[SPOILERS] The Dark Knight Rises (2.0)

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Where is this corruption that warrants the genocide attempted by Ra's and Bane?

I think Gotham was more corrupt in BB, and Ra's reacted to that. (Although that "corruption" was visible more in the city's destitution than in the characters' actions.) Bane's mindset in TDKR was more like nihilism.

I just read through the whole discussion. Unfortunately, after perusing all the Sharky/Sykes "banter," I never want to think about the film again. =P

Okay, I'll do a thought dump. TDKR was easily the most complex of the trilogy, a sort of synthesis of TDK's & BB's ideas. I also noticed a similarity to The Wire in the rejection of institutions (by Blake, as well as Bane). Of course, seeing a couple Wire folks pop up probably got me thinking 'bout that.

Nolan's general approach is a double-edged sword. He sets up this world where everything is grounded, but the closer you get to realism the more carefully you have to walk that line of believability. Cross it, and suddenly I start thinking about logistics instead of themes. The moment all of Gotham's finest witness Batman escape in a giant plane, I can't buy Batman flying around the city undisturbed. Nevermind leaving the plane on a rooftop afterwards.

The first act felt very stringy, every scene either introducing a new character or addressing an old plot point from TDK. Of course, once the film set these things up, it purred along nicely. Bane & Catwoman were great, especially the latter. And I liked how all the lies held up in TDK came crashing down around Gordon, Alfred, and Wayne.

And Marion Cotillard. Ah. Let us take a moment to rise.



Have I captured your attention? Or are you just incredibly distracted now?

Too bad about Christian Bale. I think Wayne's characterization was wonderful, in concept. But through a combination of Bale's blandness and the film's continued interest in more fantastical elements, I just didn't care about Wayne. Not good. I also wonder about Batman behaving as more of a tank than a ninja. I suppose that comes from Frank Miller's Returns.

A lot of the film's happenings were more like happenstance, I noticed. John Blake is about to be shot in the head? Batman drops in out of nowhere. Gordon about to fall in the river? Suddenly Batman's there, too (and somehow found the time to design a controlled fire in the shape of a bat). Bane lifts a rifle to Batman's head? Boom, Catwoman randomly hits him with a cannon. All these characters had no reason to be in the same place at the same time (especially considering no one was using GPS, or cellphones, or headsets), other than the script saying they had to. I got the impression everything was taking place in one neighbourhood.

Of course, similar complaints were lodged regarding the (il)logic of Joker's movements and activities, but TDK got away with it because of the character's nature (a sort of omnipresent incarnation of the devil). The breakneck editing also helped.

Anyway, I had a better time than it sounds. I think my favourite scene was Alfred telling Wayne about Rachel's letter. And both the underground and overground Batman vs. Bane brawls were fantastic.

PS. Why did Wayne rebuild the Batcave if Batman went into retirement directly after killing Harvey Dent?

Also, were all those freed Blackgate prisoners ever caught? Or is that a task for Robin? Am I supposed to believe that Gotham's criminal element is just the usual suspects escaping prison every few years only to be rounded up by a guy in tights?
http://www.ultraculture.co.uk/12284-50-questions-for-the-dark-knight-rises.htm
etc.

Posted this on Facebook:

Quote :

Just came back from seeing The Dark Knight Rises... Eh. A corny, mediocre script and insipid action sequences do not constitute the greatest movie of all time. Anne Hathaway was poor as expected, and Nolan's idolisation of the James Bond movies is blatantly evident throughout. So any points for originality? No...

A batman fan told me to go f*ck myself. :|

People are saying it's the greatest movie of all-time?

Yeah... the guy who told me to f*ck myself said it was. As did a few other friends...

Quote :

The Dark Knight Rises...

IS THE BEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN

It's nigh flawless. Completely spectacular in every way imaginable. It's just... Too good for words. Nothing I can say shows how perfect it is. I am shocked at how incredible it is. Go watch it now. NOW.

Quote :

The Dark Knight Rises has no faults

Δ

FieldsMan wrote:

Posted this on Facebook:

Quote :

Just came back from seeing The Dark Knight Rises... Eh. A corny, mediocre script and insipid action sequences do not constitute the greatest movie of all time. Anne Hathaway was poor as expected, and Nolan's idolisation of the James Bond movies is blatantly evident throughout. So any points for originality? No...

A batman fan told me to go f*ck myself. :|

Unfriend him, you're better off.

@Sharky:



Yup. And I just found this:

http://www.movieplotholes.com/the-dark-knight-rises.html

@ MP

Nah, I'll look like a sore loser or something. I'll just leave it. I didn't say anything irrational.

FieldsMan wrote:

Yeah... the guy who told me to f*ck myself said it was. As did a few other friends...

Quote :

The Dark Knight Rises...

IS THE BEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN

It's nigh flawless. Completely spectacular in every way imaginable. It's just... Too good for words. Nothing I can say shows how perfect it is. I am shocked at how incredible it is. Go watch it now. NOW.

Quote :

The Dark Knight Rises has no faults

What is he, 15? I'm sure he hasn't seen a film produced before 1977, so there's no sense in even paying attention to what he has to write. Just tell him to fuck off and eat shit.

Largo's Shark wrote:

With the "insipid action sequences" bit, I said the action from North by Northwest, From Russia With Love and Goodfellas was much more exciting. His response:

Quote :

From Russia With Love, though I haven't seen the movie, is based on one of the most boring and worst written books I've ever read. All Bond films are different to their source material...From Russia with Love may be the best Bond book, but that isn't saying much.

I ended it with "No point in continuing this because we're going around in circles, and well, you feel it necessary to insult when someone disagrees with you."

He said: I feel it necessary to insult when someone posts a status like this.

Whatever. It wasn't a great movie. The acting was all quite good aside from Anne Hathaway. The action sequences were boring, conventionally choreographed and shot, it was unnecessarily confusing because of some lazy writing, the script was corny and the music was unmemorable.

Anyone pick up on the two Bond homages? The entire opening sequence is a more OTT version of LTK's PTS, and the relationship between Miranda and Bane is an underdeveloped version of Renard and Elektra.

Quote :

the relationship between Miranda and Bane is better developed than Renard and Elektra.

FIFY.

Δ

Largo's Shark wrote:

Ask him if the only other books he's read are THE HUNGRY CATERPILLAR and WHERE'S WALDO.

FieldsMan wrote:

Anyone pick up on the two Bond homages? The entire opening sequence is a more OTT version of LTK's PTS, and the relationship between Miranda and Bane is an underdeveloped version of Renard and Elektra.

Yes. Mentioned it two weeks ago.

Taken together with INCEPTION, I believe Nolan has put it all out there that he wants a gig directing the next James Bond film, or the next reboot of the series. Seriously. Absolutely serious. I think he's used INCEPTION and RISES as his business card to show why he should be allowed to have total creative freedom and input over his own trilogy of Bond films.

But I think his value to the series would be offset by other factors, the main one being that when he was brought into the Batman series he was brought into a franchise that was in complete disarray after 1997's BATMAN AND ROBIN. The series had nowhere to go but up. Nolan's mission wouldn't be the same, as the 007 series is quite strong right now, even if some of us don't care for Craig and never will. Nolan would have to figure out a different way to persuade Babs Coltrane and her brother to let him run the series.

Nolan has great ideas, great direction, great instincts for casting.....I'd let him have the job.

Nah... after seeing TDKR, I don't want him as a Bond director. A visually dull director. And he casted Anne Hathaway, so no.

FieldsMan wrote:

Nah... after seeing TDKR, I don't want him as a Bond director. A visually dull director. And he casted Anne Hathaway, so no.

They could do worse. Like rehiring Michael Apted.

I wouldn't necessarily say Nolan is visually dull. Wally Pfister's work, at least, has been pretty great. However, I think Nolan lacks the sexuality and panache for Bond. He's too neutered.

Δ

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

Nolan has great ideas, great direction, great instincts for casting.....I'd let him have the job.

I'd be inclined to explore the idea of letting him do a trilogy, but sort of phase it in. Let him pitch his idea for a trilogy of Bond films, but for the first one,just let him direct, write the basic story and have a say in casting. If the film works, gradually give him more control over the writing and the casting. And if that works, give him almost all control for the third film.

Δ

Only if you're the one escorting him out.

Are we talking about Nolan and Bond? I really hope Nolan never directs a Bond movie. Pervert and Waste are better at humour than he is. He'd fit better with Le Carre or Deighton than Fleming.

I'm not sure if he'd handle Le Carre well. Deighton would work for him, though.

Christopher Nolan's BERLIN GAME.

My wife wants me to take her to see this.

But after the tragic events in Aurora, Colorado;

I think it's safer to watch a movie at home.

One thing my Dad always taught us since we were little kids:

places with large crowds of people are best avoided.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Are we talking about Nolan and Bond? I really hope Nolan never directs a Bond movie. Pervert and Waste are better at humour than he is. He'd fit better with Le Carre or Deighton than Fleming.

What about Vince Flynn? CBS Films is still trying to get the Mitch Rapp series off the ground. I wonder how quickly that movie would go before the camera if Nolan signed on to direct.

Looks, he's going to need a major movie to direct at some point. I'd rather he be working for Bond than against Bond.

Caine and Freeman on Joseph Gordon-Levitt's acting abilities:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOTXVFVguf8&t=6m9s