The Dark Knight - [spoilers ahead, ye be warned]

[innerSpaceman]

Yes, I'm hoping for that less rambling feel, too. But I guess if it only feels less rambling when you know what's coming, it still fails in the rambling department.

More than less rambling ... I want to see if I can discern any non-rambliing story structure that's just less apparent to first-time viewers.

[Alex]

I have no problem with the idea of a movie being constructed such that it is only completely appreciable on further viewings. The key thing is that it still be appreciable on first viewing. But I'm perfectly fine with there being things on screen that only make complete sense when combined with the events that follow, and therefore will be of most value on subsequent viewings.

Can't say if that is really the case with TDK but I do know that for the first time in a very long time I am very tempted to see a movie again theatrically.

[innerSpaceman]

Sorry, but I disagree with that. Despite that many movies I've not liked the first time have gone on to become some of my favorite films.


But I feel it's a terrible shortcoming if the story of a film is not clear by its end (or after some reflection, but NOT requiring a second viewing). To me, that's a FAIL.

[Alex]

Yes, it has to be clear on its first viewing. But that does not mean that everything has to be fully appreciable on its first viewing. At least not to me.

For me, The Dark Knight was completely clear on its first viewing (though I'll admit that some things may be poorly edited) but I suspect there'll be readings of lines, specific set ups, minor events, that will only carry their fullest weight when rewatching them with full knowledge of the events that follow.

Just a crude example would be The Sixth Sense where everything made perfect sense watching it the first time, but on later viewings a lot of missed things of significance became apparent.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

But I feel it's a terrible shortcoming if the story of a film is not clear by its end (or after some reflection, but NOT requiring a second viewing). To me, that's a FAIL.

If it's not clear by the end I agree. But what if it's perfectly clear by the end and just contains more depth upon further viewing? By the end of DK, I certainly knew what happened in the story, I didn't feel like I was lost. I just felt like there were large chunks that didn't add anything to the story. If a second pass proves those to actually be bestowing previously missed meaning, I've got no problem with that.

[Gemini Cricket]

Sixth Sense
The Others
Usual Suspects
The Crying Game

These movies, imho, are ones that should be watched more than once to be completely enjoyed. The second viewing being the "in the know" viewing.

ETA:
What Alex said.

[alphabassettgrrl]

If a movie doesn't play well the first time, I'm not watching it a second time. Many people have told me Moulin Rouge is something that takes a while to warm up to but if I hate it the first time I'm not wasting more time on it.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Alex

Just a crude example would be The Sixth Sense where everything made perfect sense watching it the first time, but on later viewings a lot of missed things of significance became apparent.

Yes, for a technical viewing of curiosity and film-study appreciation.

But that film is the perfect example of my point. A film that can NEVER be watched twice with anything approaching the effect of the first viewing. If you don't "get" the film on that first viewing, it's over.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

But that film is the perfect example of my point. A film that can NEVER be watched twice with anything approaching the effect of the first viewing. If you don't "get" the film on that first viewing, it's over.

It's not about "getting it" vs. "not getting it". It's about catching subtle foreshadowing that, without information from the end of the movie was forgettable filler but with that knowledge becomes meaningful. Not in a way that adds or detracts from understanding the movie, just in a way that can turn an already good movie into an even richer experience the second time around.

Shawn of the Dead is an excellent example but an even better example that fewer people have seen even once, let alone twice, is Hot Fuzz. I really enjoyed Hot Fuzz the first time and was amused by the way they set a few things up and had them come back in the end as a bonus if you remembered them. It was only on a 2nd viewing that I started to realize that everything in the movie did that. There practically wasn't a wasted character, line, movement. Every little quirk had a payoff somewhere down the line. Not seeing this the first time around in no way made the movie un-followable, it did not lead me to miss any significant story point. But having it there as a reward for watching it again definitely increased my appreciation for the movie and I'm hoping DK be able to deliver something similar (though I doubt it will prove to be AS well crafted).

[BarTopDancer]

It's like Lost. You can watch the show once and enjoy it, or you can watch it again and see all the things you missed.

I loved Usual Suspects the first time I saw it. And I my love for it grows during each subsequent viewing.