Dark Knight Research

The initial shot in the opening of ‘The Dark Knight’ is a crane dolly showing an overhead view of some skyscrapers in ‘Gotham’ city. The camera slowly moves in towards one particular window where we meet the first of the robbers. The dolly is used to set the scene, and the focus on the single window as it is smashed is simply to emphasis what has happened.

The camera then cuts to a close up in a closed frame of one masked robber, who has just smashed the window. The close up is used in a profile position so that the smashed window and rest of the city is visible, thus showing that the robber was the one who smashed the window.

The next angle is a two shot, showing the head of the second masked robber from above, with the other robber in the foreground. This is used to show clearly what the robbers were doing as the first robber shoots a cable out of the window.

The camera then quickly cuts to the ‘Joker’ standing on the corner of the street with a large bag. The shot used is a mid-shot, to allow for detail such as the bag and mask to be fully visible.

The camera then zooms in towards the mask, which is done so that we recognise that particular mask as it shows importance later on.

As the robbers attach themselves to the zip line, and push off towards the next building, a fast pace dolly is used to follow them out before tilting down towards the ground to give an idea of the dangerous height.

Another crane dolly is used to give an overhead view of the robbers on the zip line, before it cuts to the robbers as they land on the gravel with the use of a slight pan.

Another two shot is used in the car, when the camera is in a fixes position, showing the outside world through the windows, but then the 3 robbers all in focus.

A mid-shot is then used, with slight pan and tilt to show the two robbers on the roof, this is used to show the emptiness of the closed frame, as well as emphasis what they are doing.

As the robbers enter the bank, a dolly is used to follow them in from a mid-shot. Further dollies are used to show them moving further into the bank, getting everyone on the ground and securing the victims.

An extreme close up of the robber hacking into the electrical system is used to emphasis what he is doing, with the next two shot to add suspense as the audience knows something is going to happen.

There is then an extreme close up of the grenades, simply to show clearly what they are as the robber begins to place them in the hands of the victims from a mid-shot.    

The camera cut back to the robbers on the roof, using a two shot to build suspense as the man behind pulls out a gun and shoots the other. This masked robber then runs down stairs, with the use of a dolly to follow him all the way, which is used to build the intensity as he runs.

Another dolly is then used as the camera focuses on the vault as shown below.

When the robber is breaking into the vault, the camera pans and zooms in to the drill in a close up, before the robber is then electrocuted and sent flying backwards.

There is then the use of a switch /reverse/ switch, as a dolly is used to follow the banker trying to shoot the robbers with a shotgun. This is done to increase the tension and drama, before the banker is then shot and a close up of the ‘Joker’ in his clown mask is shown as he tilts his head, which make the scene more intense and creepy with that short cut.

A two shot is used again as one robber is about to shoot the other, then it cuts to a close up as the trigger is pulled, which is done before the robber runs into the vault with the use of a dolly to follow him as he puts all the money in bags.

Another switch reverse switch shot is used as the remaining robber aims his gun at the ‘Joker’.   This is done to put across the point of views and perspective from each person. The ‘Joker’ then steps to the side, before the robber is then hit by the bus that comes through the window.