Dark Knight Rises spoilers thread

[samurainoir]

Okay, I would totally watch a "Robin" film that shows how a guy with no resources other than the batcave with an orphanage above him, becomes Batman.

[madmarva]

Ed, I agree with you, if I could get over Batman needing to be Bruce Wayne in my mind. Now, if they made him Batman Beyond or even Nightwing.

No, they really set it up nice if Warners would like to pick up where this one left off, and before the movie I would have laughed at the thought of Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing Batman, but after this film, I could go for it.

Really enjoyed Cain, Bale and Hathaway's final scene. Hathaway was the best part of the movie to me.

NPR ARTICLE ON THE NEED FOR BATMAN

[Hector]

I hear Hathaway is the best Catwoman ever. True?

Gordon Levitt is one helluva an actor...he's a bit physically slight for Batman...but like you guys said...he can pull it off.

And no...have not seen DK Rises yet...lol.

[samurainoir]

Ed, I agree with you, if I could get over Batman needing to be Bruce Wayne in my mind. Now, if they made him Batman Beyond or even Nightwing.

No, they really set it up nice if Warners would like to pick up where this one left off, and before the movie I would have laughed at the thought of Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing Batman, but after this film, I could go for it.

Really enjoyed Cain, Bale and Hathaway's final scene. Hathaway was the best part of the movie to me.

NPR ARTICLE ON THE NEED FOR BATMAN

I think most fans of Batman would agree that Bruce would never really ever willingly give up being Batman, unless it was his body that gave out, like in Knightfall or Batman Beyond. Although that happy ending did work for me and was probably the one that an audience would demand after all this darkness in the trilogy. I do like that it could be open to interpretation, even if the autopilot bit hits you over the head. does Alfred actually see Bruce, or is this just like the fantasy they show you in the middle of the film? Alfred's wishful thinking.

One really wonders if they shot a darker ending as well with the death of Bruce and the Alfred bit was their backdoor out of that? Wasn't there a scene in the trailer involving Alfred and the bearded Bruce wayne in prison, or am I just imagining that or misremembering that it was onLY an Alfred VO Over that scene?

Joseph Gordon Levitt was really outstanding. I like the novelty of a different kind of Batman... One a little bit more "street" than Batman. He's not a genius like Bruce, but proves he's a detective in this film. I honestly was thinking that he'd say his real name was Dick Grayson, but "robin" really works as a shortcut for the mass audience that need that overt reference around the world.

Bane and talia were wonderfully tragic, I saw the twist a mile away, but the revelation actually had an emotional punch for me since the actors were so great. Even Tom hardy seemed vulnerable behind the mask in that moment she says goodbye.

Everyone really gets their moments to shine, even with so many characters to service. Hathaway really plays the arc through from bad girl to redemption, although I don't think the sexual chemistry was quite there, so Julie Newmar is still tops for me despite the fact that the acting and character storyline is far superior overall than any other movie/tv incarnation. I think I'd still look forward to her in Les Miserables more than a solo Catwoman film.

Gary Oldman is amazing as always and cilian Murphy completely steals the scene in his cameo with his gleefullness at his new job... Much more so than his blink and you miss it scene in the last film. I kind of wish they hamlet him put the sack over his head at some point though.

If they don't do a Levitt sequel as a movie, love to see it as a comic.

[samurainoir]

Did anyone else kind of go "huh" on the Man of Steel trailer? It looked like they were trying to arty it up a bit, and is that really the mood you want for a Superman film? I'm REALLY hoping the muted colours and moodiness are there to eventually contrast the lightness, hope, sunshine and just maybe some primary colours Superman will bring to this world?

Then again, what do i know... The Superman Returns trailer gave me chills when I saw it.

[Bruce Banner]

Did anyone else kind of go "huh" on the Man of Steel trailer? It looked like they were trying to arty it up a bit, and is that really the mood you want for a Superman film? I'm REALLY hoping the muted colours and moodiness are there to eventually contrast the lightness, hope, sunshine and just maybe some primary colours Superman will bring to this world?

Then again, what do i know... The Superman Returns trailer gave me chills when I saw it.

It did seem kind of subdued for a Superman movie trailer, certainly.

However, the part where we see Superman rocketing skyward with the atmosphere bending around him was awesome, and the glimpse we got of him hitchhiking north, presumably to the Arctic and the Fortress of Solitude, was cool.

I'm guessing the next few trailers they release for it will show significantly more Super action.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I thought the innocent child could be Talia, but they did a pretty good job of convincing us it was Bane. It was very similar to Bane's origin in the comics.

I would also go see a Levitt/Robin as Batman movie. Fantastic job by him in this. Hard to believe I used to think of him as "The kid from 3rd Rock". Of course Bale was in "Newsies", so...
I would have preferred his real name be Dick Grayson, but Robin works, as he seemed to be a combo of Dick's character, Tim's resourcefulness, and Jason's general backstory.

Bale did his usual great work as Wayne/Batman. I really felt his desperation to save his city. He went through a lot of emotions in this one, and pulled them off well. Haters of his growl will note he did dial it back to Begins levels in this one.

Hathaway had me one over from her first scene in Wayne Manor. She totally owned the role, putting all the whiners and complainers to rest. Great character arc for her. I too would see a Catwoman film with her in it.

Tom Hardy was far more than just a muscle-bound thug, which was great to see. I still had trouble understanding him at some points, but I caught the important stuff. The one downside to IMAX is the deafening score and background noise of the movie does drown out some dialog. Nolan was right about his expressive eyes and mannerisms selling the character. He pulled off a difficult role.

Gary Oldman is one of my favorite parts of these films. Love how a bed-ridden Gordon handled his would-be assassins. He got a great bit at the end, and got to read Dickens! Well done.

Michael Caine got me misty-eyed, I'll admit it. The last scene with him at Wayne Manor really choked me up, despite it taking me some time to momentarily put aside what had happened in the real world the night before. It's a testament to the moviemakers and actors that they could pull us into this world so effectively, despite the unfortunate horror now connected to it.

I found it refreshing that Bruce Wayne got a happy ending. How many versions of Batman can say they did that. Even Denny O'Neil said he hoped one day Bruce would walk off with Talia....well...Selina is just as good, if not better. I was wondering when Alfred looked at the camera and nodded if the movie wasn't just going to end there, without us REALLY knowing what he saw. I too wondered if a darker ending was filmed, but with Nolan, I doubt it. I've always heard he leaves very little on the cutting room floor.

Chris

[enyawd72]

I saw it last night and came away with very mixed feelings. When I was leaving the theatre I just felt kind of empty. The film just didn't have any impact on me and I'm not sure why. I felt there were a lot of unnecessary points to the story. Why was Batman away for eight years? Seemed far too lengthy, and no one from Bruce, to Gordon, Alfred or Lucius looked any older than in the previous film.
I did really enjoy Hathaway as Catwoman...she reinvented the character and made it her own. I would actually LOVE to see her in a solo film. FAR less impressed with Bane. The two fight scenes with Bane and Batman were very underwhelming, and then for him to simply be shot by Catwoman made his death very sudden and anti-climactic.
Did not like the ending AT ALL. Bruce faking his death, giving away all his remaining assets and moving to Europe with Selena? WOW, didn't see that coming. It seemed very uncharacteristic of Bruce, and much too final. I would have preferred a more ambiguous ending with Batman still being out there.
Finally, throughout the entire film, I was surprised at how little screentime Batman even has. He's hardly in it. They gave more screentime to John Blake, which just wasn't right IMO. I wanted to see a Batman movie not a John Blake movie.
After the awesome acheivement that was TDK, I feel this last one just had too much to live up to, and failed.

[madmarva]

Ed, The Superman teaser trailer was very disappointing. Only one scene of Superman flying and he was tini tiny on the big screen. If I had not read about its contents from last week's comic-con coverage, it might have made a better impression on me, but I can't see how anyone would really be excited to see a Superman film from what little was shown in the trailer. I didn't get the kid running around with the cape. Is that supposed to be Clark as a kid? Or was it just filmed for the trailer to invoke childhood memories of playing Superman?

In the end, I don't think the trailer would turn people off like some were by the first Green Lantern trailer. But I don't think it made much of an impact, either.

I'm not going to pass judgment on the film until I see it. Superman Returns taught me that. I was lucky enough to see Singer's teaser reel at Comic-Con the year before Superman Returns came out, and I was so excited for the film. It felt like he got Superman, but then the movie had some nice bits but overall it failed on so many levels.

I agree the chemistry between Bale and Hathaway wasn't great. But Bale was kind of cold fish as Batman. But to me Hathaway really worked well as Catwoman. Loved most of her scenes.

There is no Catwoman like your first Catwoman, particularly if it's Julie Newmar. The Batman TV series is so perfect in what it is. It's not my favorite rendition of Batman and I have to be in the right mood to enjoy its silliness, but there is absolutely nothing about it I would change. So within it's context, I can't imagine anyone else in any of the roles on that show. Although, I wish Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney Jr. had been younger and Bela Lugosi had been alive. I think they would have made excellent guest villains of some sort in the show.

So, no, Hathaway may not be perfectly cast in my mind. I could see Kate Beckinsale or Jessica Biel or a number of other actresses filling the role, but I don't know if they would do it better. Hathaway won me over.

I know a lot of people really enjoyed Michelle Pfeiffer, but I thought she was doing a good Julie Newmar imitation in Batman Returns, but it would seem that's what the script called for.

Yeah, Nolan telegraphed a lot of things in movie — Bane-Talia relationship, Modine's turn at the very end, the auto pilot, even the possible set up for Blake. He had a lot of stories to service, but unlike some movies, I think he tied up all the loose ends, many dating back to the first film. By doing so he may have hurt this film as a singular work, but he certainly did wrap up all his storylines in a pleasing fashion. The conclusion reminded me a bit of Morrison's end to Batman RIP.

I think the movie did sacrifice some of the realism Nolan established in the first two films, but my biggest issue with the movie was the time-line. And maybe I just missed it, but how long was Bruce out with his back issue. From watching the prison scenes, I could see a good amount of time passing, but the scenes in Gotham seemed like they were rolling pretty quick.

But that's just me nitpicking. It was a big fun adventure that I shouldn't think too hard about.

[phil]

I thought the final scene with Alfred seeing Bruce and Selina together was a perfect ending for the characters.

[samurainoir]

I think the movie did sacrifice some of the realism Nolan established in the first two films, but my biggest issue with the movie was the time-line. And maybe I just missed it, but how long was Bruce out with his back issue. From watching the prison scenes, I could see a good amount of time passing, but the scenes in Gotham seemed like they were rolling pretty quick.

Yeah, I was kind of thinking the same thing, but I'm sure it needed to veer off from that realism a bit to make the ending that much more operatic.

It was five months, the half-life of the bomb.

[madmarva]

It was five months, the half-life of the bomb.

Thanks, totally missed that point. Wish the Knightfall storyline with Azreal as Batman only lasted five months, way back when.

[The Bat]

I saw TDKR today and can't even begin to express my utter disappointment about this movie. I had such faith in Nolan for giving us two GREAT Batman movies...and then to end on this note is such a bummer.
I have always said that Comic Book to movie adaptions have to take a few liberties with story lines in order to tell a coherent story within a 2 or so hour time frame...but as long as the characters "act like themselves"...stay true to the comic counterparts...then I'm fine with it.

This is NOT my Batman! It's like Nolan forgot who Batman really is...and this movie just throws all he did before right out the window. I just can't say anymore about it at this time because I'm just so let down.

I'm now glad Nolan is leaving the franchise...bring on the reboot! Give it to Bruce Tim!

[madmarva]

Give it to Bruce Tim!

Would really love to see that.

[enyawd72]

I saw TDKR today and can't even begin to express my utter disappointment about this movie. I had such faith in Nolan for giving us two GREAT Batman movies...and then to end on this note is such a bummer.
I have always said that Comic Book to movie adaptions have to take a few liberties with story lines in order to tell a coherent story within a 2 or so hour time frame...but as long as the characters "act like themselves"...stay true to the comic counterparts...then I'm fine with it.

This is NOT my Batman! It's like Nolan forgot who Batman really is...and this movie just throws all he did before right out the window. I just can't say anymore about it at this time because I'm just so let down.

I'm now glad Nolan is leaving the franchise...bring on the reboot! Give it to Bruce Tim!

Bat,

Did you read my comments? I think I feel the same way you did.