“The shadows betray you because they belong to me!”
We waited years for the follow up to 2008′s The Dark Knight and what a follow up it was. The Dark Knight Rises was a thrilling way to bring Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy to an end. It was a bitter sweet end as Nolan’s brilliance will never again guide a Batman movie. It’s a series of epic films that brought us so many incredible moments. So it’s fitting that my favorite movie moment of 2012 come from The Dark Knight Rises.
The second that gate slammed behind Batman trapping him in a cage with Bane, I was at the edge of my seat. It was time for a battle we were promised for years. Bane vs Batman. Who would come out on top? Would Bane break batman’s back? Could Bruce Wayne rise to the challenge?
It’s my favorite fight in the entire trilogy by far because of the physical threat Bane is to Batman. He’s trained by the same people and angry. I’m pretty sure Bane would win in a fight with Ra’s Al Ghul. Regardless, it was fantastic to watch a fight that Batman could lose. The suspense of the scene is truly remarkable and the lack of a sound track adds to the phenomenal atmosphere. Not too mention, Bane’s clever taunting of Bruce Wayne throughout the battle.
I loved The Dark Knight Rises. Many did. I thought it was a worthy conclusion to The Dark Knight trilogy. Coming out of the theater I felt like the third installment came close but ultimately did not surpass 2008′s The Dark Knight. However, I saw that film three times on opening day. It took a little while to finally see Bane torment Gotham again but I’m happy I did. It’s an incredibly ambitious tale. It has it’s flaws but it was so much fun to watch and that’s what summer blockbusters are all about.
I decided to compile a list of 10 things that stood out watching the film a second time.
Honorable Mention: I want to play through Arkham City again.
10. “So that’s what that feels like.”
A lot of people raved about Anne Hathaway’s performance as Catwoman. I’m one of them. I think this is by far the best Catwoman we’ve ever seen on screen. I laughed when she disappeared on Batman leaving him to ponder how people feel when he disappears on them. Catwoman added a completely different energy to the series that worked. I wasn’t a big fan of her up beat music though. I didn’t think it fit with the rest of Hans Zimmer’s brilliant score.
9. A subtle mention of The Joker would have been nice.
8. “No one cared who I was until I put on the mask.”
Bane vs The Joker. Who had the better introduction? Overall, I think The Joker’s intro was better but Bane wins for sheer brutality. Tom Hardy’s performance is tremendous as his eyes tell the story of a violent and ruthless man. I’m so happy they fixed his voice.
7. I wish Alfred was in it more.
I understand why he doesn’t play a larger role in this film but Michael Caine was brilliant as Alfred throughout the series. It would have been nice to see him in a couple more scenes.
6. Bane is ruthless and it’s awesome.
“Search him. Then I will kill you.”
I can’t imagine what it must feel like to be that nameless henchmen who knows there is nothing he can do to escape Bane. It’s not like he can sulk and apologize to the man. It’s a terrifying thing to tell someone and that’s what makes Bane a fantastic villain. Tom Hardy’s delivery here is awesome. He’s so calm about it. I loved that scene.
5. Gordon looks hilarious climbing in and around that truck.
Come on. Tell me you didn’t find it a bit humorous watching Gordon climbing around that armored truck as it speeds down the road?
4. They really never found the Bat parked on that roof?
I wish Batman hid The Bat somewhere else. I just can’t see people missing it. I suppose we were just meant to go with it. Much like Batman suddenly appearing in Gotham after climbing out of The Pit. If it’s so difficult to get out of the city how is it any easier to get in? And when did he find time to make an elaborate fiery design of the bat symbol on that bridge. Again, it’s just a movie, so I went with it.
3. Bane’s death was WAY to abrupt.
A villain is only as good as his final moments. The Joker’s final moment was incredible with his maniacal laughter echoing as he dangled above the city he tried so hard to corrupt. Ra’s Al Ghul’s final moment with his eyes closed was fantastic as well. Here we don’t even get to see Bane go down at the hands of Batman and it came out of no where. It’s a shame. I don’t know if there is a better way for him to go down without hurting the story but I was disappointed.
2. “The shadows betray you because they belong to me.”
Bane vs Batman was incredible. Their first encounter will go down as one of my favorite fight scenes in any movie. Period. The reason is because of Bane’s constant taunting. Exposition has never been so much fun.
“Let’s not stand on ceremony here. Mr. Wayne.”
I remember back when Batman Begins was released and people were complaining about the fights being to frantic and shot with too many closeups. I didn’t have a problem with them but this fight was so different.
“I am The League of Shadows.”
It all leads up to an iconic moment from the comic books in which Bane breaks Batman’s back. Expertly choreographed fights can only take you so far on the big screen. Add in incredible characters and you raise the stakes to amazing heights. Watching Batman fight Bane was worth the wait.
1. Is this the last great Batman movie?
One of the greatest trilogies we’ve ever seen is over now. This is the last time we will visit Nolan’s remarkable vision of Gotham City and the Caped Crusader. I loved that the third film was so closely connected to the first. Everything came full circle. Batman was meant to inspire others. Anyone could be Batman.
We will never get a Robin movie staring Joseph Gordon-Levitt but it doesn’t matter. The Dark Knight’s legend lives on in Gotham. (How bad ass was that statue by the way? I’ll bet that thing is in Christopher Nolan’s basement right now.) Even though the ending felt rushed, (which is a compliment considering the film’s epic length.) it was a fitting end to the story.
So the question remains… Is this the last great Batman movie?
Who will rise up and take over the franchise when it inevitably reboots in a few years. Will we respond to a different set of rules? What kind of Batman will we see next. People will line up regardless. I know I will but it remains to be seen if they will reach and exceed expectations like Nolan’s trilogy has.
Time will tell. Thankfully, we will have Batman Begins, The Dark Knight & The Dark Knight Rises forever.
I woke up yesterday morning with a smile on my face. After years of anticipation, The Dark Knight Rises had arrived.
Earlier in the week, I realized that my work schedule and free time only gave me one opportunity to see the film before next week. Waiting a 7 days was simply unacceptable. I had to know how the legend ended. I was beyond excited to see how Christopher Nolan would conclude his epic and incredible Batman trilogy. So, I raced to a computer and picked up the only two remaining seats in a nearby theater and waited until my 12:01 am screening. The first available showing.
Finally a sequel to The Dark Knight. One of my favorite movies of all time.
Movie events like The Dark Knight Rises reminds of me how much I love to go to the movies. It’s such an amazing experience to follow a project for years and finally get see the results on screen…
That is why I’m so saddened today.
This morning I woke up intending to write a review about why I love going to the movies. But instead I was greeted by a tragic headline that changed everything:
This review is no longer about how much I love to go to the movies but rather, how lucky I feel to have the opportunity to do so. I can’t even imagine what those people and their families are going through today. One person decided to do this horrendous and evil act, depriving people of the simple joy of watching a movie they couldn’t wait to see. I don’t get it…
For the last 2 weeks, I’ve read just about every movie review I could find that didn’t contain spoilers. I was jealous that people got to see the movie before me and I couldn’t wait to get my review online. But how do you make the transition from a terrible tragedy to whether or not the film measures up to it’s predecessors? How many people are afraid to see the movies today because of this?
My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this senseless and cruel act.
Going to the movies is supposed to be a wonderful experience. That’s why I fell in love with movie theaters and the endless adventures they provide. Blockbusters like The Dark Knight Rises take that experience to new heights and pushes your imagination into overdrive. The movies we love…
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
(Super mild spoilers ahead)
I pride myself on being a movie nerd. Going into the screening, I felt so excited I could barely sit still. I even stopped drinking liquid ahead of time so I would make it through the nearly 3 hour run time without missing a single moment.
When the movie began, I thought about whether the third and final chapter could live up to or even surpass The Dark Knight. How could it? Honestly, I don’t think it did but that doesn’t mean I didn’t absolutely adore the movie. The Dark Knight Rises is an unbelievable end to a trilogy that may never be matched in the comic book world.
Which is strange because Batman isn’t actually in the movie that much. At first I found it disappointing. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized this was never Batman’s story. It was Bruce Wayne’s story. From the beginning, Bruce Wayne wanted to be a symbol for the people of Gotham. A way to inspire people to take back their city from the criminals who corrupted it.
Through three films, villains have aimed to ‘save’ the city by destroying it. The Dark Knight Rises delivers on the promises made by Ra’s al Ghul in Batman Begins.
Gotham falls. The Dark Knight Rises.
At the center of it all is Bane. A fierce and ruthless villain who is determined to burn Gotham to the ground. Bane is truly a bad ass in this movie wonderfully portrayed by Tom Hardy. I think his first battle with Batman will go down as one of my favorite scenes in the entire trilogy.
“The shadows betray you because they belong to me.”
Unfortunately, I feel like he gets lost in the sheer size of this movie. The stakes are so impossibly big that it’s impossible to really dial into the people Bane is terrorizing. In The Dark Knight, we are given two boats and a choice. In this movie, the whole city is at war.
It’s ironic that the agent of chaos was responsible for a much more relatable and suspenseful threat while his successor brings Gotham to it’s knees.
“When Gotham is ashes, you have my permission to die.”
Bruce Wayne is beaten down and stripped of everything in this movie. I loved the journey he takes. Christopher Nolan uses Batman as a window into the psychological effects of pain and suffering. It’s a symbol of what it takes to overcome what you fear the most. So many times throughout the movie, we are reminded that Bruce Wayne chose to be a hero instead of succumbing to the anger he feels. But that choice has a cost and so we find a broken man 8 years after Harvey Dent’s terrible crimes.
It’s this journey that makes the 3 hour film feel like it was two hours too short. There is so much story to tell. I think that may turn off a lot of people because the movie is so big and it’s full of huge ideas and themes. Bruce Wayne’s story is so compelling that you forgive the lack of the caped crusader to a certain extent. In between the scarce Batman sightings we get to experience Bane’s surprisingly deep history and Catwoman’s quest for a fresh start. We follow the bravery and sacrifice of Commissioner Gordon and a heroic and selfless cop named John Blake.
Indeed, there is a lot going on. Lost in the shuffle is Alfred but Michael Caine still gets a couple fantastic speeches in the film.
In the end, The Dark Knight Rises is still a Batman movie and the action doesn’t disappoint. While the film’s final act feels rushed and certain story lines are wrapped up far too quickly, it’s still a thrilling end to the story. For me, nothing tops the first clash between Batman and Bane but there are still many ‘wow’ moments.
For example: The Bat flying over buildings avoiding missiles, giant armies battling in the streets, huge explosions, car chases and so much more. This film actually felt more like a comic book movie that Batman Begins and The Dark Knight combined.
I liked The Dark Knight better but I still loved this movie. I’m looking forward to catching an IMAX screening in a few weeks… But just writing that sentence reminds me of what people lost in Colorado last night. Millions of movie fans around the world will be experiencing this blockbuster with smiles on their faces. The people in that theater deserved that same experience.
It’s heart breaking that someone could make the choice to do something so awful. Indeed, everyone should appreciate the blessings they have and cherish those they love.
The Dark knight rises is only a few days away so if you would like to build on the excitement even more then why not watch first and second installments of the Nolan franchise. If you join the LOVEFiLM trial then you can watch free movies online which include both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.
Legend is certainly the word for it. Next summer, Christopher Nolan completes a trilogy I have no doubt will go down as one of the greatest of all time. The hype machine has officially begun and this poster definitely ranks high amongst my favorite posters on 2011. We now know the film takes place 8 years after The Joker tore apart Gotham City. And in it’s darkest hour, Batman must overcome the greatest physical threat he has ever faced. This poster is all about a broken and beaten Batman. There really isn’t any other way to spin it. Bane is going the kick the crap out of The Dark Knight for most of this flick.
Another new poster was released last week that was equally effective. The Amazing Spider-Man hasn’t done much beyond the teaser trailer but finally we get a sweet new poster that does all the right things.
The biggest challenge this reboot faces is distancing itself from Sam Raimi’s original film. I suppose they hit the nail on the head with that tag line. I’m not sure they can really put a big twist on Peter Parker’s origin story. Spider bite + Uncle Ben’s death = Web Head. It’s pretty well known but the image supporting that tag line says a lot more. This is not a campy Peter Parker as portrayed by Tobey Maguire. This is a grittier take on the superhero.
Now if only the studio could just show us The Lizard in action already!
Which poster do you like? Similar style. Entirely different tales.
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