The Dark Knight What makes TDK so special?

[Green Goblin]

Edit Double Post!

 

[Human Torch]

There's plenty of reasons, but I think there's a big one that many often miss: the film is the epitome of the Batman/Joker dynamic. I'd even consider a study of that dynamic in the same way BB is a study of Bruce Wayne.

How does that exactly make it special? Well, the Batman/Joker dynamic is arguably the greatest dynamic in all of comics, and one of the best in overall fiction.

That's certainly it's strongest suit,IMO.

 

[KevanG]

I think TDK was okay but the plot holes and unexplained things in the movie make it feel odd. Ledger did a good Joker and was the high point of the movie. I still prefer Batman Returns to any other Batman movie though because it revels in its plot holes and crazy as opposed to trying to use it to further the movie.

 

[Green Goblin]

Watching you two debate is like me watching a Nolan movie.

I'm not reading everything point by point but I like what I see.

 

[Human Torch]

Does anybody actually read all that point by point stuff besides the two "verbal combatants"?

 

[shauner111]

I usually read a few of them then give up.

 

[DA_Champion]

One thing that makes this movie different is that Batman is defeated in the movie, consistently and throughout from the midpoint on.

It gives it more dramatic tension, we don't normally see that in a CBM.

 

[Rodrigo90]

What makes TDK so special?

Ledger.


That is all

 

[Human Torch]

Y'know,when I was scanning though these posts quickly and I came across Rod's avatar,I thought it was the shot of Batman's butt from Batman Forever.t:

 

[The Batman]

TDK is special because it works on multiple levels:

1. It's a great Comic Book movie that is faithful to the spirit of Batman, Joker, Gordon, and Dent.

2. As Tacit expertly pointed out, its a great commentary on post 9/11 America.

3. It's a great crime thriller.

4. It's a great showcase of an actor who died too soon.

It satisfies you as a fan of the comics, as a film critic, and as a casual movie goer.

 

[JackWhite]

TDK is special because it works on multiple levels:

1. It's a great Comic Book movie that is faithful to the spirit of Batman, Joker, Gordon, and Dent.

2. As Tacit expertly pointed out, its a great commentary on post 9/11 America.

3. It's a great crime thriller.

4. It's a great showcase of an actor who died too soon.

It satisfies you as a fan of the comics, as a film critic, and as a casual movie goer.

This sums it up.

Seeing Batman in all his glory in the third act was amazing. Finally figuring out how the Joker thinks and using the Sonar equipment to track him down, taking out two swat teams, the Joker's men, the Joker himself and saving the hostages was beyond incredible. And to top it off, Batman's ultimate sacrifice.

Just a fantastic Batman movie as it is a fantastic movie in general.

 

[The Batman]

"What were you trying to prove? That deep down, everyone's as ugly as you? You're alone."

I love that Batman was able to read the Joker the same way That Joker read him.

 

[The Joker]

"What were you trying to prove? That deep down, everyone's as ugly as you? You're alone."

I love that Batman was able to read the Joker the same way That Joker read him.

 

[The Batman]

^ That book was so instrumental in shaping both TDK and B89

 

[Squaremaster316]

TDK works for the same reasons the recent Planet of the Apes sequel works.

Most notably, because it said "screw the overlying concept" and took the material seriously, with no stupid, pointless, forced comedy moments.
In DOTPOTA, there was no "cute" references to previous Apes installments, no stale pop culture references like calling Koba "Scarface/Al Pacino" or other such nonsense. No Wink, wink, nudge, nudge crap.

The closest thing to brevity seen throughout that film was

Spoiler

"The Weight" playing at a 7/11

.



It took an admittedly absurd concept, grounded it, and made it work by giving the story and characters the proper amount of dramatic heft they warranted, and was all the better for it.




This is why films such as this will become timeless as people look back on them more and more with fondness and respect.




Whereas those movies that try to "fight" the style by cramming as many useless, annoying comic relief characters and stale pop culture references into their piecemeal story lines will.... well,

MEET

 

[MissStreelight]

TDK works for the same reasons the recent Planet of the Apes sequel works.

Most notably, because it said "screw the overlying concept" and took the material seriously, with no stupid, pointless, forced comedy moments.
In DOTPOTA, there was no "cute" references to previous Apes installments, no stale pop culture references like calling Koba "Scarface/Al Pacino" or other such nonsense. No Wink, wink, nudge, nudge crap.

The closest thing to brevity seen throughout that film was

Spoiler

"The Weight" playing at a 7/11

.



It took an admittedly absurd concept, grounded it, and made it work by giving the story and characters the proper amount of dramatic heft they warranted, and was all the better for it.




This is why films such as this will become timeless as people look back on them more and more with fondness and respect.




Whereas those movies that try to "fight" the style by cramming as many useless, annoying comic relief characters and stale pop culture references into their piecemeal story lines will....

I have to admit some of the comedy in superhero films really annoys me. There are movies I enjoyed but that I wish had less humor. I mean, I’ve had some good laughs, true, but some movies overdo it or have just poor humor, so the movie loses that “dramatic heft” it needs and just comes off corny. Well some people might like it, which is cool, but not my cup of tea exactly.

I’ve seen folks complaining that TDK was too dark and heavy, but I agree with you that a good part if why TDK works is because it takes itself seriously enough. Imagine if there was a joke inserted a few minutes after Rachel’s death. The movie would be a totally different tone, the dramatic and emotional parts would be much less believable or impactful.

 

[Rodrigo90]

MOS worked pretty well for what it did!

Zod has his neck broken...Superman screams...Audience is stunned

Superman breaks an expensive satellite...gets called hot...audience have a weird chuckle at both things

Clark enters the Daily Planet....smiles at the camera (sort of) and the music plays...audience wants to cheer, but they're left confused about what's happened in the last 5 minutes...

That was my reaction mind

 

[shauner111]

If people think TDK is too dark or heavy they either need to watch more movies or they can simply choose the other 46 comic book movies that have crazy amounts of jokes.

 

[Doc Samson]

TDK is special because it works on multiple levels:

1. It's a great Comic Book movie that is faithful to the spirit of Batman, Joker, Gordon, and Dent.

2. As Tacit expertly pointed out, its a great commentary on post 9/11 America.

3. It's a great crime thriller.

4. It's a great showcase of an actor who died too soon.

It satisfies you as a fan of the comics, as a film critic, and as a casual movie goer.

Basically this. It works on multiple levels. And for me, it's pretty much the culmination of every childhood thought/wish I ever had for a live action Batman film.

This was the Batman movie I felt that was personally made for me lol, right down to the title which I almost fell in a coma over when I heard it announced because I had wanted (and never understood) why it was never used before. It had my two favorite villains, a great plot, a fantastic ending that still gives me goosebumps to this day, it's just one of those "lightning in a bottle" pop culture moments you rarely see achieved, a perfect storm...

 

[Squaremaster316]

Six Years later...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYx6NE9Xy4I

http://nukethefridge.com/2014/05/30...reatest-movies-time-list-see-film-number-one/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/list/100-greatest-films-all-time-713215

http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captur...ight-25-greatest-superhero-movies-of-all-time



Still the consensus best!

 

[the5timechamp]

seeing TDK listed so high on the Empire list was pleasantly surprising..
Empire Being #1 completely deserving..

That Empire list makes me want to go buy Blu Rays for the top 25, though no LA Confidential or Dances with Wolves is surprising.

 

[Diabo]

Six Years later...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYx6NE9Xy4I

http://nukethefridge.com/2014/05/30...reatest-movies-time-list-see-film-number-one/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/list/100-greatest-films-all-time-713215

http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captur...ight-25-greatest-superhero-movies-of-all-time



Still the consensus best!

Even though i agree, those lists mean very little. They´re just the opinion of a small group of people. And i mean, Star Wars as the greatest movie ever? I honestly believe that some people don´t watch that many movies. Even those who are "critics".

 

[shauner111]

I understand that people have favorites, so saying a comic book movie is number 1 is fine if you have a personal connection to it. Or it's something you can have fun with watching over and over. But saying Star Wars or Dark Knight is the greatest movie ever, is funny to me. I agree with Diabo, it's like "how many movies have you people seen? And how many genres are you limited to?"

 

[Diabo]

Talking about great movies, have you ever seen 12 angry men?

 

[Doctor Octopus]

Six Years later...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYx6NE9Xy4I

http://nukethefridge.com/2014/05/30...reatest-movies-time-list-see-film-number-one/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/list/100-greatest-films-all-time-713215

http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captur...ight-25-greatest-superhero-movies-of-all-time



Still the consensus best!

Agreed. What I like about the Empire list is it's based on votes from hundred of thousands of people. Not just the Empire staff. The Hollywood one is based on votes from Studio chiefs, Oscar winners and TV royalty.

Mr. Chris Nolan should be proud his Dark Knight movie is so renowned and loved. I wonder how many voted for the Hitfix superhero movie list. It doesn't say.