07-27-2012, 10:23 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-27-2012, 10:35 PM by Hammerskjold.)
I watched the IMAX version, and I'd say it's worth the extra ducats.
So I'm going to ramble and discuss the movie a bit here, and for anyone else who saw the movie please chime in.
SPOILERS ALERT
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I'm still of the opinion that one of the greatest Batman story is Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns'. And I also believe that it is close to impossible to do it in live action. The closest would be an animated feature or maybe animated HBO style miniseries.
And again IMO, for one of the best and faithful rendition of the DC universe is still, the Paul Dini & Bruce Timm DC-Animated Universe.
Having said all that, Nolan's Batman comes as close as possible to an ideal live action version for me.
So let's jump right in then. Frankly I never thought Bane was interesting in the comics. He was done ok in the DC-AU. But in TDK Rises, I'm impressed.
There's trace elements of Frank Miller's Mutant Leader in him, but also various other influences that somehow just clicks right for me. Kudos to Tom Hardy's performance, Bane in TDKRises is a worthy villain. (And this is coming from someone who still thinks Bane in 'Knightfall' comic was overrated at best, and lame and boring at worst.)
I know someone will probably say 'what about Heath Ledger's Joker etc etc'. I'd personally say, apples vs moon rock. Yes Ledger's performance was amazing. But where Ledger's Joker was a text book definition of chaotic evil, Hardy's Bane is a different kind of anarchy. In any case, for me it's enough to say Hardy's performance is excellent.
Ditto for Anne Hathaway. She sold it lock and stock with the way she can switch demeanor on a dime.
Michael Caine's Alfred and Oldman's Gordon, great again. Alfred's heartbreaking scene was, well heartbreaking. And Oldman had a scene that I personally thought was awesome, where the strain of the 'war' and it's toll on the spirit is almost too much.
On to the general plotz. Fans of the graphic novels will probably recognize elements from Knightfall, TDKReturns, No Mans Land, and other various Batman mythos.
In general I think Nolan does a good job of tying everything together and adding his own spin making it the 'Nolanverse'. Yes we can all play bat-fanatics and innernet crickets and point out some flaws. But on the whole, I'm impressed at some of his interpretation.
The (Lazarus) Pit and Ra's ah ghoul scene for instance. Brilliant spin. Making it more a metaphorical 'resurrection' than an overly literal one, is a great move. Batman stories always have room for some arcane\magic aspect, but in the Batman Nolanverse literal magic would not work as well. Making it more psychological\metaphorical just fits better.
The ending, the more I thought about it the more deceptively subversive I think it is. For me this was the first movie that even seriously tried to address the Bruce Wayne\Batman ego split. It was kind of explicitly addressed in the Alfred leaving scene, that Batman is not necessarily a good thing for Bruce Wayne, the man. Necessary, yes. Good, very questionable.
I've also read some fans thought it was a letdown ending, bordering maybe on cliche'd. I personally disagree, a cliche'd ending would be Bruce Wayne Batman rising triumphantly over Gotham with the Bat Signal overhead. Ready and able to fight the next evil. Cue end score.
On the 'omg batman movie is supporting (insert political leaning here) agenda and here's the proof' subject. I'm almost tempted not to give this any attention, but I guess it's somewhat unavoidable.
IMO, it's a spaghetti on a wall\roscharch blot. There's enough 'proof' in the film for anyone and any side to claim see, Batman movie supports \ condemns my side bla bla bla.
It's a closer bet that it follows more the film makers do not neccessarily want to condemn\claim one side, because doing so would exclude the other's monies. It's show -business- folks. Emphasis on the latter for the most part. Yes I think Nolan and Co are great creative people. But it'd be idiotic to think that Batman = Conservative LiberTard Ayn Randians only, or Batman = Liberal raw rawr Powah 2 the People Occupy Starbucks only.
There's some chattering that OMG Batman is supporting\condemning Occupy movement, or big banks. I'd personally say it's more Nolanverse Batman version of 'Tale of two cities'. I'd be more inclined to say neither side walks away clean. (Edited addition: If I am going to talk politics in this Batman movie...I'm just going to say Senator Patrick Leahy makes another cameo in a Wayne Corp scene iirc. And as a fellow Batfan, I praise his performance.)
Though I did get a chuckle at the stock exchange scene where one broker\trader told Bane something like, 'this is a stock exchange, there is no money to steal here.' Bane: 'Then what are -you- doing here?'
Overall, I enjoyed it very much. I might even go see it again on a regular screen. Nolan & Co IMO gave a good enough end to a trilogy, and surprisingly gave quite a respectful shoutouts to various Batman Mythos. Something that a Batman fan like me honestly appreciates.*
*2 moments,
1) During the stock exchange car chase scene the cop said to the rookie cop something like, 'you're in for a show tonight kid', I had a slight nerdgasm since this seems like a nod to 'TDK-Returns' graphic novel scene. Could be coincidence, but since TDKRises has elements from TDKReturns, I can't believe it's just simple co-inky dank.
2) When I heard the last name of the bad guy CEO is Dagget http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Daggett , my DCAU nerd side squee'd a little. )
So I'm going to ramble and discuss the movie a bit here, and for anyone else who saw the movie please chime in.
SPOILERS ALERT
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I'm still of the opinion that one of the greatest Batman story is Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns'. And I also believe that it is close to impossible to do it in live action. The closest would be an animated feature or maybe animated HBO style miniseries.
And again IMO, for one of the best and faithful rendition of the DC universe is still, the Paul Dini & Bruce Timm DC-Animated Universe.
Having said all that, Nolan's Batman comes as close as possible to an ideal live action version for me.
So let's jump right in then. Frankly I never thought Bane was interesting in the comics. He was done ok in the DC-AU. But in TDK Rises, I'm impressed.
There's trace elements of Frank Miller's Mutant Leader in him, but also various other influences that somehow just clicks right for me. Kudos to Tom Hardy's performance, Bane in TDKRises is a worthy villain. (And this is coming from someone who still thinks Bane in 'Knightfall' comic was overrated at best, and lame and boring at worst.)
I know someone will probably say 'what about Heath Ledger's Joker etc etc'. I'd personally say, apples vs moon rock. Yes Ledger's performance was amazing. But where Ledger's Joker was a text book definition of chaotic evil, Hardy's Bane is a different kind of anarchy. In any case, for me it's enough to say Hardy's performance is excellent.
Ditto for Anne Hathaway. She sold it lock and stock with the way she can switch demeanor on a dime.
Michael Caine's Alfred and Oldman's Gordon, great again. Alfred's heartbreaking scene was, well heartbreaking. And Oldman had a scene that I personally thought was awesome, where the strain of the 'war' and it's toll on the spirit is almost too much.
On to the general plotz. Fans of the graphic novels will probably recognize elements from Knightfall, TDKReturns, No Mans Land, and other various Batman mythos.
In general I think Nolan does a good job of tying everything together and adding his own spin making it the 'Nolanverse'. Yes we can all play bat-fanatics and innernet crickets and point out some flaws. But on the whole, I'm impressed at some of his interpretation.
The (Lazarus) Pit and Ra's ah ghoul scene for instance. Brilliant spin. Making it more a metaphorical 'resurrection' than an overly literal one, is a great move. Batman stories always have room for some arcane\magic aspect, but in the Batman Nolanverse literal magic would not work as well. Making it more psychological\metaphorical just fits better.
The ending, the more I thought about it the more deceptively subversive I think it is. For me this was the first movie that even seriously tried to address the Bruce Wayne\Batman ego split. It was kind of explicitly addressed in the Alfred leaving scene, that Batman is not necessarily a good thing for Bruce Wayne, the man. Necessary, yes. Good, very questionable.
I've also read some fans thought it was a letdown ending, bordering maybe on cliche'd. I personally disagree, a cliche'd ending would be Bruce Wayne Batman rising triumphantly over Gotham with the Bat Signal overhead. Ready and able to fight the next evil. Cue end score.
On the 'omg batman movie is supporting (insert political leaning here) agenda and here's the proof' subject. I'm almost tempted not to give this any attention, but I guess it's somewhat unavoidable.
IMO, it's a spaghetti on a wall\roscharch blot. There's enough 'proof' in the film for anyone and any side to claim see, Batman movie supports \ condemns my side bla bla bla.
It's a closer bet that it follows more the film makers do not neccessarily want to condemn\claim one side, because doing so would exclude the other's monies. It's show -business- folks. Emphasis on the latter for the most part. Yes I think Nolan and Co are great creative people. But it'd be idiotic to think that Batman = Conservative LiberTard Ayn Randians only, or Batman = Liberal raw rawr Powah 2 the People Occupy Starbucks only.
There's some chattering that OMG Batman is supporting\condemning Occupy movement, or big banks. I'd personally say it's more Nolanverse Batman version of 'Tale of two cities'. I'd be more inclined to say neither side walks away clean. (Edited addition: If I am going to talk politics in this Batman movie...I'm just going to say Senator Patrick Leahy makes another cameo in a Wayne Corp scene iirc. And as a fellow Batfan, I praise his performance.)
Though I did get a chuckle at the stock exchange scene where one broker\trader told Bane something like, 'this is a stock exchange, there is no money to steal here.' Bane: 'Then what are -you- doing here?'
Overall, I enjoyed it very much. I might even go see it again on a regular screen. Nolan & Co IMO gave a good enough end to a trilogy, and surprisingly gave quite a respectful shoutouts to various Batman Mythos. Something that a Batman fan like me honestly appreciates.*
*2 moments,
1) During the stock exchange car chase scene the cop said to the rookie cop something like, 'you're in for a show tonight kid', I had a slight nerdgasm since this seems like a nod to 'TDK-Returns' graphic novel scene. Could be coincidence, but since TDKRises has elements from TDKReturns, I can't believe it's just simple co-inky dank.
2) When I heard the last name of the bad guy CEO is Dagget http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Daggett , my DCAU nerd side squee'd a little. )