Unpopular Opinion but I hate The Christopher Nolan Dark Knight Trilogy

[Awest66]

I never said he couldn't. I said he didn't. There is a difference. Stop taking these things personally. Unless you are Christopher Nolan or something? I didn't like a movie he made. It doesn't go beyond that amigo. Great filmmakers sometimes make bad movies. I love Martin Scorsese, but you couldn't force me to sit through New York New York ever again.

(Sigh)

I guess it really is a shame he chose to come back when he had the opportunity to walk

 

[Spider-Fan]

(Sigh)

I guess it really is a shame he chose to come back when he had the opportunity to walk

I mean, we got Inception out of the deal. So I will excuse it for that alone. Cause Inception was amazing

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I have another question actually. Since youre hung up on the "race thing", Who would you have cast to Play Ras Al Gul and Bane?

For that matter, Are there any Batman characters you think Liam Neeson and Tom Hardy could have played instead?

I thought you said you didn't care about debating ethnicity with me anymore. Why are you putting "race thing" in quotations?

Anyway, I liked Oded Fehr in The Mummy movies and he's got the looks & acting chops for Ra's. Dwayne Johnson has the perfect physique for playing Bane, and if he was cast, then his version would have been Afro-Latino.

I think Liam Neeson could have played King Snake, the actual biological father of Bane. I dunno about Tom Hardy, but even before was cast in a Batman film, I always thought he would be great as Eddie Brock in a Marvel movie; lo and behold pretty soon we'll have a whole trilogy of movies where he's portraying that character.

 

[Awest66]

I mean, we got Inception out of the deal. So I will excuse it for that alone. Cause Inception was amazing

Plus, Nolan himself has always seemed really pleased with what he made. He frequently talks about how he considers it underrated, how he thinks Hardys Bane is underrated and how the plane heist in the opening is his favorite of any sequence hes ever made for a movie.

Regardless of how anyone may feel, its definitely not a "Steven Spielberg/The Lost World" or "Sam Raimi/ Spider-Man 3" situation for him at all.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Plus, Nolan himself has always seemed really pleased with what he made. He frequently talks about how he considers it underrated, how he thinks Hardys Bane is underrated and how the plane heist in the opening is his favorite of any sequence hes ever made for a movie.

Regardless of how anyone may feel, its definitely not a "Steven Spielberg/The Lost World" or "Sam Raimi/ Spider-Man 3" situation for him at all.

I am all for creative being proud of their work or defending it. So if Nolan was happy with the movie, that's fine. He is allowed to his opinion.

 

[Herofan]

I have another question actually. Since youre hung up on the "race thing", Who would you have cast to Play Ras Al Gul and Bane?

I'm fine with, liked Neeson as Ra's but would have much preferred Benicio Del Toro or Javier Bardem as Bane.

Are there any Batman characters you think Liam Neeson and Tom Hardy could have played instead?

I recall some people thought Tom Hardy would/should play Hugo Strange, a slightly younger take but otherwise there is resemblance. He probably could have also worked as the Riddler.

 

[Awest66]

I'm fine with, liked Neeson as Ra's but would have much preferred Benicio Del Toro or Javier Bardem as Bane.



I recall some people thought Tom Hardy would/should play Hugo Strange, a slightly younger take but otherwise there is resemblance. He probably could have also worked as the Riddler.

Bardem I get but I can't see Del Toro as Bane at all. He's much too scraggly

 

[Gothamsknight]

For me, The Dark Knight Rises is an incredible conclusion to a phenomenal trilogy. Id hesitate to even call the film underrated considering how acclaimed it is. Some may not like it, but the general consensus is that it was a satisfying and epic conclusion to the trilogy, and wrapped up Bruces arc in a very impactful and emotional way.

Fans opinion aside, if the only mixed consensus is that it's "not as good as TDK", then that's fine by me. Still my 3rd favorite Batman film behind TDK and BB. So many moments that bring it that high for me. Bruce climbing out of the prison, symbolically mirroring when he fell down the well, the opening plane sequence, the sewer fight between Batman and Bane, the fight on the steps along with the police vs the mercenaries, and of course that wonderful final scene where Alfred and Bruce nod at each other in approval that he made it and found peace. I mean, come on! I rewatched the film recently and held back tears at the end.

 

[Babillygunn]

Aside from the disgustingly racist serials, I’ve enjoyed every Batman film to varying degrees.

It’s kind of sad that threads like these are kind of designed to foster disagreements and arguments.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

For me, The Dark Knight Rises is an incredible conclusion to a phenomenal trilogy. Id hesitate to even call the film underrated considering how acclaimed it is. Some may not like it, but the general consensus is that it was a satisfying and epic conclusion to the trilogy, and wrapped up Bruces arc in a very impactful and emotional way.

Fans opinion aside, if the only mixed consensus is that it's "not as good as TDK", then that's fine by me. Still my 3rd favorite Batman film behind TDK and BB. So many moments that bring it that high for me. Bruce climbing out of the prison, symbolically mirroring when he fell down the well, the opening plane sequence, the sewer fight between Batman and Bane, the fight on the steps along with the police vs the mercenaries, and of course that wonderful final scene where Alfred and Bruce nod at each other in approval that he made it and found peace. I mean, come on! I rewatched the film recently and held back tears at the end.

I think your post pretty much encapsulates our reality. The general consensus definitely is that Nolan's Batman trilogy is very well regarded. And overall, its accomplishment and legacy far outweigh the criticisms toward it.

 

[primitivx]

Nolan’s Batman was made in an effort to make it believable in the real world and I think he managed that. We saw him train and acquire skills, then developing his persona with the Bat costume and gadgets and then the vehicles. They were all grounded in some reality that made them possible. Even the bad guys were believable and we were shown how they came into being, except for the Joker. The acting was great and the movies were solid. Now, was it the Batman from the comic books? Part of it was, but in my opinion none of the movies that have been done has successfully portrayed Bruce Wayne and Batman as I see him on the pages of the comic books. If they would show the real Batman, people might say he is an azzhole. His partners have a love/hate relationship with him. He is not a nice guy. He is harden and impenetrable. His losses hunt him and getting close to him is very difficult. I want that Batman, the hardcore and moody superhero. I have to say that the Batman fights in Snyder’s Batman vs Superman when Batman takes out a bunch of guys in the warehouse is how I see Batman fighting. He is brash and downright aggressive.

 

[Babillygunn]

Everyone points to the warehouse fight as being so great, but that Batman broke necks and straight up killed people.
I’d picture his real fighting being a cross between Daredevil hallway fight and a street fighting Mike Tyson in his prime.

 

[Filmfreak]

Everyone points to the warehouse fight as being so great, but that Batman broke necks and straight up killed people.
I’d picture his real fighting being a cross between Daredevil hallway fight and a street fighting Mike Tyson in his prime.

It's one thing to like it and another to proclaim "it's the most iconic Batman fight ever" when the dude literally breaks bones, stabs and blows people up. It showcases perfectly everything that's problematic about Snyder's Batman.

But even outside that, the physics are also wrong. Batman lifts a crate from an angle that is impossible to, throws it in the head of a thug and even though it's supposed to be super heavy and it probably kills him (yeah...), it still bounces off like it's made of carton.

It's one of the most overrated scenes in cinematic history that I've ever seen. It's why people insist that Snyder is always style over anything related to substance. I'd take bad choreography over this insulting crap. That's my unpopular opinion.

 

[Rick190293]

I enjoy the warehouse fight, but I can see why it's loved: the cinematography, Batfleck's costume, he's agressive and violent, the music is great. Still prefer Bats vs Swat and Joker goons in TDK, that was peak Batman imo.

 

[GreenKToo]

I liked it. TDK was my favorite.
I look at the trilogy like this, IF a Batman could exist in our world, then this would most likely be how.

As far as Batman, I prefer the fantastical elements be in it, ie, clayface, killer croc, deadman, Mr. Freeze, etc.

 

[BatLobster]

When it comes to the trilogy as a whole, I just think we’re at a point now where you have fans who have grown up in a post-TDK world and it’s easy for them to take it for granted and maybe even resent it a bit for popularizing a more grounded cinematic take on Batman. I think there is a real generational divide there, in that some fans will never know just how much of a shock to the system Batman Begins was after Batman & Robin. And then what The Dark Knight achieved in terms of becoming a cultural phenomenon was borderline unthinkable, even after Batman Begins.

As far as The Dark Knight Rises, I’ve gushed many a time on these boards about why I think It Rules, Actually. For now I’ll just say that I actually think the fact that it was divisive among hardcore Batman fans and there are some that hate it is evidence that Nolan made some real choices and committed to them. Even if you boil it down to something like Tom Hardy’s Bane voice…that’s a choice. I think holds true for a lot of the choices in the film. I absolutely love it, but I understand and accept that it’s not for everyone. I would argue there’s no way to try and do a definitive ending to Batman’s story without alienating fans to some degree. We’ve seen what happens when a concluding film tries too hard to please everyone and then pleases no one...not naming names. I think if nothing else, it’s worthy of respect that Nolan stuck to his guns, told the story he wanted to tell and walked away.

The other thing about TDKR is I feel like it’s the one that is still most relevant to the current times we’re living in. This is a great watch (from someone who initially didn’t like the movie) that I think sheds some light on why that is.

 

[Daywalker89]

Watched the trilogy and Batman 89 randomly through this month so im quite tingled i saw this thread still active . My perception has changed over the years. BB is the best of the bunch and its because its a great Batman film and origin story. The acts were perfect, great pacing and Christian Bales Batman ate the scenery with a great batman voice (Can't believe they changed it man) The best was previously held by TDK (Now its slightly below BB) and TDKR has become worse imo. I don't know what Nolan was really thinking in its execution but to me he was not in the right headspace for that film. There's too many problems with it from multiple angle's.

First off Anne Hathaways Catwoman and Hardy's Bane were good but goddamn...... Soo Blake knew who Batman was because of a certain look in the face, Wayne Manors power goes out immediately because of some bad trades in a tampered stock market, All of Gothams PD down in the sewers for 5 months and then have the energy to go into a full stampede when the terrorists are firing guns, terrible fight choreography and stunt performers, The guns used in the film had no muzzle flash .Bane being a pawn for Talia and finished off by the batpod. Talia's death scene lool Blake being Robin. Worse Batman voice .Just...very weird plot devices and executions. i don't plan to watch again for the foreseeable future. It wrapped up the trilogy and had some good moments but ultimately the very bad outweighed the inconsistent good.

OT. Batman 89 and in particular Keaton's Bruce Wayne has grown on me even if the overall film is dated in elements. His deep stares and introspection in the cave scenes are some of the best in the whole series. In particular the parents throwback with the vicky vale conversation at the end. Keaton really sold the trauma and internal conflict through his expressions. Visiting the area of his parents death, absolutely taken back by the joker outside of city hall etc there's more nuances ive ignored on previous showings but are quite clear this time as i was locked into the Bruce Wayne persona. The score is just majestic, my god and Jack Nicholson walked so Heath Ledger could run. His Joker really has a great balance of " you don't know what he's going to do next " and has some standout moments.

BB 9.0 TDK 8.5 TDKR 6.5 B89 8.0

 

[RokMeAmadeus]

It's one thing to like it and another to proclaim "it's the most iconic Batman fight ever" when the dude literally breaks bones, stabs and blows people up. It showcases perfectly everything that's problematic about Snyder's Batman.

But even outside that, the physics are also wrong. Batman lifts a crate from an angle that is impossible to, throws it in the head of a thug and even though it's supposed to be super heavy and it probably kills him (yeah...), it still bounces off like it's made of carton.

It's one of the most overrated scenes in cinematic history that I've ever seen. It's why people insist that Snyder is always style over anything related to substance. I'd take bad choreography over this insulting crap. That's my unpopular opinion.

Club scene in The Batman >>>>>>>

 

[Babillygunn]

Club scene in The Batman >>>>>>>

I’d put the Iceberg Lounge fight in The Batman or the dock scene from Batman Begins over the BvS warehouse fight scene.

 

[J.Drangal]

OT. Batman 89 and in particular Keaton's Bruce Wayne has grown on me even if the overall film is dated in elements. His deep stares and introspection in the cave scenes are some of the best in the whole series. In particular the parents throwback with the vicky vale conversation at the end. Keaton really sold the trauma and internal conflict through his expressions. Visiting the area of his parents death, absolutely taken back by the joker outside of city hall etc there's more nuances ive ignored on previous showings but are quite clear this time as i was locked into the Bruce Wayne persona. The score is just majestic, my god and Jack Nicholson walked so Heath Ledger could run. His Joker really has a great balance of " you don't know what he's going to do next " and has some standout moments.

That makes me happy to read!

Too often we hear this idea that Batman 89' was essentially a film about the Joker... No.
Sure we see his origin but the whole thing is still a film about Batman and Bruce Wayne. If we stop listening for five minutes to monks obsessed with the "no-kill code", the character is well developed there, with multiple facets and contradictions.
If I wanted to be provocative, I'd even say that the portrait is more complete and complex than a certain recent film...

Anyway, I love this film.

 

[Babillygunn]

If we stop listening for five minutes to monks obsessed with the "no-kill code"

 

[AndrewGilkison]

The first draft of Batman 89 actually had a Bruce Wayne and Batman that felt more comic booky (Bruce had his classic billionaire playboy disguise), but still had a lot of interesting layers to his character. Of course once Burton got hired he cast Keaton and changed the movie into what we got. But that first draft is a fantastic read.

 

[RokMeAmadeus]

I’d put the Iceberg Lounge fight in The Batman or the dock scene from Batman Begins over the BvS warehouse fight scene.
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Even that first fight by the subway station >>>>>

I noticed the Reeves movie really nailed the fact that Batman HATES guns. Every goon that pointed/fired at him was the first one to get the worst work

 

[donuts]

That makes me happy to read!

Too often we hear this idea that Batman 89' was essentially a film about the Joker... No.
Sure we see his origin but the whole thing is still a film about Batman and Bruce Wayne. If we stop listening for five minutes to monks obsessed with the "no-kill code", the character is well developed there, with multiple facets and contradictions.
If I wanted to be provocative, I'd even say that the portrait is more complete and complex than a certain recent film...

Anyway, I love this film.

In the same fashion I don't believe that Batman / Bruce ayne takes a backseat in Batman Returns. His shadow looms dark over Gotham City, and the Penguin, Catwoman and Max Schreck are all reflections of his own personas. One might say that they're his Ghosts of Christmas.

It's very much a story of Bruce confronting his own demons, and also naively thinking that there's a chance that he might get a happy ending and leave behind the shadows.

It's also the one Batman movie that has best explored the horror aspects of the lore.