the frame of reference, which, in my opinion was , and still is far superior to the version we're seeing in the theaters now.

I'm not saying the movie was ruined for me, no....

but I am saying that I'm second thinking reading every article, every photo leak, every bit of news that comes out months , weeks, and days before the movie is released..

a co-worker ran his mouth saying the plot was predictable, the Bat looked fake, night wing this,night wing that...

but he wouldn't fess up that the reason he had "problems" with the story was because he had read all the spoilers months leading into the movie, and had watched all the TV spots and trailers...

now regarding Skyfall, I've seen the teasers, trailers, "so called exclusive footage" etc...
but it's not nearly the same thing....

even if the movie is "spoiled", and yes, I agree, it pretty much is, the expectations aren't nearly on the same level. It's Bond for christ's sake, not Batman..

I dunno...

I doubt I'll ever stop reading ahead on sites like this, batman-news, etc....
but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that it takes some of the suspense and wow-factor away...

I think the media blitz is to reel in "casual" viewers or Batman n00bs [if there is such a thing] it's counter productive for fan [atic] s who frequent, and occasionally post on Superhero forums..

 

[Deserana]

So if I'm reading your post correctly, you weren't spoiled by it, but you are surprised Nolan filmed it outside so that others were spoiled by it?

It surprises me too, but when you stop and think about it, why spend the money and time to build a completely new set. Yes they could have done it, but they saved themselves a lot of money. Thats why Nolan usually has his films on budget because he's not wasting it for things that aren't needed.

On top of all that, it goes back to the fans being the only ones spoiled by it, no one else even cares in the general public.

No my point is that I'm surprised Nolan filmed it! In the open! For anyone to be spoiled by it!

Why spend the time and money? Well the fact that Nolan is all about the story and secrecy. For the major reveal in the film why wouldn't you build it on a soundstage? He built an entire prison in there and he built and entire Batcave. The Batcave had about 3 scenes and 1 quick shot. And for Inception Nolan blew up a huge set and didn't even use the take. So I'm sure he could build a few steps for Marion to walk down.

Also Nolan isn't just making a film for the GA he is also making a film for the fans who have followed him througout the entire trilogy. I've never been a fan of this "well the general audience doesn't care" Nolan is working with his own established franchise I have a feeling he is making it more for the fans and mainly WB care about the general audience.

 

[BatLobster]

No my point is that I'm surprised Nolan filmed it! In the open! For anyone to be spoiled by it!

Why spend the time and money? Well the fact that Nolan is all about the story and secrecy. For the major reveal in the film why wouldn't you build it on a soundstage? He built an entire prison in there and he built and entire Batcave. The Batcave had about 3 scenes and 1 quick shot. And for Inception Nolan blew up a huge set and didn't even use the take. So I'm sure he could build a few steps for Marion to walk down.

Also Nolan isn't just making a film for the GA he is also making a film for the fans who have followed him througout the entire trilogy. I've never been a fan of this "well the general audience doesn't care" Nolan is working with his own established franchise I have a feeling he is making it more for the fans and mainly WB care about the general audience.

Maybe it was a minor misstep to film it out in the open. The point still stands though that throughout the film, we are fed many clues that are meant to lead someone more familiar with the Batman world to start piecing it together. I don't think it was honestly meant to be this huge HOLY F moment for the fans. I mean when Batman tosses her the gun, you can already see she's wearing a completely different type of attire. It's all there in the open for the fans to pick up on, whether from looking at too many spoilers or simply paying close attention to the film.

All we're really talking about is our initial first screening reaction. The film was built for multiple viewings. The fact that I know the twist in The Prestige (and in fact guessed it correctly the first time I saw it) doesn't do anything to take away my enjoyment of the film. When films have a big twist (like Sixth Sense or Usual Suspects for instance), it's still fun to go back and re-watch them to take note of all the little hints that are thrown in there and the double-meanings you end up getting.

 

[danoyse]

No my point is that I'm surprised Nolan filmed it! In the open! For anyone to be spoiled by it!

Why spend the time and money? Well the fact that Nolan is all about the story and secrecy. For the major reveal in the film why wouldn't you build it on a soundstage? He built an entire prison in there and he built and entire Batcave. The Batcave had about 3 scenes and 1 quick shot. And for Inception Nolan blew up a huge set and didn't even use the take. So I'm sure he could build a few steps for Marion to walk down.

Also Nolan isn't just making a film for the GA he is also making a film for the fans who have followed him througout the entire trilogy. I've never been a fan of this "well the general audience doesn't care" Nolan is working with his own established franchise I have a feeling he is making it more for the fans and mainly WB care about the general audience.

Again, you could have opted not to look at the set photos.

It's like finding your birthday presents six months before your birthday, and then complaining that the surprise was ruined.

 

[DACrowe]

This.

I've seen the film with several 'uninitiated' folks, and by that I mean people who are fans of the movie series but are nowhere close to sharing our passion for the Batman character. They never saw any spy photos, didn't really know who Talia was prior to this film, and they loved every single second of the film.

Also, a normal person doesn't obsessively watch every trailer or TV spots dozens of times -- freezing, dissecting, and discussing them for a full year. Upon seeing the film, this didn't affect me much, but I can tell that it ruined the experience for many other posters here.

Indeed. I've seen the movie three times with seven different people and all of them were surprised by Talia an really enjoyed the movie. I knew Talia was coming and since I actually tried to guess the ending on here months ago (he'll fake his death and run away with Selina, because Miranda is Talia), as soon as I saw Alfred's fantasy I was like, "there it is." Same with all the fanboys spending months trying to figure out who John Blake is and why he is so important and deducing he becomes Batman at the end.

I liked this movie, but I wish I didn't know these things because I wasn't as floored by the ending as everyone I've seen it with. I do think the fans knowing the three big twists at the end before the movie started affected their opinions. I wished I had more of a TDK or Prestige or Inception styled blankness to the whole thing. Oh well.