Solo said:
Character development. Sure, the movie falls apart a bit and becomes a generic actioner once he dons the Batman suit, but the first hour of the movie, from opening up until the Batman introduction, is brilliantly crafted. By comparison, TDK felt light in this area, and was more concerned with the overarching themes. I enjoy both lots though, but I like the smaller scope and more intimate flair of BB.
There certainly is more character development, particularly with the brilliant re-telling of the origin.
And while there is not so much development and back story, what with Batman's already covered, and particularly with the Joker in
Knight, that character is so explosive (sometimes literally), so much sheer unchained rage, that when he is onscreen...it's impossible (for me anyway) to even look away for a moment.
Dent certainly received a bit more screen development than we've ever seen, and Rachel is actually watchable this time around, but it really is the Joker's film.
I appreciate what you're saying about
Begins, and I do love that film as well. With my comparisons to
Empire and
Godfather Part II, it should also be noted that
Star Wars (I refuse to call it Episode IV or A New Hope or whatever Lucas wants to call it now) and
The Godfather were
exceptional films as well.
It's interesting that the power and resonance of Nolan's Gotham can clearly be seen in
Arkham Asylum as well, in Batman's more realistic, re-designed body armor-like suit and the Joker's make-up.
It looks to be an incredible mish-mash of Dini's animated world with Conroy and Hammil, and the hardness and reality of Rocksteady's take on Nolan's visual style.
