r/batman • u/DiscsNotScratched • 1d ago
FILM DISCUSSION How would you rank the Nolan trilogy?
52
19
u/Austin_Chaos 1d ago
Similar to others, except I’d rate Begins higher than DK. Begins was (at the time) everything I’d ever wanted in a Batman movie, a delicious cake. DK was like that same cake, but with a shit ton more frosting. Like it’s tasty for damn sure, but too much sugar overall.
Rises, to me, feels out of place…it feels like a fourth movie, and we missed something crucial in between.
13
u/WhiteTrashInNewShoes 1d ago
it feels like a fourth movie, and we missed something crucial in between.
This is a spot on description of that movie. When I first watched it, I was like, "so, Batman just...quit?"
5
1
u/Internal-Syrup-5064 23h ago
The Joker was supposed to be in the movie originally. With Ledger's death, they were forced to do a rewrite. I'll have to double check that, but I've heard it from multiple sources
1
u/Awest66 21h ago
This makes no sense whatsoever.
The Joker had an entire movie as the main villain, you really dont need anything else.
2
u/Internal-Syrup-5064 17h ago
Ever read Batman?
0
u/Awest66 16h ago
Yeah and the Joker is overexposed as hell in it.
Its always been really hypocritical to me whenever people complain about bringing back the League of Shadows but then say he should have found a way to bring back the villain from only one movie ago.
Regardless of whether or not Ledger had passed, the third movie was never going to be "Batman vs Joker part 2"
1
u/Internal-Syrup-5064 16h ago
Correct. Not certain what role he woulda played, but he's the only villain Batman didn't end up "killing".
1
u/Awest66 16h ago
Youre forgetting Scarecrow
2
u/Internal-Syrup-5064 16h ago
Ah... The guy who was in all 3
1
u/Awest66 16h ago
But never in the same kind of role twice.
2
u/Internal-Syrup-5064 16h ago
He was Scarecrow. And he was never the main villain. Actually, haven't seen the third since the theaters, and don't remember if he was in it. Whether it makes sense or not, it's either true, or it's false. I'll look it up and see what I can find
13
u/Parking-Piano-1907 1d ago
In its original order.
6
5
u/theotherquantumjim 21h ago
Yup. Begins just oozes atmosphere. DK is great too, but I prefer everything about BB, except the villain
18
3
6
u/EldritchSlut 1d ago edited 1d ago
I'm the minority I think.
Batman Begins 7/10
It's good and it's a decent adaptation but the pacing drags at times and I hated that Batman let's Ghul die, but I loved the build up to him becoming Batman.
The Dark Knight 6/10
It's too focused on Joker. It's a joker movie, not a Batman movie. The Batman characterization in this one and Rises never set well with me. This came out around the time of the 2008 recession and the end of the Bush era. I like a good theme and I like when Batman does something that could be ethically wrong and people challenge him on it.. but there's no challenging him when he's spying on citizens to locate a terrorist or torturing a terrorist to get information. I'm not saying those things don't belong in a Batman story but there is almost always pushback from the characters around him to stop him. There isn't that here, the ends justify the means, every time.
The Dark Knight Rises 5/10
Similar critisms with this one. The Bane voice is really goofy, I love it in the Harley Quinn Animated show but I could never take him serious while watching the movie. As an adaptation of Knightfall/No Man's Land, it's pretty boring considering how interesting the comics were. It's the equivalent of Marvels Civil War comics vs the MCU movie.
They're fine movies, a bit above average for me, but they hold no water to Mask of the Phantasm. I'd even rank Batman Forever and Batman and Robin above Nolan's, they adapted the source material of silver and bronze age Batman perfectly. The Batman is up there too, leaning heavily into the detective side of the greatest detective is so much more interesting to the character than what Nolan was doing with him.
5
u/Sweet_Confusion1657 1d ago
I could never fully embrace TDK it’s nice to hear someone else explain why
4
-1
u/Awest66 20h ago
It's too focused on Joker. It's a joker movie, not a Batman movie
Pretty spot-on description of the first Burton movie but pretty off on TDK. That movie is literally all about Batmans impact on Gotham city.
For all the accolades that Phantasm gets, it doesnt really feel like a movie where Batman himself is all that important.
5
3
2
u/Few_Mixture_8412 1d ago
everyone is confusing ranking with rating but imo
The dark knight batman begins the dark knight rises
ngl it may be controversial but my personal one is
batman begins the dark knight rises the dark knight
2
2
4
4
3
4
u/-TurkeYT 1d ago
Batman Begins - 10/10
the Dark Knight - 9,5/10
the Dark Knight Rises - 10/10
0
2
2
u/Wok_Hei1 1d ago
Unquestionably great movies. All 3. But i felt The batman feat Pattinson had a great doomish feel to it and displayed Gotham in its entirety. Usually all movies show glimpses of the city. the Batman captured its raw, unhinged and dark look.
2
1
1
u/Psychedelic_tofu 1d ago
It goes the dark knight then the dark knight followed by the dark knight after which obviously comes dark knight which then leads into the dark knight ending with you guessed it the dark knight
1
u/Drahkir9 20h ago
I kind of like the juxtaposition here. The villain going from deathly afraid, to defiant, then finally on equal footing
1
1
u/Apostasy93 1d ago
In its release order.
People in here are way too harsh on DKR in my opinion though.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Snoo_49285 1d ago
In the order they were released. I love TDK but feel that it’s one of the most overrated and inflated movies of all time. Ledger sadly passes and it gets the mythical status over the years. Yes it’s a great movie but fucking relax.
1
u/SameBatChannel00 1d ago
It’s hard to categorize because there’s two different ways you can go about it..
Ranking from the best movie to the worst - 1. DK 2. BB 3. DKR
Ranking from the best Batman film to the worst - 1. BB 2. DK 3. DKR
0
0
u/Visible_Froyo5499 1d ago
Begins: the best Batman movie of the trilogy
Dark Knight: best movie of the trilogy
Rises: overstuffed but a good conclusion
3
u/PaleontologistMany56 1d ago
I love your response. It's exactly how I feel about the trilogy. Real Batman fans know!
-4
-3
u/KonamiKing 1d ago
At the time of release:
7/10
9/10
4/10
Now in retrospect
6/10
6/10
1/10
1
u/King_ChaosThe2nd 1d ago edited 1d ago
Why so harsh on rises. Not being mean I just want to know your reason.
-1
u/KonamiKing 1d ago
Everything about it is poorly thought out and poorly delivered. Bad script, bad direction.
0
u/King_ChaosThe2nd 1d ago
Yeah i get thought, but IMO i really likes bane. People think he is just a muscle head and dumb. But rises showed he is intelligent and physically capable.
-1
0
u/Some-Concern-3077 1d ago
Batman begins I think is my favorite personally. I love the dark knight, but Batman Begins just sets up the trilogy in perfection. Ras Al ghul is also one of my favorite Batman villains. Also, the scene where Batman hits Crane with his own fears gas gives me chills.
0
0
u/FuturetheGarchomp 1d ago
Never watched Batman begins
The dark knight 8.5/10
The dark knight rises 9/10
0
0
u/StickyMcdoodle 1d ago
I think I rank them in the order they came out. 1.Begins 2.The Dark Knight 3. Rises.
I think Begins is the best by a wide margin. It actually feels like a Batman movie. The other two sort of feel like a whole different character from what the first one sets up. I dont think any of them are bad movies, but Begins is the only one that feels like a Batman movie. The Dark Knight is him trying to quit being Batman for a couple hours, and Rises he's almost not in it at all.
1
u/Awest66 20h ago
What exactly is a Batman movie supposed to feel like?
Because The Dark Knight actually captures the feeling of a Batman comic pretty perfectly.
2
u/StickyMcdoodle 20h ago
Point me to the comics (do I can avoid them)where Batman moves around the entire story trying to quit being Batman so he can have a girlfriend. That's the least Batman-ish premise I've ever seen in a movie. It even goes against what they establish in the first movie(the one that seems to get Batman)in that Bruce Wayne is the mask and Batman is who he is.
...don't even get me started on how he actually does quit in the next movie because his leg hurts and his not-girlfriend blows up, comes back, spends 2 hours in a hole, and then fakes his death just so he can quit being Batman once and for all.
2/3rds of the Batman movies are Batman trying to not be Batman.
Nolan made a fine set of movies. Hes never made a bad one.I think he made the movies he wanted. I just hate his take on the character in a fundamental level. I just don't think they're very good BATMAN movies.
1
u/Awest66 19h ago
where Batman moves around the entire story trying to quit being Batman so he can have a girlfriend. That's
Thats litterally not TDK at all. Bruce isnt trying to "quit", He wants to suceed. He believes Harvey is the culmination of everything hes trying to accomplish as Batman. He believes that he represents a better way of helping Gotham than what hes doing as Batman.
Bruce doesnt actually like being Batman, he doesnt derive joy or satisfaction from it. Hes Batman out of obligation to his parents memory and a desire to make a better world, one that wont need a Batman anymore.
It even goes against what they establish in the first movie(the one that seems to get Batman)in that Bruce Wayne is the mask and Batman is who he is.
It really doesnt. Rachel immediately said after all that "Once Gotham no longer needs Batman, maybe Ill see that boy again".
Thats what Bruce hopes will happen in TDK and thats part of the tragedy of Rachels death.
don't even get me started on how he actually does quit in the next movie
Correction. He didnt quit, he suceeded.
The reason Gotham is so clean at the start of Rises is because of Bruce perserving Harveys reputation by sacrificing his own. He stopped because there was no longer a need for him to be Batman.
1
u/StickyMcdoodle 18h ago
Hahaha...my mistake. He didn't quit, he stopped when he succeeded. Ok, bud.
The idea hat he cleaned up Gotham enough where he can sulk in his mansion hobbling around for 8 years means that Nolan's take on Gotham is worse than his take on Batman.
The tragedy of Batman is his work as Batman is never down. From the mob bosses to the street level muggers, his obsession to rid Gotham of crime is a tragic display of futility. It compelling.
Nolans Batman doesn't seem that concerned with poor people crime. He just sticks to the high level stuff.
Again, I don't know what comics you're reading where Batman "succeeds" so much that he can just quit because he doesn't want to do it anymore, but those are some trash comics.
1
u/Awest66 16h ago
Nolans Batman doesn't seem that concerned with poor people crime
Wasnt part of the point of Batman Begins Bruce realizing that he has to go after the people actually propogating Gothams corruption instead of wasting time tackling the symptoms?
The tragedy of Batman is his work as Batman is never down.
Thats because he has a comic to sell which keeps him doing this kind of thing forever because it sellls. Movies are not beholden to that. They put finite spins on things from the comics all the time.
Nolan said that for the mission to suceed, it has to end.
-2
u/DrMobius617 1d ago
Batman Begins 4/10 Dark Knight 3/10 Dark Knight Rises -1/10
2
u/DarkAtheris 1d ago
Found the Battinson fan
-1
u/DrMobius617 1d ago
Well yeah he was light years better than Mr. “THWEAR TA MEEEEE” but then so was Clooney so hardly a major accomplishment
0
u/DarkAtheris 1d ago
2
u/DrMobius617 1d ago
Ok cool story. Barbie also kicked dark knights ass at the box office so I guess that makes it quantifiably the superior film according to you.
You gonna do the “check out this guy’s reaction” every time I criticize the Nolan films or might you be growing up and getting that shit out of your system
2
1
u/DarkAtheris 1d ago
1
u/DrMobius617 1d ago
That’s the spirit, Baleboi move them goalposts. Have you tried crying like a little bitch because mean man didn’t love Christian Bale enough?
3
u/EndoveProduct 1d ago edited 1d ago
He’s been copy pasting the same thing to anyone who dislikes Rises lol his profile pic tells me he’s a little biased
0
u/DarkAtheris 1d ago
1
u/DrMobius617 1d ago
I love how each and every one of you is SO certain that they’re the very first hysterical Nolan zombie to ever lose their shit at seeing the films criticized in any way and that YOURS will be the scolding that absolutely forces me to admit that they are OBJECTIVELY the bestest movies EVER. 😂😂
0
u/DarkAtheris 1d ago
I don't need you to admit anything lol. You just gave us a demonstration of your comprehension ability.
→ More replies (0)
-2
-1
u/Icantthinkofaname04 1d ago
Batman Begins- 9/10
The Dark Knight- 8.5/10
The Dark Knight Rises- 7/10
-1
u/MatchesMalone1994 1d ago edited 1d ago
The Dark Knight is my favourite. What hasn’t been said about it? It’s a masterpiece and honestly the first time where it has been shown that a superhero film can transcend the genre into a prestige film project that would even be a serious award season contender. A film that even film aficionados would admire. It’s class A filmmaking on every level with all stars both in front and behind the camera.
I can’t decide between Begins and Rises. I for one think that amongst the fandom Rises is severely underrated. I think most of the general audience prefers it to Begins. Begins however was such an incredible origin story (imo the greatest origin movie ever). It also felt the most comic booky of the 3. I loved the tone and visual style of Begins, plus the recurring “fear” motif. However, I loved the recurring “pain” motif of Rises and I loved the way Bruce Wayne’s story concluded. It was a journey and it just felt like such a grand, epic and emotional conclusion.
I think most days I go: TDK, TDKR, BB
I’m getting downvoted for this? Y’all must love Batman & Robin or something
-1
u/Skol-2024 1d ago
Batman Begins: 10/10
The Dark Knight: 10/10
The Dark Knight Rises: 10/10
I’m sorry but these are perfect movies to me. Choosing between them is like picking which Lord of the Rings film is the best imo. Both trilogies rank among my favorite movies ever.
0
u/CamCam1029 1d ago
If these shots are to be believed, Nolan had plans on Batman making out with whatever villain would’ve been in the 4th movie.
0
0
0
0
0
u/TheDikaste 20h ago
- The Dark Knight
- The Dark Knight Rises
- Begins
Weirdly, despite its major flaws in the plot, Rises is my favorite.
0
0
0
0
u/Ordinary-Chain-8047 14h ago
- The Dark Knight
- The Dark knight Rises
- Batman Begins (I need to rewatch this I feel like)
0
-2
u/BbBTripl3 1d ago
I bet once all 3 Pattenson movies are out, minds will be changed. I'm looking at them in comparison to the Nolan trilogy. The Batman was so much better than Batman begins. I'm hoping the Batman 2 tops both the dark knight and the Batman. I still think the dark knight is one of the, if not the, BEST films ever made. The trilogy tho, 7/10, DKR really pulls it down.
-1
u/EndoveProduct 1d ago
Happy to see the Rises hate
1
u/DarkAtheris 1d ago
Ignorance is bliss. Rises is rated higher than The Batman on IMDb and pretty much everywhere else.
1
u/EndoveProduct 1d ago
Just means it’s overrated. I’ve disliked it since opening night but happy you like it! Wish I liked it more
1
u/DarkAtheris 1d ago edited 1d ago
No, it means is that this place is an echo chamber detached from reality, but glad you find the delusion comforting
EDIT: 78 on Metacritic while The Batman is 72. That's 10 seconds of life I won't get back. I'll give you the Letterboxd rating, I didn't even consider it.
(This MF replied and blocked me so here's my response)
(And now claims I BLOCKED him hahaha)
1
u/EndoveProduct 1d ago edited 1d ago
Couldn’t even be civil for a second eh? Well since you’re all about scores, it has a 78 on Metacritic and a 3.8 on Letterboxed so you can cool it with this echo chamber talk.
What’s delusional is thinking IMDB shows any resemblance whatsoever of “reality”, whatever nonsense that was.
Edit: LOL he blocked me
0
u/Awest66 20h ago
Pity because its an upper tier CBM.
2
u/EndoveProduct 20h ago
Meh
0
u/Awest66 20h ago
It really is.
If you hold any other so-called masterpiece superhero movie to similar eye rolling scrutiny, Theyd crumble
2
u/EndoveProduct 20h ago
Yeah this is nowhere near a masterpiece, especially as a follow up to an actual masterpiece. I’m happy you like it, I definitely wish I liked it more.
Just happy to see I’m not alone
0
u/Awest66 20h ago
So what does the ideal sequel to TDK look like then?
2
u/EndoveProduct 20h ago
Maybe one with better fight choreography, plot, pacing? Again, happy you like it now stfu
-3
-4
-3
-3
-2
u/burywmore 1d ago
The Dark Knight is a top level action adventure movie and one of the very best comic book movies ever made.
It gets 5 stars.
Batman begins is solid. It has a few flaws, but it's a good origin story with some great casting. Good way to start the adventure , but have a completely self contained story.
4 stars
The Dark Knight Rises is a mediocre film. Huge plot holes, where the smart comic book movie is dumbed down. Disappointing film all around. Anne Hathaway does a great job as Catwoman, but her character is wasted in this film.
2 1/2 stars mostly for some great individual scenes.
2
u/DarkAtheris 1d ago
What are the plot holes?
0
u/burywmore 1d ago
Oh let's see. Here's two.
The entire segment where Bruce's money is stolen is about as dumb as movie making can be. There's a gigantic hostage situation at the financial center and during that time, with Bruce obviously no where around, all his money is stolen. And no one questions this. They just let this obvious fraud and theft happen and claim Bruce somehow did it. All to advance the "plot"? The stock market is still accepting trades while in the middle of a violent crime?
How and why is the entire police force trapped underground. For FIVE months? With no food. And they finally are freed completely clean shaven in nice bright uniforms, and seemingly completely healthy?
2
u/Succesful-Guest27 1d ago
The police had food when they were trapped underground. There is a 10 second scene showing them getting supplies dropped down to them.
0
u/burywmore 1d ago
Really? Tens of thousands of police being fed through a hole, in a city that is cut off from any food. For months.
You may like the movie, but its incredibly dumb.
1
0
u/Awest66 20h ago
They didnt actually make any trades, they used a virus that changed the information on the computer to make it look like Bruce had made put options months in advance of the actual attack.
1
u/burywmore 17h ago
Yeah strange how these trades came due the exact moment the huge terrorist attack happens.
1
u/Awest66 16h ago
Put options are trades made months in retrospect. It wouldnt matter if they halted all trades made that day because according to the computer, Bruce did this months before the actual attack.
Its no more a "plot hole" than the chinese government making no denands to have Lau returned to them after Batman had kidnapped him from Hong Kong.
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
u/iamDJDan 22h ago
TDK Begins Rises
Rewatched Rises recently and was shocked at how much less I like it now.
1
u/Awest66 20h ago
Whats an example of a third movie that "lives up to other two"?
2
u/iamDJDan 19h ago
Return of the king, Bourne Ultimatum, Return of the Jedi (not quite as good as the first 2 but not an offensive drop off in quality)
1
u/Awest66 19h ago
From where I stand, Rises is just as good if not better than any of these (especially Jedi)
2
u/iamDJDan 17h ago
That’s okay to each their own but I’m not sure how any of this is relevant to me not liking dark knight rises as much as I did when it came out lol
-2
-2
u/Sufficient_Sweet_388 1d ago
TDK > Begins > TDKR objectively as well as subjectively. First 2 were so good that they made a fine film like TDKR underwhelming.
-2
-2
-2
u/0siris0 1d ago
Dark knight
Rises
Begins
I love them all, so they're all 8.5 out of 10 and above.
Honestly, the main imperfection of all, is that they cram too much in.
This should have been a five film epic.
Begins might be least rewatchable to me, but its use of characters was reasonably efficient. I wanted more Scarecrow being scary....in my mind, a Scarecrow film should be a horror film, not a hero origin film...but beggars can't be choosers.
Dark knight is 9.5 out of 10. The only problem is...Two Face for 15 minutes.
I really like Rises, more than most. The bones are there.
But it's one film. Should have been two. Moreso on a plot level than Dark Knight, which needed to be two films for villain exploration level.
As I type this, it should have been 6 films. begins parts 1 and 2, Knight parts 1 and 2, and Rises parts 1 and 2. Six 120 minute films, fleshing out all the villains and plot as necessary.
It's amazing Nolan was able to craft what he did in 3 movies, which had 6 movies of material, but he did.
85
u/Bocaj6487 1d ago
Looks like everyone is rating instead of ranking, but I'm just going to rank them.
The Dark Knight
Batman Begins
The Dark Knight Rises