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Post #575912

Author
darth_ender
Parent topic
Dark Knight Rises - Now that we know the cast
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/575912/action/topic#575912
Date created
30-Apr-2012, 12:48 PM

Briefly regarding the TDK chase analysis...there are indeed errors, many of which I believe are quite common to movies but generally go unnoticed, especially in a fast paced sequence like this.  I'm trying to think of my first impressions of the film and compare it to my watching it with this guy's points.  Most of them I think are inconsequential or are not bothersome, such as complaints about expendable policemen, the disappearing police car, and even the position of the police van when Batman blocks the bazooka.  Those things are really not the focus of the action and therefore go unnoticed.

Things that I do agree with include the intro to the Joker iin the semi, the somewhat disorienting feeling of position in the police van with Harvey, and the unexplainable (at the time of my first watching) general disorientation at parts.   But generally, I seldom felt disoriented, such as judging the position of the river relative to the vehicles and the various lanes of traffic occupied by the cars of interest.  That always felt rather consistent to me, and only upon slow and methodical analysis does it strike me as odd.  Even the van going into the river at that weird angle I always chalked up to being spun on its axis, never even noticing the wrong momentum.

I will agree with the more generalized statement about the film's directing, and that is that I'm not a big fan of such frenetic action.  The comparison with the Bourne Supremacy is perfect, because I prefer the Bourne Identity so much more because I can see whom Jason is punching and where.  I hate not knowing what is going on.

BB did suffer from some similar directing, but not as extensively as TDK, and it felt more like we were in the perspective of the baddies when this happened (i.e. when Batman raids the drug traffickers and Falcone at the dock).

My biggest complaint about TDK's inconsistencies has been pointed out many times, but it truly troubles me about the significance about the whole sequence, and that is where Joker drops Rachel out the window, Batman saves her, and then we never see any resolution to that conflict at Bruce's penthouse.  Did Joker and his men simply skedaddle?  Did the police show up?  Did Batman go back upstairs and clean house?  I don't know, and it truly bugs me.

That said, there are many qualities to the movie that I like, but most involve the actual character development.  Harvey is a fascinating character, and I only wish he had been developed further (and perhaps that his fall had happened a tad sooner so we'd actually get to know Two Face a little better as well).  Joker steals the show too much, as he did in '89, but he is a fascinating bad guy, so I do enjoy that.  Batman/Bruce doesn't get enough development, but I feel the ending speaks such volumes of his character that I find it truly satisfying: his willingness to sacrifice so much for Gotham including his reputation (which is no small sacrifice for such a figure) in order to preserve the reputation of Harvey and thus the heart of Gotham, it truly is powerful to me.

Whew, that was much longer than I should have taken.  Perhaps I will get around to writing why I like Begins better, but that will have to wait.  I certainly enjoy TDK, even if it seems I didn't give it enough credit here.  I can see where some criticism comes from, but not all.