TEN GossipMistakes That Were Found In The Dark Knight…See If You Can Spot Them!
Written on July 29, 2008 – 6:04 pm | by tay
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We all know we want to go see The Dark Knight a million times at least. So while you watch it your million and first time look at this list I found from Movie Mistakes of the mistakes they found in the film…(I will not read one of them…I haven’t even seen it once yet!!!)
FInd out all the mistakes…after the jump….
Continuity: When Harvey Dent loses his face and is lying in the hospital bed, when he’s turned with the damaged side against the pillow, we can see the inside of the side of his mouth which should be damaged, but it’s fully intact. Then when he turns it’s suddenly burned away.
Continuity: On the prisoner’s ferry, supposedly just before midnight, the prisoner stands up to take the detonator from the guard. As he stands up, the clock shows it’s roughly 11:30/11:35. Then his body covers the clock and he moves forward. When you see the clock again, it shows it’s just before midnight.
Revealing: During the end of the car chase, when the Joker is out of his truck and Batman is on the Batpod coming towards him, you can see a store sign that reads “Chicago Supply”.
Continuity: When Bruce Wayne is talking to Alfred while having his arm stitched, in shots from the side he’s looking downwards, but in other shots he’s looking up towards Alfred.
Other: In the scene where Joker is goading the one guard until the guard can no longer control himself: each time the Joker is shown goading him, there is a large piece of glass on the window ledge behind the Joker. It is really obvious, and makes it easy to guess what is about to happen. This piece of glass is much thicker than any of the other shattered pieces of glass on the ledge.
Continuity: In the scene where Alfred is stitching up Bruce, Bruce says “I was meant to inspire people” and as he says “people” the shot changes and his lips aren’t moving but the audio track continues.
Factual error: After the tunnel ambush when they get air support again they show the view from the helicopter of a SWAT member with an M16 and an EOTech sight attached. If you look closely the red dot scope is mounted backwards on the weapon.
Continuity: In the car chase, as they exit onto lower 5th, the convoy has, in order, a police cruiser, 2 swat vans, then 2 cruisers. When the garbage truck pulls up next to the convoy, he takes out the second to last cruiser first (there is a car visible behind). It then spins out another cruiser in front of it before reaching the van with Dent in it, but there should have been no other cruiser between that one and the van
Continuity: Joker and Two-face are in the hospital; Harvey is about to flip the coin to decide if the Joker lives or dies. The camera angle switches back and forth between the Joker and Harvey. From one angle Harvey is wearing the monitor clamp on his middle finger with the grey wire, from the other angle it is gone. It disappears and re-appears every time the camera angle changes.
Continuity: When Two-Face has hold of Gordon’s kid and is flipping the coin to “decide” who gets to live, he flips and catches it in his left hand. Between flips, there’s a close-up of the kid’s face, and Two-Face is stroking the kid’s hair - with his left hand. No coin in sight.
Continuity: In the scene where the Joker is robbing the mob bank (in the first 3 minutes of the film), a Clown Thug is seen knocking down the security guard in the background. A few shots later, the same security guard is knocked down in the same manner before the Clown Thug is shot.
Continuity: When pointing the gun at himself, the Joker’s finger is on the hammer in one scene, and in the next, his finger is pointing straight up.
Continuity: The Joker’s hair length changes dramatically throughout the film. It is noticeably shorter in the police interrogation scene than in the rest of the film.
Continuity: In the scene where Batman is interrogating the Joker, Batman hits his right hand, but in the next shot the Joker is examining his left hand.
Continuity: During the Batman/Joker interrogation scene, the amount of make up on Joker’s face changes between shots. This is particularly noticeable on his chin and forehead, and is not consistent with reasonable rub off from the altercation.
Continuity: In the scene where Batman is interrogating the Joker at the police station, Batman pins the Joker up against the wall with his arm at the Joker’s neck effectively holding him in place. There are two different camera angles used back and forth - in camera angle one the joker is clenching Batman’s arm from underneath, while in the other shot the Joker’s arm is draped over the top of Batman’s arm.
Continuity: When Bruce first walks off onto his balcony during the party, he completely empties his glass over the edge. When Rachel comes out to speak with him, his glass still has a small amount of champagne left in it.
Continuity: When Batman is about to glide into Lau’s building they show him standing on the ledge about two meters from the corner, ready to make his jump. Cut camera angle to an overhead shot and he is standing on the corner of the building when he makes his jump.
Continuity: In the scene in the warehouse where Harvey Dent was held hostage, when Batman gets him outside and the building explodes, Dent’s face and some of his left side catches on fire. You can see him bring his hands to his face to try and put out the fire while he’s lying on the ground. Yet in the hospital scene a bit later, his hand(s) are completely wound free.
Other: Once inside Lau’s building, Lau’s bodyguards fire several shots at Batman while he is fighting. The bullets shatter the glass partitions inside the office but the exterior windows of the building, directly in the line of fire and only a few feet further than the partitions, are all entirely undamaged.
Factual error: The way Two-Face’s face moves is impossible given the extent of his injuries. His lips, cheeks, and eyes all move in such a way that would require muscles which are missing.
Why not take a look at these??
Tags: Batman, Christian Bale, Continuity Issues, Errors, Heath Ledger, Mistakes, Movies, Spoilers, The Dark Knight, The Joker, Two Face
102 Responses to “Mistakes That Were Found In The Dark Knight…See If You Can Spot Them!”
By Jim Jones on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
LOL, thats too cool. We are going to see it today. I cant wait!
JT
http://www.Ultimate-Anonymity.com
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By hoodytwin on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
What about in the begining of the film when batman grabs hold of the batman wannabes gun and bends the barrel. Did anybody else catch that? It never explained how he accomplished that.
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By Wow on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
The movie was great………This post….DUMB!
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By Dark Knight is a rubbish film on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
you have too much f*cking time on your hands!
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By Jonathan C on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
You’ll also notice that the narrows no longer exist at all. In Batman Begins (which was filmed in Chicago) the narrows were River North (anything north of the river and Wacker Dr. In ‘The Dark Knight’ they’re gone completely as you see in the overhead shots of the river. Also, Harvey Dents office, The mayors office, and the building that Batman throws the joker off of in the end, would all be in the narrows as well.
One other error too is that Batman throws that one mob guy off the building, clearly breaking his ankles/or legs. He’s then seen walking with no support in the Hospital later, and when Harvey meets him in his car (although he has a cane there, but it does not appear to be for support).
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By josh on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
At the beginning of the sequence of events around the ferry, a speaker mentions that all the bridges are closed due to bomb threats, but at the ferries pull away from the pier you can clearly see headlights along a bridge in the distance. The camera pans down quickly to remove them from the shot, but they’re there for a second.
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By Jordan on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
WOW ….. FREAKING AMAZAING WHOEVER CAME UP WITH THIS LIST LOL
totally a sweet movie but i didnt notice a few of those in the movie the first time woot GO ME
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By Obie on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
I don’t want to be rude, but who cares?
Your “Factual Errors” don’t make any sense. For instance, you are willing to forgive the impossiblity that Batman could bend the barrel of a rifle with one hand early in the film, but you’re going to get bent out of shape because Two-Face’s face moves in impossible ways? Nobody is going to bend a rifle barrel that way and the rifle remain in the hands of the holder. You’re going to accept the outlandish cellphone modifications in the film, but not going to let a improperly mounted red-dot scope? There are so many “Factual Errors” in this film, in any film really, and that’s the point. It’s a fantasy film. Suspension of disbelief is required to enjoy a film like this.
Sure, Nolan when the most “realistic” route, but give me a break. Knit Pickers like you really need to let go a little bit. The movie is about a man dressed in ultra-high-tech body armor, designed to look like a bat to inspire fear in criminals. This man drives a car and motorcycle that are cool as hell, but the car has a computer system that is more complex than the on-board computer on a space shuttle. You’re going to believe that a crazy man would be capable of organizing other crazy people and pull off very elaborate acts of terrorism, but you aren’t willing to accept the locomotion of Harvey Dent’s mutilated face? You’re going to accept that a face could even be mutilated to that degree and it still function at all.
Do everyone a favor, next time you have something to say about a movie, before you write your blog, take a step back and think, “Are my observations really of events that deviate from the basic premise and setting of the film in general?”
What should we expect from you next, oh nameless blogger, a list of inaccuracies in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine?”
I can see it right now:
“In the scene Wolverine’s skeleton is fused with adamantium, the staff are using IBM laptop computers which were invented almost 20 years after the events of the film.”
Enjoy the freaking movie. If you think you can do better, make a freaking movie.
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By Tony on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
hehe
i have been anticipating watching the new batman movie for a while but i cant seem to find anybody who wants to go with me
i cant wait to watch it now even more thanks to your post
i love it when you watch a movie and you spot a mistake
hint: watch American Psycho 2 very carefully, you will see a few
…
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By No Shame Auctions on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Were you bored one day to come up with this list? LOL! Good job, though!
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By Brian on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
In the scene where Dent and Rachel are each tied up in separate warehouse buildings Dent is talking to Rachel telling her everything will be alright even after falling to the ground trying to get loose and when talking to her he sounds as if he is still sitting a foot or two from the microphone. It was extremely obvious to me while watching the film for the first time, no struggling is heard from dent whatsoever.
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By Joker on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
All I can say to this is ” why so serious” is is just a damn movie full of Joker trick
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By Mitch on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Watch the scene again when Bruce, Rachel, Harvey and the Actress are all in the restaurant together. Before they put tables together there is a man with long hair sitting next to them. He shows up periodically during there conversation after tables are together, but he is always shown from the back only. I always thought that he looked a lot like Heath Ledger, and I figured maybe he was used as an extra for that scene?
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By beets on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
When Joker is chasing the SWAT vans and shooting at Dent you see the dents from the inside of the van and Dent questions the thickness of the metal. Looking at the SWAT van from the Joker’s truck, you don’t see any dents.
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By rhetoric on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Regarding the bent barrel in the beginning of the film, you can hear hydraulics as he crushes the gun. Probably denoting he is using some sort of mechanical grip.
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By Duke on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
About bending the gun.
If you look closely you see he has some sort of device in his hand. Maybe its a magnet of some kind and the force of it actually bends the gun.
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By Don on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
and u can’t really spot these mistakes cause the movie was just soooooo great!
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By Stuart on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
I believe you could see on his hand some sort of metal bending device thing - similar to the attachments that allowed him to cut through the side of the van door.
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By Aaron on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
The third to last one, about his hands not being injured, is wrong. The reason his face and body burned so heavily is because earlier he fell over into the puddle of kerosene/gasoline/whatever exploded and got it all over his face. He didn’t get any on his hands, so as he was trying to beat down the flames, his hands didn’t catch fire like the rest of his body.
@Obie:
You completely missed the point of this list. This was a list of technical errors that were either missed in post-op or were never taken into account. It also wasn’t meant to be criticism of the film, just interesting stuff to watch for.
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By Kody on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
The reason he is able to bend the gun barrel is because he has hydraulics in his first suit to give him a boost of strength.
And if you watch Sal Maroni in the Limo scene, he does limp with the cane, showing his injury from before.
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By joshb on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
that scene where he bent the gun, he clearly had an apparatus rigged to his glove. duuuuuuuuh.
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By Bigboy on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Everyone keeps mentioning the bent gun barrel….
if you look closely, he has a hydraulic mechanism attached to his forearm… the same mechanism he uses to punch a hole in the side of the van a minute later…
not sure of the science behind it, but its pretty clear that thats what makes that possible… you can kinda hear it too, as it prepares to work.
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By Matt on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Here’s a factual error: No two men could be in any way in love with a woman (Rachel) who looks like a sad turtle.
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By Nick on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
When batman is interrogating the joker, his suspender on the left shoulder slips outside his vest, as the camera cuts to batman and back to the joker, the suspender is back under the vest.
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By dick on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
the rifle bending, you can hear a sound effect right before he does it. it probably has to deal with those special weapons he was using on his hands, that he later used to tear open the van slightly before he got knocked off by the scarecrow.
but did no one notice that when the Joker tells Batman where Dent and Rachel are, Gordon asks Batman “Which one are you going after?” Batman replies “Rachel” then Gordon yells that they’re going after Dent at 2250 street but he ends up at X street where Rachel is at.
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By Tim on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
The telephone left behind in Lau’s building by Lucius Fox somehow disables the entire electrical system of the building, dousing lights, computers, everything - including, presumably, the elevators. Yet the police run into the building through the front door and somehow arrive in Lau’s penthouse office only a minute or so after they enter.
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By taj on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
this post must have been made by people who have never worked in film, but fantasizes that they could do a better job given half a chance. most probably lazy couch potatoes with more opinion than talent. it’s amazing how low some would go to spoil things for others.
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By Beatrice Springfield on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Gosh! With all the factual errors it’s possible that The Dark Knight wasn’t a documentary at all (like I had been told).
Really though, you must have better things to do then compile a list of some of the most common and mundane mistakes in movie history. Good for you, you’ve “jumped the shark” in the hype department for Batman. You have murdered Bruce Wayne for me, with your terribly boring list.
Oh, and your keen eye missed one… the scene where Batman plummets onto Scarecrows van… he leaps while facing 90 degrees but lands on the van facing forward!!!!11!1!
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By Beatrice Springfield on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
you are a sick, sad man
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By wHy So seRIous?! on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
I see you on here Matt. I know you work at the Blockbuster. I know what you said to Rich VonDeesten.
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By Kimi on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Thank you Matt! I was sitting in the theater going “seriously? they replaced katie holmes with MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL? She’s just not attractive. At least katie was cute.
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By Brad Orban on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
She does not look like a turtle.
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By Obie on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Sorry, but if you notice, I didn’t say anything about your “Continuity Errors”. My post dealt with your “Factual Errors.” Pointing out factual errors in a fantasy film is an abandonment of the spirit of the film and the genre. Willful suspension of disbelief should not be selective. Either you accept the film as it is, ridiculousness and all, or you have a problem with all the little unbelievable events. I cannot stand viewers like yourself that clearly accept the most absurd situations but have problems like “That gun should be out of ammo” or “There’s no way his face could move like that.”
I stand by my analogy and will give another example: “The technology of the Sonic Cannons used on the Hulk is still in developmental stages and likely wouldn’t have the effects portrayed in the film!”
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By tay on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
@Obie…As this isn’t my list but as one I found…I agree with you…the factual ones are kinda silly considering that it’s a made up story. I agree with you totally.
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By Vance on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
… I really don’t get it. I thought it was kind of an awful movie.
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By The Comedian on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Continuity: In the scene where Batman is interrogating the Joker, Batman hits his right hand, but in the next shot the Joker is examining his left hand.
I thought it was just a hilarious visual gag, cause you know.. the Joker.
Sort of a “Did something just brush against me?” insult to Batman.
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By tdn on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
they crearly show after he bends the barell that he has soem sort of mechanism in his hand
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By fdsfsd on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
They did explain it, he had that metal attachment on his glove. The same one he used to attach on to the van and cut through it like butter.
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By telly on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
I wanted to see the list after the jump like you said, but I found them all on this page instead.
Where is the jump?
Oh, there isn’t one…
Stop saying “after the jump” when you mean “scroll down”.
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By Steve on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
The old Commissioner, the Judge and Harvey all were issued death threats. The Judge and the Commissioner were killed while the Joker went after Harvey personally. Bruce put a sleeper hold on Harvey, stashed him in a secret closet, changed into Batman and confronted the Joker. Batman ended up saving the Turtle from certain death by diving over the ledge. The scene is over and moves on to the next day. Am I the only one that thought that scene needed more closure? Did the Joker just give up and go to bed?
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By JJ Walker on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
@dick
Joker deliberately told them the wrong places… Knew the Bat would go for the Turtle, can’t have that now can he.
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By Mike v. on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
In the scene where Morgan freeman is outside at the table talking to Lao, they’re supposed to be in a different country. But if you take note of the glass building in the background, you’ll see that they never left Chicago. That glass building is the Mccormick Place convention center of Chicago.
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By fdgfdfg on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Two Face’s suit is burnt on one side pretty much every time you seem him after you see him in the hospital.
First, I dont even think he was wearing that suit when we was burned, i think it was a light blue shirt. Next, since he was in hospital clothes without the suit, he would have had to go get one to put on. Not very likely that he went and found one already burnt.
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By Hermdog on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
The bending of the barrel of the gun is done with something along the lines of an exoskeleton. the hook that batman uses to rip open the van is the tell tale sign. there are several prototypes in production around the world. do a Google search and check them out, crazy stuff. (they most likely have much more advanced equipment due to the military contracts Wayne Enterprises has.)
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By anonymous coward on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
I think alot of people commenting here just don’t get it. These aren’t even his. But yeah, continuity errors are hard to prevent. Even more so on a big film. If you didn’t want to read them, you didn’t have to. It seems like the article had a title.
But anyway, as someone who has made films (no it didn’t do as well as the dark knight) and helped others with films, it is fun to look for them.
Heres one I noticed:
In the scene where the joker visits (ok, kills) gambol, gambol takes a shot (on the pool table), then they cut to the guys saying someone has brought the joker, when they cut back to gambol, the cue ball is in the same place, however there is a ball on the table rolling.
And for those of you that still don’t get it, no, I couldn’t have done it better.
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By Mario on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Your wrong in the factual errors with the sight being turned the wrong way
(http://www.opticsplanet.net/eotech-holographic-sight-510.html) red dots sights depending on the make and model face ether forwards or what looks like backwards
and to explain how he bent the gun if you didn’t noticed when he cut the van open it was most likely his metal attachment as fdsfsd has said
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By wow on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
wow someone needs to get laid
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By Rob on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
to hoodytwin the person that said “What about in the begining of the film when batman grabs hold of the batman wannabes gun and bends the barrel. Did anybody else catch that? It never explained how he accomplished that.” you are an idiot you can clearly see a clamp device retract from his suit after the said scene
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By tnt on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
@dick
I think you missed the entire point of that dent/rachel rescue scene. Joker obviously told them the opposite locations on purpose.
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By Daniel on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Bro get a fucking life! Some of the best movies ever made have glitches! If I had a dollar for every time I saw a glitch in a movie I’d be rich! I’m sure there is something better you can do with your time(like getting laid)than searching for every single problem in a movie! All movies have problems including the great ones!
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By Mr. Fabulous on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Yeah, it was a pneumatic gauntlet. It was what he used to tear into the van as well.
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By SnooglyBear on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Those are all just little things. There is an actual plot error at one point. While the Joker is at Bruce’s party looking for Harvey Dent, Batman dives out of the window after Rachel, and the scene ends, even though the Joker is still at the party and hasn’t found Harvey yet. What, did the Joker just decided to leave because Batman was outside? Did he just walk right out of the party without accomplishing his goal of killing someone for everyday Batman doesn’t reveal himself?
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By Jack on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
You know, don’t quote me on this… but I heard SOMEWHERE that in the scene where Batman bends the barrel of the gun… There’s actually some sort of mechanical/hydraulic attachment to his glove that allows him to do such a thing… I mean, that’s just what I heard. Forgot where I heard it, but yeah…
………………
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By tay on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
@telly…it has a link to check after the jump on the main page…that’s why it’s there….
@everyone…yes this is not my list…I found it…and I’m not a dude…thanks…
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By Scoobysnax on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
In the scenes in Hong Kong, the people should be speaking Cantonese, not Mandarin. I mean geez, people!
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By Muller on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
it did explain it, he had a mechanical device in his hand, like a power glove, it came off when he used it to grab the side of the van
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By Tom on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
FACTUAL ERROR: The sonar that Bruce makes is powered by all the cellphones in the city, but there are no cellphones around when he’s fighting the Joker on the building site and yet he can see everything.
REVEALING MISTAKE: The music for Heat is played over the bank robbery, establishing that the movie won’t be very original.
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By Chad W Smith on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Yes, it is. You can hear, and then see, a tiny clamp-like device in Batman’s hand. You hear him put it on, you hear it while he is bending the gun, then you see it when he opens his hand.
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By codewaffle on Jul 31, 2008 | Reply
Joker swapped the addresses on purpose, to cause more chaos.
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By blahblahblah on Jul 31, 2008 | Reply
Yes it did explain it, the same scene shows some gadget on his glove retract after he bent the barrel
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By gecko on Aug 1, 2008 | Reply
Do y’know, … what is it with people coming on to these sort of things to start arguments. This is just a celebration of peoples observation skills and the film itself. Its fun to spot imperfections in great films but not as criticisms just observations. fun.
The people who do it arent sad. The people who dont see the point arent wrong. But this is somewhere AS DETAILED on the link, that people are recording these observations so if its not for you thats fine, just move on from this particular thread.
Its also a graphic novel adaptation, how is a man in a rubber suit protecting an entire city single handed supposed to be real in itself? Its fantasy and a story used for entertainment, it can have flaws. It is a great film, Id recommend it. lets just enjoy it and celebrate it, flaws and all.
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By Scatman Stu on Aug 1, 2008 | Reply
Factual Error: Batman is not real, yet he is on screen for a good 2 hours.
Factual Error: We care…
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By dave on Aug 1, 2008 | Reply
The gun bending is done with a device inside batmans hand. That is shown right after. A bit dark so hard to see,but it is there.
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By The Hutch on Aug 1, 2008 | Reply
I agree,
It’s a movie about a guy who dresses as a bat and stops evil arch villians! It’s a movie about a comic book superhero.
Why can’t you just watch it and love it for what it is… an awesome fantastic movie?
Seriously people if you spend all your time looking for mistakes in films, you have a very sad life indeed!
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By RJ on Aug 1, 2008 | Reply
Two-Face wouldn’t be able to speak normally. Ever seen someone with half the face paralyzed? The sound coming from the mouth just isn’t the same. Now imagine this with half of your mouth completely gone, it would be even worse… to the point of unintelligible.
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By Hoke Colburn on Aug 2, 2008 | Reply
Not sure if it’s an error or not, but when batman is in Hong Kong and the guards are running inside, one of them is heard to say origato, which is japanese. Why would a japanese fella be working as security for a chinese company based in Hong Kong?
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By sp00t on Aug 3, 2008 | Reply
^ Because he’s a Yakuza spy. Duuuuuh!
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By Julian on Aug 3, 2008 | Reply
There’s something I noticed and found quite obvious but hasn’t been mentioned yet, being that I don’t think it was actually an editing mistake.
In the scene when the hospital blows up and the Joker hops into the back of the bus, look closely
He goes in, and hops in the back seat, but there is a gap between the back seat and the rear exit, if you look closely there’s a guy with big headphones (a set guy) who closes the door behind him, then waves towards the front of the bus at the driver as a cue to start driving.
It’s a bit obvious it’s a set guy, I mean, the only people on those bus’s were patients and the people moving them, and even if he had someone on the inside to hold the bus until he’s in why would he have such big headphones?
Which brings up another question
How come no one noticed the Joker in a nurse costume hopping into the back of their bus?
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By SSSSSS on Aug 3, 2008 | Reply
When he’s bending the barrel, you can hear the sound of a machine/gears. It implies that the bat suit is equipped with strength enhancing technology.
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By Brian on Aug 4, 2008 | Reply
@ Julian
The guy with the headphones is a news guy. It’s the same bus that Anthony Michael Hall (the anchorman) got in, too. I guess the assumption is that Joker had a guy on the news crew who helped capture Anthony Michael Hall and whoever else got on that bus.
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By Rory on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Exactly my thoughts. Well worded mate.
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By chuckamok on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
Holy guacamole Batman! How do you folks enjoy a movie if you are looking for inconsistancies? Sit back, relax, have some popcorn and enjoy!
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By joel on Aug 6, 2008 | Reply
Yeah it’s the “can-opener” cutting tool that he uses a little later to cut open the side of the van.
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By Miche77 on Aug 11, 2008 | Reply
If I’m not mistaken, police vehicles in the movie sport GCPD (Gotham City Polce Dept). Hovever, the police themselves sport GPD on their backs (or is it the other way around?) At any rate, the initials would be consistent across the department.
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By robbo on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
in reply to ‘ The Hutch’
I agree
why go and watch a film if all you are going to do is moan about it. Yeah its fun to find these errors but why take it so far. its a fantasy, comic book, its just a bit of fun. If all your gonna do when u watch film is moan about it. Dont go and watch them.
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By joker on Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
Hey Tay,
How about a magic trick?
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By tay on Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
Ha Ha Joker…now your comment is the only one I can read out of the batch of them. I know that that is a saying from the movie. But since I haven’t seen it yet…I can’t answer you..
But thanks for creeping me out by saying it.
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By O.B. on Sep 1, 2008 | Reply
Thank you Obie, your response to the unanamous blogger was inspiring, you’re a freakin genius! Just hope he understood exactly how funny/insulting your closing statement was (I expect it was probably lost on him).
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By martin on Oct 2, 2008 | Reply
in the scene of “the magic trick” the dude on the tv can see whats going on in the room thru the TV, ther is no visible camera in view as joker enters the room laughing
hahahaha hoo hoo hee
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By VJ on Oct 18, 2008 | Reply
@ martin
you are an idiot. Have you not heard of a webcam… ya some of them are attached to the consoles. That way you don’t need to send a honkin camera in to a room…
Anyway I love looking for continuity errors in movies, but factual errors… i mean if you want something factualy accurate go watch a documentary.
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By tay on Oct 18, 2008 | Reply
@VJ I agree with you…but they weren’t mine…I haven’t even got a chance to see the movie yet…
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By Jebbica on Nov 2, 2008 | Reply
Oh yeah, I remember this one! Spoilers rock. You rock!
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By tay on Nov 11, 2008 | Reply
@VJ Yeah the factual errors are pointless…It is a movie..
I still haven’t read this list as I haven’t seen the movie! 
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By Nick_Name on Nov 25, 2008 | Reply
I’m amazed that no-one has called this one MAJOR continuity error. This was obvious before the movie even came out! (it was the first clip released to the public).
The joker’s hair on the opening scene is natural black, not green, for 75% of it. I know the argument is that his green hair was more of a darker tone, but all it takes is watching the scene a second time and you’ll see that his hair color is clearly black. The location pics of heath ledger from the day of shooting confirm that.
Obviously they were trying not to give it away that he was the joker, and it works the first time you see it. But from the 2nd onwards it’s painfully obvious.
To those hating on this list, you need to chill out! Its an entertaining read, nobody’s hating on this film. And please, enough with the explanations for the bending of the gun! like 15 people wrote the same thing
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By Hugh on Dec 2, 2008 | Reply
Howdy y’all (Tay, Obie, et al;) - what a discussion. I like this fantasy life/movie stuff a lot. This kind of blockbuster event is all about making the unreal so real it becomes iconic, mythical and at the same time relevant and openly debatable. The great part about any film is that we can revisit and study people, times and places and learn more about the story and ourselves with subsequent viewing. Then again, I’ve seen it three times and still don’t really know what Jim Gordon says to his son at the end.
I like David S. Goyer’s/the Nolan brothers’ concept of a sort of semi-Social Realist Gotham, with its semblance of factual logic holding the whole frivolous thing aloft upon it’s batty wings, but The Dark Knight reminds me more of “Dirty Harry” than Tim Burton’s “Batman”, and that’s good because we live in a modern, more dangerous world, filled with high technology and criminal maniacs.
Early on, the “fact” that Batman is still using the old (panther neck) suit for his raid on Scarecrow’s meeting with the Chechen (Ritchie Coster is great, and so are his loyal dogs) is very effective, because this scene addresses all the issues of “escalation” mentioned by Gordon at the end of BB. It also establishes that Bruce has persuaded Lucius Fox to come up with some new gadgets while the Joker’s been concocting his “plans” and collecting all those antique playing cards.
The gun-bending fist question: I was stunned/totally intrigued by many scenes in the film, and this is one that did it, because of this very detail. Whoever had the idea for a gun barrel-bending/car body tearing gauntlet attachment had quite a brainwave, and has certainly stirred my can of beans, so with tongue firmly planted in cheek:
See pic at:
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/forum/?ft=38125)
With a hiss and a squeak, this apparently flimsy film prop/costume accessory could quite possibly lever a claw/cutting mechanism like a big can opener - it would also have to apply an incredible amount of force (in at least two directions) to the barrel of the M1 carbine aimed by the copybat. It would take pressure of some tonnage, but I’m sure it’s possible - I saw it on TV during a nationwide gun amnesty in Australia when thousands of gun owners handed in their automatic weapons for destruction by authorities - that’s what we did in 1996 after several members of the public were shot by one man:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Arthur_massacre_(Australia)
Concerning other issues: Batman’s leap onto the Scarecrow’s escape van – the camera does follow him over the edge and as he falls, and his feet a below him for the entire fall – it is not a head first plunge. This said, those skeptics who don’t believe that an athlete (like Bruce Wayne) can twist and spin while falling thru the air, to turn from a head first plunge to a landing on foot, are simply not entering into the spirit of the thing. Clearly, a gymnast can perform physical wonders and a skydiver can land on a dime.
Speaking of physical wonders, Maggie Gyllenhaal may be a bit of a sad turtle, but she looks how Katie Holmes’ version of Rachel Dawes would look after working as the DA’s sidekick for a while. She actually looks and behaves like a lawyer, like someone who’s seen and heard a few things, rather than the starry-eyed idealist she was in the first movie.
And the cell phone/super computer (will we see it yet in the future batcave I wonder?) gimmick is a massive stretch, and actually a little hard to watch, but cell phones are “everywhere”, and computers are already very super and can stretch a lot of things - including plot points with social impact. It does deal with the topic of Big Brother and we’re well beyond 1984 in the real world.
Help Me Nurse: Is anyone curious as to how Harvey gets out of the hospital before the Joker blows it to kingdom come? The last I saw, Two Face is strapped to the bed in a blinding rage..?
Did I miss something, or does the Joker actually let him loose? Why would he do that, and what would Harvey do/say to him? Thanks buddy, see you in part three. Has Harvey been convinced by Joker’s talk about justice, truth and chaos? Or does Two Face use his anger to escape exactly the same deadly predicament that created him and killed his true love/professional associate?
At that point, we’ve seen Batman, Commissioner Gordon and the Joker at his bedside… justice, truth and chaos - but who is the real bad guy in these scenes? Who lashed the poor man to the railroad tracks anyway?
No wonder Two Face takes that drink in the bar, before shooting detective Wuertz - the facts might demand that he not be able to talk at all, but at least the evil side of his jaw dribbles bourbon and he has to wipe his chin. Doesn’t this classic moment compliment the Joker’s wild car ride after escaping prison, flicking his hair in the wind as he swerves joyously down the street? Is he steering the vehicle? No - he’s leaning out of the rear seat, but he is in total control of that squad car.
The Masks: Scarecrow and Batman wear physical masks to create fear/disguise psychology/hide their faces, covering them - the Joker wears his own face as a cosmic/spiritual mask, to inspire confusion and panic - his “war paint” loudly displays his rage and disgust, opening him up to us like a razor slash.
His make-up changes because it is a living mask, totally plastic and yet real - lascivious, evil, and yet honest. Jack Nicholson’s rendition once squealed “I’m melting! I’m melting!” (like the wicked witch in “The Wizard of Oz”) after being splashed in the face with water (or was it wine?)- now, Heath Ledger’s face constantly melts, reforms, turns from grotesque to sublime, as his voice cascades thru touches of Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney, Marlon Brando and Anthony Hopkins - until from off-screen he roars “LOOK AT ME!” at his terrified fat copybat hostage.
Ultimately, the final mask is removed, exposing what lies beneath the faces of us all - a death mask. Harvey Dent’s face is destroyed, split in half, and we are torn from a mask of public normality into the reality of a private nightmare, his abduction and torture of Jim Gordon’s family - Two Face’s rolling eyeball is a hole-in-one for CGI and he is a Frankenstein monster of our age, one we both dread and pity.
The Juggling Act: Does anyone else think there was some odd (hand) action going on in the back of the limousine, between Two Face and Sal Maroni? First off, Sal is walking on damaged legs with a walking stick, entering his car from the front right-hand side of the vehicle. There is a pavement and fire hydrant to the front left of the car, indicating that he is stepping into the street to get into the rear right hand side passenger door. Why would Sal (with his bad legs) not get into his car on the left hand side? Maybe I have problems with this because we drive on the left-hand side of the road in Australia?
Nevertheless, Harvey is waiting inside for Sal, sitting behind the driver on the left hand side of the cabin. Sal is sitting beside him as Two Face holds a gun on him with his left hand - Two Face flips a coin with his right hand to decide Sal’s fate, and catches it. Then if memory serves me correctly, Two Face puts on his seat belt with his right hand, which would be tricky while holding a coin, reaching in front of his aimed gun to pull the belt buckle down into position.
It may appear clumsy, but I have absolutely no question as to why Sal doesn’t try to foil this move by (heroically) hitting somebody with his walking stick? Perhaps he’s actually scared of a disfigured lunatic with a real gun, and not a prop in a film. Maybe it is just an incredibly dense and consistent cinema experience.
Surely, if the tagline for Batman Begins was “Fear is your weapon”, then the tagline for The Dark Knight should read “Anger can be your ally”..? Especially considering that anger is an energy, and it can be applied constructively in real life.
Is Ledger irreplaceable? No. Does anyone doubt that if Nolan came back for a third film, he couldn’t recast the Joker with an even more real, more iconic, mythical and relevant performer, as he did with Rachel Dawes? There are many fine actors for this job, and they would also be performing “in mask”. With or without masks, or the hard facts of actual existence, the characters in TDK work because they do reflect the human condition in interesting ways, and their actions expose our reliance on technology and other people to do our dirty work for us.
“Now you know why they call me ‘Dirty Harry.’ Every dirty job that comes along.” Harry Callahan
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Dirty_Harry
And don’t forget that it was actually Friedrich Nietzsche who said “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
Anyway, why are we all so serious? I want you to see this… and I’d like to see it at IMAX… as a teaser for whatever comes next.
http://www.spike.com/video/dark-knight-in-lego/3043210?sublisting=&sort=&&relatedPage=6&numPerPage=9
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By Joe on Dec 22, 2008 | Reply
I have a question concerning the batpod chase in which the joker drives a semi after the armored car holding dent, then goes head on with batman. This is a matter which has yet to be addressed: after batman miraculousy catches up to the joker (with the help of the sonar i suppose?) and blasts through the wall to reach the street with the semi (btw how the hell was the wheel of the batpod able to do that strange sideways rotation?), batman drives full speed at the joker. My question is, where is the armored car? Up until batman hit the street, the semi was right on the ass of the armored car holding dent. So, if batman drove the batpod straight at the semi, he would’ve first had to avoid hitting the armored car, then rope the truck, but the armored car doesnt appear as he passes and flips the joker. Where did it go? Am i missing something? I mean, even if it was there and i just missed it (i doubt that, ive watched it several times now) what also wouldnt make sense is that the batpod (a very small vehicle in proportion to the armored car and semi) wouldve been obscured from view of the joker by the armored car in front of him. Given, the scene does move quickly and jumps around a lot (an obvious editing choice which i dont mind), but this leap made no sense to me. oh, and for those who are going to reply: “who cares, just enjoy the movie, etc,” just save yourself the time and dont reply, because i absolutely love the dark knight and am perfectly willing to overlook minor inconsistencies. I am not a hater, I simply want to figure out what happened there because its been buggin the hell out of me. Can any avid fan enlighten me? Oh and i agree with those who pointed out the odd conclusion of the penthouse fundraiser scene where batman dives off the roof to save rachel. If batman ended up in the street, he could have effectively blocked the joker from exiting the building and taken him down right then and there. I guess maybe falling off a huge ass building was enough to make him want to retire for the night? i have no better explanation for that one. any ideas?
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By don on Dec 22, 2008 | Reply
he used the grip machine he uses to try and rip open the van later in that scene.
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By tarax59 on Dec 23, 2008 | Reply
Excellent observation Joe - it is a conundrum. Where did the security van go - and what is Don thinking? He seems confused about Batman’s first fight scene between the Chechen’s gang/Scarecrow’s gang/Batman Copycats and the 2nd act clash between Joker and Bats..?
I’l go you both one better - the opening bank robbery has a prelude on the street - a man (the Joker) with his back to camera, holding a clown mask and large bag. Robbers van pulls up as he dons mask and gets in van - the scene continues until the Joker unviels himself for the close up with the wounded bank manager - “…only makes you - stranger!”
Joker is wearing his war paint thru-out the scene - so why didn’t his clown cohorts see the make-up when they picked him up off the street at the beginning?
Ahh yes, the fine art of comedy - it is all about timing, don’t you think?
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By Hugh on Dec 23, 2008 | Reply
Let’s address the question of the bat-pod appearing between the semi-trailer and the vanishing armored car. Batman catches up to the Joker without the help of the sonar because he doesn’t have it yet (no glowing blue eyes), and he doesn’t need it because he takes a quick short cut thru an underground mall and a narrow alleyway, in order to head them off at the pass - also, he doesn’t blast through a wall to reach the street, but clears garbage and I think a skip goes hurtling thru the air, or maybe it’s just bins and old tyres.
How do the wheels of the bat-pod do that strange sideways rotation?
Good question Joe - this machine springs like the pupae of a praying mantis from the husk of its dying/birthing mother (the batmobile actually groans like a lion as Bats looks at the controls at some point, then she says “Goodbye” as he ejects - weird machine/animal stuff).
Technically speaking, the sideways-spinning wheels look to me like a universal gimbal/joint axle arrangement that allows the bat-pod vehicle to remain active and stable in any direction, probably to enhance control in collision conditions.
The whole bat-pod idea/device is a coiled spring that twists and writhes like a snake on-screen, as Batman drives full tilt at the Joker’s semi, with the pod’s frame compressing to pass below the chassis of the trailer, to emerge and pass down the footpath, winding cables between streetlights and nailing them into the asphalt.
After the semi somersaults, the pod later allows Bats to do a great high-ho silver victory spin, riding the pod up the wall in a 180 degree twist that mirrors the prior flip of the semi - only to then lose this whole amazing “sidewinder” capability when he lays the pod over into a skid after passing Joker, smashing into the upturned semi’s radiator.
I dunno? Maybe it’s a schism between the input of scriptwriters versus CGI special effects guys..?
Then there’s your really big question: The armored car being driven by a disguised Jim Gordon does in fact seem to disappear.
When Bats hits the street sideways, there is no sign of the armored car behind him, and it is not seen as the semi approaches ahead of him - it is gone..? Perhaps down a side street or alleyway?
Where did it go? After the semi flips, we see Bats do his high-ho silver routine on the pod - then go to the armored car as it brakes to a halt and the still-disguised Gordon gets out to help..?
Then the Joker goes on his shooting rampage as he goose-steps down the street yelling “Hit me!”
No, you have not missed a thing Joe. I have to admit, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. I mean, I didn’t notice the missing armored car.
Like you, I like the Joker’s mysterious escape from the Wayne building, but I’m even more curious about the creative decision making involved in the editing process. It is a huge ass building Joe, with many ports of egress I’m sure, and I don’t need a better explanation than yours - but I do wish there were deleted scenes on the DVD (which I have not seen yet). Apparently there was a scene either before or after the party entrance, with Joker in the back seat of a car - hmm, going my way handsome?
The best idea ever is time-compression in film editing - I love it! Lee Smith is the Editor, who coincidentally also cut “Two Hands” (1999) an early Heath Ledger film made in Australia. Check it out - it’s good.
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By Chicagoan on Dec 24, 2008 | Reply
In the bank robbery scene, the school bus used shows ILLINOIS license plate. Where in Illinois Gotham city is???
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By Paul on Dec 25, 2008 | Reply
This isn’t really a mistake but in real life it would be a mistake by the cops.
The first thing I thought they would do was wash the joker’s face when they booked him.
Why didn’t they? Especially, if they were trying to determine his identity.
The joker wanted the Batman to remove his mask so I would think the Batman would be equally curious as to who was under the make-up?
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By Kait on Dec 26, 2008 | Reply
i read through all of those and i dont think i saw the one that i noticed…
When theyre in the interrogation room, the joker flinches like, a second before batman actually slams his head on the table.
If you watch carefully, youll notice!
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By Hugh on Dec 28, 2008 | Reply
You’ve all got the dvd at home, haven’t you…
I admit I never even wondered why they don’t wash the Joker’s face, or even hose him down, that’s what they do in military prisons, why not the MCU - they do empty his pockets and check his clothes for labels - maybe it’s that legal thing about invading the perp’s private space?
It’s worth considering this guy has been twitching and flinching continually since he appeared with a coat lined with grenades - but I’m not surprised he has precognition that he’s about to get his lights punched out by a living shadow.
The film’s not playing at imax anymore, so I’m watching the dvd I got (myself) for xmas. Exactly how many holes can we shoot thru a multi-million dollar blockbuster? Number plates, bridge traffic flow, half-seen parrots perched on shoulders.
Has anyone noticed that jump cut - one of astounding array - in the semi-trailer/armored car chase, when the batmobile flies into the Joker’s bazooka shot? The vehicle explodes, skids up a concrete ramp and topples end-over-end , smashing a whole bunch of stuff that really slows it down, then it pitches over one final time before almost coming to a complete vertical stand still, balancing on its nose -
Then we cut to more action and some underground hobos sitting at fire - blam, the full chassis of the batmobile smashes thru a reinforced concrete wall and crashes to the ground - crunch. Great time compression - it stretches the limits of our suspension of disbelief - No hoboes are harmed, and they all witness the birth of the batpod/dark knight.
Did anyone see Heath joust in “A Knight’s Tale”? The following jousting scene on the streets of Gotham Illinois - absolutely blows me away. Maybe all those buses are on a school camp, visiting Gotham in a very long convoy of other school buses from every state in the union.
I am amazed - watching imax, my impression of the shot with the bank manager biting on the smoke grenade was that of a massive close-up of William Fichtner’s face, but now I see it’s a full length body shot. It’s amazing to me how that massive frame can be used to alter the audience’s perceptions? This is 21st century mis-en-scene.
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By John Doe on Dec 28, 2008 | Reply
But, and this is known from the Robocop scene that closely resembles this one… the man holding the gun would be the weak link. Batman may have some super-duper hydrogloves, but the man holding the gun is just that… a man. He would have lost grip on the gun if that kind of force was applied to the barrel.
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By y-so-seery-us-? on Dec 28, 2008 | Reply
Batman has some sort of device strapped to his…J/K.
I think we can pitch a big enough tent for everyone here. Nolan is notorious for his attention to detail and has (at every POSSIBLE occasion) sworn his allegiance to these films’ “realistic-ness”, but in so doing has invited scrutiny upon his film.
On the flip side, it’s a summer action blockbuster, folks. Check your cinema forensics skills at the door, relax, take it in and enjoy the nice, cool theater and your 10,000 calories of candy and Coke.
Follow-up item I would mention:
–I’m thinking the Joker cut bait after tossing Rachel from the penthouse window for 2 reasons: 1)he had already disposed of both the Judge and the Commish so his prophesy of death has been fulfilled, and 2) since the entire GCPD (I too noticed the acronym inconsistencies) knew Dent was on the hit list and presumably were aware of Bruce Wayne’s fundraiser for him, the Joker figured they would be closing in quickly and needed to get the F outta Dodge.
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By HI,HI on Jan 1, 2009 | Reply
I haven’t noticed an of those things on the list but there is a scen when Bruce is putting on his shirt when his hair is changing from straggling to stylish.
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By abrham on Jan 5, 2009 | Reply
i have another, in the part the joker is outside the hospital you can see a sidewalk where theres a ramp for handicap painted in yellow, that’s something really impossible.
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By Hugh on Jan 5, 2009 | Reply
Hey John Doe, good point, but if the mangler locked around the barrel and applied force in two directions, the shooter could remain standing…
I don’t care too much about minute inconsistencies in continuity (stylish hair, an “impossible” painted sidewalk, etc)…
My own question about how Two Face gets in the back of Sal’s Limo has been answered - at the very start of the shot, you can see a henchman being knocked cold by Two Face’s gun arm - it’s a split second, but it’s there…
Also, the general confusion about who is driving the school bus as Gotham Genral goes up is also answered - as the Joker makes his exit, we see the Reportewr and camera/sound men retreating to front door of bus - this is the last bus which has been delgated to carry citizens and harvey dent - the reporter is dragged inside by a beefy guy with yellow clown paint on his face - again, t’s just a few frames, but it explains a lot…
Doesn’t it?
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