History Awesome / TheDarkKnightTrilogy

* ''Awesome/TheDarkKnightRises''

[[AC: The Saga In General]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T__uN5xmC0 This trailer]] for the whole trilogy sums up the awesomeness of this saga.
* Whether intentionally or not, the trilogy matches up to the arc speech from ''Film/ThePrestige'', making it a meta CMOA for Nolan. See [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3lKI83zN2k here]].
* The existence of this series as a whole is an awesome moment for superhero movies, bringing an Academy Award into the genre for Heath Ledger's [[IncrediblyLamePun insane]] performance as ComicBook/{{the Joker}}.
** This film incarnation of the Joker even has [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Joker_(The_Dark_Knight) his own Wikipedia page!]]
** Not to discredit the other villain performances, which were either entirely faithful to their comic book counterpart (Scarecrow, Bane, Ra's al Ghul- at least as much as the setting allowed- and Two-Face), or completely redefining (The Joker).
* A perfect movie trilogy. All three films are highly regarded and considered excellent. It's an occurrence so rare in films that even Creator/ChristopherNolan brought it up at one point.
** Another rarity is that it is a ''complete'' trilogy. After many superhero film franchises ending up being rebooted or cancelled entirely, this series feels like a huge cathartic relief since it is possibly one of the only ones of its kind (and the ''only'' ''Batman'' film series) that managed to tell its entire story and give it a natural, proper ending, completely avoiding death until it was its time to put in closure. It's a survivor.

->''Consider us even.''
-->--'''Ra's Al Ghul''', ''Film/BatmanBegins''

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T__uN5xmC0 This trailer]] for the whole trilogy sums up the awesome of this saga.

** Another rarity is that it is a ''complete'' trilogy. After many superhero film franchises ending up being rebooted or cancelled entirely, this series feels like a huge cathartic relief since it is possibly one of the only ones that managed to tell its entire story and give it a natural, proper ending, completely avoiding death until it was its time to put in closure. It's a survivor.

* A perfect movie trilogy. All three films are highly regarded and considered excellent. It's an occurrence so rare in films that even Creator/ChristopherNolan brought it up at one point.

* Whether intentionally or not, the trilogy matches up to the arc speech from Film/ThePrestige, making it a meta CMOA for Nolan. See [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3lKI83zN2k here]].

* The existence of this series as a whole is an awesome moment for superhero movies, bringing an Academy Award into the genre for Heath Ledger's [[IncrediblyLamePun insane]] performance as ComicBook/TheJoker.

[[AC:Batman Begins]]
* From the beginning: Bruce getting attacked in the food line, which results in this exchange.
-->'''Chinese Prisoner''': You are in hell, little man! And ''I'' am the devil.
-->'''Bruce Wayne''': You're not the devil. You're practice.
** And so begins a beatdown of epic proportions, not just of the guy that attacked him, but ''every other prisoner that joins the fight''. He even breaks a guy's leg!
*** Capped off by this funny/awesome moment when the guards come and drag Bruce away to solitary confinement for "protection":
-->'''Bruce''': I don't need protection!
-->'''Guard''': Protection for them! ''[cue a shot of the prisoners rolling about in the yard, screaming in pain]''
* "Actually, there were seven of them."
** "I counted six, Mr. Wayne."
* Ra's' line "If someone stands in the way of true justice, you simply walk up behind them...and stab them in the heart", said in a calm, cold voice.
* To keep the SWAT team occupied, Batman summons... a massive swarm of bats.
** The scene was originally taken from the comic ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne'', and was itself just the capper on an entire Moment of Awesome sequence.
* Bruce's final days with the League of Shadows:
** His last training exercise. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkbBvTYDEKc Bruce masters his inner fears and showcases his cunning.]]
--> '''Ducard:''' (''failing to notice that Bruce had slashed several ninja with identical wounds'') You cannot leave any sign.
--> '''Wayne:''' (''early version of Batman growl'') I haven't.
** His escape. If Bruce Wayne wants to exit the house and catch some air he won't stop for a piddling obstacle like the entire League.
* The scene with Falcone loading a shotgun in his car, where you can just imagine his panic. He then whispers "What the hell are you?" Cue a smashed sunroof and Bats pulling his ass out of the car; "I'm Batman!"
* One for a villain - Jonathan Crane is trying to destroy some evidence, when both of his [[{{Mook}} mooks]] are taken out by an unseen assailant, who then reveals himself as the guy who singlehandedly took down a mob boss. So does he flee? No! He quickly slips on his mask, releases his fear gas, and then ''[[KillItWithFire sets Batman on fire!]]''
-->[[HurricaneOfPuns "Oh, having trouble? Take a seat. Have a drink. You look like a man who takes himself too seriously. You want my opinion? You need to lighten up]]."
** For Dr. Crane (and arguably, Creator/CillianMurphy's career) up to this point: "Would you like to see my mask?"
** In the straitjacket, when he says "[[MadnessMantra Scarecrow...]]"
* The moment where Batman first appears in ''Batman Begins'' is not just one of the most Crowning Moments of Awesome in the character's history, but possibly the greatest moment in motion picture history ''ever''. Not only does he manage to dispatch an entire crew of mobsters single-handedly and reduce their boss from an arrogant, bullying invincible crime-lord to a terrified old man cowering in the back of a limo with a gun (which Batman then proceeds to pull the crime-lord out of ''through the sun-roof''), he politely compliments an old homeless man on his coat (which Batman, years ago, gave to him) in the process. Oh, and he ties the mob boss to a spotlight, inventing the bat signal.
** That intro moment in that sequence was with the long-haired guy with the sub-machinegun:
--->'''Mook:''' ''(blasting away with gun)'' WHERE ARE YOOOUU?\\
'''Batman:''' ''(hanging upside down, coming into shot as we pan with the goon)'' '''Here.'''\\
'''Mook:''' Yaaahh-- ''(cut off as the black cape envelopes him)''
* The introduction of the bat-signal in approximately the middle of the movie. [[KnightInSourArmor Jim Gordon]] shows up with a bunch of other police officers to the place where a group of Falcone's goons were. Another officer asked if they were Falcone's men, Gordon cynically remarked ''"does it matter? We'll never tie him to it anyway."'' Said officer responded ''"I wouldn't be too sure of that"'' and then nodded his head towards something that Gordon apparently didn't even notice beforehand; a searchlight pointed at the clouds, with Falcone chained to it such that his shadow formed a bat-silhouette in said clouds. It was a symbol of hope in a city that clearly needed it. It also helps that [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic the music used in that scene]] has [[TriumphantReprise the same melody as was used earlier]] in part of "[[TrainingMontage The Will To Act]]."
* After snatching corrupt cop Flass from the alley below, dangling him over it by his ankles and interrogating him after visibly working himself up into the scariest interrogator in the universe:
-->'''Flass:''' I swear to God!\\
'''Batman:''' '''[[BlasphemousBoast SWEAR TO ME!]]'''
* The car chase. It's one of the most epic car chases, when you consider what Batman uses to take out multiple police cars in spectacular fashion - lots of caltrops that puncture cruisers' tires, cannons that blow away barriers, and lots of quick maneuvers.
* [[spoiler:Ra's al Ghul's reappearance in Wayne Manor, complete with him setting the house alight, and the page quote for this.]]
* Even ''Alfred'' gets at least one when he knocks out a League of Shadows goon: "I hope you're not a member of the fire brigade," whilst rushing into the burning Wayne Manor to save Bruce. And the subsequent "You still haven't given up on me" / "Never!" exchange.
** And when he tries to help the pinned Bruce.
--->'''Alfred:''' What was the point of all those push-ups ''if you can't lift one bloody log?!''
* Loeb tells a desperate Gordon that "There's nobody left to send in!". Cue The Tumbler coming out of nowhere and jumping into the Narrows.
* While protecting a little boy Rachel tasers Scarecrow. I repeat she TASERS the FREAKING SCARECROW. HOW is that NOT awesome?
* Liam Neeson chanelling Qui-Gon Jinn as [[spoiler:in his last moment, Ra's calmly faces his death-by-train]].
* Fox's [[IronicEcho "Didn't you get the memo?".]]
* [[MeaningfulEcho "It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me."]] Best identity reveal ever.
* Batman finally defeating Ra's Al Ghul while [[spoiler: saving all of Gotham from fear toxin]]. Topped off by his escape and gliding in the shape of a bat.
** The fight is also quite awesome for Ra's in that he's holding his own without any special armour, against a guy who's draped in some of the best armour ever produced. He still loses, but still.
* Also, Nolan rebooting the series from ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' to the awesomeness of ''Film/BatmanBegins''; let alone making an even more popular sequel; is awesome.
* Bruce Wayne confronting his fear of bats in the batcave definitely deserves mention.
** And related, a three-sentence exchange that sums up the reason Batman choose such an icon for his identity.
-->'''Alfred:''' "Why bats, Master Wayne?" \\
'''Bruce:''' "Bats frighten me. It's time my enemies shared my dread."

[[AC: The Dark Knight]]
* The ferry scene is a moment that is even more awesome in its simplicity. In a completely silent room full of hardened criminals, the [[ScaryBlackMan Huge Black Prisoner]] walks up to the warden and tells him to give him the detonator, so he will do what the warden should have done ten minutes ago but cannot. The warden silently hands him the remote [[spoiler:which goes right out of the window and into the river]]. After almost two hours of Joker's HumansAreBastards rants without any real refutation, it was a very nice "fuck you" to the clown.
** What happens afterwards? [[spoiler: He goes back to his seat and bows his head in prayer and a crowd around him joins him.]] All without raising his voice above a whisper. BAD. ASS.
** It's not just a CMOA, it's even a moving, TearJerker moment for many.
** The same scene is nearly repeated on the other boat. One of the civilians declares that he'll do what no one else is willing to do. He walks over, picks up the detonator, and after several tense moments, wherein they realize that the other boat ''hasn't'' blown them up yet, [[spoiler: he puts the detonator back down with trembling fingers and sits down.]] There's something about that scene that is so incredibly ''human''.
** And capping it off is Batman laying the bitter, brutal truth out to the Joker:
--->"What were you trying to prove? That deep down, everyone is as ugly as you? ''You're alone!''"
*** At that moment, it didn't matter if the Joker lived or died, or if he had succeeded in [[spoiler: corrupting Harvey Dent]]. The Joker ''lost''. And it wasn't Batman or the Gotham City Police Department that beat him, but the ''ordinary people of Gotham''.
*** This is because the Joker understands how to deconstruct megalomania (Dent, Batman, the Mob), but ordinary people [[EvilCannotComprehendGood escape him]].
*** And when Joker prepares for the ferries to explode right on his cue, [[spoiler:he quickly sees that they don't. The disappointed look on his face as he realizes that he lost is just ''immensely'' satisfying, seeing that his plan was just one massive EpicFail.]]
* "It's a funny world we live in…speakin' a' which, y'know how I got these scars?" "'''''[[ShutUpHannibal "No…but I know how you got THESE!]]'''''"
* The Joker gets one in almost every scene he's in, but possibly the best is his redefining EyeScream for a new generation. "How about a magic trick?"
* The bank manager gets one as the Joker and his {{Mook}}s storm the bank at the beginning of the film. While everyone is screaming in panic, he calmly takes off his glasses and blasts one of the Mooks with a sawed-off shotgun ''without even getting out of his seat.'' He then proceeds to walk through the bank, firing at the Joker and even when he's completely at his mercy, he still defies him. Granted he was most likely trained by the Mob, but it's still more badass than you'd expect from [[BadAssBystander the average person.]]
* For the car chase of this film: the Joker, armed with a garbage truck, a semi truck worded "[[PutTheLaughterInSlaughter (S)LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE]]", many henchmen, some shotguns, and a bazooka, is trying to kill Harvey Dent, who's in a fleeing armored car. After the Joker has smashed an entire SWAT team ''off the highway'', Batman finally shows up in the Tumbler rocketing towards the carnage from the opposite side. The garbage truck speeds up to meet the Tumbler, the Tumbler speeds up as well, they both are driving 70 mph at the least, they're about to collide head on...and the Tumbler ''knocks the many-ton garbage truck, grinding the truck's cab against the ceiling, then turns around, and without a single visible scratch on it goes after the Joker.'' The Joker is loading up another missile to fire at Dent, Batman turns on the booster and the Tumbler rockets into the air ''and takes the entire blast of the missile''. The Joker was magnificent, but the Tumbler transcends the mortal limit of badass.
** In addition, the [=BatPod=] gets one moment of awesome when [[spoiler:Batman uses its grappling cable to overturn ''the Joker's semi'']], and then [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4dzCXiCWzs#t=6m30s perform a 180 degree ''vertical spin'' against a building wall]].
* One word: Batpod. Its intro scene sure seems tragic ([[spoiler:the Tumbler destroying itself after it has been wrecked to hell]] by intercepting the Joker's rocket-grenade ) then becomes purely awesome when the Batpod emerges and goes on to take down the Joker in an awesome way.
** In this corner, an 18-wheel truck driven by a [[IncrediblyLamePun bat-shit]] crazy clown and his goons, armed with a Type-94 rocket launcher, who's already managed to dump one SWAT truck in the river and has taken down a SWAT helicopter. And in this corner, the Batpod, an itty-bitty motorcycle detached from the destroyed Batmobile. Who wins? The bat-pod; as it ''flips the 18-freakin'-wheeler on its back!!''. Seriously, you couldn't hear the movie for a full 10 minutes because people went coconuts cheering.
** Even more awesome: that was a practical effect; no CGI, no miniatures.
*** Because, in the words of Cracked.com, "that's how ''Batman'' would do it."
* James Gordon [[spoiler:faking his own death to draw out the Joker and then saving Batman when the Joker had him pinned]].
** [[spoiler:"We've got you, you son of a bitch."]]
** And then when he goes to see his son afterward, both a Moment of Awesome and a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}:
-->'''Son:''' Did Batman save you, daddy?\\
'''Gordon:''' Actually, this time...I saved him. ''*both smile*''
* Harvey Dent's first scene, where he's questioning a witness. The witness (a hired gun) pulls out a pistol and aims at Harvey, the gun jams, and Harvey responds by quickly grabbing the gun and giving him a right cross. And then calmly tells the man who hired the hitman - who is on trial - that he ''really'' should have bought an American gun instead of a Chinese one. And then protesting when the judge orders the man taken away... because he hasn't finished his cross-examination. Appropriately, the crowd cheers.
-->'''Harvey Dent''': Carbon fiber. .28 Caliber, made in China. If you want to kill a public servant, Mr. Maroni, I recommend you buy American.
* The Joker daring Batman to kill him by shooting an automatic rifle at him and everything around him with a machine gun while the hero is barreling down on him with a motorcycle.
* Let's be honest. This is pretty much a Crowning '''Movie''' of Awesome. It has near-universal acclaim from both the fans and movie critics (specifically a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes), Heath Ledger's Joker won him an Oscar, and the Academy was widely denounced for not even nominating the movie for Best Picture.
** And the Academy wasn't just denounced by fans, but by film critics as well.
* Posthumously given to Heath Ledger, every time he said a line in his Joker voice. ''What'' a role to be remembered by.
** I felt that in terms of his performance, Heath Ledger's Moment of Awesome comes from his laugh. It's so completely, chillingly insane (starting off as a low, rasping giggle, before bursting out in insane laughter) that it truly captures the essence of the Joker.
*** It's also a ShoutOut. [[spoiler: It's the same laugh as Cesar Romero's version of the Joker.]]
** Also in the eyes. Heath Ledger's eyes without makeup appear very small. With the Joker makeup and surrounded by black area they pop out more.
** [[UnhandThemVillain "Ooh, very poor choice of words!"]]
** "I believe that what doesn't kill you simply makes you... ''stranger.''"
*** Made so much more chilling by the very subtle alteration on Ledger's voice just as he says that last word, giving it an understated EvilSoundsDeep effect.
** "How 'bout a magic trick? I'm going to make this pencil disappear... '''TA-DA!''' It's ''gone!''"
** "[[MemeticMutation Why... so... serious?]]"
*** The only thing that could possibly make it better? Creator/MarkHamill [[https://youtu.be/CC8THtokVdg?t=1m33s saying it.]]
** The Joker holds Stephens at knifepoint. Why? "I just want my [[OnePhoneCall phone call]]." He uses said phone call to detonate a cell phone bomb in the cells so he can grab Lau and escape.
** "Why don't you give me a call? Here's my card."
** "Why don't we cut you up into little pieces and feed you to your pooches? And then we'll see how loyal a hungry dog really is."
** Burning $68 million to prove a point: that there is no point. He just... ''does'' things.
*** ''Lau is on the pile of money when the Joker burns it.'' "I'm only burning my half."
** "Let's not ''blow''... this out of proportion". Primarily due to Heath Ledger's astounding feat of somehow making such an IncrediblyLamePun sound ''genuinely threatening''.
** After Batman doesn't hit him with the Batpod, very quickly, he says "fuck." Blink and you'd miss it.
** The Joker goes in nurse drag to [[spoiler:push Harvey Dent off the edge before blowing the hospital to smithereens as he walks out. [[WheresTheKaboom And when only half the bombs go off]], he furiously smacks the detonator until the other half finally goes and ''obliterates'' the rest of the hospital]].
*** If the audience isn't laughing every single second the Joker's on screen/page, no matter what the adaption or medium, then they're doing it so very, very wrong. That's the creepy thing about him... he makes you laugh, no matter what he does. The Joker could be massacring baby orphans, and it should still be funny.
*** The really hilarious part was how the scene ''totally'' subverted the UnflinchingWalk; the Joker ''starts'' by walking away with all the explosions going off, but then stops, angrily fiddles with his detonator, and then, when the ''rest'' of the bombs blow, he jerks in surprise and then runs away quickly. This was partly an ad lib by Heath Ledger--the pause in the bombs was scheduled, but the scripted scene was for Joker to hop into the bus during the pause and drive off.
** The Joker is blasting away at the armored car carrying Harvey Dent with increasingly larger guns. After the Joker rakes the side of the truck with a machine pistol, Dent asks the SWAT officer riding in the back with him if the truck is designed to take bullet hits like that. The officer remarks that [[TemptingFate he'll need something a lot bigger than that]]. On cue, the Joker pulls out a ''rocket launcher''.
** A really subtle but ''totally awesome'' Moment of Awesome? Obstructing the freeway with a ''burning fire truck.'' Irony, thy name is Joker.
*** The best part is the [[IncrediblyLamePun awful pun]] that actually works. A... [[DontExplainTheJoke fire truck. That is on fire]]. Brilliant.
** Similarly, the [[spoiler:"I Believe In Harvey Dent" campaign badge]] on his nurse's uniform.
** Following Batman slamming his head into a table by lecturing him that it will only lessen any other pain he tries to inflict. Batman immediately gives a bone-crushing punch to the Joker's hand on the table, only for him to not even flinch and say "See?"
*** Made all the more impressive when you consider that Heath Ledger told Christian Bale to ''actually beat him up''.
** When Gambol asks him if he thought he could just take their money, and he just says "yeah". So casually awesome.
** One moment that really does, without question, convince any viewer that the Joker is truly insane? He gives Harvey his pistol, has him point it at his head, and lets Harvey flip his coin to choose whether he lives or dies. In other words, the Joker is ''perfectly willing to die to prove his point and ruin Harvey.'' And he ''laughs'' while doing this.
*** But if Harvey had killed him, it would have accomplished his goal either way: to ruin Gotham's White Knight.
*** Which just goes to prove that the Joker's claim to not have a plan might not have been so true after all...
** When he tries to trick Stephens in the interrogation room into trying to beat the shit out of him so he can escape, and the cop basically says he's not going to fall for his bullshit... and then he pisses the cop off enough to convince him to try and beat the shit out of him anyway.
*** Which, of course, is ''exactly'' what he was [[strike: hoping]] [[strike: expecting]] [[TheChessmaster ''patiently'']] [[ManipulativeBastard waiting]] [[BatmanGambit for]]...
** In a movie full of epic mind-blowing Moments of Awesome one must appreciate the subtlety of the sign on The Joker's 18-wheeler. Only a truly disturbed mind would realize what a massive change a [[PutTheLaughterInSlaughter single spray-painted 'S' makes when attached to the phrase 'Laughter is the best medicine.']]
* [[TheLongList "Seven hundred and twelve counts of extortion, eight hundred and forty-nine counts of racketeering, two hundred and forty-six counts of fraud, eighty-seven counts of conspiracy to murder, five hundred and twenty-seven counts of obstruction of justice. How do the defendants plead?"]] A combined Moment of Awesome for the judge, Harvey, ''and'' the Gotham PD. But the stenographer's confusion as all of these rounded-up criminals' lawyers jostle for positions makes it also somewhat funny.
* Batman interrogating Maroni. Holding Maroni over a railing only a few stories up, Maroni laughs that dropping him from that height would not kill him. Batman's response? "I'm counting on that," and drops him.
* Batman's entrance in the Joker interrogation scene is a Moment of Awesome, just for being so very much a Batman-like thing to do.
* All of Michael Caine's Alfred badass moments appear to center around fire or heat, from the above-mentioned ones, to his "Some men just want to watch the world ''burn''" to "Tell her to apply her own bloody sun-tan lotion!" to "We burned the forest down."
* The entirety of the Hong Kong sequence, but especially how Batman gets Lau away from the authorities.
* [[spoiler:Two-Face]] has one when confronting one of Gordon's cops, Wuertz, [[spoiler:who is partially responsible for his...disfigurement]].
--->'''Weurtz''': Dent...Jesus, I-I thought you was dead!\\
[[spoiler:'''Two-Face''']]: "''[[spoiler:Half]].''"
** He has a VERY frightening look as he says it, and just to hit the point home he drinks some liquor and some of it [[spoiler:leaks from his scarred face]]. Talk about evoking the power of [[spoiler:Two-Face]] in a single word.
** [[spoiler:Two-Face]] gets another one when confronting Maroni:
--->[[spoiler:'''Two-Face''']]: [[[spoiler:Flips his coin. It lands good side heads up]]] You're a lucky man. [[[spoiler:Flips his coin again. This time it lands bad side heads up]]] But he's not.\\
'''Maroni''': Who?\\
[[spoiler:'''Two-Face''']]: [[[spoiler:fastens seatbelt]]] "''[[spoiler:Your driver]].''" Bang.
* Lucius Fox. "Let me get this straight. [[spoiler:You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands... and your... "plan"... is to ''blackmail'' this person?... Good luck.]]" Absolutely owned, just like that.
** Just look at Morgan Freeman's face before he delivers the line, while the sleaze ball's making his demands. You can see Lucius preparing to verbally bitch slap him a full half minute before he even speaks. Awesome.
** [[http://s1.postimage.org/d5o9i5yp9/who_do_you_think_he_is.png What, is he dense? Is he retarded or something?]]
* Lucius Fox's [[spoiler:massive sonar grid used to track the Joker.]]
** It's [[spoiler: echolocation. He is [=BATman=] after all.]]
** [[spoiler: Probably even better is when Lucius calls him out on weaponizing his invention. Batman tells him that after this is over, if Fox wants to walk away, he can, and to just put the code in. Him blowing the thing up was something Fox had ''no idea he'd do'' and that smile as he walks away, seeing Bruce was willing to waste millions, and give it all up when he needed to, was perfect.]]
* The fact that both ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' and ''Film/BatmanForever'' had moments where Batman's eyes become white (like they are in the cartoons and comics) is really, really awesome.
* Batman, when [[spoiler:he is being pinned down by the knife-wielding Joker on the top of an unfinished skyscraper. When the Joker asks if he knows how he (the Joker) got his scars (a running theme through the movie), Batman calmly replies, "No. But I know how you got these." before shooting the blades in his gauntlet into the Joker, knocking him off the building]].
** And before that, Batman manages to take on both [[spoiler: the Joker's disguised goons ''and'' the Gotham PD SWAT team ''at the same time'' and defeat ''both'' of them.]]
** Earlier in the movie at the dinner party when Joker threatening Rachel.
--> '''The Joker:''' You got a little fight in you. I like that.
--> '''Batman:''' Then you're gonna love me! (PUNCH)
* The Joker's last appearance when [[spoiler:he is falling to his apparent death, and is ''laughing hysterically all the way down'', believing that Batman killing him has proven him right about how he would need to break his one rule meaning that the Joker wins. When Batman then saves him, he then ''laughs all the harder'' overjoyed at having a foe who is truly incorruptible, who he can fight forever. He then mocks Batman with how he was able to corrupt Harvey Dent, the "true soul of Gotham"]]. [[MagnificentBastard Really shows that the Joker is a no-win situation kind of guy.]]
* Rachel kneeing ''[[ComicBook/TheJoker the freaking Joker]] [[GroinAttack in the balls]]''.
** It gets even better. Joker is harassing some rich guy who's obviously pissing his pants, and she yells, "STOP!" He gets right up in her face, and she doesn't look even remotely afraid. He starts in on Joker Origin Story #57, and THEN she knees him.
* Batman turning himself into a wanted fugitive who the Gotham PD will be forced to catch, all to completely defy the Joker and defend [[spoiler: Harvey]]'s memory. And it's accompanied by a montage and a speech which will forever be among the most awesome scenes in the Nolanverse:
--> Sometimes... the truth isn't good enough. Sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes... people deserve to have their faith rewarded.
* Bruce Wayne (not Batman, ''Bruce Wayne'') casually taking out one of Joker's mooks on his way to his hideout by taking his shotgun, knocking the guy out, then disassembling the gun and lackadaisically discarding it, ''all without breaking stride.''
** Another point where Bruce Wayne gets a rare moment of badassery as ''Bruce Wayne'' is when he offers to throw a fund raiser for Harvey Dent's upcoming reelection campaign and when Dent tries to downplay it Bruce quietly explains "No you don't understand. One fund raiser with my pals, and you'll never need another cent." In that moment he might not be a martial arts master, flawless detective, loaded to the gills with a bunch of exotic weapons... but proves that a multi-billionaire can be a pretty strong force for good as well.
* The final scene where, as Batman rides away running from the police, Gordon beautifully explains to his son AND the audience why Batman is such a great hero. It emphasizes how badass the character is but also how selfless he is. It's a perfect way to end one of the greatest comic adaptations of all time.
--> He's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now, so we'll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector [[TitleDrop A Dark Knight.]]
* The performance by HeathLedger has been mentioned but it extends beyond that. Let's be honest, NOBODY thought this would work. Nobody expected Ledger to deliver anything even half as good as what we got. The casting choice raised so many eyebrows due to just how strange and [[PlayingAgainstType unusual]] it was. Heck! Ledger himself admitted that, if it was him, he'd not had casted himself either! Then Ledger shocked everyone by giving not only the best performance in the series, but arguably the greatest performance in the history of comic book movies. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis He. Is.]] ComicBook/TheJoker.
** And you know the MOST awesome thing about it? One of the reasons nobody thought this would work was because this was such a ''radical reinterpretation'' of the Joker. The Joker is one of the most iconic villains in comic book history and while there have been several different takes on him ([[{{Series/Batman}} Cesar Romero's]], Creator/JackNicholson's, Creator/MarkHamill's) this one strayed the furthest from the original concept- his skin wasn't stained by chemicals, he wasn't wacky and gimmicky, he was more of a terrorist than a criminal, he didn't like being called insane. And yet, Heath Ledger's all-new version of the Joker ''instantly'' became arguably the MOST iconic, recognisable and awesome of all. It redefined ComicBook/TheJoker. It was just that good.
* Senator Patrick Leahy's cameo is awesome in several ways. First, it's the third time the Senator (who is a huge Batman fan) has cameoed in a Batman production (previously in [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries the animated series]] and ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'') and secondly, his cameo in this film has his character standing up to The Joker and living to tell the tale. Pretty badass for a bit part.
* Stephens gets one when the Joker is holding him hostage and threatening to kill him. Aware that he's given Joker some leverage, he bellows at the other cops to shoot him and the Joker anyway.
* The scene where the Joker introduces himself to the mob. [[SmugSnake Lau]] is confident that his funds are protected from the police, and it seems like they're one step ahead of the police. However, Joker just shuts everyone up, saying that even if the police have no jurisdiction in Hong Kong, Batman doesn't care, since he operates outside the law. In a way, it serves as an awesome moment for both Batman and Joker.
* When The Joker holds Detective Gerard Stephens hostage, Stephens is badass enough to tell the police to shoot The Joker, because it was his fault that he gave in.

[[AC: The Dark Knight Rises]]

* [[GeniusBruiser Bane's]] introduction in the Prologue. It must be seen to be believed.
** Hell, there's another for both Nolan and Creator/TomHardy for taking a character previously portrayed as a mindless, {{Pokemon Speak}}ing [[Film/BatmanAndRobin brute]] and turn him into someone even more terrifying than the Joker.
--->'''CIA Agent''': Congratulations, you got yourself caught. Now what's the next step of your masterplan?
--->'''Bane''': [[spoiler: Crashing this plane.]]
** The production crew gets one for that aforementioned plane crash: ''they destroyed an actual plane'' to get the shot they wanted and didn't use any CGI to help.
* Selina's backup plan for when her transaction meeting goes bad - she's seduced the congressman, and brought him along to the meeting. He provides her an excuse to make a prearranged phone call that leads to a SWAT team being summoned, with Selina using the cops' focus on the henchmen to make her escape.
* [[spoiler:''The Bat'']]. That is all.
--->'''Selina Kyle:''' My mother warned me about getting into cars with strange men.
--->'''Batman''': [[spoiler: This isn't a car.]]
--->[[spoiler: Batwing jets off.]]
** The first time it shows up in the movie. Batman drives his bike into a darkened alley. The police surround it, thinking they're triumphant:
-->'''Deputy Commissioner Peter Foley:''' Like a rat in a trap, gentlemen! ''[Takes out a bullhorn and tests it, getting feedback]''
-->''[Cue the Bat's rotors starting up and lights coming on]''
-->'''Kelly:''' You might have the wrong animal there, sir!
-->''[Without any effort, the Bat swoops up and over the officers, and flies off into the night]''
-->'''Officer John Blake:''' [[DeadpanSnarker Are you sure it was him?]] ''[Foley, angered, shoves his megaphone into Blake's hand]''
* Selina steals a car. Not just any car. ''Batman's car''.
-->'''Bruce Wayne:''' Must have lost my ticket...
-->'''Valet''': Your wife said you were taking a cab home.
-->''[Beat]''
-->'''Bruce Wayne''': My ''wife''?
-->''[Cuts to Selina Kyle driving away in Bruce's car]''
* Selina pulls a StealthHiBye. On '''Batman'''.
-->'''Batman:''' So that's what it feels like.
* Batman and Selina taking out Bane's minions in the tunnel with pretty much no effort, especially this exchange.
-->'''Selina Kyle:''' *saunters into {{Mook}}'s path* He's behind you.
-->'''{{Mook}}:''' Who?
-->'''Batman:''' ME.
-->''Batman takes the man down in a punch, keeps moving''
** Which doubles as a ridiculously awesome CallBack to the first film and the machine-gun-totin' guy he takes care of in the exact same fashion.
* [[CurbStompBattle Bane's first fight against Batman.]] Absolutely every punch or tactic that Batman throws against, Bane shrugs off and keeps his cool demeanor, further breaking Batman's spirit. [[spoiler:And it ends with Bane breaking Batman's back like from]] ''[[spoiler:ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}]]''. It's done so quickly, it's almost a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment.
** Bane showing off an awesome PunchCatch and evil eyes.
*** The best part about this was him kicking Batman in the chest afterwards.
** The beginning of the fight. Batman arrives in Bane's lair, a door shuts him in, and Bane introduces himself with the following line:
-->"Let's not stand on ceremony here, [[OhCrap Mister Wayne."]]
** Later in the fight, after Batman realizes he is ''no match'' for Bane in a straight up fight, he throws some explosives, which go off in the air around Bane. Bane [[NoSell doesn't even flinch.]]
-->'''Bane:''' Theatricality and deception are powerful weapons against the uninitiated. But we ''are'' initiated, aren't we Bruce?
** Then, as the fight ''really'' turns against Batman, he kills the lights, only to find that Bane doesn't mind.
-->'''Bane:''' The shadows betray you, because they belong to ME!
** The [[spoiler:back breaker]] itself is the cherry on top of it all, with Bane using it to quickly do away with Batman and showing witnesses his shattered cowl. To show that even still, after eight years, Gotham's sole glimmer of hope is ''dead,'' soon to be replaced by an all-consuming fire and ash.
-->'''Bane:''' Ah, yes! I was wondering what would break first!
-->''(Batman yells and swings a fist at Bane, only for Bane to beat him down)''
-->'''Bane''': Your spirit... ''(hoists Batman up above his head)'' ''Or your body!''
-->''(Bane proceeds to lower his arms, [[spoiler: breaking the Bat]])''
* In the prison, after their [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown first fight]], Bane delivers this line to Bruce in quite possibly his best moment:
--> [[BadassBoast "When it is done, and Gotham is ashes.... then you have my permission to die."]]
* It really says something about Gordon's reputation that even though he was lying weak in the hospital, Bane still sent ''two'' guys with submachine guns to take him out. [[spoiler: Of course, it says even more about him that they both failed.]]
** Don't forget about how Gordon escaped being captured by Bane to begin with.
* [[spoiler:Scarecrow as the HangingJudge of Bane's KangarooCourt.]] TookALevelInBadass indeed.
* After two failed attempts, Bruce [[spoiler: finally climbing out of Bane's prison (and doing it without a rope or any safety device to fall back on), to the sound of the inmates cheering below.]]
** Just before he [[spoiler:makes the jump, a swarm of bats fly out of a crack in the wall behind him, toughening his will even further.]]
* This exchange, which just perfectly sums up Batman's character in four words.
--> '''Catwoman''': You don't owe these people anymore. You've given them ''everything''.
--> '''Batman''': [[MessianicArchetype Not everything. Not yet.]]
* [[spoiler: The GCPD and Bane's mercenaries charging at each other]] is worth noting. Particularly as Foley, who had previously been laying low like a CowardlyLion, is leading the charge himself.
** Even better - Gordon had previously told Foley, "Look, Peter, I'm not looking for you to march down Grand in your dress blues, but something has to be done." When he leads the charge, he is doing exactly that. The brief shot of Foley firing a G36 at Talia's Batpod is arguably one of the coolest in the whole franchise.
* Bane going completely berserk in the climax. LightningBruiser indeed.
* The second fight between [[spoiler:Batman and Bane]], but especially:
-->'''Batman''': [[spoiler:You'd never give it to an ordinary citizen! Tell me where it is! ''Where is it?'' When you tell me where the trigger is, ''[[IronicEcho then]]'' [[IronicEcho you have my permission to die]]!]]
** How about before then when Bane realizes in disbelief that not only did Bruce heal from his injury and escape his prison. But he's more determined then ever to save Gotham. He may have broken his back but he certainly never broke his spirit.
** Even better: [[spoiler: Batman's doing better than he did the first time he fought Bane, but Bane still has a slight edge because due to his mask he simply isn't feeling the pain. Batman damages Bane's mask, distracting Bane, allowing him to get some hits in - hits that Bane feels for one. You can actually see the desperation start to kick in as Bane's attacks lose finesse and he becomes more savage in his retaliation that, up to this point, wasn't seen before. But Batman just keeps pounding away, forcing him into the courthouse. One of Bane's mooks tries to intervene, and Batman - without breaking stride - disarms and knocks out the mook before continuing to kick Bane's butt.]]
* TheReveal of [[spoiler:[[TheManBehindTheMan The Woman Behind The Man]].]] It's like a reverse TheNameIsBondJamesBond.
--> [[spoiler: '''Miranda''': [[MyNameIsInigoMontoya My name is Talia, Talia 'Al-Ghul]]]].
* [[spoiler: Batman may be a firm believer in ThouShaltNotKill, but unfortunately for Bane, Catwoman has no such rule, as she demonstrates by hitting him with the Batpod's [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill cannons]], [[BigDamnHeroes saving Batman's life.]] She follows it up with a BondOneLiner.]]
--> '''Selina:''' "About the whole [[spoiler:"no guns" thing]]... I'm not sure I feel as strongly about it as you do."
* Right after [[spoiler: Talia]] presses the button that [[spoiler: will blow up all of Gotham, she]] smiles evilly for a moment and then... [[spoiler: nothing. Cut back to Gordon in the truck who has successfully stalled the bomb.]]
** [[spoiler: The fact that she was so confident in outsmarting the heroes in keeping the bomb from being disarmed as she died. Too bad she never thought of Batman sacrificing himself...or coming out alive in the whole ordeal as well as depriving her of her revenge post mortem.]]
* The very last shot of the saga, showing [[spoiler: Robin entering the Batcave and going up the platform, as it fades to black.]]
* While not to the same extent as HeathLedger with ComicBook/TheJoker, despite facing criticism even before the movie came out and her ability to pull off the character, Creator/AnneHathaway gave a stellar performance giving one of the most dead on portrayals of ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} ever put on the screen.
* Bane's co-creator, Chuck Dixon, actually came out and said that he couldn't imagine a more perfect and dead-on portrayal of Bane in an adaptation than Tom Hardy did.
* John Blake [[spoiler: figuring out who Batman/Bruce really is.]] As well as [[spoiler: having steel nerves by walking into open fire, from a machine gun no less, to save some citizens.]]
* Batman lighting up a giant bat-signal with fire on the Brooklyn Bridge in the middle of the night to show that he has returned. Even Bane is shocked by this.
-->'''Bane:''' ''[[ThisCannotBe Impossible!]]''
* The scene in which Bruce [[ArcWords rises]] from Bane's prison. Not only the sheer determination that led him to be ''able'' to do so, but the ingenious parallel to the scene in the first movie where kid!Bruce falls down a similar-looking tunnel.
-->'''Thomas Wayne''': Why do we fall? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.
* What about when, after finally being arrested, Selina's marched into Blackgate, with John worrying about [[PrisonRape the implication of putting an attractive woman in a prison filled with only savage and brutal men]], especially as the men all yell sexually harassing comments towards her, with one trying to each out to grope her. Selina's response?
--> '''Selina:''' You want to hold my hand? (Grabs the attempted groper's hand, then does a cartwheel, ''breaking his arms'')
--> '''Guard''': She's gonna be fine.
** It's safe to say that after that, Blackgate's prison population knew to think twice before trying to fuck with her.
* The Stock Exchange heist is one entire CMOA for Bane and his henchmen. Watching Bane turn a motorcycle helmet into a deadly weapon as he overpowers four security guards in seven seconds. Then there's the entire chase sequence following the heist.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/batman_begins_awesome.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"What are you?" "I'm Batman."'']]

--->[[spoiler:'''Two-Face''']]: [[[spoiler:Flips his coin. It lands good side heads up]]] You're a lucky man. [[[spoiler:Flips his coin again. This time it lands bad side heads up]]] But he isn't.\\

** The back breaker itself is the cherry on top of it all, with Bane using it to quickly do away with Batman and showing witnesses his shattered cowl. To show that even still, after eight years, Gotham's sole glimmer of hope is ''dead,'' soon to be replaced by an all-consuming fire and ash.

-->''(Bane proceeds to lower his arms, breaking the Bat)''

*** And when Joker prepares for the ferries to explode right on his cue, [[spoiler:he quickly sees that they don't. The disappointed look on his face is just ''immensely'' satisfying, seeing that his plan was just one massive EpicFail.]]

* Rachel kneeing ''[[SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker the freaking Joker]] [[GroinAttack in the balls]]''.

* The performance by HeathLedger has been mentioned but it extends beyond that. Let's be honest, NOBODY thought this would work. Nobody expected Ledger to deliver anything even half as good as what we got. The casting choice raised so many eyebrows due to just how strange and [[PlayingAgainstType unusual]] it was. Heck! Ledger himself admitted that, if it was him, he'd not had casted himself either! Then Ledger shocked everyone by giving not only the best performance in the series, but arguably the greatest performance in the history of comic book movies. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis He. Is.]] SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker.
** And you know the MOST awesome thing about it? One of the reasons nobody thought this would work was because this was such a ''radical reinterpretation'' of the Joker. The Joker is one of the most iconic villains in comic book history and while there have been several different takes on him ([[{{Series/Batman}} Cesar Romero's]], Creator/JackNicholson's, Creator/MarkHamill's) this one strayed the furthest from the original concept- his skin wasn't stained by chemicals, he wasn't wacky and gimmicky, he was more of a terrorist than a criminal, he didn't like being called insane. And yet, Heath Ledger's all-new version of the Joker ''instantly'' became arguably the MOST iconic, recognisable and awesome of all. It redefined SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker. It was just that good.

* While not to the same extent as HeathLedger with SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker, despite facing criticism even before the movie came out and her ability to pull off the character, Creator/AnneHathaway gave a stellar performance giving one of the most dead on portrayals of ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} ever put on the screen.

* The existence of this series as a whole is an awesome moment for superhero movies, bringing an Academy Award into the genre for Heath Ledger's [[IncrediblyLamePun insane]] performance as SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker.