You can't throw yourself after someone and expect to catch up with them...oh wait, you can in these movies! Schumacher and Nolan, peas in a pod, those two.
*chuckles*
Nah, just kidding. But there are a number of interesting decisions that mirror the Schumacher movies on re-watch.
True, Harvey dies the exact same way, about to shoot someone and thrown to his death in the middle of a coin toss. Of course it was much better executed in BF, but still, at its core, it's the same scene. Not to mention just minutes before we also saw the Joker getting the best of Batman by a ledge, only for Batman to get the upper hand resulting in the Joker falling from a great height. That also felt familiar, among other scenes...
shareI can accept it a bit inasmuch as Batman was falling more aerodynamically. But then he catches her, they crash into the top of the car, and aren't even a little bit stunned.
On top of that, Batman doesn't even bother to go back up to his Penthouse to see if Joker is still there. And, wouldn't you think that Bruce would have his place wired so that he could tell where they went and/or subdue them?
In all fairness, we don't know what happened after.
But if there was a Q&A session and Nolan was asked something regarding this, I'm sure he wouldn't have anything definitive.
** Rest in peace, Timothy Volkert (1988 - 2003) **share
All we know is that Joker and his goons were terrorizing Bruce's guests before Batman showed up. Then, after Batman and Rachel crash into the car, it goes to the scene the next day.
Alfred was up there still, and we know he has communications with Batman. In addition, you'd like to think that Bruce would have the penthouse wired so that he can see what is going on and can lock out the elevators and such.
You can't throw yourself after someone and expect to catch up with them
The skydivers know how to slow or speed up their descent. The first one can greatly reduce his/her speed by flattening themselves out so they catch more air. The second one points himself like an arrow to reduce drag and go faster.
Both Rachel and Batman were sliding down the building. And, while Batman went out with more force than Rachel did, she went out a second or two quicker than him and, more than likely, has less friction because of the fabric of her dress. The Batsuit would cause more drag, thus negating the speed which he gained by jumping out of the window.
Had he spent more time in the air, it would have been more realistic.
But, then crash onto the car below and Rachel isn't even stunned....