Dark Knight Trilogy

32. International Finance Center

Chicago, IL

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"Batman has no jurisdiction, he'll find him and make him squeal," Joker refers to accountant Mr. Lau in The Dark Knight. Being the first film to involve Batman working outside of Gotham, filmmakers chose a memorable location. Hong Kong's International Finance Center is composed of two office buildings, hotels, and retail. An easily accessible attraction for locals and tourists to visit, the IFC buildings are located above the airport express Hong Kong station. Luxury shopping can be found in the two story shopping mall that contains over two hundred international brands, and if that's not enough there are enclosed walk ways that lead to nearby shopping malls. Located on the waterfront of Hong Kong's Central District, IFC building two boasts 88 stories and double deck elevators as the second tallest building in the city. Despite it's height, the building is considered one of the safest in the world and evacuation can be accomplished within thirty minutes. Fortunately for Batman he only needed seconds to swoop from tower two into tower one and whisk the crook Lau flying into the night back to Gotham. Complications with the city's security, complaints from locals of the helicopter noise, and negative feedback from environmentalists who disagreed with being asked to keep their lights on all night for cinematic effects caused Director Nolan to digitally create Batman's daring leap. Though the sky hook technique of hitching a drag chute to a passing plane was also digital, the C-130 Cargo plane flying over the city was real.