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[DrArchon]

I certainly prefer TDK, but that's mostly because of Heath Ledger and my general disdain for origin stories. I like BB's version of Gotham better than TDK's not-Chicago, but that's about it. Scarcrow and Liam Neeson don't do anything for me. The pacing's a little fucked in TDK (esp. in the last act) but I can still follow what's happening overall, and the individual scenes are good enough that I don't particularly care.

So TDK wins for me, but it probably could've done that just by not being a fucking origin story. I'm so sick of seeing Batman's origins.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

No, The Dark Knight is made better, but Batman Begins is my favorite.

 

[Sephzilla]

I certainly prefer TDK, but that's mostly because of Heath Ledger and my general disdain for origin stories. I like BB's version of Gotham better than TDK's not-Chicago, but that's about it. Scarcrow and Liam Neeson don't do anything for me. The pacing's a little fucked in TDK (esp. in the last act) but I can still follow what's happening overall, and the individual scenes are good enough that I don't particularly care.

So TDK wins for me, but it probably could've done that just by not being a fucking origin story. I'm so sick of seeing Batman's origins.

Batman Begins was the first time we saw a live-action adaptation of Batman's origin though?

 

[fallengorn]

The Dark Knight is better. I remember coming out of the theater after Begins and having some problems with it. (Although I can't remember any of it, I haven't seen Begins in ages.) I blame Goyer.

 

[DrArchon]

Batman Begins was the first time we saw a live-action adaptation of Batman's origin though?

True enough, but I don't/didn't particularly care. It's still treading old ground as far as I'm concerned because I already know his deal. I just generally prefer stories about Batman as an established character in Gotham instead of a brand new face.

 

[Pagusas]

If this counts then I change my vote. Returns is still leagues better than anything else.

Why can't any director make a Gotham as interesting as Tim Burton did?

 

[Goodstyle]

TDK and it's not even close.

Best Batman movies of all time are:
Mask of Phantasm
TDK

Great Batman Films:
'89 film
Lego Batman Movie

And if we're going to count DVD films, these rank among the best:
ROTJ
Under the Red Hood

The rest are just OK to Bad.

 

[Screaming Meat]

Oh hell yeah.

Yep. Like I said a couple posts up I'm admittedly being nitpicky about it but I tend to only bring that up when people either bring up the microwave emitter from Begins or start talking about how mediocre TDK's third act is compared to the rest of the movie.

Fair enough. I just think critisizing the tech of any of the films opens a huge can of worms. Dat grapple gun...

 

[tomtom94]

I like BB's version of Gotham better than TDK's not-Chicago, but that's about it.

Oh yeah, that's a good point and something that did irritate me as the series went on. First film went to great lengths to build Gotham and then the latter two films could basically be set anywhere.

 

[ralexand]

Begins easily, TDK is an overrated mess that should have been edited to focus on just a couple of stories instead of trying to cram like 4 different subplots.

 

[SpaceWolf]

Who did Batman kill in The Dark Knight? He left the Joker hanging there.

 

[DustyVonEric]

My vote has always been for Batman Begins.

Then maybe DKR, and then DK.

All great movies though.

 

[Sephzilla]

Nolan's Batman kills someone in every movie, which in hindsight is hilarious since the first two movies really drive home Batman thinking he's above common criminals

 

[Drkirby]

Dark Knight, easily. Batman Begins was not thought that highly when it came out, and would likely have been mostly forgotten if Dark Knight didn't come out.

 

[Count Dookkake]

Begins is best Nolan Batman, but not as good as either Burton entry.

 

[Spehornoob]

Batman Begins is the more consistent movie. But TDK has higher highs.

Most non-Joker scenes in The Dark Knight are a slog to get through after the first viewing. But the good scenes are incredible.

 

[Sephzilla]

Dark Knight, easily. Batman Begins was not thought that highly when it came out, and would likely have been mostly forgotten if Dark Knight didn't come out.

Huh? It scored a 70 on Metacritic and an 84% on RT. It was totally thought of well when it came out.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

Oh yeah remember when people were saying he was just knocked unconscious and we'd see him in The Dark Knight Rises? Two-Face was actually dead.


He also killed that dog.

 

[Eidan]

Oh yeah, that's a good point and something that did irritate me as the series went on. First film went to great lengths to build Gotham and then the latter two films could basically be set anywhere.

The "Gotham" parts that everyone keeps saying the sequels lacked were just the Narrows.

 

[Sephzilla]

The "Gotham" parts that everyone keeps saying the sequels lacked were just the Narrows.

It wasn't just the narrows. Remember when Rachel and Bruce were in the car and Rachel drove to a slum section of Gotham that looked like shit? That was like a mile away from the courthouse and wasn't in the Narrows at all.

You're mostly right that the shitty parts of Gotham we see in Begins were in the Narrows, but they did at least try to show one other shitty part of Gotham. That whole scene was basically Rachel trying to show Bruce that the city as a whole was going to shit right underneath them.

 

[PandaShake]

Dark knight. One of the rare occasions where I went back to see it twice in theaters. Such great performance by ledger.

 

[Nielm]

Batman Begins is a true 'Batman' movie, it's more akin to the comic books.

However, I think TDK is definitely the better movie. Batman Begins is a great introduction story, but I don't often find myself wanting to watch it again. TDK is far more rewatchable to me, thanks to the intro scene and Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker.

 

[SeanC]

If Neeson had a little more charisma to his character and didn't have the micro-thingy I would go for that, it's a great origin story with some great moments, but Ledger and the better set pieces and action moments in Dark Knight just outshine it.

 

[SamuelSupreme]

The Dark Knight and man. Looking back, you realize how far DC has fallen.

 

[Sephzilla]

The Dark Knight and man. Looking back, you realize how far DC has fallen.

Amen.

As much as I nitpick the shit out of TDK and TDKR, and as much as I think TDKR was a really phoned in story, I'd easily take more stuff like that over what DC is giving us now

 

[Eidan]

It wasn't just the narrows. Remember when Rachel and Bruce were in the car and Rachel drove to a slum section of Gotham that looked like shit? That was like a mile away from the courthouse and wasn't in the Narrows at all.

You're mostly right that the shitty parts of Gotham we see in Begins were in the Narrows, but they did at least try to show one other shitty part of Gotham. That whole scene was basically Rachel trying to show Bruce that the city as a whole was going to shit right underneath them.

That area looked just like the area in TDK where the Batmobile crashes and turns into the motocycle.

 

[inky]

There really is no discussion. I prefer Begins (it comes a bit closer to what I want from a Bats movie), but TDK is a better movie in almost every way.

 

[Sephzilla]

That area looked just like the area in TDK where the Batmobile crashes and turns into the motocycle.

We'll agree to disagree there, I guess.

The scene I'm talking about in BB has people living right in the streets, hobo communities, trash everywhere, and a dive bar run by the mob. The area you're talking about in TDK has some abandoned cars and that's it.

On that note, Tim Burton's Gotham is the best live action Gotham

 

[oneida]

easily tdk... bb is bloated, too many threads

 

[SpaceWolf]

easily tdk... bb is bloated, too many threads

Batman Begins is too bloated? In comparison to The Dark Knight?

Batman Begins has like, two plot strands running through it. The Dark Knight has about seven.

 

[Anth0ny]

TDK. Joker. Nuff said.



Begins is awesome, though.

 

[Zelenogorsk]

The more times I watch The Dark Knight the more I like it, while the opposite is true for Batman Begins. So The Dark Knight.

 

[TheGreatDirector]

We'll agree to disagree there, I guess.

The scene I'm talking about in BB has people living right in the streets, hobo communities, trash everywhere, and a dive bar run by the mob. The area you're talking about in TDK has some abandoned cars and that's it.

On that note, Tim Burton's Gotham is the best live action Gotham

That scene always pissed me off. They go from broad daylight to grim dark night with a simple turn down a street. Was there a timeskip we missed?

 

[oneida]

Batman Begins is too bloated? In comparison to The Dark Knight?

Batman Begins has like, two plot strands running through it. The Dark Knight has about seven.

bullshit. rewatch bb.

 

[Sephzilla]

That scene always pissed me off. They go from broad daylight to grim dark night with a simple turn down a street. Was there a timeskip we missed?

They're underground for that entire segment

easily tdk... bb is bloated, too many threads

Batman Begins is too bloated? In comparison to The Dark Knight?

Batman Begins has like, two plot strands running through it. The Dark Knight has about seven.

bullshit. rewatch bb.

Batman Begins has like four plot threads going on in it, only 2 of which are major

1) The League of Assassins plot
2) The Gotham mob plot
3) The Rachel love story
4) Bruce embracing the Wayne legacy

#1 and #2 tie together in the final act of the movie. And all 4 are basically resolved by the end of the movie (#3 gets opened up again in TDK). Dark Knight by comparison has a lot more going on in it.

 

[Superflat]

Dark Knight for me.

Batman Begins had two central villains and a sub villain while also throwing in flashback origin scenes and a love story; felt like none of them really got developed to the degree that I wanted. I think it was really ambitious and a good effort though. Very enjoyable.

TDK also had two central villains but did so much more cohesively and meaningfully imo. It's also masterfully paced, making 2.5 hours go by in a flash; movies that go beyond 2 hours pretty much always make me feel antsy, but I had nothing like that with TDK. I like that TDK has more complexity in its story, but everything is very directly tied to the Joker. There aren't many (if any) side fluff that feels inconsequential or undercooked.

It stands to this day the film that I've watched the most in theaters (different groups of friends wanting to see it on different days) and I was more than happy to lol.

 

[GlamFM]

+1 for the dark knight.

 

[Stallion Dan]

Begins.

TDK couldn't​ even get the main villain right.

 

[SpaceWolf]

Batman Begins has like four plot threads going on in it, only 2 of which are major

1) The League of Assassins plot
2) The Gotham mob plot
3) The Rachel love story
4) Bruce embracing the Wayne legacy

Many of these plot strands naturally transition into each other, which doesn't make for "bloat" at all. For example, the Gotham Mob plot is essentially resolved the moment Crane gasses Falcone...setting the stage for the League of Shadows to seize power. All four strands aren't going on concurrently, unlike The Dark Knight...which is packed full of subplots that are running alongside each other, thus lending it the impression of feeling much more "bloated".

 

[Chemo]

Begins, for sure. TDK was great too, though.

 

[Sotha_Sil]

Dark Knight is significantly better, though it should not have wrapped up the Two Face storyline in the same movie. Ran a bit too long with that included.

 

[jviggy43]

TDK is still probably the best comic book movie ever made for me. Cultural phenomenon, amazing performances and an awesome story, and fucking ledger as joker. Plus the action was marginally better than BB (as in, you could sort of understand what was happening a little bit better haha)

 

[Xe4]

Mask of the Phantasm

Absolutely.
Between these two, TDK. Begins was good, and probably the better "Batman" movie, but Ledger's performance was impeccable. Not as The Joker, but as a madman coincidentally named 'The Joker'.

 

[Discotheque]

The action sequence leading up to it, Batman saving Joker, and then Joker's dialogue as the camera inverts ending in Joker's lingering laughter is as perfect a conclusion to his arc as you could ask for, doubly so when Batman then has to deal with the fruition of Joker's plan by confronting the broken Harvey Dent.

Yep.

Best batman movie. Waver on it being the best comic book movie ever often too. Spiderman 2 tends to win out on that for me though

But aside from the joker scenes that encounter between Gordon/Dent/Batman is so good as well.

Oldman kills it

Plus I'm a huge mann fanboy so Nolan cribbing from his aesthetic for shooting Gotham this time was so dope

 

[The Hamburglar]

Batman begins. Tdk is a boring shit show.

 

[New002]

Between Begins and the Dark Knight I would say Begins. I feel like Heath's performance really carried the movie and elevated it, but that means when he's not on screen I'm like eh movie's alright.

 

[A-V-B]

As much as I love TDK for the Joker tour de force, I think Batman Begins is a super solid motion picture. I can just turn it on and get into it.

 

[Michael F. Assbender]

TDK all the way.

Begins is too ponderous, even for an origin story.

 

[DBT85]

TDK is the one I want to watch again first. Then Begins.

 

[frothystout]

Oldman's, "We have to save Dent! I have to save Dent!" is one of the most underrated, great line readings. TDK wins for a lot of reasons, but Ledger, Oldman, and Eckhart are especially great.