Rewatched after three years
Honestly, mogs TDK in almost every way. Even the deeper side characters here feel alive unlike in TDK, where most of them just felt like NPCs.
I’ve always been a huge "film over digital" guy and yet to me this movie visually outclasses TDK. TDK is essentially just Heat with Batman and Joker replacing Pacino and De Niro with almost identical visual language. This, on the other hand, feels like a thing of its own. Gotham looks way better here, even better than it did in Begins, which already had a strong aesthetic.
Initial viewing (2022) – 7.5/10
Second viewing (2025) – Emotionally, it felt like a 9/10 right after it finished. But trying to stay objective and not overrate it, I’d settle on a solid 8.5.
IfTDK has any edge, it’s probably in its thematic depth and philosophical exploration, and of course the villain. TDK is more expressive in its character writing and thematic structure. This film however, leans more into mood and visual storytelling, even when it comes to character development.
From a comic book purist’s perspective, neither film might hit the mark. It’s not a Mask of the Phantasm where they perfectly nail the essence of Batman in every single aspect.
But as a direct comparison between these two films, this one takes the win for me.
I’ve always been a huge "film over digital" guy and yet to me this movie visually outclasses TDK. TDK is essentially just Heat with Batman and Joker replacing Pacino and De Niro with almost identical visual language. This, on the other hand, feels like a thing of its own. Gotham looks way better here, even better than it did in Begins, which already had a strong aesthetic.
Initial viewing (2022) – 7.5/10
Second viewing (2025) – Emotionally, it felt like a 9/10 right after it finished. But trying to stay objective and not overrate it, I’d settle on a solid 8.5.
IfTDK has any edge, it’s probably in its thematic depth and philosophical exploration, and of course the villain. TDK is more expressive in its character writing and thematic structure. This film however, leans more into mood and visual storytelling, even when it comes to character development.
From a comic book purist’s perspective, neither film might hit the mark. It’s not a Mask of the Phantasm where they perfectly nail the essence of Batman in every single aspect.
But as a direct comparison between these two films, this one takes the win for me.
