The Dark Knight vs. Terminator 2

[rded]

Remember the Imax scenes in TDK?
It was incredibly close for me, but I went with TDK ever so slightly.

Gotcha. I was referring to the CG and special effects of T2 and how it revolutionized CG not the cinematography of TDK. Alas, its still TDK for me.

[mike 1992]

i was 2 when T2 came out (91) and i didnt see it till i bought the bd. while i thought it was fantastic as an action movie, a sci-fi movie, and just as terminator movie (since i saw the 1st prior), it's just that kind of a movie. TDK is a much more deeper and thinking man's movie that has many themes and metaphors to it. i dont always appreciate a deeper and thinking man's movie over an action/sci fi movie but when the movie does it as good as TDK does, there's no contest. but i'm probably also swayed because i'm a die hard batman fan and nolan got it perfect with his series and then you're throwing in the factor that i have a christian bale obsession so i might be a little bias...

Why is TDK a "thinking man's" movie?

[upgrayedd]

T2, there was almost never a dull moment in this flick. It was a tough choice though. Really enjoyed both.

[juscallme_J]

Definitely one of the more interesting "movie poll" threads. I agree that both movies are relevant to each other as they are both kings of their decade, 90s and 2000 respectively so i feel this result may have a resulting age bias. That said, I would go for T2 even though i loved TDK. The story, imagery, and especially musical score are so clear in my mind from T2 ,some 17yrs or so later that i have to give it to arnold.

[ASIA911]

T2. 18 yrs ago and still holding. Love TDK but hated the ferries sequence. Chris Nolan totally suck at directing actions. Batman still look like crap in broad daylight.

[mike 1992]

T2 for me, it's pretty much the perfect action/sci-fi movie.
TDK while very good at times is also really pretentious (paticually the ferry sequence) and suffers from a lot of plot holes and cliches.

[TripleHBK]

I like TDK more. I think TDK is a classier film and much better in it's presentation... but, TDK doesn't have the kind of cult appeal that T2 had/has and didn't change the industry the way T2 did either. Ask me 10 times which movie I'd rather watch and I'd choose TDK probably 7-8 times over T2, but even with all of that, I gave the nod to T2 simply for it's cultural impact and sheer longevity of the film.

[nmcmahan52]

t2 for me, it was my favorite movie at one point when i was younger, still really hasn't gotten old to me

plus they've released 2304823049823948230948293042039 editions on dvd/video/bd so they keep it relevant

[Centauri]

I can't believe this is such a close race. Terminator 2 resonates strongly nearly 20 years after it release. TDK will be largely forgotten in the next few years.

[Onslaught X]

I can't believe this is such a close race. Terminator 2 resonates strongly nearly 20 years after it release. TDK will be largely forgotten in the next few years.

I doubt that. While there's certainly a big argument to say why T2 is a better film, I don't think the Dark Knight will be forgotten anytime soon. Either for Ledger's death/performance, or its huge box office performance, or overall large critical summer blockbuster praise, it'll be lingering in the back of our heads for a long while.

[Teajack]

T2 was years ahead of other movies at the time. TDK's appeal is partially routed in Heath Ledger and his passing which was exploited leading up to the movie to build added hype. TDK The movie itself was good but I thought too long. I perfer T2.

It is testimony to T2 that you are comparing it with a movie made 17 years later and voting is still relatively close. A more closer comparison would have been against the 1989 Batman and we all no which movie for sure would be better.

[BostonMA]

T2 for me, it's pretty much the perfect action/sci-fi movie.
TDK while very good at times is also really pretentious (paticually the ferry sequence) and suffers from a lot of plot holes and cliches.

what plot holes exist in tdk?? i can't think of one.

I like TDK more. I think TDK is a classier film and much better in it's presentation... but, TDK doesn't have the kind of cult appeal that T2 had/has and didn't change the industry the way T2 did either. Ask me 10 times which movie I'd rather watch and I'd choose TDK probably 7-8 times over T2, but even with all of that, I gave the nod to T2 simply for it's cultural impact and sheer longevity of the film.

tdk didnt change the industry?? after tdk, several superhero films have been confirmed to take a darker turn. tdk also changed the lengths of what a comic book/superhero movie can reach. onlu time will tell whether or not tdk will have a cult following but i know i'm one of them.

I doubt that. While there's certainly a big argument to say why T2 is a better film, I don't think the Dark Knight will be forgotten anytime soon. Either for Ledger's death/performance, or its huge box office performance, or overall large critical summer blockbuster praise, it'll be lingering in the back of our heads for a long while.

and don't forget what i mentioned above about how dark films will be...he said "largely forgotten after a few years"...well a few years from now the dark superman reboot will be out and hopefully so will the third entry in nolan's series. i don't think viewers of that film will forget what tdk is...

[Onslaught X]

what plot holes exist in tdk?? i can't think of one.

Surely you must have been curious as to how the Joker was able to plant an explosive and barrels of oil into the ferries without being detected by anyone...

[Centauri]

tdk didnt change the industry?? after tdk, several superhero films have been confirmed to take a darker turn. tdk also changed the lengths of what a comic book/superhero movie can reach. onlu time will tell whether or not tdk will have a cult following but i know i'm one of them.

Batman Begins came before TDK, it had the same tone, and it wasn't the first ever superhero film with a dark tone either.

[Onslaught X]

Yeah but considering that the Dark Knight is perceived as superior to its predecessor, it'll be remembered more than Begins anyway and down the line, the lines will probably start to blur together.