Every year for the past 14 years I have watched “The Dark Knight” on July 18th.
My best friend when I was a kid had the initials B.A.T. and he loved Batman; he was in an accident and died when we were young. When the second movie of the Dark Knight trilogy came out (on his birthday no less), I knew I had to see it opening day – something I had never done before – and watching it on this day has become a tradition.
It is, by far, my favorite of the Christopher Nolan Batman movies. It has so many great lines, not to mention the stunning cinematography and excellent acting.
As is tradition I will be watching it tonight, but I thought it might be fun to share some of my favorite quotes from this film:
My 12 Favorite The Dark Knight Movie Quotes
Harvey Dent: You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
Batman: [as Joker is holding Rachel out a window] Let her go!
The Joker: Very poor choice of words…
Harvey Dent: The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.
The Joker: A little fight in you. I like that.
Batman: Then you’re gonna love me.
James Gordon Jr.: Why’s he running, Dad?
Lt. James Gordon: Because we have to chase him.
James Gordon Jr.: He didn’t do anything wrong.
Lt. James Gordon: Because 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. A dark knight.
Salvatore Maroni: [to Batman who is interrogating him about The Joker] No one’s gonna tell you nothin’. They’re wise to your act. You got rules. The Joker, he’s got no rules. No one’s gonna cross him to you. You want this guy, you got one way. But you already know what that is. Just take off that mask and let him come find you.
Mayor: We must remember that vigilance is the price of safety.
Joker: [to Harvey Dent] The mob has plans. The cops have plans. Gordon’s got plans. Y’know they’re schemers. Schemers trying to control their little worlds. I try to show the schemers how pathetic their attempts to control things really are. So when I say that you and your girlfriend was nothing personal, you know I’m telling the truth. It’s the schemers that put you where you are. You were a schemer, you had plans, and, uh, look where that got you.
Batman: Sometimes the truth isn’t good enough, sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded…
Two-Face: Then why was it me who was the only one who lost everything?
Batman: It wasn’t.
Two-Face: The Joker chose ME!
Batman: Because you were the best of us! He wanted to prove that even someone as good as you could fall.
Two-Face: You thought we could be decent men in an indecent time. But you were wrong. The world is cruel, and the only morality in a cruel world is chance. Unbiased, unprejudiced… fair.
Bruce Wayne: People are dying, Alfred. What would you have me do?
Alfred Pennyworth: Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. They’ll hate you for it, but that’s the point of Batman, he can be the outcast. He can make the choice that no one else can make, the right choice.
Bruce Wayne: Criminals aren’t complicated, Alfred. Just have to figure out what he’s after.
Alfred Pennyworth: With respect Master Wayne, perhaps this is a man that *you* don’t fully understand, either. A long time ago, I was in Burma. My friends and I were working for the local government. They were trying to buy the loyalty of tribal leaders by bribing them with precious stones. But their caravans were being raided in a forest north of Rangoon by a bandit. So, we went looking for the stones. But in six months, we never met anybody who traded with him. One day, I saw a child playing with a ruby the size of a tangerine. The bandit had been throwing them away.
Bruce Wayne: So why steal them?
Alfred Pennyworth: Well, because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.
Do you have a favorite Batman movie, or Batman movie line? If you do, let me know what it is the comments below.