Movie Buffs

We watch too many films and say stuff about them. We're particularly interested in amazingly weird and awful films. Maybe even organise a bad movie night where we'll all watch the same bad movie and make disparaging Mystery Science Theatre chit-chat about it on-line. That would be really geeky.

Batman Begins or The Dark Knight?

started by Andrew Hunter (15 August 2008)

Andrew Hu...

Qype Team

15 August 2008

I love Batman Begins. Haven’t seen the Dark Knight yet (seeing it at the imax in a couple weeks). For those that have seen it, is it a decent follow up? (please don’t give away too much of the story!)
filimbouk

20 August 2008

I think the Dark Knight. The action is better, and there is less of Christian Bale, who winds me up. Heath doesn’t deserve an oscar but his performance is very good, much better than Nicholson’s interpretation and curiously closer to a Tim Burton style villain. If that makes sense.
Gordy Hoffman’s view was that emotional relationships between characters were not written, between Rachel and Harvey Dent, and Gordon and his family, which may explain why people felt the film was too long towards the end, because we didn’t really understand why characters were behaving as they did. And he thought the Joker should have been more extreme at the beginning, instead of simply robbing a bank. And he would have changed the ending.
Other people felt that the additional villain could have been saved for another film. If that doesn’t ruin it for you.
annieharry

26 August 2008

I thoroughly enjoyed The Dark Knight! For me, it was far darker that most of the other Batman movies I’ve seen and I thought Heath was excellent and should get an oscar despite his tragic absence! I thought it was quite funny that at one point there was a James Bond feel about the film i.e. when C Bale was being given fighting aids! I’m
just not a James Bond fiend since I grew pretty old but The Dark Knight came through for me.
guernican

26 August 2008

You’ve almost certainly seen TDK by now, but I don’t really agree with the other two comments on this. Heath Ledger’s performance is excellent but there’s very little of the Tim Burton heritage in what he does. In fact, that applies to the whole film. It’s casually and brutally violent in places… something you just don’t get in the earlier films. I don’t necessarily have a problem with that - although I’m amazed it’s a 12 certificate - but there’s no underlying circus feel to it. He - and often the whole film - is irredeemably dark.

The second villain is definitely a wasted opportunity, although I see why they did it. But filmbo is right… relationships weren’t well written, and it just seemed to veer from one big set-piece to another. I quite like Christian Bale but by the end he almost seemed to have become a pastiche of growly-voiced grimness. Weird. And the whole thing with the 2 boats at the end… well, we certainly could have done without that and not lost a single aspect of the plot. I’m glad I saw it, but 6/10 at best. Batman Begins is the more coherent film.
mossparkman

28 September 2008

both films are brilliant
ciara123

17 October 2008

Definately The Dark Knight, it has more action in it. I think Heath Ledger was the best actor in this film and really put a lot into the character of The Joker. I don’t normally like this kind of film but I was captivated by his performance. I think he definately should get a oscar I agree with filimbouk about the Tim Burton feel, The Joker reminded me a lot of the Tim Burton character Beetlejuice

The plot was also great in this film, there were so many twists and turns in this film it was a very exciting journey. A film I would definately reccommend even to those who don’t normally like this kind of film.

ciara123 edited this post 17 October 2008
miaotiger

Admin

5 January 2009

Christopher Nolan is such an interesting director. Has anyone seen his film “The Prestige” also starring Christian Bale? I really rate it. It’s really well-written and explores similar themes to “Memento” - storytelling, revenge.
Swedeinuk

8 January 2009

Dark Knight is definately the better of the two. Every time I hear Heath Ledgers laugh in that film I feel shivers down my back because its just that damn creepy! Heath Ledger was without a doubt the best actor of that film! Definately deserves an Oscar for that role.

Ive seen The Prestige, its up there with my favorite movies. Its the air of mystery and the supernatural in it, that makes is so good!

Any of you heard about the new Batman film being recorded? Its called Gotham I think. The new characters in this film are rumoured to be Catwoman (played by Rachel Weisz), Robin (played by Shae Le Bouef or however his name is spelled), and the Riddler (rumoured to be Eddie Murphy). Don’t know about you guys but I dont really think those are very good choices. What you think?
miaotiger

Admin

9 January 2009

I agree, they should go out on a limb…how about John Waters as The Riddler and maybe a transgender or transexual Catwoman?
Swedeinuk

9 January 2009

In my opinion the roles i mentioned above should be filled by Johnny Depp as the Riddler, Angelina Jolie as Catwoman, and James McAvoy as Robin.
erinklema

27 February 2009

First, let me say that I liked both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, and Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker was brilliant. However, I am a bit confused about something. Bruce Wayne aka Batman is the same character despite who the actor is, correct? It doesn’t matter that it is Christian Bale or George Clooney or somebody else, just like James Bond is always the same James Bond whether its Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig, right? So what I don’t understand is if Batman Begins preceeds the George Clooney Batman movies like Star Wars Phantom Menace preceeds the original three Star Wars films, where does The Dark Knight fall in the timeline of Batman’s life? Robin wasn’t around, so I have to assume it is pre-Robin. Yet, Batman was using sonar from cell phones in The Dark Knight, and cell phones weren’t even on the radar during the years of Batman & Robin. So does Batman transcend all time? Does he not age? On another note, I like Swedeinuk’s suggestions, especially James McAvoy as Robin.

erinklema edited this post 27 February 2009
Swedeinuk

27 February 2009

first of all thanks for that compliment.

I think these new films, i.e. batman begins, dark knight and what will probably be known as Gotham, they are created very differently than all the previous batman films, and should therefore not be compared to the other films in any time line. These new films are a lot darker and serious, that the previous films, which to be honest were rather terrible, and had a lot of comedy in them.

What do you guys think?
erinklema

27 February 2009

To be honest, I do like the old Batman films even though many agree they are quite awful. I also agree with Swedeinuk though, in that the newer Batman films are darker and more serious. The characters are more well-developed in the newer films as well, I think.
Burnus

18 April 2009

hi it’s 06.00hrs, and I’ve just finished watching The Dark Knight.

I though that it beat any other batman films which I’ve seen into a hat. first of all it had good characteriseation (sorry can’t spell), and it had a plot which was interesting. this time the Joker didn’t come over as a characature (Sp. you know what I mean)

I thought that the makeup/special effects on Harvey Dent’s face, after the burn, were superb. I’ve just ordered Batman Begins and so I’m looking forward to it.

round here it’s cheaper to buy the DVD from Amazon, than to go to the pictures, so recommendations are gladly received. Burnus

ps. Swedenuk I love your idea of Johny Depp as the Riddler.

Burnus edited this post 18 April 2009
Bakers_12

21 April 2009

If the Riddler is used for a third outing of batman I think he should be a bit like “john doe” in seven. That in most of the film he should not seen and have Batman is folowing his clues until the final act face off