When The Dark Knight trilogy first came out, it presented what many considered the definitive version of Batman. Many fans were impressed by the action, effects, stories, villains, and musical scores of these films, to the point where they were convinced that nothing would ever top it.
Many fans changed their tune after the release of The Batman, which wowed audiences with a unique style and interpretation of the Batman character. The Dark Knight trilogy still holds up in many ways but both the DCEU's Batman and the Caped Crusader's latest live-action incarnation have made some of the trilogy's flaws even more obvious.
10 Bruce's Parents Are A Little Too Perfect
In the original Dark Knight trilogy, Bruce's parents seemed like they were saints who could do no wrong. Uninterested in Wayne Enterprises, Thomas Wayne worked as a surgeon but somehow found the time to create an accessible train line through Gotham. It made sense that Bruce would see his parents in a positive light, as he was only a child. However, their selflessness made them seem less human.
In The Batman, Bruce's parents are flawed, as Martha was hospitalized with mental illness and Thomas asked the wrong man to help him cover it up. He was trying to protect his family, but he failed to do so. In The Batman, Bruce Wayne spent the entire film learning more about his parents, while the Batman in The Dark Knight films focused mainly on his father's sense of morality and the meaning behind his words, "Why do we fall?"
9 The Fear Toxin Effects Don't Hold Up
In Batman Begins, Doctor Johnathan Crane created the Fear Toxin. It made people who were exposed to it experience terrifying hallucinations. He would often experiment on the residents of Arkham Asylum, and even use the gas on criminals before testifying in court that they belonged in the asylum.
Batman Begins would often show the victims' point of view after being exposed to the hallucinogen. It appeared as though the camera was shaking, which distracted viewers from the actual terrifying imagery of maggots coming from Scarecrow's mask. The effects were less likely to inspire fear, and more likely to induce a headache.
8 Rachel Dawes Was Recast
In the first two films of The Dark Knight trilogy, Rachel was portrayed by three different actresses. In Batman Begins, Emma Lockhart played a young Rachel and Katie Holmes played an adult Rachel. Katie Holmes would be replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Dark Knight. Funnily enough, these actresses have different eye colors, with Emma having brown eyes, Katie having gray eyes, and Maggie having blue eyes.
In addition to this, seeing adult Rachel portrayed by a different actress in the second film felt jarring. No explanation was given in the films, but Katie Holmes wanted to pursue other opportunities outside of the Batman films.
7 The Loss Of Heath Ledger Is Felt To This Day
When people discuss the best Joker, Heath Ledger's name is usually the first to pop up. Even though The Dark Knight was released back in 2008, his performance remains to be one of the best in film. He flawlessly portrayed a man who just wanted to see the world burn, and he was able to intimidate the audience and even his fellow actors.
When the Joker met Rachel, her discomfort was 100% real. The film hyped up the character even at the end, suggesting that the character would return in a sequel. Unfortunately, Heath Ledger passed away on January 22, 2008 – over half a year before The Dark Knight's release.
6 The Bat Voice Is Difficult To Take Seriously
The most common complaint about The Dark Knight trilogy is Christian Bale's bat voice. Admittedly, it made sense for him to change his voice. He couldn't risk exposing his identity, which would have been easy to figure out if he used the voice of the famous billionaire Bruce Wayne.
However, Batman's gravely voice hasn't aged well at all, as it sounds a little over-the-top and unnatural. Given his easy access to high-tech vehicles and gadgets, courtesy of Lucius Fox, there is no reason why Bruce couldn't have used a voice changer like Ben Affleck's Batman.
5 Bane Is Sometimes Hard To Understand
While Batman has a voice that is hard to take seriously, Bane has a voice that is hard to understand. Although The Dark Knight Rises had been dubbed, his voice still had the muffled quality of someone speaking from behind a mask.
This is a shame since Bane is another shining example of a great villain who is both highly intelligent and intimidating. The character's way of speaking and breathing is reminiscent of Star Wars' Darth Vader, but Darth Vader's voice was much easier to understand.
4 There Isn't Enough Two-Face
While Heath Ledger is praised for his excellent portrayal of the movie's main villain, Harvey Dent played a memorable secondary villain. Two-Face represented the fact that the Joker had won — that the Joker could corrupt even the best of men.
Harvey was a tragic villain who had lost Rachel as well as his sense of justice. Much like Bruce at his lowest, he confused justice with vengeance. He shines as a villain in the last 30 minutes of The Dark Knight, but it is a shame that such a well-executed villain didn't have his own movie.
3 The Romance With Rachel Was Weak
Rachel inspired Bruce to do something good for the people of Gotham and was his childhood friend. It would have actually been better if the two had remained friends. Instead, Rachel kissed him at the end of Batman Begins, right before saying she would only be with him if Gotham no longer needed Batman.
In The Dark Knight, Bruce told Rachel that he was ready to settle down and asked if she meant her words. She said yes, and they shared another kiss. Not long after, she changed her mind, writing him a letter to reject him and tell him that she wanted to marry Harvey Dent. This is the equivalent of breaking up over a text, and she should have at least told him this in person.
2 John Blake's Real Name Is Robin
John Blake was a detective for Gotham's police force who played a large role in determining Bane's plans. At the end of The Dark Knight Rises, it is revealed that his legal name is Robin. This felt strange since his character didn't appear in the comics. It felt like a forced and weak reveal.
Batman seemed to have finally retired, and this information had no real impact on the plot of the movie. If he planned to become a hero with a secret identity like Batman, it wouldn't make sense for him to fight crime using his legal name.
1 The Clean Slate Is Too Unbelievable
Catwoman wanted the Clean Slate, a program contained in a USB that would immediately delete identities from databases all over the world. When she didn't get the program in exchange for Bruce Wayne's fingerprints, she believed that it was too good to be true. In fact, Bruce actually had the USB, which was presumably used to give Selina a fresh start.
These days, the Clean Slate seems like even more of an unbelievable device. Most apps and websites are eager to get their hands on whatever information they can, and given how much technology has taken over the world, it would be practically impossible for anyone to disappear from every database in existence.