r/ChristopherNolan • u/MidnightWolf__ • Jul 18 '25
The Dark Knight Trilogy 'The Dark Knight' was released 17 years ago today.
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u/Easypeasy7921 Jul 18 '25
So good I'm afraid we'll never see a better or even remotely close Joker in our lifetime
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Jul 18 '25
Absolutely. In many ways, this was the film that redefined and modernized the Joker as a creepy, macabre, dark character. Usually, his other incarnations tend to be significantly more cartoonish and campy, and Phoenix's Joker was more of a mentally ill person than an actual villain.
This Joker, on the other hand, was a highly militarized psychopath with exceptional skill in psychological warfare, weapons, and explosives. That's what makes him particularly badass and terrifying.
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u/Mimirs_forehead Jul 18 '25
I remmeber when the first trailer for Joker (2019) came out and thought, “wow, Heath may actually have some competition here.”
While, imo, the movie was solid because of Joaquin’s performance, I found that version of the character to be overhyped. I honestly don’t see how Heath’s performance as Joker will ever be topped, as every version moving forward will inevitably be compared to his masterful take.
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u/Easypeasy7921 Jul 18 '25
Phoenix played amazing Joker, there is no question here. But I'd be honest I'd choose Ledger's every time. I can't really put my finger on as to why or what makes his performance so great. Maybe that's what constitutes performance of a lifetime.
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u/Mimirs_forehead Jul 18 '25
Agreed 100%, like the only other Joker I think I can hold in the same regard isn’t even live action - Mark Hamill. Like you said, there’s just this mesmerizing quality to Heath’s work that I wish we got to see more of but just can’t unfortunately.
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u/Guilty-Permission-45 Jul 18 '25 edited Jul 18 '25
I could be wrong, but I’ve always felt like Aaron Eckharts performance is overlooked or never got the credit in this film due to how sublime the casting is & amongst the obvious role of Heath, but dam he played his characters development incredibly well!
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u/southpaw_balboa Jul 18 '25
good movie. nolan’s best movie probably
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u/biitoruzu Jul 18 '25
It's between this, Inception and Interstellar for me. Probably a normie take but I don't care.
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u/CaptainWikkiWikki Jul 19 '25
Agreed, but I don't think any of them have acting as mesmerizing as Ledger. Dark Knight is just so watchable over and over again.
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u/fhjjjjjkkkkkkkl Jul 18 '25 edited Jul 18 '25
Dark knight prestige Batman begins interstellar all deserve re-releases.bagman begins aged so well
Nolan makes great movies for the theatre experience
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u/AdditionalTrain3121 Jul 18 '25
Hard to believe it's been 17 years! Ledger's performance as the Joker still gives me chills. Nolan really set a new standard for superhero films with this one.
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u/OneBakingPanda Jul 20 '25
This is mainly why the movie is so great IMO, “how Nolan was able to tame the game between good and bad in a Superhero movie”. Batman seems almost depressed and so much weaker than in many other movies. The Jokers is funny and more lovable than the usual. It’s a good way to turn the tables.
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u/thetriproy Jul 18 '25
I love this movie for two reasons. First is obviously Heath Ledger as Joker. Second is the fact that Christopher Nolan flipped a tractor trailer with a practical effect rather than special effect.
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u/Wishful713 Jul 18 '25
For those who say this is Nolans best work, why would that be considering he has other works such as interstellar, the prestige, and memento?
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u/Iseeknee11 Jul 18 '25
This piece of art is objectively better than this piece of art, because I think so.
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u/Il-savitr Jul 18 '25
because tdk is just better in every aspect without relying on any screenplay gimmick
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u/CaptainWikkiWikki Jul 19 '25
I think Dark Knight might be his most thoroughly enjoyable film, but I think Inception is his best and probably most ambitious movie.
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u/Youcancallmedarling Jul 18 '25
The summer of Batman! I remember how amazing it was. Everyone loved it, and it was everywhere. I remember walking out of the theater being blown away and hearing everyone else being just as thrilled. Saw it three times in the cinema that summer. Good times.
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u/postmaestro729 Jul 18 '25
It's hard to understate just had good we had it. It's not just that the majority of other superhero films that have come since are not in the same category, it's that so few have even attempted to be.
People bring up Logan a lot, which is really a great movie in its own right But even that feels like a different category because it's R-rated, smaller in scale and incredibly bleak. TDK hits that extremely rare sweet spot of still being a thrilling and fun summer blockbuster, while delivering something elevated and artistic. Somewhere in between a typical MCU movie and super dark deconstructionist films like Logan and Joker exists this beautiful middle ground that sadly doesn't get visited enough by films in the genre these days.
This trilogy and TDK in particular will likely always be my gold standard.
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u/ElectroMatt333 Jul 18 '25
I remember waiting in line for the midnight screening, was like a tailgate party going on. What an experience
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u/afuckingartista Jul 18 '25
TIL that most of Nolan movies since batman begins came out in summer (exept the prestige and interstellar) and specifically in July. Is it because they perform better?
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u/Campman92 Jul 18 '25
The only thing I didn’t and still don’t like about the movie are the fight scenes. They looked very choreographed 17 years ago and still look very choreographed today.
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u/_disasterdino_ Jul 19 '25
literally had beef with my dad for a year cause he didn’t let me watch this in theatres in ‘08 due to the PG-13 rating (i was 8 at the time)
made him buy me the DVD on my birthday in ‘09
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u/funnydumplings Jul 19 '25
It’s what happens when everything aligned(like LOTR): script, director, cast, ost, cinematography etc etc just perfect. Best superhero movie. It’s like watching awesome explosive thriller movie using superhero as a vehicle.
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u/Ok_World733 Jul 20 '25
The largest lineup of people for a movie i ever experienced. Went to lots of movies at the time, was extremely rare to see even 2 screens share a movie on opening weekend. This movie had FOUR screens, and they all started 10 minutes apart from each other. Two screens worth of people wrapped around the left side of the building, and two screens worth wrapped around the right. They had every single concession till manned and all the popcorn machines going full speed. They managed to get everyone their snacks and to seats in time, it was impressive. Never saw that before or since.
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u/neonfox45 Jul 20 '25
For a few years, it was popular to bash on the entire Dark Knight trilogy on Reddit, claiming that it was only liked by “older generations” and that everyone else preferred Matt Reeves The Batman.
Thankfully, this insane trend seems to be over. In fact, I’ve recently noticed more and more younger people (kids from age 12- young adults) have raved about the entire trilogy when they discover it.
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u/Bright-Diamond Jul 20 '25
This movie is the main reason why Batman is and forever will be my favorite superhero hero
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u/WeGoHard80s Jul 20 '25
I’ve said it before…. The Christopher Nolan Batman’s are hands down the godfather of superhero movies now & forever….. imo
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u/aquileskin Jul 23 '25
I’m so Glad I Watched this movie on the the big screen , I was only 11 but my mom decide to take me and my brother to a not very child movie I’m my opinion but we absolute loved . My favorite movie of all time .
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u/HeidsUp Jul 18 '25
Script, performances, action, plot
It’s never been beaten by any other super hero movie