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Movies => Good Movies => Topic started by: Archivist on July 19, 2012, 12:33:43 AM



Title: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Archivist on July 19, 2012, 12:33:43 AM
Last night I did something that I've never done before.  I watched the midnight premiere screening of a movie, said movie being The Dark Knight Rises.  And to make the experience complete, I watched the screenings of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight as well, so I was in the cinema from 6pm to 3am!  

At first I had only booked to see the first two movies, as a friend had not seen the first two at all, but wanted to see the third, so seeing them in the cinema was the best way to do it.  But I originally thought that I would not be able to handle nearly 7 hours straight of movie, as much as I love Christopher Nolan.  But we were still feeling good at 11.40pm, so we ran back downstairs and bought some of the last tickets available for the midnight screening.

What an incredible experience!

NO SPOILERS whatsoever here.

This movie is fantastic in itself, but as a part of the Batman trilogy it is stunning.  It ties together so many elements from the first two movies, making references to events and characters either in passing or by appearance.  Watching all three together feels like going on a deep and enriching journey that has a beginning, a middle and an end.  

The pacing is tight, and although the movie is long, all the scenes seamlessly flow from one to the next, and time passes very quickly.  It did not feel like a 2.45hr movie at all.  The only indication that it was long was the feeling of my backside on the chair!  The action is as realistic as it can get for a superhero movie, and the gadgets are a hoot!  There is still humour in the movie, in the comments passed between Bruce and Alfred, Bruce and Lucius, and with Selina Kyle.

Bale's Bruce Wayne is vulnerable and yet strong.  He's matured even more as an actor and is very convincing in the different levels of character development he undergoes throughout the movie.

Anne Hathaway's character and portrayal surprised the heck out of me.  She's capable of very strong and convincing shifts in body language and personality, and as far as I have read, she did most of her own stunts and fight scenes.

Tom Hardy as Bane: I've only seen Bane in the Knightfall comic series, and was rather apprehensive about how he would be played.  It was different from what I thought but still very effective.  If you have seen the trailers you will know that his voice sounds a bit muffled by the mask - this was a criticism of early trailers and previews, and it has been refined for the final movie.  Nevertheless, I advise that you listen carefully when he speaks.  His physique is very impressive but not 'bodybuilder', more like a solid wrestler or fighter.  He's not chaotically crazy like Heath Ledger's Joker, he's very calculating and often slyly taunting in his demeanour.  He is fully confident in his ability to handle anything that comes his way, and his attitude towards his opponents is one of toying with them.

I love Gary Oldman as Gordon.  In Begins, it didn't even occur to me who was playing that role until I saw his name in the credits.  He immersed himself so deeply in that character that he was almost unrecognizable as Gary Oldman, it was simply Jim Gordon on the screen.

When Batman Begins first screened it was my favourite movie of the year, and I was in awe of Nolan's directorial style.  He was able to take a superhero comic character and not only deeply humanize him, but also tap into the 'journey of the hero' a la Joseph Campbell.

This was my eighth or ninth watching of Batman Begins all the way through, and last night I was still picking up on things I hadn't noticed before.  As I watched Liam Neeson, I noticed how fatherly he was, and it suddenly dawned on me that an underlying theme of Batman Begins was of fatherhood: the need for a father, the influence of a father, and the paths that one takes when guided by father figures.  

Bruce lost his own father but gained at two or three.  Alfred became his first surrogate father.  Ra's Al Ghul was the second, and Lucius Fox was fatherly or perhaps more avuncular.  The father figure theme was illustrated when young Bruce knelt over his dying father in the alley, and he looks up and whispers, 'Don't be afraid, Bruce'.  Towards the end of the movie, as Ra's and Batman fight in the train as it hurtles towards Wayne Tower, Ra's crouches over Batman and hisses, 'Don't be afraid, Bruce'.  Weirdly, I never even noticed that connection until last night.

In The Dark Knight, this fatherly influence is less apparent but still there in the form of Alfred.  And finally, in The Dark Knight Rises, there is a very poignant scene showing that Bruce has grown up and that Alfred has done his job.  The circle is complete, and the trilogy is complete.  Nolan's trilogy is dark and it is in many places very bleak.  "The Legend Ends" is the tagline of the trailer, and it truly does, although it leaves us with a few open questions and a delightful sense of hope.

Go see this in the cinema.  Reward the actors, director, producer and crew of this superbly rich story by buying tickets at the theatre.  I will most likely see this three times, at least once in IMAX.  Ha, you don't need me to encourage you, if you've read this far you want to see it anyway.  Go do it, and be rewarded yourself.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Criswell on July 19, 2012, 12:42:25 AM
I'm going to see the midnight showing Tomorrow night. Me in my stupidity actually thought it was tonight and I went there and the whole theater was empty. I went in and asked and they awkwardly told me it wasn't playing.

Pretty much the dumbest think I've ever done.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Archivist on July 19, 2012, 02:49:19 AM
"Hi!  One adult to see The Dark Knight Rises midnight session, please!"

"Ummm... For tomorrow night?"  :teddyr:

One time I nearly made a similar but much more costly mistake.  I was set to go on a two week trip to China with a group, but I mixed up the date of departure.  I only found out that we were supposed to leave the day AFTER I thought we were, when I happened to talk to someone else in the group.  Otherwise I would have arrived at the airport only to find no one there...


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: HappyGilmore on July 19, 2012, 01:54:34 PM
I'm going on Saturday to see it. I loved Begins and Dark Knight despite the apparently hatred thrown at them, especially from some here.

Nolan casts his movies well. I loved the idea of Ledger for Joker before the film was out. I loved the casting of Hardy and Hathaway for this. I hope they pay off.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Ash on July 19, 2012, 07:05:04 PM
I have absolutely no desire to see this movie.  I hated Dark Knight and thought Batman Begins was just ok. 
I can't stand Nolan as a director.  Only his early films were decent.  Now he makes movies that rely heavily on plot and have almost no character development.  I can't think of a single memorable character other than the Joker in any of his recent films.

I was so disappointed in the Dark Knight that I doubt I will even watch The Dark Knight Rises when it's released on dvd.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: bob on July 19, 2012, 11:07:29 PM
I got my ticket to see it tomorrow at 10:30 in the morning,  I'm very excited. :teddyr: :teddyr: :teddyr:

Not quite sure how early I should be there cuz of the line-- maybe an hour or 2?

I've never been to a movie the day it opens in a related note.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: akiratubo on July 20, 2012, 01:06:22 AM
I have absolutely no desire to see this movie.  I hated Dark Knight and thought Batman Begins was just ok. 
I can't stand Nolan as a director.  Only his early films were decent.  Now he makes movies that rely heavily on plot and have almost no character development.  I can't think of a single memorable character other than the Joker in any of his recent films.

I was so disappointed in the Dark Knight that I doubt I will even watch The Dark Knight Rises when it's released on dvd.

I'm in the same boat.  I won't be seeing TDKR unless my friends absolutely beg me to go with them.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Kaseykockroach on July 20, 2012, 01:13:45 AM
THE DARK KNIGHT was one of the vilest, most inane films I've ever seen in my life. I can't imagine a bigger waste of time and money than a *series* of "serious", depraved Batman movies.
As for Christopher Nolan, it's like he's screaming to be the next Stanley Kurbrick but failing at every turn.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Criswell on July 20, 2012, 02:46:07 AM
Blows TDK away. I don't think I'm saying that because I'm hyped all to hell right now. Great stuff.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: AndyC on July 20, 2012, 05:44:28 AM
I have absolutely no desire to see this movie.  I hated Dark Knight and thought Batman Begins was just ok. 
I can't stand Nolan as a director.  Only his early films were decent.  Now he makes movies that rely heavily on plot and have almost no character development.  I can't think of a single memorable character other than the Joker in any of his recent films.

I was so disappointed in the Dark Knight that I doubt I will even watch The Dark Knight Rises when it's released on dvd.

I'm in the same boat.  I won't be seeing TDKR unless my friends absolutely beg me to go with them.

Yep, pretty much the same here. Not that I hated the first two movies, but I didn't enjoy them that much. And none of the advance publicity for this one has suggested I'll like it any better. Don't really care for Nolan's take on the story.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: kakihara on July 20, 2012, 07:40:47 AM
for me - the first movie was ok, nothing really special. a little pretentious. hows my spelling? the second was good, only because of the joker.   i really think that this movie wouldnt be anything without  heaths character. unfortunatley he died and we didnt get to see what the joker could really do. and the joker is the only thing thats even interesting in this whole movie. i like nicholsons joker as well, apples and oranges. christain plays his part ok, there probably are other actors that could do better.  i think he could play a great terminator, he can do that no-personality thing pretty well, he was absolutley perfect in american psycho! i wont get get a chance to see the 3rd in the theatre. its being so hyped as the greatest movie ever right now it should return to the theatres over the next 2 years. see it again! avatar! rush limbaugh claims its a political attack movie and some a-hole just shot 14 people at a screening in colorado. with all this publicity its likely to be the biggest movie ever. 


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Jim H on July 20, 2012, 04:09:58 PM
It's very interesting how different people's taste on here is than mainstream critics.  The Dark Knight, for example, was almost universally praised by the critics, and audiences love the film, but a ton of people on here really dislike it. 

Personally, I think the Dark Knight is to date the best superhero film made, and a great film period.  Really like it a lot.  Batman Begins was decent. 

As far as the Dark Knight Rises?  I think I'd put it on par about with Batman Begins. 

Think I'm just going to throw out some preliminary thoughts.  I will add I had a headache and didn't feel great during the first bit of the movie.  May have made my feelings more negative.

But, I was a bit letdown by the movie, I'd say.  Bane was alright, well-played by Hardy and a pretty different take on the character.  I didn't like how his background/motivation got kind of undermined by the end of the film. 

Bruce Wayne/Batman was good, but Batman is BARELY IN IT.  Seriously.  He probably has 10-15 minutes of screen time, and his moments are not particularly great either.  The action scenes are still a bit uninspired - Nolan isn't a great action director, and nothing here is as solid as the big chase or opening robbery from The Dark Knight.  No one has the charisma like Ledger to carry the rest of the film with an absent Batman - it feels a little hollow because of this. 

But, I will say the development and characterization of Bruce Wayne is actually the best of the trilogy in this one.  The only way I think this film is better than the first two films, actually.

Also, I was very apprehensive of Anne Hathaway, but she's fine as Catwoman.  Not exceptional and actually easily could have been written out (and the film would have been better for it) but as written she did a good job.

I dunno..  I think it might go up a bit on a second viewing (Batman Begins did, marginally), but as of now it's around a 6/10.  There's a lot of issues I hae that I won't get into as they'd be major spoilers.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: HappyGilmore on July 20, 2012, 05:49:02 PM
I generally respect the opinions of everyone here. However, I disagree with everyone on The Dark Knight. I felt it was great. Ledger was great as Joker. Eckhart great as Dent.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: bob on July 20, 2012, 08:04:39 PM
Honestly, I wish I hadn't found out what happened in Colorado about 90 minutes before I left because it made me incredibly nervous before going to see it this morning. I was doing ok during the first bit of the movie, with the knowledge of what happened in the back of my mind....until I saw people who work at the theater come in every 5 minutes checking to see if the audience was ok and it really took a lot away from my experience and enjoyment of it.

But that said I really liked it, and I'm going to buy it when it comes out on bluray.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Chainsawmidget on July 20, 2012, 09:54:29 PM
Quote
Bruce Wayne/Batman was good, but Batman is BARELY IN IT.  Seriously.  He probably has 10-15 minutes of screen time, and his moments are not particularly great either. 
Hold up. Wait.  So, they made a nearly three hour Batman movie and barely even had any Batman in it? 

One of my biggest criticism of Dark Knight was that Batman seemed like he didn't fit into his own movie and that Nolan seemed to be trying his hardest to pretend it wasn't a comicbook based movie. 

If what you're saying is true, then it seems I was right.  Nolan didn't want to make a movie with Batman in it.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Criswell on July 20, 2012, 11:49:22 PM
  The action scenes are still a bit uninspired - Nolan isn't a great action director, and
Really? I thought it had the best action scenes of the whole series. That first fight between Batman and Bane was maybe my favorite fight in the series.

Surprised to see all the hate on here for Nolan Batman, More people here seem to of liked Avengers of all things.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: A_Dubya on July 21, 2012, 01:56:17 AM
Yeah, I agree with the sentiment that it was on par with Batman Begins. I think it was a good film, but definitely not as good as 2008's The Dark Knight or The Avengers. It felt like there was a lot of filler in the first half of it, and a lack of screen time for both Catwoman and Batman. I understand why Bruce Wayne was away for so long, but still at one point, I was thinking to myself, "Is this a Batman film or a CSI episode?" I really enjoyed the last 40-50 minutes, and the ending but by that point I saw a lot that I felt was boring. Just one man's view.  

3.9 out of 5 Cat ears.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: tracy on July 21, 2012, 12:22:13 PM
I have absolutely no desire to see this movie.  I hated Dark Knight and thought Batman Begins was just ok. 
I can't stand Nolan as a director.  Only his early films were decent.  Now he makes movies that rely heavily on plot and have almost no character development.  I can't think of a single memorable character other than the Joker in any of his recent films.

I was so disappointed in the Dark Knight that I doubt I will even watch The Dark Knight Rises when it's released on dvd.

My thoughts as well. I wish they'd let someone who had respect for Batman make the movies.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Jim H on July 21, 2012, 01:15:47 PM
Quote
Bruce Wayne/Batman was good, but Batman is BARELY IN IT.  Seriously.  He probably has 10-15 minutes of screen time, and his moments are not particularly great either. 
Hold up. Wait.  So, they made a nearly three hour Batman movie and barely even had any Batman in it? 

One of my biggest criticism of Dark Knight was that Batman seemed like he didn't fit into his own movie and that Nolan seemed to be trying his hardest to pretend it wasn't a comicbook based movie. 

If what you're saying is true, then it seems I was right.  Nolan didn't want to make a movie with Batman in it.

Thinking back, I was exaggerating a little.  He's in it fairly consistently in the final act, so he probably has 30 minutes of screen time.  But seriously, he's really not in it as much as you'd think he would be, for what is supposedly a Batman film.  As a percentage of the film, he is in it for less than The Dark Knight, and possibly in it for less than Batman Begins (harder to compare, since Batman doesn't exist for the first like hour of Batman Begins).


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: BoyScoutKevin on July 21, 2012, 04:38:47 PM
Thinking of the future, I can not but ask the question . . .

"Okay. DC Entertainment and Warner Brothers, you have a hit film on your hands, but what are you going to do next?"

a) Since Christian Bale has said he is not coming back, are we going to get another "Batman" film with a different actor?

b) or, a JLA film?

A JLA film idea is not totally a new idea, as there was a fairly successful animated JL TV series a number of years ago, nor have the major JLA characters not appeared before . . . but . . .

Superman (both film and TV)
Batman (both film and TV)
Wonder Woman (TV)
Aquaman (TV movie)
the Flash (TV series and video)
Green Lantern (film)
Martian Manhunter (various TV episodes)

it would offer a chance for those who have not seen the characters to see the characters and a chance to reboot the characters and a chance to spin off all or some of the characters into their own films.

"So, DC Entertainment and Warner Brothers what are you going to do next?"


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Jim H on July 21, 2012, 04:57:27 PM
They've been wanting to do a JLA film for a while, but I think we need at least three straight same universe films to pull it off, much like the Avengers. 

Maybe The Flash, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman?


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: HappyGilmore on July 21, 2012, 07:32:43 PM
I saw this today.

Absolutely loved it as the final film in a trilogy. Plenty of flashes to Begins and Dark Knight.

People complained about the lack of Batman, but the series is as much about Wayne as the costume.

In the future though, for all comic book movies, I wish they'd stop rebooting it with origin stories when a new actor signs on.

When a new, say, James Bond film comes out with a new actor, they don't 'restart' with showing him in spy academy do they? No. Just continue on.

Especially with 'bigger' characters. Even non-comics readers know Batmans origins, Spider Man, etc.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: dean on July 21, 2012, 09:57:38 PM

I quite enjoyed it and it tied many loose ends together.  A few of the plot points and some of the dialogue felt a bit 'by the numbers' in some ways, which is my only detraction of an otherwise satisfying conclusion to the Nolan trilogy.

***********KIND OF SPOILERS*****************


I'll have to pull apart my main criticisms after I see it a second time, but the one part that bugged me most was Alfred telling Bruce the story about the child who climbed from the Pit, only to have the same story retold to us later.  Literally the only purpose of Alfred saying these things was to throw people off the 'twist' regarding Bane's origins.  You could have kept the same retelling of the story whilst Bruce was in the Pit and still kept the same mystery: it just seemed like lazy storytelling [eg how the hell did Alfred find out about this stuff?  He just magically seemed to know everything]  Could've been trimmed a bit better...

The Robin element was a nice touch, but the way they did the reveal of his name at the end was also a bit stupid for my tastes...


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Criswell on July 22, 2012, 12:59:11 AM
I have absolutely no desire to see this movie.  I hated Dark Knight and thought Batman Begins was just ok. 
I can't stand Nolan as a director.  Only his early films were decent.  Now he makes movies that rely heavily on plot and have almost no character development.  I can't think of a single memorable character other than the Joker in any of his recent films.

I was so disappointed in the Dark Knight that I doubt I will even watch The Dark Knight Rises when it's released on dvd.

My thoughts as well. I wish they'd let someone who had respect for Batman make the movies.
Yeah someone like Joel Schumacher!


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Hammock Rider on July 23, 2012, 10:57:52 AM
I have absolutely no desire to see this movie.  I hated Dark Knight and thought Batman Begins was just ok. 
I can't stand Nolan as a director.  Only his early films were decent.  Now he makes movies that rely heavily on plot and have almost no character development.  I can't think of a single memorable character other than the Joker in any of his recent films.

I was so disappointed in the Dark Knight that I doubt I will even watch The Dark Knight Rises when it's released on dvd.

My thoughts as well. I wish they'd let someone who had respect for Batman make the movies.


  There you go.  :thumbup:


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: tracy on July 23, 2012, 03:13:11 PM
They've been wanting to do a JLA film for a while, but I think we need at least three straight same universe films to pull it off, much like the Avengers.  

Maybe The Flash, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman?


Yes! I've been wanting a decent Wonder Woman movie for years. She's an important part of the big DC trio: Superman,Batman and Wonder Woman. Her character deserves a well-done film. :wink:

(http://offthepanelcomicreview.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/trinity_01.jpg)


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Chainsawmidget on July 23, 2012, 10:00:13 PM
I have absolutely no desire to see this movie.  I hated Dark Knight and thought Batman Begins was just ok. 
I can't stand Nolan as a director.  Only his early films were decent.  Now he makes movies that rely heavily on plot and have almost no character development.  I can't think of a single memorable character other than the Joker in any of his recent films.

I was so disappointed in the Dark Knight that I doubt I will even watch The Dark Knight Rises when it's released on dvd.

My thoughts as well. I wish they'd let someone who had respect for Batman make the movies.
Yeah someone like Joel Schumacher!
For all the crap Joel gets, he at least realized he was making a Batman movie and didn't try to pretend it was something deeper and more profound. 


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Olivia Bauer on July 26, 2012, 06:03:01 PM
I loved the Nolan Batman movies. However without spoiling everything I'll only say that I went in with high expectations and it delivered up until the end. Near the end of the movie it started to p**s me off for reasons I'd have to make a list for. Right now I'm too tired to type it all up.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: HappyGilmore on July 26, 2012, 06:56:33 PM
They've been wanting to do a JLA film for a while, but I think we need at least three straight same universe films to pull it off, much like the Avengers.  

Maybe The Flash, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman?


Yes! I've been wanting a decent Wonder Woman movie for years. She's an important part of the big DC trio: Superman,Batman and Wonder Woman. Her character deserves a well-done film. :wink:

([url]http://offthepanelcomicreview.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/trinity_01.jpg[/url])

I gotta say, and I say this with no disrespect towards you specifically, but I generally dislike DC.  Notably, the only one of this trio here I like is Batman. 

Some reason Batman has 'registered' with me over the years.  Overall, the only thing I dug about Superman was "Smallville" and even that kinda was a huge departure for that character.

I generally am a "Marvel' guy.

But...Wonder Woman DOES deserve some sort of film or tv project.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Jim H on July 27, 2012, 04:35:00 AM
A lot of the characters in DC are hard to relate to.  They're all ridiculously perfect, at least classically, whereas Marvel has long had more flawed and therefore more relatable characters.  Batman is just the most "human" of the DC characters - he's clearly somewhat deranged himself, is physically a normal human, has a sad but simple backstory (compare it to Wonder Woman's or Superman's), etc.  His villains are also generally more interesting, particularly in their modern incarnations.  The animated Batman did wonders for a bunch of them, but even The Shark, who was created in 2005ish, is pretty cool.

I will say The Flash can be pretty good (also, his villains are often interesting, similar to Batman's - really liked the one shot story from Captain Cold's POV), and many of the B-lister DC characters are pretty cool - I quite like Jonah Hex, for example.  But yeah, I generally like Marvel's characters much more too.  I think this is a major reason their movies have much more success.  More likable characters.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Mofo Rising on July 27, 2012, 05:04:44 AM
I am going to say outright that I disagree with everybody who has stated their dislike of the Christopher Nolan Batman movies.

I think they are absolutely phenomenal, and they have restored my belief in the idea that big budget and artistically important films are not mutually exclusive.

I admit, I was lukewarm towards Batman Begins, but then I saw The Dark Knight. That movie was one of the greatest syntheses of popular cinema and artistic expressions I have ever seen. You might disagree with me, but I don't really care.

I also think it was the truest adaptation of Batman to cinema that has yet been made. I've read the actual comics for years, so don't try to attack me from that angle. You're wrong.

The Dark Knight Rises was crazy, but it struck me as the most true Nolan Batman movie to date. The first two movies were pretty much Batman beating up people on his own. Batman has always existed in a larger universe. It's hard to fit that all in the semi-realistic universe Nolan created, but this is probably as good as it can get.

Not to spoil anything, but the fan-service Nolan accomplishes in The Dark Knight Rises is incredible.

I loved it. The whole trilogy is incredible. Disagree if you want, you're wrong.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Chainsawmidget on July 27, 2012, 08:53:59 AM
Quote
I also think it was the truest adaptation of Batman to cinema that has yet been made. I've read the actual comics for years, so don't try to attack me from that angle. You're wrong.
The whole movie he was wanting to stop being Batman and the Joker went from chemically deformed clown prince of crime with a flair for the theatric to a guy with bad grease paint that blew tings up and threatened people with knives. 

So, I'm still going to say that you're wrong. 

*spoilers coming*

If the first movie, he spent the whole time going around saying "I don't know how to be Batman!  Fucious, Alfred, Ra's al Ghul, somebody tell me what to do!"

The second movie he went around going, "I still don't know what I'm doing and I don't WANT to be Batman anymore... and nobody ever told me that I'd have to fight crazy people!"

In the third movie "I haven't been Batman in eight years! ... and now I'm dead."

If you think that's the best adaption of Batman they've ever done, more power to you.  Personally, I kinda liked the older movies where Batman actually knew what he was doing without having to constantly get lectures and enjoyed doing it.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: dean on July 27, 2012, 09:03:26 AM
Its funny, because of the different variances Batman has had over the years, comics, tv and movies, people come at this from different angles.

The Nolan Batman is the closest to the comic, well current 'modern' version, of Batman that there has been.  Most of the comics I've read lately he's a tortured sort, it's dark and vengeful etc.  Kind of like how Casino Royale was the closest 'TRUE' James Bond when compared to the books, whereas the 'traditional' movies were all campy rubbish by comparison [don't get me wrong, I like them, but the books are very different in tone]

I'd be interested to see which 'Batman' people hold closest to their hearts when they either line up to love or hate Nolan's version.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Mofo Rising on July 27, 2012, 01:04:05 PM
If the first movie, he spent the whole time going around saying "I don't know how to be Batman!  Fucious, Alfred, Ra's al Ghul, somebody tell me what to do!"


Which would be consistent with a comic book origin story, i.e. Batman Begins.

The second movie he went around going, "I still don't know what I'm doing and I don't WANT to be Batman anymore... and nobody ever told me that I'd have to fight crazy people!"


Which was a direct rip-off of Batman: Year One, with the Joker being lifted straight from The Killing Joke.

In the third movie "I haven't been Batman in eight years! ... and now I'm dead."


I have no direct corollary there, so point.

Personally, I agree with Dean, in that there have been so many interpretations of Batman over the years that you're more than welcome to pick your favorite. The Nolan movies are the best adaptation of the current Batman, from Neal Adams on.

If you truly enjoy any of the previous five versions of filmed Batman (or those horrible serials), than I'm not going to argue with you. That's your prerogative. But the previous movies were basically updates of the campy Batman television show, not the comic.

That being said, the very best adaptation of the comic to date is Batman: The Animated Series, with Batman: Dead End being the best live-action film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j7d3lIAkes&feature=related


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: tracy on July 27, 2012, 01:47:37 PM
I am going to say outright that I disagree with everybody who has stated their dislike of the Christopher Nolan Batman movies.

I think they are absolutely phenomenal, and they have restored my belief in the idea that big budget and artistically important films are not mutually exclusive.

I admit, I was lukewarm towards Batman Begins, but then I saw The Dark Knight. That movie was one of the greatest syntheses of popular cinema and artistic expressions I have ever seen. You might disagree with me, but I don't really care.

I also think it was the truest adaptation of Batman to cinema that has yet been made. I've read the actual comics for years, so don't try to attack me from that angle. You're wrong.

The Dark Knight Rises was crazy, but it struck me as the most true Nolan Batman movie to date. The first two movies were pretty much Batman beating up people on his own. Batman has always existed in a larger universe. It's hard to fit that all in the semi-realistic universe Nolan created, but this is probably as good as it can get.

Not to spoil anything, but the fan-service Nolan accomplishes in The Dark Knight Rises is incredible.

I loved it. The whole trilogy is incredible. Disagree if you want, you're wrong.

Well,I do disagree with you but that's the way it goes and everyone can have an opinion here. No getting bent outta shape or heated discussions.  :smile:


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Jim H on July 31, 2012, 01:59:50 AM
Quote
The whole movie he was wanting to stop being Batman and the Joker went from chemically deformed clown prince of crime with a flair for the theatric to a guy with bad grease paint that blew tings up and threatened people with knives.

So, I'm still going to say that you're wrong. 

The Joker is written so differently in different stories it'd be hard to say any take is more or less close to the comics.  To a certain degree, you can say the same thing about Batman.  I'll say the Batman comics I've read, he is closer in the Nolan films than the other ones though.

I do think the oft-quoted line from Alfred in the Dark Knight summarizes the Joker as he is generally written in the post-Crisis comics better than anything else I've heard.

"Some men just want to watch the world burn."


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: indianasmith on July 31, 2012, 09:51:44 AM
I finally got to see it this weekend and LOVED it!  I haven't read comics since I was a kid (I'm a phenomenally fast reader and I have a hard time investing money in something that I will finish in 10 minutes), but of all the Batman films this is definitely one of my all-time favorites.  Dark and brooding and very powerful.

Plus it had Anne Hathaway! :teddyr:


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: AndyC on July 31, 2012, 11:25:40 AM
I saw it on the weekend as well, and I must say I was thoroughly entertained throughout. Liked it much better than the previous two movies in the trilogy.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: The Burgomaster on August 07, 2012, 03:47:30 PM
This was my least favorite of the trilogy.  I thought it was decent, but that's about it.  And they really could have trimmed at least 20 minutes out of it without losing anything important.


Title: Re: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Post by: Rev. Powell on August 08, 2012, 10:30:44 AM
I liked it a lot. Didn't rise to the level of the previous Dark Knight film, but I really didn't expect it to. Nolan seems to be the only director capable of making superhero movies for adults, with complex plots and character development. His Dark Knight will be missed.

Oh, and Ann Hathaway---yeah!