The Dark Knight Rises Discussion (spoilers allowed)

[Goldeneye]

I'm going to gather some of the other talk of TDKR from various thread here and place them in one where it will be free to discuss the movie with spoilers and other aspects of what is happening with the movie.

[bjmdds]

I just saw TDKR. Aside from being out of the scope of sane reality it was a fun film with far too much Joseph Gordon-Levitt for my taste. Catwoman was BY FAR the best version of that role. I rate it better than The Avengers. After all see the film we will dissect out the nuances to the nth degree. I also got a copy of Spider-Man outside of the theatre and I will watch it tomorrow in my house. Said Nolan: "The movie theater is my home and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me." I find this comment by Nolan ridiculous in that he calls a movie theatre an "innocent" place and finds what the lunatic killer did as "unbearably savage". Did I just see a violent film with a savage villain named Bane and directed by Nolan? Hollywood feeds on violence in the 21st century in most of their films. Look no further than their own collective producer mirrors to explain why young people go off the deep end and commit such atrocities. Imprinting is what Konrad Lorenz called it.
-22 Jul 2012 02:55 am

[The Sweeney]

Just watched TDKR last night, and I was predictably blown away, mesmerised, gripped, etc. Nolan has delivered the goods once again, with Bale giving the best performance out of the 3 films, Zimmer outstanding, Catwoman superb and sexy, Bane actually rather scary, and enough twists and turns to keep most audiences riveted until the final moment.

Too long? I could have continued watching that for another hour at least. One of the best films in recent years, and probably the best of the 3 Nolan Batman flicks.

I'm looking forward to watching it again.
-22 Jul 2012 09:01 am

[bjmdds]

The studio and its production and financing partner, Legendary Entertainment, spent an estimated $250 million to make “The Dark Knight Rises,” with marketing costs pushing the total cost of this PG-13 movie over $400 million. (They need $800 million to break even). “The Amazing Spider-Man” (Sony Pictures Entertainment) was third, selling about $11 million in tickets and lifting its three-week total to about $229 million. (The prediction was over $16 million for the weekend and it is a 69% drop off from last weekend. It's going to fall fast now and deservedly so, now having REAL competition.) Warner has already been working to reimagine Batman for another film series, although a reboot would not come before 2015 at the earliest, given the production cycle these kinds of effects-driven movies require. Mr. Nolan has said he would not be involved, and The Los Angeles Times recently reported that he declined a Warner overture to be involved with the studio’s “Avengers”-style “Justice League” project. Next summer Warner will release “Man of Steel,” featuring an updated version of Superman and produced by Mr. Nolan. But beyond Batman the studio has been unable to figure out lately how to successfully bring its stable of DC Comics superheroes to theaters, even as the rival Marvel — now owned by the Walt Disney Company — has scored over and over. That helps to explain why Warner — privately — was exhaling deeply on Sunday

- 22 Jul 2012 06:08 pm

[Napoleon Solo]

I saw The Dark Knight Rises today (I went to a 10:35 a.m. showing where the particular theater is all reserved seats). It's everything it's advertised as being.

In fact, I got sucked into the story so much I *totally forgot* about a 1971 Batman comic by Denny O"Neil and Neal Adams *that I own* that would have provided a major plot point. I didn't even think of it until after said plot point was revealed.

My main complaint about Warner Bros. movies based on DC Comics characters is how they mess over the original comic book creators. A Batman movie without a credit for Bill Finger (1914-1974), who really was Batman's co-creator, would be like a film adpatation of A Tale of Two Cities that doesn't mention Charles Dickens.

The movies that Marvel Studios (now owned by Disney) at least *attempt* to give credit to the original comic book creators. (This would exclude the X-Men movies that come out of Twentieth Century-Fox, for example.) The Marvel Studios movies have two credits, one a "created by" credit (The Avengers movie had a Stan Lee-Jack Kirby credit for creating The Avengers comic and a Joe Simon-Jack Kirby credit for creating Captain America) and then a "special thanks to" credit that references those who did comic book stories where the filmmakers adapted elements of their story.

Warners? They only do what they're obligated to by contract. So we're told that Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and Batman was "created" by Bob Kane (except for the Bruce Wayne identity, origin story, key changes to the costume that Bill Finger came up with.). Last year's Green Lantern movie had no mention that the character was created by John Broome and Gil Kane, for example.

The Dark Knight Rises wouldn't have been possible without the work by guys such as Finger, O'Neill and Adams (I'd have to look up who first did the Bane character in the early 1990s). That's not to diminish the work Christopher Nolan & Co. did. It would be nice if DC made the same tip of the hat that the Marvel Studios films do.
-22 Jul 2012 07:05 pm

[Omega]

Dark Knight Rises was amazing.

a group of friends went to a early showing not even half empty. Not very odd for this area but they did have people checking the emergency exits very half hour.

Upsets me to have a maniac scare people off seeing the movie.

Be glad to talk about the movie but don't want to give away too many spoilers.

Every time they make a Dc movie the stories come out abut WB screwing over the real creators cheating them out of money and credit.
-22 Jul 2012 10:08 pm

[Napoleon Solo]

Christopher Nolan has gotten a lot of praise for the three Batman movies he did, understandably so. But his films wouldn't have been possible without the comic book contributions of Bill Finger (Batman), Jerry Robinson (artist who passed away last year and created the Joker), Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench and Graham Nolan (Bane); and Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams (a character that if revealed would be a spoiler); and others.
-23 Jul 2012 02:29 am

[Omega]

Christopher Nolan has gotten a lot of praise for the three Batman movies he did, understandably so. But his films wouldn't have been possible without the comic book contributions of Bill Finger (Batman), Jerry Robinson (artist who passed away last year and created the Joker), Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench and Graham Nolan (Bane); and Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams (a character that if revealed would be a spoiler); and others.

The comics were very good story telling most people think oh wow the movie made the Batman story great when it was a lot of good story telling over decades. I've just been reading Batman year one its from 1987.

Did anyone else thinks Banes voice was Connery like?
-23 Jul 2012 06:57 am

[bjmdds]

Nationwide, the $250-million-plus production attracted more males than females, as 64% of the crowd was composed of men. The audience — 55% of whom were older than 25 — loved the movie starring Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader, assigning it an average grade of A, according to market research firm CinemaScore. Overseas this weekend, "Dark Knight" ticket sales were strong, as the film grossed about $80 million from 17 foreign markets, including the United Kingdom, Spain and Australia, said a person familiar with the information who wasn't unauthorized to speak publicly about the matter. Next weekend, the movie will be playing in 57 countries overseas — all of the major territories abroad excepting Italy and China. On Friday, Warner Bros. said it would cancel the remaining red carpet premieres for "The Dark Knight Rises" abroad, which were to take place in Paris, Mexico City and Tokyo. The film has yet to open in any of those cities' countries, so it's uncertain whether ticket sales will be affected there. However, this past weekend's international grosses indicate that the film is on track to do massive business abroad — an important factor for Warner Bros.because international sales will be key to the film's ultimate financial success. Domestic: $160,887,295 64.6%
+ Foreign: $88,000,000 35.4%
= Worldwide: $248,887,295

-23 Jul 2012 08:29 pm

[Omega]

Did TDKR permanently lose the audience over the weekend? It fell $40 million short of projections because of what happened question is are these people gone for good or could they come back next weekend and the weekend after making Batman the ultimate slow burn movie of the summer
-24 Jul 2012 05:14 pm

[Goldeneye]

News round up:

The Dark Knight shooting suspect has been identified as James Holmes. The story doesn't say any more about him or what his motivation might have been.

-20 Jul 2012 12:32 pm

The BBC's profile of Holmes says that he had no criminal record beyond a speeding ticket, and was "socially awkward, but not to the degree that would warrant suspicion of mass murder or any atrocity of this magnitude."

-21 Jul 2012 02:36 pm

A hero will rise: http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2012/07/21 ... ll-brooks/

(Teen Takes Bullet Helping Family During ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Shooting)
-24 Jul 2012 12:31 pm

A hero will rise: http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2012/07/21 ... ll-brooks/

Such incredible bravery. In a situation like that it is hard to know what anyone will do this young man has the right stuff. We need more like him.

http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2012/07/24/christian-bale-visits-victims-aurora-colorado/
Christian Bale Visits Shooting Victims In Aurora Colorado

-24 Jul 2012 11:04 pm

Christian Bale is amazing for doing that-hard to believe he was able to do so without the press finding out!

-25 Jul 2012 12:04 am

[The Sweeney]

Christopher Nolan has gotten a lot of praise for the three Batman movies he did, understandably so. But his films wouldn't have been possible without the comic book contributions of Bill Finger (Batman), Jerry Robinson (artist who passed away last year and created the Joker), Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench and Graham Nolan (Bane); and Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams (a character that if revealed would be a spoiler); and others.
-23 Jul 2012 02:29 am

Denny O Neil and Adams were legendary in Batman comic terms. So was Doug Moench.

My favourite Batman artist has to be Irv Novick though (very similar style to Adams).

[tehmanis]

THe dark knight rises is good, but compare to 2 previous movies is the weakest IMO. If TDKR the only Nolan Batman movie (assumsing BB and TDK never happened) i believe the TDKR is the best Batman movies ever. Maybe its just me, i got no excitement watching it, to me the climax is TDK.

[FormerBondFan]

THe dark knight rises is good, but compare to 2 previous movies is the weakest IMO. If TDKR the only Nolan Batman movie (assumsing BB and TDK never happened) i believe the TDKR is the best Batman movies ever. Maybe its just me, i got no excitement watching it, to me the climax is TDK.

I take it that you prefer BB and TDK over TDKR.

[tehmanis]

THe dark knight rises is good, but compare to 2 previous movies is the weakest IMO. If TDKR the only Nolan Batman movie (assumsing BB and TDK never happened) i believe the TDKR is the best Batman movies ever. Maybe its just me, i got no excitement watching it, to me the climax is TDK.

I take it that you prefer BB and TDK over TDKR.

Yes i like BB and TDK a lot over TDKR with high margins, seeing TDKR i feel little bored to be honest. The main plot is Gotham is under serious attack again, and somewhat predictable,it when there was scene Bruce make love with Miranda with a tattoo in her back, i instantly (or pressumed) this character would be a villain in the end which is happened as the character true identity as Talia al ghul. (Note that i'm not following BAtman comic very intense so i don't know this al ghul families ever existed-i only know Joker and Bane as iconic villain). The fresh thing about TDKR is that Bruce wayne is died and took a new identity as anonymous character in the end of the movie. I am not saying TDKR is bad Batman movie, its just i found it the weakest among Nolan era.

[Napoleon Solo]

My favourite Batman artist has to be Irv Novick though (very similar style to Adams).

Especially when he was inked by the late Dick Giordano, who most frequently inked Neal Adams's Batman work (at least when Adams wasn't inking his own). Giordano helped to make the art consistent among different artists.

[Napoleon Solo]

Yes i like BB and TDK a lot over TDKR with high margins, seeing TDKR i feel little bored to be honest. The main plot is Gotham is under serious attack again, and somewhat predictable,it when there was scene Bruce make love with Miranda with a tattoo in her back, i instantly (or pressumed) this character would be a villain in the end which is happened as the character true identity as Talia al ghul. (Note that i'm not following BAtman comic very intense so i don't know this al ghul families ever existed-i only know Joker and Bane as iconic villain). The fresh thing about TDKR is that Bruce wayne is died and took a new identity as anonymous character in the end of the movie. I am not saying TDKR is bad Batman movie, its just i found it the weakest among Nolan era.

1) Ras Al Ghul was introduced in the early 1970s, in a story by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams. I think Talia may have been introduced before that.

2) Batman also faked his death at the end of The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller in 1986. (I haven't bought a Batman comic in years, but I used to read them fairly closely)

[mariocarner]

Christian Bale starer The Dark Knight Rise is outstanding movie of 2012.
Tom Hardy done awesome work in this movie and Christian Bale perform
great stunt and action in this movie.

[Kristatos]

Saw it last night. I did enjoy it, even though having to moderate this forum meant that Miranda being Ras's daughter got spoiled for me when I approved tehmanis's comment Not tehmanis's fault, just an occupational hazard for mods.

I think it's possible to overstate the parallels with current poilitics. The fact that they were able to incorporate a couple of seconds of footage of the OWS protests into the shoot shows that the story was planned out well before they happened, and to be honest, Bane's takeover of Gotham seemed more based on the French Revolution than any current events - it began with the storming of a prison, and Commissioner Gordon even quoted A Tale of Two Cities at the end.

As for a reboot, I think the finality of the ending makes it inevitable. I'm not sure audiences would go for a film featuring this cop character taking on the role of Batman. I could be wrong though. If they do reboot, I hope they take a leaf out of Tim Burton's book and spare us having to sit through the origin story again.

[FormerBondFan]

As for a reboot, I think the finality of the ending makes it inevitable. I'm not sure audiences would go for a film featuring this cop character taking on the role of Batman. I could be wrong though.

I would interested. Additionally, there are talks of Anne Hathaway having her own Catwoman spin-off.

If they do reboot, I hope they take a leaf out of Tim Burton's book and spare us having to sit through the origin story again.

I enjoy Tim Burton's Bat, but his is too gothic for my taste. I say they should do a reboot in a same vein as the animated series from the 90s yet still maintain the realistic atmosphere from Chris' films, and no I did not say animated movie.