The Dark Knight Rises -- Movie discussion thread [spoilers]

[Eric Chang]

There's a thread but it looks like its for linking professional reviews, so I started this.

What did you think of the movie, as a comic fan?

I just came back from the local midnight release. I LOVED how they incorporated all these different ideas from he various comic storylines and made it into a cohesive two hour and a half film. I always see batman fans hate on Nolan for apparently straying too far away from comic lore, but I thought they did so well here. Threw us fans so many bones. Killer croc reference! There's a line from KINGDOM COME (as far as I know anyway, that's the only time I've read batman say it). The Talia/Bane twist was awesome. Heavy no man's land influence obviously. Dark knight returns also. I went into this movie expecting a standard/"original" plot , but I feel like what we got was a mash up homage of the stories we love.

Can't be happier about the ending too. BRUCE GETS A HAPPY ENDING!!! Who saw that coming? Robin John Blake too. So happy about how it was left open but also provided absolute closure.

Damn. I feel so content right now.

[Cowtools]

Just got back from the midnight screening here in Canberra. (some great cosplay BTW!)

My verdict: Brilliant. A totally satisfying end to the trilogy. As a movie in itself, just a shade below The Dark Knight.

I loved:

- Bane. He's basically a more erudite Darth Vader (complete with being the second-in-command to the real enemy). He is totally brutal and ruthless. Tom Hardy's florid line readings totally sold the character. Comparisons to the Joker are inevitable, but the key difference is that Joker tried to destroy Gotham in the name of his twisted ideals, while for Bane, his 'ideals' were just another means to the end of destroying Gotham.

- Catwoman. She had a proper (if conventional) character arc. She got to carry most of the film's humour. And she totally kicked ass in the fight scenes. Also, I believe that she never actually wore her razor high heels while fighting, so that's a plus. Hathaway completely sold her snarky side and her 'wounded antihero' side. Anyone who debates whether Hathaway was 'sexy enough' for the role just completely missed the point of the character.

- No Man's Land! So surprising to see that this was the story's main source, and that they pulled of a compacted version so well.

- Bane breaks the Bat! Or at least he thinks he does...

- So great to see a happy ending for Bruce, and Alfred. Was actually not expecting it. Everyone who decries Nolan's movies as too dark and cynical should be placated by this. If not, then nothing can help them...

- Robin!

- The climactic action was beyond incredible. Less epic and all-encompassing than the climax of Avengers, but better choreographed. Plus, you were actually in suspense as to which characters would live or die (unlike The Avengers - which I loved - where the fact that all the heroes would survive was never in doubt - because that wasn't the point of the movie). I was convinced either Gordon or Selina would bite it.

- Michael Caine was incredible. Not just in the sense that it's Michael Caine, and he's always incredible; his scenes in the film almost drive me to tears.

- Crane is back! He is the only villain to last all three movies!

- All the '1% vs the 99%'/'Occupy Gotham' style stuff was mainly for show and confined to the scenes in the trailer. This movie wasn't about social issues; it was - rightfully - more focused on finished Batman's story satisfyingly.

- Epic score. Best of the Nolan movies by far

I loved slightly less:

- Everybody had already guessed that Miranda Tate was Talia, so leaving that revelation til the end kinda robbed it of its shock value.

- Some of Bane's early dialogue was hard to understand, but about halfway through it ceased to matter. You could understand him clearly when it was necessary.

- I was kinda disappointed that Blake's real name wasn't Grayson or Drake, but what they used was fine too. (especially since they said they never would).

- Really, would it have killed them to throw in a few last-minute references to Bat-lore, like Gordon's daughter coming to visit, or bystanders named Steph Brown or Matches Malone or something.

[Russ840]

Just got back from the midnight screening here in Canberra. (some great cosplay BTW!)

My verdict: Brilliant. A totally satisfying end to the trilogy. As a movie in itself, just a shade below The Dark Knight.

I loved:

- Bane. He's basically a more erudite Darth Vader (complete with being the second-in-command to the real enemy). He is totally brutal and ruthless. Tom Hardy's florid line readings totally sold the character. Comparisons to the Joker are inevitable, but the key difference is that Joker tried to destroy Gotham in the name of his twisted ideals, while for Bane, his 'ideals' were just another means to the end of destroying Gotham.

- Catwoman. She had a proper (if conventional) character arc. She got to carry most of the film's humour. And she totally kicked ass in the fight scenes. Also, I believe that she never actually wore her razor high heels while fighting, so that's a plus. Hathaway completely sold her snarky side and her 'wounded antihero' side. Anyone who debates whether Hathaway was 'sexy enough' for the role just completely missed the point of the character.

- No Man's Land! So surprising to see that this was the story's main source, and that they pulled of a compacted version so well.

- Bane breaks the Bat! Or at least he thinks he does...

- So great to see a happy ending for Bruce, and Alfred. Was actually not expecting it. Everyone who decries Nolan's movies as too dark and cynical should be placated by this. If not, then nothing can help them...

- Robin!

- The climactic action was beyond incredible. Less epic and all-encompassing than the climax of Avengers, but better choreographed. Plus, you were actually in suspense as to which characters would live or die (unlike The Avengers - which I loved - where the fact that all the heroes would survive was never in doubt - because that wasn't the point of the movie). I was convinced either Gordon or Selina would bite it.

- Michael Caine was incredible. Not just in the sense that it's Michael Caine, and he's always incredible; his scenes in the film almost drive me to tears.

- Crane is back! He is the only villain to last all three movies!

- All the '1% vs the 99%'/'Occupy Gotham' style stuff was mainly for show and confined to the scenes in the trailer. This movie wasn't about social issues; it was - rightfully - more focused on finished Batman's story satisfyingly.

- Epic score. Best of the Nolan movies by far

I loved slightly less:

- Everybody had already guessed that Miranda Tate was Talia, so leaving that revelation til the end kinda robbed it of its shock value.

- Some of Bane's early dialogue was hard to understand, but about halfway through it ceased to matter. You could understand him clearly when it was necessary.

- I was kinda disappointed that Blake's real name wasn't Grayson or Drake, but what they used was fine too. (especially since they said they never would).

- Really, would it have killed them to throw in a few last-minute references to Bat-lore, like Gordon's daughter coming to visit, or bystanders named Steph Brown or Matches Malone or something.

Dude any chance you can PM me some big spoilers as I can't see the film for a while and I'm to excited to wait. Would be much appreciated .

[Cowtools]

Dude any chance you can PM me some big spoilers as I can't see the film for a while and I'm to excited to wait. Would be much appreciated .

Sorry man, I don't know how the PM feature works.
But this thread is for people who have seen the film, so I can post spoilers. Is there anything you specifically want to know? I can put it in spoiler tags.
But I have to get to bed soon; I got work tomorrow/today

[Russ840]

Sorry man, I don't know how the PM feature works.
But this thread is for people who have seen the film, so I can post spoilers. Is there anything you specifically want to know? I can put it in spoiler tags.
But I have to get to bed soon; I got work tomorrow/today

Ok dude cool. Ill ask away then.

Are there any good Easter eggs

Is bane really brutal.

Does he lift batman and break him over his knee like the comics but batman does not get a broken back but just a damaged spine

Are Bruce and Selina a couple at the end and do they during the film kiss.

Thanks dude.

[Eric Chang]

Oh yeah and see this at IMAX if you can. A good half of the movie was in crystal clear giant full screen IMAX. Amazing.

[Eric Chang]

Ok dude cool. Ill ask away then.

Are there any good Easter eggs

A few.

Is bane really brutal.

As brutal as a non restricted rating could be.

He is MASSIVE in this movie btw. The trailers and pictures mostly have him covered up. You get to see him shirtless here. And he is massive. MASSIVE. If he's any bigger it'd be superhuman over the top and dumb.

Does he lift batman and break him over his knee like the comics but batman does not get a broken back but just a damaged spine

Yes. He lifts him above his head, then cracks his back over one knee.

Are Bruce and Selina a couple at the end and do they during the film kiss.

Yes and yes. I did not see this one coming lol

[Cowtools]

Are there any good Easter eggs

spoilers:

Unfortunately, no. There is one throwaway line that could be a reference to Killer Croc, and of course the plot is a combination of Knightfall & No Man's Land, but there aren't any obvious references to the comics. This film is more concerned with tying up loose ends from the previous films

end of spoilers

Is bane really brutal.

spoilers:

Hell yes! He snaps necks left right and centre. The two battles between him and Batman are no-holds-barred beatdowns. Even though Bane cant feel pain and Bruce is wearing armour, its almost agaonizing to watch them go at it. There's not any blood, to keep the rating down I assume, but you feel every blow.

end of spoilers

Does he lift batman and break him over his knee like the comics but batman does not get a broken back but just a damaged spine

spoilers:

He cracks Batman over his knee. It's awesome. He only damages his spine, but Bruce still needs months to recover.

end of spoilers

Are Bruce and Selina a couple at the end and do they during the film kiss.

spoilers:

Yes on both counts. Bat/Cat shippers should be very happy with this film. Bat/Talia shippers should be satisfied too.

end of spoilers

[Cowtools]

I was unclear whether we should post with spoiler tags or not. I guess not!

[Russ840]

spoilers:

Unfortunately, no. There is one throwaway line that could be a reference to Killer Croc, and of course the plot is a combination of Knightfall & No Man's Land, but there aren't any obvious references to the comics. This film is more concerned with tying up loose ends from the previous films

end of spoilers



spoilers:

Hell yes! He snaps necks left right and centre. The two battles between him and Batman are no-holds-barred beatdowns. Even though Bane cant feel pain and Bruce is wearing armour, its almost agaonizing to watch them go at it. There's not any blood, to keep the rating down I assume, but you feel every blow.

end of spoilers



spoilers:

He cracks Batman over his knee. It's awesome. He only damages his spine, but Bruce still needs months to recover.

end of spoilers



spoilers:

Yes on both counts. Bat/Cat shippers should be very happy with this film. Bat/Talia shippers should be satisfied too.

end of spoilers

thanks dude i cant wait to see it.

i love this series and i love that it is a complete story now

[batGRRRl4ever]

What does a MOVIE have to do with the actual COMICS? This Forum is supposed to be for the COMICS and the MOVIES are supposed to be in the TV/Film Forum http://forums.comicbookresources.com...php?38-TV-Film

[Russ840]

What does a MOVIE have to do with the actual COMICS? This Forum is supposed to be for the COMICS and the MOVIES are supposed to be in the TV/Film Forum http://forums.comicbookresources.com...php?38-TV-Film

Does it matter. Look in any of these comic forum's and you will find it is common that the films being released based on their respective characters are in discussion.

[Ginkasa]

What does a MOVIE have to do with the actual COMICS? This Forum is supposed to be for the COMICS and the MOVIES are supposed to be in the TV/Film Forum http://forums.comicbookresources.com...php?38-TV-Film

From the forum description. Emphasis mine:

Come and discuss all Batman related comics, characters, creators, movies, and everything else. Even batarangs.

[BrotherUnitNo_4]

As the maker of the other thread, it is open for all reviewers, professional or not. I only kicked off with professional reviews since none of us normal folk had seen it yet.

[Cowtools]

Well the other thread is up to 18 pages before anybody there has even seen the film, so maybe it's best to start afresh.

But damn...this is a strange experience. As an Australian, I'm used to having to avoid spoilers while we wait for movies already released in the US to open here (it was especially hard to avoid being spoiled for Cabin In The Woods).
So it's a weird sensation to have to wait until people in the US see a film before I can discuss it!

Surely there are some other CBR posters from the southern hemisphere who've seen the film, yes?