The Dark Knight trilogy, directed by Christopher Nolan, is my favourite comic book based franchise of all time. The music by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard (as well as Junkie XL and a few others) lifts an already incredible set of films to new heights and as I enjoy listening to the albums on Spotify. Batman Begins provided a great start to this iteration of Batman's theme, with some poignant emotional tracks as well. The Dark Knight is probably my favourite in terms of the movie overall but also its soundtrack. The Dark Knight Rises has intense action-based scores, as well as an impactful theme for the villain and Catwoman. Keep reading for a few thoughts on my favourite pieces from the soundtrack of each film...
Batman Begins
For the soundtrack of Batman Begins, Zimmer and Howard named each track after a species of bat, hence the unusual names.
Vespertilio (which sounds like it was named after a Bond girl) is the first on the playlist, and features the main motif that carries on throughout the trilogy. It is mainly used before action sequences and usually means that some awesome stuff is about to go down in a minute. Featuring blaring horns and soft strings, the score builds tension and has a truly epic feel to it
Eptesicus is my personal favourite score from this film, but also one of my favourites from the entire trilogy. In the first half of the track, a soft piano melody plays during flashbacks to Bruce's late father. Nolan uses flashbacks masterfully, and the accompanying music here really accentuates the loss that Bruce feels due to the murder of his parents, providing a nice break from all the rage and aggression.
Another one of the subtler pieces, Barbastella is a beautiful and emotional score that shows that the death of his parents is an ever present burden on his mind. It then slowly transforms into the main Batman theme, as Bruce starts to become the masked vigilante, inspired by his parents and Rachel to combat crime. Antrozous is possibly the true Batman theme and it does not disappoint. One of the best superhero themes, listening to it always gives me goosebumps due to the sheer epic and awe-inspiring nature of the music, highlighting the terror that he inspires into his enemies.
Though I mentioned that Eptesicus was my favourite for this film, Molossus may just overtake it. Eptesicus is my favourite emotional score, perhaps one that represents Bruce Wayne as opposed to his alter ego, but Molossus is 100% epic Batman. With a powerful beat in the background and waves of horns over that, it is an immensely grand score that truly represents the pinnacle of superhero music. Zimmer and Howard build the score masterfully, until it peaks in the most empowering way possible.
End Credits- used to end each film in the trilogy- always gives me goosebumps as it boldly kicks in alongside the abrupt appearance of the title screen. Usually, I leave the credits on just to take in the masterpiece of a score that beautifully wraps up each film.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is widely regarded as the best film in the trilogy (though some would give that honour to Batman Begins) and similarly the soundtrack is just as impressive.
Why So Serious is a single building note that makes for an amazing theme for a diabolical villain. The use of the score gives each scene an unpredictable quality because we don't know when the elongated note will stop building, a technique utilized by Zimmer again in the Dunkirk and to some extent in Interstellar. Though Heath Ledger's performance is undoubtedly extraordinary, the score elevates his already stellar scenes to another level. Bank Robbery features in the introduction to the film, and has elements of Joker's theme serving as a hint that he is involved with the opening heist with the music 'unmasking' itself just as he does.
Though everyone talks about Joker in this film, the story is still very much about Batman. Like A Dog Chasing Cars builds upon the established Batman theme from the origin story. Starting off really boldly, and then progressing into rhythmic music, this track gives an incredible energy to an already amazing sequence in the film. It presents the caped crusader as a force to be reckoned with, despite the fact that he gets played by Joker for so much of the film.
And I Thought My Jokes Were Bad is similar to the score above, but it has more of a Joker flavour to it, highlighting the fact that the Joker is pulling all the strings in the situation.
Agent of Chaos is another great action score that blends Rachel and Joker's theme, yet somehow turns out to be a piece of music that represents Batman's internal struggle overall. The fast paced score accompanies a nail biting sequence as Bruce attempts to rescue Rachel, ending in a devastatingly subtle and melancholy way that reflects the consequences of his failure.
I feel like Harvey Dent is an underrated character, always overshadowed by Batman and Joker in this film. Aaron Eckhart does a magnificent job of portraying Dent's downfall throughout the story. Harvey Two-Face is his theme before his transformation into the villainous Two Face. The score gives the impression that he is an honourable man, making his ultimate turn even more distressing given Harvey's struggle to stay good despite being surrounded by a corrupt Gotham.
Moving onto the Two-Face side of Harvey's personality, Watch The World Burn is a really underrated, overlooked piece of music that is actually one of my favourites in the trilogy's soundtrack. Consisting mainly of strings, without the blaring horns present in the rest of the soundtrack, it is subtle enough to allow Eckhart and Oldman to shine in this wonderfully acted scene. The repeated few notes perfectly capture Harvey's descent into madness and the tense escalating situation. The different tone of the music compared to the rest of the film can perhaps be attributed to the fact that James Newton Howard composed this one.
Introduce A Little Anarchy is another intense score, including elements of Batman and Joker's themes clashing against each other just like the main hero and villain. A Watchful Guardian plays during Gary Oldman's incredible closing monologue which is one of the best endings to a film ever. This is another one my favourites from the album; neither happy nor sad, but really enhances the weight of Batman's sacrifice and makes for a truly euphoric piece of music.
If you want a track that encapsulated the feel of the entire soundtrack, the 16 minute long A Dark Knight does so perfectly.
The Dark Knight Rises
Gotham's Reckoning has a dark, ominous feel to it, and can be considered to be Bane's theme. In a similar fashion to the opening of The Dark Knight, here we see Bane's operation being brutally carried out, and the music captures the threat he poses to Gotham and by extension to Bruce. One of the best villain themes in a film. Elements of this is also heard in the brilliant The Fire Rises, played during key moments involving Bane.
On Thin Ice has a faint hint of Batman's theme, but it's hidden just as the character is. This is an emotional and dark score, that foreshadows Bruce's escape from the Lazarus Pit in part (compare it to Why Do We Fall), but mainly reflects the toll that the events of the previous film has had on Wayne and Jim Gordon.
Mind If I Cut In is Catwoman's theme, perfectly capturing her playful persona. The use of a tinkling piano tune sets her music apart from the blaring themes of some of the other characters, and highlights her strengths of espionage and intelligence rather than brute strength. As a fan of Anne Hathaway's take on the character, this is one of the most enjoyable pieces from the soundtrack.
My favourite moment in the movie comes when Bruce escapes the Lazarus Pit. The moment is foreshadowed when an inmate tells Bruce the story of a child who escaped, a story which also serves to build the villains of the film. Born In Darkness plays during this tale, and gives a haunting and powerful tone to the scene. Later on, Why Do We Fall is the score that plays during Bruce's escape- incorporating the emotion from a flashback to his father and the fearlessness that he displays as he refuses to give up, the music elevates this scene and makes for my favourite piece of music from The Dark Knight Rises. I particularly love the pause at the 1 min 30 seconds mark, as he jumps and the subsequent celebatory fanfare- it is a welcome hopeful moment in a dark story for our main character.
Rise starts off boldly with the main hero theme- because Batman is truly back, sacrificing himself (or so it seems) to save Gotham for the last time. The middle of the track is sombre as we reflect on the supposed sacrifice, but slowly we build up to the epic Dark Knight theme as it is revealed that Bruce is alive and Blake (AKA Robin) can carry on the legacy of the Batman. This theme never gets old- once again Nolan nails the ending shot of the film and the music, though the same as before, is still so euphoric every time.
Thank you for reading this post- it was hard to limit myself to these scores since the soundtrack is so incredible. If you have any thoughts I would love to hear them in the comment section or through Twitter (@filmdomblog) or Instagram (cinematicwallflower).
I do not own any of the images used in this post.