The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

[Dasquian Belargic]

It's official: http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/03/10/batman-3-villains-christopher-nolan/


I’m very excited about the end of the film, the conclusion, and what we’ve done with the characters,” Nolan told The L.A. Times. "My brother has come up with some pretty exciting stuff. Unlike the comics, these things don’t go on forever in film and viewing it as a story with an end is useful. Viewing it as an ending, that sets you very much on the right track about the appropriate conclusion and the essence of what tale we’re telling."

The filmmaker not only confirmed that his brother Jonathan Nolan was hard at work on a script for the third Batman film ("He’s struggling to put it together into the epic story that you want it to be," he said), he also offered up some bites on who will be returning and which villain Batman won't be fighting in the film.

“It won’t be Mr. Freeze," he said, adding that the actors playing key characters in the first films would return for the next — but not going into specifics.

"The key thing that makes the third film a great possibility for us is that we want to finish our story,” he said. "And in viewing it as the finishing of a story rather than infinitely blowing up the balloon and expanding the story."

Who do we think the villain is going to be then?

Catwoman? The Riddler?

[Xavier Synik]

I'm glad it won't be Freeze. Never was one of my favourites for bad guys in the Batman universe.

Just given the history of the first two movies in terms of who they picked to be the villains I could totally see them going with Riddler. I could also see them going a bit off the board and going with Hugo Strange.

And please no catwoman...

[Dasquian Belargic]

I like the idea of using the Riddler, but I would also like to see Poison Ivy as an eco terrorist.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I am guessing The Riddler and Catwoman, since they will add a female character to the film.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

It should be Talia. Gimme Talia any day over that cat chick. ;)

[Darth Turbogeek]

The problem is that no matter what they do, the villian is going to be compared to Ledger's Joker or Eckhart's Two Face and come up short. Both of those were played brilliantly - and more to the point The Joker felt like a genuine threat to Batman, where Riddler or Penguin wont as frankly they are not psychopathic madmen, but rather just good theives. Catwoman was thankfully killed by the dreadful movie.

I would tip that Bane or Ras Al Gul would be much more likely. Altho with the current series rooted in reality, Al-Gul would be a bit hard to explain...

[Crusader]

I think the Riddler would be great if done right. I always considered the Riddler as an intelectual mastermind that is making fun of society because it is in general pretty dumb. He is doing his riddles because he is looking for someone that he might consider as an equal.
Portraying smart people in movies is always a hard thing without being boring and I think no one wants to see another Jim Carry Riddler.

I think a man like Kevin Spacy could be a great Riddler because he can be polite and smart. Maybe Russel Crow as well. I did not like "An Incredibale Mind" because of it's plot but his acting was good and very believable.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Didn't we already have Ra's al Gul in Batman Begins? o_O I thought that was Liam Neeson.

As for failing to impress when compared to Ledger's Joker.. I'm sure lots of people said the same about Ledger/Nicholson. I'd like to think that Nolan has some sense about him when it comes to casting. Most likely he won't hit the same kind of gold that he did with Heath, but I think the sucess of the Dark Knight will allow him to attract a higher calibre of actors, than might have otherwise been available of people had just look at the previous catalogue of Batman movies.

[Lykaios]

Yes, Neeson, played "The Demon's Head" aka Ra's al Ghul on BB, and since he's immortal bringing him back along with Talia would make sense.
Regardless of who they bring as villains,
seeing how The Dark Knight ended with Bats on the run and being a fugitive, I see this movie being more about the struggle within and the curse that the cowl brings.

At least I hope so, cause I think they've set it up brilliantly

[Captain Untouchable]

One of the things I found interesting about the recent B3 news is that Nolan sees it as an "end" to his particular story. There are all sorts of ways to interpret that, but since WB is aiming for a Justice League film in the long run, I'm guessing the plan is to end with Batman established as a publically and politically approved hero... so his on-the-run / vigilante activity will likely be tackled and concluded in this movie.

That does mean that, whatever villain is faced, they'll have to be a significant threat so that Batman's victory over them is enough of an achievement to overshadow the murder and other crimes in the minds of the public, and the politicians. Heath's Joker was the sort of character they could have done it with: they'll need to find another villain from Batman who can do the same.

Bane (as a minion of some mastermind) could be interesting, since he actually managed to defeat Batman for a time; broke his back or something, if memory serves. Taking Batman out of the picture - so that Gotham is forced to realise that they're better off with him - would achieve what's needed, and wouldn't "copy" the political defeat of Batman from Dark Knight... then again, the whole injury/adversity thing sounds very Tony Stark, so maybe not.

I know that Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy were both friends at one point. Maybe a little girl power duo, with Harley "picking up where the Joker left off" in terms of mob connections, and Ivy as Jenny's eco warrior?

[Dasquian Belargic]

I'd be surprised if we saw Harley Quinn. For all she's fun, I think she just doesn't hold much weight as a character without the Joker. Canonically, she is pals with Ivy - but none of that canon exists in the movies, at the moment, so they would have to go over the hows and the whys and that just strikes me as something that would take too long.

Having two drastically different villains worked well in TDK, so I'd like to see if that formula could be replicated. A mastermind and a minion, or at least one of the two making use of the greed/anger/madness of the other.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Harley Quinn and Pioson Ivy are gimmick characters who just do not have the kind of Batman / Joker interaction has - or in fact that many who give a shit about them.



One of the things I found interesting about the recent B3 news is that Nolan sees it as an "end" to his particular story. There are all sorts of ways to interpret that, but since WB is aiming for a Justice League film in the long run, I'm guessing the plan is to end with Batman established as a publically and politically approved hero... so his on-the-run / vigilante activity will likely be tackled and concluded in this movie.

That does mean that, whatever villain is faced, they'll have to be a significant threat so that Batman's victory over them is enough of an achievement to overshadow the murder and other crimes in the minds of the public, and the politicians. Heath's Joker was the sort of character they could have done it with: they'll need to find another villain from Batman who can do the same.




This is what is going to happen. And that's why I see the League of Shadows as being a good candidate to return - bigger and more detirmined to wipe Gotham off the map.

The typical gimmick characters of the Batman universe are just not credible in destroying a city unless Nolan makes a lot of changes to that character. And he will have to estabish them in under half the movie. The luxury you have with the Joker is he is already established so you do not have to spend a second of time introducing him.

Ra's Al Gul likewise is already credible and also does not need a second's intro - apart from how he hell did he survive the train crash..... as Nolan's Batman is rooted in reality I cant see how that's going to happen.

What I would be tempted is to do someone new and not extract from the rogue's gallery. Something that doesnt have any preconcieved background and then can be unleashed as the director feels is required.

[Dasquian Belargic]

An article on who the next villain should/shouldn't be: http://www.geeks.co.uk/23671-riddler-christopher-nolans-batvillain?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Miranda Tarkin]

I am still hoping for Talia, Ra's daughter. Love interest, antagonist and of course a tie into the first movie.

[Jedi Master Carr]

An article on who the next villain should/shouldn't be: http://www.geeks.co.uk/23671-riddler-christopher-nolans-batvillain?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I disagree with that. The Riddler has been shown more seriously in the comics in the last twenty years. He has also tried to destroy Gotham twice in that span. I think the Riddler will be one of the villains. Here are the other candidates.

Catwoman
Pro: She gives Batman a love interest (which I am sure will be introduced in the film), she is one of his most famous rivals. She is easy to adapt since she is basically a jewel thief.
Con: She is no danger to Gotham which is really her biggest problem.

The Penguin
Pro: One of Batman's most famous villains, could be a major threat if done right, especially in taking over the mob.
Cons: He can be very corny if not done right. Not sure how to work him into the story.

Poison Ivy
Pro: She could be a major threat, but she has to be revamped. They could make her into an ecoterrorist who tries to destroy Gotham because of it is destroying the environment.
Cons: They would have to changer her comic book identity, stripping her of her powers. She also could be corny if not done right

Talia:
Pro: They have set up her story with Batman Begins. She is capable of destroying Gotham and make a good rival for Batman and possible love interest.
Con: If done wrong could feel like a repeat of Batman Begins.

Black Mask
Pro: Could take over the mob since their is a huge vaccum. He has been a very evil character in the comics, doing some vicious things.
Con: He is very unknown and his story would have to be changed to make him a huge threat.

Bane
Pro: He did break Batman's back and that should give him a chance. He would be a major challenge for Batman as a side villain to the main threat.
Con: He would obviously have to be working for the Riddler, League of Shadows, or the Black Mask to work. He can't headline the movie.

Not going to mention the other villains because they have no chance of appearing.

[Darth Turbogeek]

I really dont think there will be a love interest and the Batman francise doesnt need a love story or love interest. The fact is that Batman would by now realise that's the last thing he can afford to have after Rachel's death - and we see in the movies so far, the real person Bruce Wayne is now beats the living shit out of criminals and stops at almost nothing - a guy who spends his nights fightign crime isnt going to be sociable.

Dr. Thomas Elliott is a most certainly interesting suggestion tho from the article linked. Interesting idea would be Hush but he's got the problem of not well enough known - you dont want to spend time on an introduction and making him a credible villain.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I just can't see the movie without a female character. So, either a female villain or a love interest like Catwoman or Vicky Vale or could be a made up character I suppose.

[Darth Turbogeek]

I just can't see the movie without a female character. So, either a female villain or a love interest like Catwoman or Vicky Vale or could be a made up character I suppose.


Why on earth does a Batman film need anything other than a strong villain?

No really, why should they throw a female character in for.... I dunno, marketing/demographics???? The Dark Knight wasnt so splerged over because it had a female in the cast. The worst part of Batman Begins WAS the female lead. So why should Nolan even consider a female lead unless there is a extremely complelling story in it?

And no, love interest is not that reason.

[Jedi Master Carr]

You need a female character for a story purposes too. It would seem kind of odd to have all men. Besides every Nolan film has had a female prescience. I can't think of a good recent film that didn't have a female character that factored into the movie.

[Dasquian Belargic]

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/10/14/link-ink-tom-hardy-joins-batman-3-nick-furys-jacket-and-be/

Tom Hardy has been cast a 'lead role' in Batman 3 :ohno I love Tom Hardy

[Anne Phoenix]

Call me crazy or weird but I would love to see an old man version of Riddler done with Sean Connery playing the role. I just melt thinking of that scottish accent and face snapping off riddles. :o

[Jedi Master Carr]

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/10/14/link-ink-tom-hardy-joins-batman-3-nick-furys-jacket-and-be/

Tom Hardy has been cast a 'lead role' in Batman 3 :ohno I love Tom Hardy

I don't think he will be the Riddler because he doesn't have that look. Could see another villain. I have heard rumors the Black Mask might be in the film that could work.

[Dasquian Belargic]

At this point, who knows who he'll play? This is the final chapter in the trilogy though so it must be someone major.

Funnily enough, some of the first reactions on these forums (back in 2006) to the rumours that Heath Ledger would play the Joker were:


I'm highly dubious. I don't think he'd be the right choice for the role at all.


Leave the Joker alone :mad or at the very least get Jack to reprise it.

I refuse to see another lesser person sully the role.

And look how that turned out!

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well Hardy is not thin enough or have the right skills for the Riddler. I would guess the Black Mask because he is bulker and hits Hardy's skills as an actor better.

[Droo]

The right skills? He's a brilliant actor! What other skills does he need?

[Dasquian Belargic]

I don't know if "not thin enough" is a valid reason for him not to have the role. Look at the weight transformations someone like Christian Bale has undergone (from The Machinist to Batman). Tom Hardy himself has gone from fairly slim as Shinzon in Star Trek to incredibly beefed up as Bronson.

Not that I'm saying he should definitely be the Riddler, but I don't think it would be impossible for him to play that role.

[Dasquian Belargic]

We have a title! And confirmation that the Riddler will not be making an appearance.

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/10/27/the-dark-knight-rises-riddler/


The Dark Knight Rises. The director told The Los Angeles Times’ Hero Complex blog that he’s settled on a title that, on the surface, doesn’t sound nearly as dark as the second film actually was. Nolan must’ve been feeling generous, because he also crossed the Riddler off the list of potential villains in the third film. (Yay!) So where does that leave us, Batfans? Which comic book baddie are you now expecting to see in The Dark Knight Rises? Does the rumor that Nolan’s interviewing young actresses make you purrrrrrrrrr? (http://www.moviehole.net/201032704-exclusive-hunt-for-batman-female-lead-begins) Does that title give you any feel for where the film might go?

[Mu Satach]

From <a href="http://screenrant.com/batman-dark-knight-rises-riddler-3d-kofi-84760/">ScreenRant</a>:
Silver lining: if Catwoman turns out to be the villain, we’ll have plenty of “Dark Knight Rising” jokes to crack.

:p

[CMJ]

I'm gonna guess Hugo Strange. Sorta makes sense in Nolan's universe.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Do we think the female lead will be just another lady-friend for Bruce?

IMDB currently has Tom Hardy listed as playing "Det. Harvey Bullock (rumoured)" o_O

[Jedi Master Carr]

I think that is a rumor. I also don't see Hugo Strange not sure if he is a big enough villain. I am going to guess it will be the Black Mask and Catwoman. But I guess we shall see.

[CMJ]

I'm not sure if Nolan cares about how famous the villains are. Only if they can fit in his realistic universe.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Here's an article which brings up some things from the first two movies to consider about the last:

" Facts for The Dark Knight Rises "

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/batman_movies/news/?a=24509


1. Two Face is dead. The fall killed him. And even if that fall didn’t, his refusal of medication and the period of time for which is burns were vulnerable would have killed him from infection. The body can only handle so much shock.

2. The Joker is alive. Nolan has said that he won’t use the Joker, but the fact remains that he is alive. I would venture to say that like the Batman imposter's, this will lead to some “Joker “ imposter's, perhaps in the form of some cameo’s for other characters like The Ventriloquist or Mad Hatter

3. Salvatore Maroni (and his driver and body guard), Det. Wuertz, The Chechen, Gambol (and two of his thugs) are dead, and Carmine Falcone is still locked up in Arkham, perhaps with Scarecrow. Gordon said 5 were dead at the end of TDK, that includes 3 in Maroni’s car, Wuertz, and maybe it was supposed to be Ramirez, but that’s neither here nor there. The point is that Maroni died in the car wreck, based off of the text. There is no clear head of the crime syndicate.

4. EVERY mobster that Harvey Dent locked up, outside of the big players, is still in jail. They couldn’t have made bail as commented by Dent, and many of them if not all of them were on the ferry in TDK. Batman and Gordon lied about the killings to keep these men locked up, and there is no reason to believe that they are not still locked up.

5. The mob’s money was burnt to a crisp by the Joker. This might be debatable, but at minimum, we know that Joker burnt half of the Mob’s money. I’m going to venture to say that he ended up burning all of it, when he took over the Chechen’s men and killed him. Guess what, illegally laundered money isn’t insured like the rest of ours is at a bank. The mob has no money.

6. The Narrows is still lost, and nut cases are still running around. Nothing new was ever mentioned about them in TDK, so I assume this is still true. Once again, this could help play into fun cameos like I mentioned in #2

7. Wayne Manor is under construction. As of TDK it was, hopefully we can see a Christopher Nolan fully functional and realized Bat Cave.

8. Mr. Earle is a rich man with motive to ruin Bruce Wayne. Just a thought to ponder.

9. There will need to be a new DA of Gotham City, as both Harvey and the ADA, Rachel, were killed.

10. With Wuertz dead, and Ramirez almost certainly under investigation or in jail, they will need a new head of the MCU Batman Manhunt.

11. Apparently there are no more money launderers in Gotham, as indicated by Lau.

12. At this point, the GPD’s biggest mission is finding Batman. No major mob threat, maybe some nut jobs pulling shenanigans, but Batman is priority number 1. How will Gordon and Batman handle this?

13. This is a question. What actually happened to Lau? Die in the fire? Get out and get to Hong Kong? I don’t know, but it will have to have an impact on the next film.

14. Kyle Reese is not the Riddler.

[Acacius Blade]

An amazing plot:

The bum from the first film becomes obsessed with Batman's "Nice coat!" encounter, and turns into a 'Buffalo Bill'-style murderer. He's harvesting human skin to make the ultimate 'Nice coat', and ventures to a newly-built Wayne Manor to get a nice Alfred Hat to go with the coat. Maybe one of hs previous victims survived, albeit with an insane amount of lacerations. Failed skin graft after botched [plastic surgery after failed skin graft have left him looking monstrous with leathery skin - which would also make him angry and bitter - and with an addiction to steroids bulking him up - we've got Killer Croc.

/dream.

[Dasquian Belargic]

From @God_Damn_Batman on twitter


RIDDLE ME THIS, DUMBASS: Who's NOT going to be in the next Batman movie? Hint: I'm about to make him piss his green unitard.

:lol

[Jedi Master Carr]

I'm not sure if Nolan cares about how famous the villains are. Only if they can fit in his realistic universe.

I wasn't talking about how well known but what he is capable of. Strange has always been a minor player in the comics and has never done anything major. I would consider him 3rd tier in terms of power and a threat to Batman. I just don't see Strange being a threat since the biggest storyline he was involved in was trying to unmask Batman. I was also question if Nolan even knows who he is. Very few Batman fans know of him so he is pretty unknown and might make it unlikely for that reason as well. I think the list that Dasquian posted gives us some clues. With the mob gone someone new will rise up and take it over. I think this is where the Black Mask fits in. He will be an outsider with his own money and will take over the mob in Gotham. Catwoman works too since she could be a vigilante killing for some other motivation. Other possible villains could be Talia and the League of Shadows trying to get revenge for her father's death. Those villains are all realistic and would fit into Nolan's story.

[CMJ]

Penguin was also a mobster. He could walk into the power vacuum - tho I understand Nolan doesn't like the character much.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Penguin was also a mobster. He could walk into the power vacuum - tho I understand Nolan doesn't like the character much.

I actually did think of him in that role but like you said I have heard rumors he doesn't like the character. I think Black Mask makes sense, I know he is disfigured in the comics not sure how to handle that aspect to him, but I am sure Nolan would come up with something.

[Figrin D'an]

I'm still holding out hope that rumored female lead for which Nolan is holding interviews will be Talia Al Gul.

[Mu Satach]

I hope it's Talia as well. That would be fantabulastic.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Talia is who I've been rooting for all along :D

[Dasquian Belargic]

http://collider.com/dark-knight-rises-eva-green-naomi-watts/69587/


Today, we’ve been sent three very interesting rumors concerning Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. Before we go into what we were sent, it’s important to know that Nolan’s intense desire for secrecy regarding his films makes it impossible to get confirmation or denial on any rumor. There will be no official word on The Dark Knight Rises until Nolan says so. However, we believe there is some veracity to the information we’ve been sent and thought we would pass it along to you.

First up, a source tells us that Eva Green and Naomi Watts are going to be cast in the film. The source doesn’t know which roles they’re playing, but believes it’s Talia al Ghul and Vicki Vale, respectively. However, we have no confirmation these characters are even in the movie. We previously reported that the film would have two new female leads: a love interest and a villain.

Vicky Vale, a reporter who was played by Kim Basinger in Tim Burton’s Batman, would presumably be the love interest, while Talia al Ghul is the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul (played by Liam Neeson in Batman Begins) and in the comics has been an anti-hero/love-interest for Batman. Hit the jump for more rumors regarding The Dark Knight Rises, which is set to be released on July 20, 2012.

[Update: Heat Vision is reporting that Keira Knightley, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel, Kate Mara, Charlotte Riley, and possibly Gemma Arterton are testing for the female roles, so it's possible that Green and Watts haven't been cast. However, we have independently confirmed that Talia al Ghul is in the movie.]

[Morgan Evanar]

Naomi Watts is a great choice for Vicky.

[Dasquian Belargic]

It's official:

Tom Hardy as Bane
Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle (Catwoman)

http://geeksofdoom.com/2011/01/19/anne-hathaway-cast-in-the-dark-knight-rises-tom-hardys-role-revealed/

[Figrin D'an]

I like that Bane will be in the film, simply because just like Ras Al Gul and The Joker, Bane can match Batman intellectually. Tom Hardy is a curious choice to play him, though. How they handle the more unrealistic aspects of the character though will be key obviously.

I'm not real big on having Catwoman appear, but Anne Hathaway is a good actress, and if they take the Selina Kyle/Catwoman character back to her roots as a burglar/thief/"Robin Hood" type, it could work.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I like Catwoman and Bane as the villains, I suppose there will be a new mob boss as well in the mix either Rupert Thorne or the Black Mask. I also really like the casting choices. I think it will be a great movie.

[Darth Turbogeek]

I really think Nolan is shooting low here. Catwoman is a terrible fan service idea, as is Bane. The Joker is so intertwined with Batman that Nolan of course had to bring him in but whoa what a way to do it. However Catwoman really just not like that. Blech. You really have to make vast character changes for even a hint of interest and she wont be Catwoman so what's the point? Bane as I said is terrible fan service but I suppose if Nolan decided to make a few changes..... and there is room there. Guess I'll wait and see.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Bane is a great character so I think he will work. I actually like Catwoman and she is Batman's second most famous adversary. I think she is very easy to adapt into Nolan's universe easier than many of Batman's villains like the Penguin or Poison Ivy. I completely trust Nolan. He has made 4 great movies in a row, so I am not worried.

[Morgan Evanar]

I really think Nolan is shooting low here. Catwoman is a terrible fan service idea, as is Bane. The Joker is so intertwined with Batman that Nolan of course had to bring him in but whoa what a way to do it. However Catwoman really just not like that. Blech. You really have to make vast character changes for even a hint of interest and she wont be Catwoman so what's the point? Bane as I said is terrible fan service but I suppose if Nolan decided to make a few changes..... and there is room there. Guess I'll wait and see.I think you're going to be terribly wrong, but i'll print it out and eat it if you're right.

People have scratched their heads at so many of Nolan's choices outside of Christian Bale and he's made everyone look like a bunch of morons for it.

Nolan is exceptionally clever, and little to nothing he's done has been "fan service" so I don't understand why you think he would start now. He's picked 2 characters that actually have depth and I think you're going to see the same stellar treatment that everything else he's done has gotten. I'm very excited to see what his take on Catwoman will be.

[Darth Turbogeek]

I really think Nolan is shooting low here. Catwoman is a terrible fan service idea, as is Bane. The Joker is so intertwined with Batman that Nolan of course had to bring him in but whoa what a way to do it. However Catwoman really just not like that. Blech. You really have to make vast character changes for even a hint of interest and she wont be Catwoman so what's the point? Bane as I said is terrible fan service but I suppose if Nolan decided to make a few changes..... and there is room there. Guess I'll wait and see.I think you're going to be terribly wrong, but i'll print it out and eat it if you're right.

People have scratched their heads at so many of Nolan's choices outside of Christian Bale and he's made everyone look like a bunch of morons for it.

Nolan is exceptionally clever, and little to nothing he's done has been "fan service" so I don't understand why you think he would start now. He's picked 2 characters that actually have depth and I think you're going to see the same stellar treatment that everything else he's done has gotten. I'm very excited to see what his take on Catwoman will be.

Actually I'm not one who has been a doubter - Heath Leger for instance I always thought was an interesting choice and the choices he's made for villains and also his movies I'm a huge fan of. Also unlike a few critics, I think he does do female characters well - Memento (Natalie) and Inception (Mal) featured two extremely memorable and in the case of Inception a very, very shit scary one.

However I cant see this being the case and I can not see Catwoman being in any way a credible threat to Batman (or interesting) unless he does do a dramatic rewrite to the character, at which point she would cease being Catwoman - her presence really screams fan service and I would have rather Nolan said screw that and go in a different direction. LIke Talia Al-Gul

[Jedi Master Carr]

The problem with Talia is she is only interested in storylines involving her father. I also don't see Catwoman as a threat but as a love interest and something more. Bane will be the main physical threat and I suspect one more villain probably mob boss either Rupert Thorne or the Black Mask.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Well, just because Selina Kyle is going to be in the movie doesn't mean her purpose is to be "A THREAT" to Batman. I think it'll be great.

edit: oh there's another page. lol beaten

[Aurelias Kazaar]

Somebody actually pointed this out that I hadn't considered...they say Anne Hathaway is "Selina Kyle" not Catwoman. Do I think Catwoman will be in the film? Yes...somehow.

But would I put it past Nolan to just have Kyle in it and not Catwoman? Absolutely.

Btw, I love the Bane decision because it does go with Nolan's 'based in reality' thing. IIRC, Bane was created to be Batman's equal on steroids (literally. The Venom drug he took was steroids). That could work pretty well.

In fact, we saw Batman the Animated Series do it real well with Bane as a hired hitman. It could work real well.

[Darth Turbogeek]

The problem with Talia is she is only interested in storylines involving her father. I also don't see Catwoman as a threat but as a love interest and something more. Bane will be the main physical threat and I suspect one more villain probably mob boss either Rupert Thorne or the Black Mask.


Why do we need a love interest?

[Serena Laran]

To help him get over Rachel, duh.

[Dragon]

I seriously doubt we're going to see any character functioning as merely "the token love interest" a la Rachel Dawes in Batman Begins. And, heck, even there, Nolan gave the character some agency in exposing Bruce to the criminal underworld, which pays off in Dark Knight when we see how instrumental she is in helping to fight it.

Remember that Dark Knight ended with Batman on the run after taking the blame for two dead cops. Now he's a part of the criminal underworld, fighting it from within. Whatever relationship he forms with Selina Kyle will be in that context. I think it could be an excellent way to make Bruce question where his identity lies - in Stately Wayne Manor or the streets of Gotham.

[Darth Turbogeek]

To help him get over Rachel, duh.

Why does he need to do that when he's supposed to be destroying anything that looks evil and in the process of being single minded about it?

The big point about TDK was showing exactly what he would need to leave behind to be Batman - a love interest goes completely against that point. There is no love interest needed other than man love of Alfred

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Just a joke, dude :)

[Jedi Master Carr]

To help him get over Rachel, duh.

Why does he need to do that when he's supposed to be destroying anything that looks evil and in the process of being single minded about it?

The big point about TDK was showing exactly what he would need to leave behind to be Batman - a love interest goes completely against that point. There is no love interest needed other than man love of Alfred

He is a human being for crying out loud. People do fall in love unless you have a heart like Voldemort or something. I think romance is a good thing in a story. All the great stories have had a romance involved in the plot. Even the TDK had a romance, although it was more of a love triangle.

[Darth Turbogeek]

He is a human being for crying out loud. People do fall in love unless you have a heart like Voldemort or something. I think romance is a good thing in a story. All the great stories have had a romance involved in the plot. Even the TDK had a romance, although it was more of a love triangle.


He's a crusader against injustice that has realised what personal relationships can lead to if he allows himself to be in one, think this through how dumb romance is in this story. It has utterly no place in what he has to become, which was one of the points of TDK - exactly what he has to be.

And what exactly is this about needing to have a heart like Vortemort? Come on, that's just ridiculous, people decide to forgo relationships all the time if they believe in a cause that much. And isnt that Batman? Frankly when the comics introduce romance, that is when they get their most ridiculous.

[Droo]

This is one of the most moot discussions I've ever seen. Love is human. Bruce Wayne is human. If there is an element of romance in this upcoming film, you can rest assured that it will only add to character depth and turmoil and it won't be some insipid kind of romcom love story, Christopher Nolan is much more intelligent than that. I really don't see what all the huffing and puffing is about.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I agree with Droo. Perhaps if this were a different movie with a different director at the helm it might be worth discussing, but as it is...


I seriously doubt we're going to see any character functioning as merely "the token love interest" a la Rachel Dawes in Batman Begins. And, heck, even there, Nolan gave the character some agency in exposing Bruce to the criminal underworld, which pays off in Dark Knight when we see how instrumental she is in helping to fight it.

Remember that Dark Knight ended with Batman on the run after taking the blame for two dead cops. Now he's a part of the criminal underworld, fighting it from within. Whatever relationship he forms with Selina Kyle will be in that context. I think it could be an excellent way to make Bruce question where his identity lies - in Stately Wayne Manor or the streets of Gotham.

This is what I find the most interesting. Although I have a hard time picturing Anne Hathaway as a convincingly gritty cat burgular, until we actually see concept art / costume shots of her as she will appear in the movie.. it's difficult to make any comment.

[Jedi Master Carr]

This is one of the most moot discussions I've ever seen. Love is human. Bruce Wayne is human. If there is an element of romance in this upcoming film, you can rest assured that it will only add to character depth and turmoil and it won't be some insipid kind of romcom love story, Christopher Nolan is much more intelligent than that. I really don't see what all the huffing and puffing is about.

Me either and I think that was my main point before. I trust Nolan, besides I don't see it being a sappy like a a rom-com or something.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

The Dark Knight Rises: with Matthew McConaghey as Bruce Wayne and Kate Hudson as Catwoman!

[Dragon]

Sappy rom-com is the ad absurdum example. I don't see Catwoman as a traditional love interest character at all, to be honest. I never read the comics, but I got the idea the whole point of the character is that she's a free agent with shifting loyalties. There's an attraction between her and Batman, but it's more rivalry than romance, and her own agenda always comes first. I see it more as a case of worthy adversaries who look sexy in tights.

I can certainly understand the concern that it's just going to be fanservice, and if this were just another rollicking superhero movie, it probably would be, but I think Nolan deserves the benefit of the doubt. What separates Nolan's films from Tim Burton's is that Burton's Batman was so flat and unrelatable that he practically disappeared, especially compared to the outrageous and over-the-top villains. Nolan is the first filmmaker to present a serious character study of Batman himself, and he's used his villains to serve that purpose. I honestly expect him do the same with Catwoman, Bane, and Talia.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Sappy rom-com is the ad absurdum example. I don't see Catwoman as a traditional love interest character at all, to be honest. I never read the comics, but I got the idea the whole point of the character is that she's a free agent with shifting loyalties. There's an attraction between her and Batman, but it's more rivalry than romance, and her own agenda always comes first. I see it more as a case of worthy adversaries who look sexy in tights.

I can certainly understand the concern that it's just going to be fanservice, and if this were just another rollicking superhero movie, it probably would be, but I think Nolan deserves the benefit of the doubt. What separates Nolan's films from Tim Burton's is that Burton's Batman was so flat and unrelatable that he practically disappeared, especially compared to the outrageous and over-the-top villains. Nolan is the first filmmaker to present a serious character study of Batman himself, and he's used his villains to serve that purpose. I honestly expect him do the same with Catwoman, Bane, and Talia.

Exactly, I think he will make it work. With Catwoman, her and Batman have had an on again off again relationship. He had the same type of relationship with Talia. Not sure if Talia will be in the film. There is still that rumor out there about another female character, of course that could be a new DA or something. Also, a new rumor is out there that Robin Williams will play Hugo Strange. We shall see if that is true, not sure if there is room for him, although Strange could just be a side character trying to help the police find Batman.

[Dasquian Belargic]

http://geeksofdoom.com/2011/02/01/joseph-gordon-levitt-set-to-join-the-dark-knight-rises-but-who-will-he-play/


It’s been expected for quite some time now that Joseph Gordon-Levitt would be re-joining his Inception director, Christopher Nolan, when production began on his third chapter in the Batman franchise, titled The Dark Knight Rises.

Now comes word that the actor is in fact in talks to join the cast, which of course features Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne along with new additions Anne Hathaway, who will be playing the latest Catwoman, and Tom Hardy, who after being left a mystery for a while was revealed to be playing Bane.

While Gordon-Levitt is only technically “in talks” at the moment, Deadline hears that he’s fully expected to be there when the movie starts filming in the spring. And because most have assumed he’d be in it in some role or another, this is pretty much a done deal.

But who will Mr. Gordon-Levitt be playing? That, my friends, is the all-crucial question…and at the moment, it’s being kept a secret.

[Droo]

Well, he looks like Heath Ledger. :uhoh

[Jedi Master Carr]

I am going to guess the Black Mask. I had a feeling Nolan would put him in the film because he would work perfectly in his universe. He could take over the Mob hire Bane to kill Batman. In the comics, Catwoman went after the Black Mask because he killed her sister.

[Tear]

Well, he looks like Heath Ledger. :uhoh

Ooo... you're right he does.

[CMJ]

Alberto Falcone.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Alberto Falcone.

That could work too, I think he will be some kind of mob boss either Falcone or Black Mask.

[Jedi Master Carr]

http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/126271-marion-cotillard-rumored-for-the-dark-knight-rises
so, Marion Colitard might be joining the film. If this is true, I think she will play Talia. The film would come full circle with Begins, as I think she will be seeking revenge for her father's death.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Now THAT'S more like it Mr Nolan!

[Dasquian Belargic]

http://geeksofdoom.com/2011/03/20/joseph-gordon-levitt-role-in-the-dark-knight-rises-revealed/


In February, reports surfaced that Joseph Gordon-Levitt was in talks to join the cast of The Dark Knight Rises, the third film in Christopher Nolan‘s Batman film franchise. At that time, what the actor’s role would be was unknown, though there was speculation of him being The Riddler or possibly even taking over the role of The Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight.

Now comes word that Gordon-Levitt will be Alberto Falcone, the son of mob boss Carmine Falcone, the character Tom Wilkinson’s played in Nolan’s first Batman film, Batman Begins.

Warner Bros. has not yet made an official statement about Gordon-Levitt’s role.

[Anna Fernandez]

Alberto Falcone.
CMJ called it. :D

[Dasquian Belargic]

or not...?

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/03/21/joseph-gordon-levitt-dark-knight-rises/


Joseph Gordon-Levitt, long-rumored to be joining his Inception brethren in The Dark Knight Rises, will appear in director Christopher Nolan’s third Batman film. But a source close to the situation says that recent reports that Gordon-Levitt will play Alberto Falcone (a.k.a. the Holiday Killer) — the son of former mob kingpin, Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson) — are incorrect. So, Batman fans: Begin the re-speculation now!

[Lilaena De'Ville]

OMG THE SUSPENSE! is killing me.

*tears out hair*

[Jedi Master Carr]

I am thinking he will be the Black Mask. He does fit into Nolan's world and we get a crazy crime boss who would cause Batman a lot of trouble.

[Salem Ave]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=76631


Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have joined the cast of The Dark Knight Rises, the epic conclusion to the Dark Knight legend

Cotillard will appear as Miranda Tate, a Wayne Enterprises board member eager to help a still-grieving Bruce Wayne resume his father's philanthropic endeavors for Gotham.

Gordon-Levitt will play John Blake, a Gotham City beat cop assigned to special duty under the command of Commissioner Gordon.


...oh :|

[Lilaena De'Ville]

:lol how anti-climactic!

[Droo]

Maybe this John Blake character will be the one to take over from Batman should they, you know, do him in and all.

[Captain Untouchable]

Catman is Thomas Blake. Maybe they're going to pull a switch on us, and reveal that John is really just his middle name?

No? :(

Guessing that Thomas wouldn't be his middle name; otherwise that'd struggle to get past the censors... :uhoh

[Jedi Master Carr]

Not sure where they are going with Blake
Personally I think Cotillard's character is a cover for Talia. I mean they wouldn't announce her this early.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Wow, Inception 2 is looking awesome!

[Mu Satach]

http://www.makingof.com/posts/photos/3625/1/first-look-tom-hardy-as-bane-from-the-dark-knight-rises


BAM!

[Droo]

A little too dungeon gimp for my liking. Pretty poor first promo shot.

[Mu Satach]

Hey I'm down if Bruce Willis shows up with a Katana and goes to town. As long as afterwards he tell's Batsy "Zed's dead baby... Zed's dead."

[Captain Untouchable]

I'm struggling to work out what it's meant to be. It's not a traditional wrestling mask. It doesn't really hide his identity. So what - a futuristic gas mask? Some sort of Hannibal Lector style muzzle?

Here's hoping it's an early version, a la Whiplash's gimpy vest thing in Iron Man 2.

Tom Hardy has really piled on the muscle though, huh?

[Tear]

Look up the movie "Bronson" with Tom Hardy. Dude can bulk it up when he wants.

[Captain Untouchable]

Aye, I know he's capable of it - I'm just impressed with how quickly he managed it. He had a bit of bulk in Inception, but he seemed to have lost most of it by the time they were picking up awards for that. We'll probably notice him muscling up over the course of his next few movie roles, but I don't think anything he's been in since Inception has been released yet: guess that makes the change seem more profound.

[Dasquian Belargic]

He looks like... Scorpius from Farscape :3

[Atreyu]

Apparently there's a teaser trailer that came out with Harry Potter, but I haven't seen it.

But here's a teaser poster :)

http://www.thedarkknightrises.com/images/TheDarkKnightRises_TeaserPoster.jpg

[Miranda Tarkin]

You are correct there was. It was Gordon talking in a hospital bed. You get a glimpse of Bane and of Bane and Batman squaring off as well as what the poster shows.

Should be very interesting!

[Dasquian Belargic]

The trailer hadn't arrived at our cinema when we went to see the midnight HP screening. Has anyone managed to find a decent version online?

[Atreyu]

Teaser now available on YouTube:

Teaser (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9phNG7oeEOo)

(sorry, embedding has been disabled so could only link it)

Doesn't show much, most of the scenes are from the first 2 films (with Neeson's Ra's character narrating over the top), though we do catch 2 brief glimpses of Bane. Also, some have speculated that the man climbing out of the 'well' could be Ra's himself, leaving his Lazarus pit.

[Droo]

I found the teaser a bit muddled and lackluster. It had none of the goosebumping, hair-raising quality of the teaser from TDK. And I still hate Bane. :grumble

[Atreyu]

Some bright spark has redone a shot-by-shot remake of the trailer, using footage from Batman: The Animated Series (and keeping Neeson's voiceover). Arguably better than the original teaser:

<object height="390" width="640">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9EjSlqNACts?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="390" width="640"></object>

[Yog]

So uhm.. they use scenes from the previous movies instead of fresh footage to tease us? That is not how you make a teaser.

[Darth Turbogeek]

So uhm.. they use scenes from the previous movies instead of fresh footage to tease us? That is not how you make a teaser.


Well given every single one of us is going to be lined up on openeing day..... they dont need to make much of an effort :)

[Atreyu]

So uhm.. they use scenes from the previous movies instead of fresh footage to tease us? That is not how you make a teaser.
The film is still a year away, and I think they've only just started doing principal photography. So there probably wasn't much in the can to show us.

Remember though this is just the teaser - The Dark Knight teaser was just the bat logo exploding with Alfred's voiceover.

[Droo]

Remember though this is just the teaser - The Dark Knight teaser was just the bat logo exploding with Alfred's voiceover.

And it was much better for it.

[CMJ]

So uhm.. they use scenes from the previous movies instead of fresh footage to tease us? That is not how you make a teaser.


Often teasers don't even show scenes from the finished film at all.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I think it works for what it is. The teaser is just trying to begin the hype for the last film.

[Darth Turbogeek]

I think it works for what it is. The teaser is just trying to begin the hype for the last film.

Nolan could put a steaming turd on a plate in the shape of a bat and it'll build hype. In fact he could have M.Night Shamalayn as producer in the credits and it would build hype. This film is almost uniquely anticipated like almost no other by a very wide audience - this almost certainly will be the film that breaks 100 million in a day.

So basically Droo's right it wasnt the greatest trailer, but it doesnt need to be, we're all going to watch the movie anyway.

[Jedieb]

I was a bit underwhelmed by the teaser, but it was still pretty good. That BTAS version of the trailer was pretty sweet. BTAS was really the only time that the character of Bane has ever been done any justice on TV or film. I collected Batman comics for about 5 years and what started me off was the Knightfall story line. I even bought the novelization. I think there were hints in that trailer that we may see the character of Bane being more than a one trick pony.

That glimpse of Batman that we see facing against Bane was awesome. It looked to me like Batman was in the middle of a serious ass kicking. And if they follow Bane's roots honestly, then he's got to give Bruce the beating of his life. Bane left Bruce beaten, humiliated, and crippled in Knightfall. In the end, it wasn't even Bruce who put Bane down, it was Azrael. In the teaser, when Bruce tells Gordan that Batman can't come back, could it be because he's been beaten by Bane so badly that he doesn't think he can get back up and fight? Who knows, but I think Nolan could use Bane to drag Bruce through some serious pain in TDKR. Something that would rival what the Joker did to Batman in TDK.
One thing is for certain, we're going to see a better Bane than the travesty Schmuckmaker unleashed on us in Batman and Robin.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Some on-set photos giving us a better look at Bane: http://www.spotlightreport.net/wp/movies/movie_news/the-dark-knight-rises-set-photos-of-bane-and-video-of-the-tumbler

EDIT: More photos of Bane on set, this time fighting with Batman - http://www.dailyblam.com/news/2011/08/01/new-dark-knight-rises-set-photos-batman-bane

[Jane Starborn]

Finally watched the teaser. :D

I don't see what all the fuss is about it being bad or good. Its a teaser for a Batman movie. Most of it is old footage, but its STILL awesome because I can't wait for this movie. :crack

[Mu Satach]

So uhm.. they use scenes from the previous movies instead of fresh footage to tease us? That is not how you make a teaser.


Well given every single one of us is going to be lined up on openeing day..... they dont need to make much of an effort :)

double wordness-ness

[Nikolai Odell]

Looks like we have a first look (http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/8/2011/08/zz2b0cfa71.jpg) at Selina Kyle.

Note: we still don't officially know if she's Catwoman or not... and even if she is Catwoman, there's no reason to assume that this photo is from an in-costume point at the field.

What I'm more intregued by: is that the Bat-Pod she's riding?

[Tear]

is that the Bat-Pod she's riding?

Must. Resist joke. Giggity.

[Aidan Fox]

Heinz Field and the Pittsburgh Steelers make an appearance in The Dark Knight Rises! (http://postgazette.com/pg/11219/1165808-60.stm)

I've already been excited that much of the movie is being shot in Pittsburgh, and now I can look forward to watching Hines Ward return a kickoff for the Gotham Rogues. The article above is a really fun read. Have to feel bad for the fans, though - the scene takes place in the winter, so they all had to wear heavy coats to simulate cold weather in the dead of July.

Really should've been the Gotham Knights, though...

[Dasquian Belargic]

http://www.darkknightrisesrumors.com/2011/08/august-30th-detailed-photos-show-the-dark-knight-rises-batcave/#more-770

The Batcave!

[Dasquian Belargic]

The full Catwoman costume, at last: http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/168470-hathaway-in-full-catwoman-costume-on-the-dark-knight-rises-set

[Kyran O'Hurn]

Kinda looks like Batman's tailor made the the Catwoman suit. That and the fact that it looks like they are shooting scenes where she's "hanging" out with Batman and Gordon, and that she's getting on the Bat-Cycle makes me wonder if Catwoman is going to be more on the ally side of grey in this movie/storyline.

[Vansen Tyree]

^ Do you think Lucius Fox designed those heels?

There has to be some kind of witchcraft or supertech to make sure those spindly things don't snap off while she's running...

[Mu Satach]

a woman's ability to hoof it in stiletto's, kick ass and not break her ankles is unfortunately an oft over looked superhero power

[Dasquian Belargic]

<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YIqbbjj2-ag?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YIqbbjj2-ag?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>

[Sanis Prent]

a woman's ability to hoof it in stiletto's, kick ass and not break her ankles is unfortunately an oft over looked superhero power

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IcOcHl6CjWs?version=3&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IcOcHl6CjWs?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

[Dasquian Belargic]

Ahaha I had not made that connection :lol

[Droo]

Poor Cillian, Mayo and the good doctor gave him a good roasting. :lol

[Dasquian Belargic]

A couple new images from this film, including a badass magazine cover (from EMPIRE) of Bane:

http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/168895-new-photos-from-the-dark-knight-rises


The new issue of Empire magazine has been sent to subscribers and it gives a look at four more photos from Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises in addition to the two covers previously posted.

In the article, Nolan reveals that the story picks up eight years after The Dark Knight and that the prologue coming with Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol in IMAX "is basically the first six, seven minutes of the film. It's the introduction to Bane and a taste of the rest of the film. With Bane we are looking to give Batman a physical challenge that he hasn't had before."

Costume designer Lindy Hemming also talked about Bane's mask in the film. "He was injured early in his story. He's suffering from pain and he needs gas to survive. He cannot survive the pain without the mask. The pipes from the mask go back along his jawline and feed into the thing at the back where there are two canisters of what ever it is... the anesthetic."

[Atreyu]

In the article, Nolan reveals that the story picks up eight years after The Dark Knight
Eight years??? :eek Woah.

[Dasquian Belargic]

This could be the reason why:


Last last night, The Dark Knight Rises Rumors received a tip from one of their readers, Dwight Bendish, that included a photo. Take a look…

http://www.themarysue.com/dc-superheroine-in-dark-knight-rises/

[Atreyu]

This could be the reason why:


Last last night, The Dark Knight Rises Rumors received a tip from one of their readers, Dwight Bendish, that included a photo. Take a look…

http://www.themarysue.com/dc-superheroine-in-dark-knight-rises/
OMG. :eee

(assuming it's true of course )

[Dasquian Belargic]

^ Right. It's hardly the most credible evidence, but I loooove the idea of Ellen as Barbara Gordon.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Some more scans from the Empire article: http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/168919-christian-bale-on-his-dark-knight-rises-co-stars

[Dasquian Belargic]

For anyone who didn't see it yet...

http://i39.tinypic.com/10x62jr.jpg

[Atreyu]

Oooohhhh. :ohno

[Captain Untouchable]

Something that someone pointed out to me earlier today - if you read the text on the poster in sequence, there are some odd inferences you can draw. Some minor spoilers below - nothing that you won't have absorbed via set pictures and enigmatic references from Gary Oldman interviews.

The fact that "the legend ends" before "the Dark Knight rises" - combined with Bane and the broken mask - could be taken as a reference to the breaking of the bat, and his recovery.

An alternative interpretation is that at the end of TDK, Batman was on the run; and while he has spent eight years helping clean up Gotham, he's still thought of as the man who killed Harvey Dent. We've seen a lot of images of Bane with Harvey's photo, and we know that Gotham has come to idolise Harvey (they even have the "Harvey Dent Act" as their major crackdown on crime); Batman meanwhile is this mysterious anti-hero that, while he certainly helps fight crime, he's still thought of as the man who killed Dent.

If Bane were to reveal the truth about Dent, it would do a lot of damage to public opinion towards the police force. However, it would also exonerate Batman. The legend of him as a dark vigilante would be over; he can rise back into public favour; and it would set him up to become the police-endorsed Batman with firemans poles and bat signals again.

Holy overanalysis, Batman! :ohno

[Dasquian Belargic]

<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/z0v3yBCMPUU?version=3&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/z0v3yBCMPUU?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

[Atreyu]

Woah - a Bat-wing at 1:51. :eek

[Captain Untouchable]

"When Gotham is ashes, you have my permission to die." :ohno

It looks like they have aged Bruce up a bit at some point - looks like he's sporting some grey in the "singing" bit. However, in some scenes he looks his normal young self. We've heard that there is some sort of timeline fast forwarding going on: I'm wondering if perhaps there are chunks of time that are skipped over... which would make sense, if Bane is going to do what Bane is infamous for doing to the Bat...

[Dragon]

Go Hines Ward! :D

But it looks like field conditions at Heinz Field are slightly worse than usual...

[Bryna Belargic]

More info from Anne Hathaway about the movie, and Catwoman specifically: http://www.themarysue.com/anne-hathaway-on-tdkr/

There are some spoilers in this article, but they're blanked out with spoiler tags so you don't have to read if you don't want to!

[d'Art Lefou]

New photos from Entertainment Weekly!

http://i2.cdnds.net/12/02/618x399/120110dark-knight-bane-batman_610.jpg

http://i2.cdnds.net/12/02/618x464/120110dark-knight-bane-hardy_610.jpg

Is it just me or does Tom Hardy as Bane look like Stephen Graham as Al Capone?

[Dasquian Belargic]

Here's what is reportedly a new blue-screen picture of Bale as Batman: http://nerdreactor.com/2012/03/07/coolest-christian-bale-batman-photo-so-far/

[Jedi Master Carr]

Newest trailer here
http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/dark-knight-rises-trailer-shows-off-stars-big-061746547.html

It looks great, I loved the endshot of the Batplane. And Bane is set up as a pretty terrifying villain.

[Droo]

I have to admit. This trailer left me cold. There's a lot about this I'm not sold on and I can only place my faith in Christopher Nolan.

[John Glayde]

I'm with Droo. To me, it felt like a string of nonsensical snatches of movie that seemed to serve little purpose other than to remind you who is in it, and show off a couple of cool effects. It doesn't fill me with a sense of "ooh, that looks inderesting"... I'm finding it difficult to get hyped up and excited for this movie, because I don't really have a sense of what it's going to be about.

Trailers for The Dark Knight gave me chills... whereas this, as with Droo, left me cold.

[Nínim]

The knight is dark and full of terrors...

[Rutabaga]

The knight is dark and full of terrors...

I see what you did there. ;)

I saw the new trailer before The Avengers today, and it really is an odd trailer in that it really doesn't tell you anything. But you've gotta love the "it's not a car" line.

I trust Christopher Nolan, therefore I will be there opening weekend.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I think they are keeping a lot of the movie a secret. I don't think they need to sell anybody on the movies, as they will come.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Yeah it's definitely an "if you build it, they will come" movie.

[Atreyu]

Different folks, different strokes I guess. I loved the trailer - some nice scenes shown for the first time, gives a bit more of a hint of how the plot may unfold (but only barely) and an appropriate sombre score to go with it.

I'm there. :)

[Dasquian Belargic]

The whole soundtrack for this film, by Hans Zimmer, is available at the minute on Empire magazine's website to stream:

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=34498


As part of our countdown to the release of The Dark Knight Rises, we have a very special treat for you today. Below you can listen to the film's Hans Zimmer soundtrack in its entirety, giving you a taste of the atmosphere and action you're in for come July 20. And before you ask, we've closely parsed the track titles and none of them reads "Death Of Qui-Gon" so we're pretty sure that this is free of overt spoilers.

The track titled "Gotham's Reckoning" gives me the chills :ohno

[Darth Turbogeek]

So, so SO much better than Spider-Shit it's not funny.

If you are a rabid I'M THE FUCKING BATMAN nerd, you are going HATE this movie. Which is a good thing because Nolan has simply gone in a direction where the I'M THE GODDAMN BATMAN zealots wont appreciate as.....

Eh, I'm not going to spoil it even in spoilers, but this is intense, sometimes illogical but also different take on Batman. Some problems understanding Bane. But in the end as a trilogy Nolan has done a great job - but dont expect a Dark Knight kind of mind fuck brilliance, it's not on that level. Pretty damn solid tho and would withstand second viewings.

One thing I will say is that you will utterly HATE this movie or love it to bits. There's no real middle ground - but I think everyone will agree Hathaway's Selina Kyle is going to be like Ledger's Joker - it will define the character going forward.

I think tho The Avengers will win the Box Office battle.

[Mu Satach]

I can't wait. :)

eta til Bats 1 hour 9 min.

:crack

[Dasquian Belargic]

I have my ticket to see this tomorrow after work. Excited! :rollin

[Mu Satach]

I am surrounded by nerds and it's about to begin. AND I am technically at work. I love my job.

:crack :crack :crack

[Lilaena De'Ville]

10:40 tomorrow in IMAX. And I'm getting my haircut tomorrow, too. Can't wait!

[Mu Satach]

Two words.

F*CKING AWESOME!

[Jedieb]

I've always considered myself a huge Batman fan. I bought the occasional Batman comic during the 80's and I still read Miller's groundbreaking DKR every couple of years. I actually collected Batman comics for close to a decade. What got me into collecting Batman comics on a regular basis was Bane and the Knightfall story line. In many ways, Nolan finally gives the character of Bane a decent telling. Because his initial run in the comics had it weak moments. The Bane v. Batman fights in this film are simply BRUTAL. I loved them. I thought they were the best fight scenes of the series. Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought he ditched the jump cuts and close ups of the earlier fights. He pulled back and let us finally see Batman wail away on someone. These guys beat the living crap out of each other. It was awesome.

I've read some reviews that criticize some of the things that take place in Nolan's final installment and I scratched my head because many of them came straight from the pages of Batman comics. Over at AICN Harry lost his shit because Alfred leaves Bruce rather than watch him destroy himself[/spolier]. Sorry Harry, but that actually happened in the comic and it was the direct result of Bane breaking Batman's back. Bruce keeps pushing himself to the brink of permanent paralysis and Alfred leaves him because he can't convince Bruce to stop. There are nods to the Batman comics throughout this film.

[spolier]
Bane lifting Batman over his head and breaking his back on his knee? Check.
Batman nails Talia? Check.
A connection between Bane, Talia, and Ra's? Check. (The comics handled it differently but the characters did interact.)


I can see how some people may not like the Nolan's interpretation of Batman, but you can't say he just blatantly ignored the comics. There's enough on the screen that proves he did his research. Batman has proven himself to be a very flexible character. He started out as violent vigilante who would end story lines by snapping villain's necks. Later he became a campy nationwide sensation. Some of my earliest Batman memories are of watching Adam West and Burt Ward battle Romero, Gershwin(sp?), Newmar and company every afternoon. I was 5 and it was the greatest thing I'd ever seen. After that we finally got to see him return to his darker roots.

I've loved these Nolan films and I think he gave the character a fitting end. One of the advantages of seeing this character on the big screen like this is that you finally get to have an ending. Instead of opening the pages of a comic and reading another adventure of a man frozen in his mid 30's fighting crime for the 7th or 8th decade, you get a sense of closure. I loved the "no cartilage" scene in the doctor's office. It was a grim reminder that Bruce's crusade had taken a brutal toll on his body.

And call me a sucker, but I really thought Bruce died in that explosion. Part of me actually wanted it. But as the big reveal was drawing closer and I realized what was about to happen a smile came across my face. Batman is dead and Bruce Wayne can finally have a real life. Watching him smile back at Alfred was beautiful. I'd like to think that Alfred could have walked over and joined him and Selena for lunch, but maybe he has to stay away in order for Bruce to keep his disappearance a secret. Either way we get the ending you can never have when you have to crank out multiple issues every month for gawd knows how many titles.

Our next big screen version of this character is probably going to be very different. But I'm looking forward to it. Unless it looks like we're going to be seeing Batman on skates and brandishing a Batcredit card, them I'm staying home.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I thought it was a great end to the trilogy :)

My only complaint is that I knew about Talia and her sudden but inevitable betrayal all along, since we'd heard a while back that's who Marion Cotillard would be playing.

[Zeke]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/20/us/colorado-theater-shooting/index.html

I haven't seen the movie yet, but this is the first thing I heard about it.

[Jedieb]

I hadn't heard about the shooting when I wrote my post. I was still so jacked up I couldn't sleep and decided to post a quick reaction. That could have happened to any of us. How many midnight showings of big films have we all been to? I've been taking my son to midnight showings since he was 5 years old. Unreal.

[Captain Untouchable]

Just got back from watching.

I think I'd give the movie a solid eight (out of ten). It was a good, enjoyable story that finished the trilogy nicely, but parts of it felt a little rushed (eg. Miranda and Bruce seemed to go from never having met before via sexy time to "I'll never forget you" without there really being any steps in between). There were also some plot, character, and timeline decisions that didn't quite sit right with me.

I enjoyed it, and it was definitely a fitting end to the series but for me personally it didn't have the same impact as The Dark Knight.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Over at AICN Harry lost his shit

The guy is an idiot of the prime order. OMG IT DOESNT MATCH MY BATMAN WAAAAHHHH. Well tough for him, as you observed Batman has been many different things and I liked what was doen this time around

In the end it was about Batman becoming Bruce Wayne and learning how to break with his past. Good idea.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I saw it tonight and I really loved it and thought it ended the series perfectly. I was really blown away by Hathaway. I was never sure about her as Catwoman but she did a great job. I thought Bale was brilliant as well and enjoyed Levitt's performance as John Blake. I really liked how it connected to the previous two films.

[Wyl Staedtler]

Took the boys last night for an all-night marathon that started with the first film at 7:30 and ended with the latest getting out at like 5 this morning. We enjoyed it a lot (especially since I'm not really familiar with the Batman storylines and hadn't heard anything about who was playing who; I was the person in the theatre going 'OH MY GOD WHATWHATWHAT' at the end), although the downside was that we were so exhausted by the third installment that I'm sure we missed some of the finer points. We were fairly delirious so when we first heard Bane speak and Alex whispered (genuinely confused and prepared to be hopefully amazed) "... is that Sean Connery?!" we all ended up getting a fit of the giggles and had to get up and walk to the back to get rid of them; but the it was all good. Looking forward to renting it and seeing it with all synapses firing!



(although to be honest, the best part was taking Rhys for the previews because we'd heard that there was a teaser for the new Superman film coming out next year and watching him scream in excitement like a teenage girl at a Bieber concert, followed immediately by a slack-jawed silence. :love)

[Lilaena De'Ville]

^^^^ awwwww! So cute!

Just got back from seeing the movie. I thought it was awesome. I was blown away, and had also forgotten the casting spoiler about Ms. Cotillard so I was surprised and then remembered that I'd known about it, lol.

Loved lots of things that I'm not going to mention because typing out spoiler tags on the iPad is a pain in my butt. There's a cameo from SOMEONE who judges people in the movie that was SO GREAT. Aaaaaa!

[Captain Untouchable]

Loved lots of things that I'm not going to mention because typing out spoiler tags on the iPad is a pain in my butt. There's a cameo from SOMEONE who judges people in the movie that was SO GREAT. Aaaaaa!

Death... by execution! :lol

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Death... by exile ;)

[Mu Satach]

Sold! to the man in a cold sweat.

So, I have been busy enough that I completely had forgotten everything I knew about Ra's al Ghul. Felt like a complete idiot and loved it.

[Peter McCoy]

I loved it. Harry Knowles is a moaning fanboy and wrong. This film was superb. My only complaint was that Bane was, at times, difficult to understand.

[Ezra Na'chtion]

I agree with Peter on that one. At times I felt I was missing out on important dialogue because I could not understand Bane. All it took was someone coughing in the back of the the theater and I missed three words.

I will admit that I felt a little disappointed with the ending. Batman's death felt like the natural progression of the film. It made him a hero, an icon, that would inspire the city forever, and it achieved all that still but he was alive and I felt that all the emotion of the climax was destroyed when he was alive. When Alfred broke down over the graves I was emotionally destroyed and tearing up, and then I felt robbed that I was forced through all these emotions for nothing really.

That is my only complaint about the movie. Beyond that it was a spectacular show and I loved all of it.

[Korax]

Thought it was pretty great, wanted more Batman screen time though. For a movie that long you'd think they could get just a smiiiiiiiidgeon more cape and cowl? Eh. I'm picking nits I guess.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Kind of love this.

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We've already seen Dark Knight Rises trailers visually recreated with Batman: The Animated Series clips; now, in promotion of a Batman: TAS marathon this Friday, the Hub network has taken the next logical step and had the cartoon's iconic voice cast re-dub the audio, too, giving Batman's "this isn't a car" the suave, authoritative timbre of Kevin Conroy. Watch it below, and hark back to the simpler days when Bane just sounded like some dude.

[CMJ]

I finally saw this on Thursday, but I had to help my girlfriend move the last couple of days so I really haven't had time to post any thoughts yet. Anyways, here's some scattershot stuff.


I'd say it hit higher highs AND lower lows than any of the other films in the trilogy. The story is often deeply convenient (especially in comparison to the first two, which didn't to me), and Bane's plot makes basically no sense if you think about it for more than a second. But as with all of Nolan's Batman films, the plot (and character arcs) are beside the point. He's interested in pursuing moral and ethical quandaries and seeing what happens when humanity is introduced to the sorts of chaos and terror that would exist in a world with superheroes and supervillains. He shoots everything realistically, so you're thinking, "Hey, this could really happen!" but this one is, again to me, the least realistic of his three.

He stretches the realism conceit to the breaking point in this one, and if you don't go with Bane taking over Gotham (which is a hard, hard, hard thing to wrap your head around), then the last half of the film probably doesn't work for you. I didn't have a hard time with the takeover per se, but with the 5 months that we're left with. I would expect much more than one attempted military incursion.

Still, it's less a film about its central character than it is a film about the city that houses him. The problem with this is that this one takes place in a clockwork universe, where everybody has a particular purpose to fill in the plot, and once they've fulfilled it, they wander away. It's hard to imagine that most of the characters in this film have lives offscreen (which is kind of the opposite of how I felt about TDK). Hathaway (fantastic btw) gives Selina Kyle a real sense of someone who exists outside of her role, but Gotham City as a real place didn't quite exist for me, even as the city has become more and more "real" (with three cities doubling for it in this film. Here, for instance, Nolan needs to show just how bad we should feel about Gotham being destroyed, so he trots out... a bus full of orphans. It's a really, really weird choice, even when you consider that the film has two orphans as its main characters, more or less, both of whom have connections to the orphanage. When "The Narrows" were overrun by the Scarecrow and his thugs in BB, there was a visceral, terrifying sense that real people's lives were at stake. The Dark Knight accomplished this by humanizing a few of the cops and a lot of chaotic reactions by citizenry during Joker's reign of terror.

The politics of the earlier films seemingly argued against vigilante-ism in a way that this one didn't seem to. I am not sure how I feel about this. Yes, you're supposed to be with Wayne, but BB and TDK raised moral questions if this was really a good tactic to take. In this one, it's almost the opposite given the end with Robin John Blake.

The much more interesting political material comes in the scenes where Gordon talks about institutions becoming shackles and where the rise of Bane reveals that all systems will be corrupt and subject to abuse of power. In that way, I suppose Watne/Batman is like Cincinnatus, in that he is the only one to be trusted to watch the people and give up power..


I sound like I'm being hard on the film, when, really, I mostly loved it. Nolan created a cracker jack film here. The acting was very strong by everyone (once again I give props to Oldman for being the under the radar lynchpin) - and I thought the set pieces were by and large brilliant. My favorite sequence was probably the first Bane/Batman brawl with the reveal that the LOS were right underneath Wayne Enterprises.

Every time I talk about this movie, I think of something different, so I may add more later.

[Captain Untouchable]

I've been talking about this movie with people extensively over the last week or so, and I've realised that there are quite a lot of things that I either didn't like, didn't buy, or found disappointing.

With Bane, Nolan started off well. He was brutal, but there was a lot of cunning and intelligence mixed in there. As the movie went on though, his smarts slowly started taking a back seat... and in hindsight, most of it was 'fake'. In the comics, Bane worked out that Batman was Bruce Wayne by using his own naus and detective skills. In Rises, Bane found out that Bruce was Batman because Talia told him. All of the plans that maked him seem like a scarily intelligent terrorist - the bomb, the base under Wayne Tower, etc - turned out to be Talia's plan. He went from being the leader of his rebel army to being Talia's trained attack dog. He's basically the Count Dooku of Batman: and I found that disappointing, because he showed so much promise at the beginning.

With Miranda, it felt a lot like Talia was in the movie because Nolan felt she had to be. The romance between her and Bruce seemed to come out of nowhere: they'd never met before, then for some reason she was at his house, and then they were naked, and then he was all: "I'll never forget you." If their relationship had been longer lasting... or perhaps if the audience had found out who she was ten minutes earlier to give us a "Holy shit, Batman has been duped and he doesn't even know!" shock, it might have had more resonance. Instead, we were simply told "Oh yeah, Talia is actually the badass who climbed out of the pit... now watch her drive a truck about for a bit." I didn't feel that her being Talia al-Ghul actually added anything to the story.

With Selina, I'm still not completely sure if I liked Ms Hathaway's performance or not. She had some good dialogue, and some cool moments, and I liked the fact that they captured the warped Robin Hood aspect. Something just felt a bit off, though... at times she was "bitchy", rather than just "catty", and that's totally the wrong animal. Also, that kiss at the end felt like it was rammed in there as fan service.

With Batman, a couple of things bugged me. First of all, the timeline: there was a year or so between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. That's Batman's entire career: one year of activity, eight years in retirement. I get why they did that, but it leaves so much wasted potential. Bruce built a new Batcave that he never actually used. He was never really "hunted" by the police, because he almost instantly went into hiding. There's no space for other Batman villains to have ever existed: not even the opportunity to have a few cameos, or trophies around the Batcave. Bruce acted like this war-wearied veteran a la The Dark Knight Returns, but on closer inspection he didn't (to my mind) spend enough time as Batman to justify that... or to justify Alfred's attitude, either. If there'd been a few more years of Bat-activity (Bactivity?), even if it was just implied or mentioned in passing - maybe a couple of villain cameos as people imprisoned under the Dent Act - I think it might have worked a bit better.

Overall, I guess I have this sense of "I see what you're trying to do". There was a lot of story and a lot of ideas, but I didn't feel like enough time was spent on the actual execution. It was a good movie, and I enjoyed watching it... but I feel like it had the potential to have been better, given the material that Nolan was working with.

[CMJ]

I think it was more like 18 months between the first two movies. Dent had already been in office for a year by the start of the film -- but he had to get elected first.

And Bruce wasn't suffering from any sort of shell shock, but from lack of purpose and a broken heart.

[Captain Untouchable]

Regardless, eighteen months is still not a very long time; a bonus six months doesn't really detract from the point I was making.

I don't buy the broken heart thing either. This is Batman we're talking about: a man driven by loss and anguish. Losing Rachel should have - as it did at the end of TDK - made him more driven... not turned him into a bitter old recluse. The ending of TDK - with it's "you'll have to chase me" message - seems to have evaporated. The whole "hero that Gotham deserves" sentiment turns hollow if, after riding off into the night at the end of Dark Knight, he crawls into his cave and hides for eight years.

[Crusader]

^^Maybe a year is not that much but Batman knows no weekends, no vacation and no formalities. He could strike every night, go straight after the big fishes without having to prepare any accusations since no one will hold him back. One year or eighteen months of terror for Gotham's crime could be already enough to get him a reputation among criminals and citizens of Gotham. Plus since the Narrows are full of escaped Arkham thugs on chems at the end of Batman Begins he must have had his hands full in the first weeks.

So Batman had over 365 days to leave an impression on one city and Al Quaida only needed one day for defining a decade.

My complaint is that his destroyed leg became magicaly healed by getting his back broken.

[Ben Merasska]

I was under the impression that it had been around some years since anyone had seen Batman. And that he only disappeared when he gave up on the fusion reactor he and Miranda Tate were working on; not immediately after TDK.

[Droo]

What Vince said. I thought he set aside the Batman in the wake of the Dent Act and the consequent cleaning of Gotham, and as far as Rachael was concerned, he was under the impression that she was going to wait for him, that she was the love of his life and that he couldn't move on romantically with his own life. I didn't think Rachael's death had anything to do with him giving up his life of crime-fighting.

It appears to be a commonly raised issue, but I'm not sure it isn't founded upon misinterpretation of the plot, and it's not unsurprising since a lot seemed to have happened off screen between the second and third films. Then again, I could be wrong and have it the completely wrong way around, but I'll be going to see it a second time soon, which will be sure to clear up any foggy areas regarding plot.

[Captain Untouchable]

The "eighteen months" being referred to is the amount of time between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. The amount of time between TDK and Rises is about eight years: Batman retired IMMEDIATELY after Dent died. (Someone mentions that the last confirmed sighting of Batman was on that night, and Nolan pretty much explained this in advance.)

My gripe here is that it leaves no space for the rest of Batman's villains. The Joker was the first in "a new class of criminal", and then Batman's career ends. It would have been easy for Nolan to put some fudge factor: some period of overlap where Batman was still active, but being chased by the GCPD. There could easily have been a couple of subtle references - the odd supervillain trophy in the Batcave; someone in one of the group scenes with a question mark tie; a redhead in a floral dress. Nolan chose his timeline in such a way that Bruce Wayne will only ever encounter Scarecrow, the Joker, and the League of Shadows. Most of the most famous and iconic Batman villains simply don't exist: and that feels like a waste of potential. Given the amount of effort Nolan went to cramming in the unnecessary romance aspects, I'm disappointed that no efforts were made to include other aspects of Bat lore. It felt very isolated; quite a stark contrast to Marvel's movie efforts (heheh, stark), which did a wonderful job of respecting and referencing the broader lore.

When watching The Dark Knight, I got the sense that Batman's reputation was the same as in the Tim Burton "Batman" movie. People had heard rumours about him, but for the most part he was considered an urban legend. The events of The Dark Knight would certainly have pushed him into the public eye: but he was then instantly villainised, taking the blame for a series of murders. It feels like Nolan changed his mind after TDK, and took the story in a totally different direction: to me, the journey from TDK to Rises is a bit too non-sequitur for my liking. In a lot of scenes, Bruce was being treated like some sort of war-weary veteran who had given his whole life to his cause. That was how Lucius Fox seemed to talk about it. That's how that kid with the chalk - who wasn't even old enough to remember Batman first-hand - seemed to feel. I didn't get the sense that his career as Batman was long enough to deserve that kind of rep. Hell, he retired before he even got a chance to use his shiny new Batcave.

I don't buy it, basically. I'm sure Nolan has his reasons, and I'm sure people have very different interpretations: but for me, it felt a little light on justification, and a little heavy on wasted potential.

[Droo]

I see where you're coming from but, for me, it was never much of an issue. A lot of your criticism here seems to be levelled at what we don't see, the things that didn't and perhaps should've happened off-screen, which would've consequently been implied and granted references in the third film. Upon reflection, would those things grant the Rises story more weight? Possibly. But, having said that, how many of us were counting the months and years and figuring out for how long Batman had been inactive and then deciding whether or not that warrants the war-weary veteran presented to us? I know I wasn't, and in this new light, when I go to see it again I have a feeling I won't be particularly bothered about it the second time around. It was Nolan's story, his interpretation of the Batman story, and I don't think he needs references to Penguins and Poison Ivies to improve it. Also, I don't think we can compare the Marvel films to Nolan's trilogy in terms of fan service and lore, because tonally they're worlds apart, where one is rooted firmly in gritty realism, the other is admittedly much more light-hearted and doesn't take itself as seriously.

[Captain Untouchable]

If you go back to my earlier post with the huge swathe of spoiler tags, this is actually only one gripe out of a whole bunch. Most of them are (as you put it) levelled at things that we did see. This just happens to be the only gripe that has been directly reacted to thus far. ;)

Also, lets not forget that in the previous two movies, Nolan set a precedent for throwing in tiny references for the fanboys. One of the prisoners in Arkham during BB was Victor Zsasz for example: we weren't told that, but he had a tally mark of scars on his neck. Several of the police officers in The Dark Knight - not to mention the mobsters - were all references to characters from the comics, cartoons, and so on. The references were subtle, elegant, and you only noticed them if you were looking for it. By contrast, the "references" in this movie seemed much clumsier and ham-fisted: Catwoman kissing Batman at the end, and Miranda shacking up with Bruce in the middle were both references to them being the two main romances of Bruce's life: both felt rushed, and didn't seem to contribute all that much to the story. It's one of the many things that, for me, made this movie feel less sharp and polished: not up to the same quality of finish that Nolan has set in his other recent works.

If it doesn't bother you, then I'm happy for you: I'm glad you're able to enjoy the movie without that sort of thing bugging you. For me personally though, I didn't walk out of the movie feeling like I'd seen the most fantastic movie ever (as seems to be the prevailing internet opinion): I walked out with a head full of questions not about the plot, but about why Nolan had made the decisions he had.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Complaining that this didn't leave things open for more villains is silly, as this is the last Nolan Batman movie. Did you want them all in this movie, like an amped up Spider-Man 3? :p

I loved the movie and want to see it again. I probably won't get to until DVD though, it was super impressive in IMAX.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Complaining about Batman's rouge's gallery not being there really IS silly. It's exactly the reason why I had a shot at the fanboi's - this is NOT the Batman of the comics or of the other movie series. The Nolanverse has different rules, different motives and a very different Batman - and even IF the rouge's gallery exists, they are also very VERY different. And if you cant accept that, then you have missed one of the great things about Batman as a character - he has become able to be rewritten, to morph from a dark brooding murderous gun weilding SOB to the comic clown of the 60's and now this and half a dozen other takes.

This is the Nolanverse and thence this Batman has been done differntly, but at the core that's what Batman can allow you to do.

And also one of Nolan's points that he also takes time to make - Batman can be anyone, which to me sounds a lot like the point about how Batman has never been one character sheet, but very different personalities. Lets not forget the nerd rage when Burton decided to make Batman quite different from the popular TV series!

I think it's valid to be critical of the movie - and some points you make are valid but asking us to accept that you didnt like this version of Batman because it doesnt fit into your idea of the character or the universe he occupies is not valid. Especially given Batman's past.

[Droo]

If you go back to my earlier post with the huge swathe of spoiler tags, this is actually only one gripe out of a whole bunch. Most of them are (as you put it) levelled at things that we did see. This just happens to be the only gripe that has been directly reacted to thus far. ;)


Yes, I read it. My comment regarding "a lot of your criticism being levelled at what we don't see" was in reference to the discussion at hand, and even in stating that I was careful not to say "all of your criticism".

On the matters of Bane and Miranda, I am in agreement that neither character was executed as well as they perhaps could've been. However, from the beginning, I never percieved Bane as anything much more than a big thug carrying out a well-organised plan. He never came across as particularly sharp or intelligent, just driven. I know it looked like it was all his idea in the beginning, but when we find out the truth, I felt like it made more sense, considering the character as he was presented to me. And I felt that, while brief and almost tacked on, the backstory between him and Talia allowed them a moment of convincing tenderness. And considering neither character was particularly well fleshed out at all, to see that was of some small relief.

Speaking of things being tacked on, the romance between Miranda and Bruce, if it can be called that, felt like nothing short of lip-service. In fact, had it merely been an instance of lip-service, a flash of lust between these characters, then I could've bought that. But then it was played up a little too much, like had this deep connection, probably to imply that Wayne was getting over the loss of Rachael, but it wasn't necessary. His last scene saw to that. Saving the Talia revelation for so late in the game meant that we didn't get to see much of the real character at all, and what glimpses I saw I liked. Marion Cotillard does crazy very well. And I agree with Jace, it was a complete waste to stuff her in a truck thereafter.

[Captain Untouchable]

However, [spoiler]from the beginning, I never percieved Bane as anything much more than a big thug carrying out a well-organised plan.

I guess maybe this is a "coming into the story with prior knowledge" scenario, then. Perhaps I optimistically saw hints at Bane being more than that. We certainty didn't get any hints early on that it wasn't his plan, so it seemed to me as if he'd maybe cooked it up on his own to begin with. That made me hope that they'd got some of the Bane being clever stuff in there - some of his plans were pretty cunning - but it was ultimately undermined.

It was certainly a better portrayal of Bane than in Batman & Robin, but I still don't think that movie makers quite "get" the character: he's meant to be the epitomy of brawn and brains. After taking the Joker and making him more than just an insane clown, it's a shame that Nolan didn't manage to take Bane and make him more than just a giant brute.

Justice League: Doom is a good (animated) movie adaptation with a much better portrayal of Bane. That gives you a sense of how Bane works; it takes the "Your punishment must be more severe" mentality, but attacks Bruce mentally and emotionally with just as much ferocity as he attacks him physically.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I don't think that the movie made Bane seem not-smart (certainly not dumb) - I got the idea that it was a partnership between him and Talia, not that she called the shots and he was just following orders.

[Droo]

I didn't think he was dumb, but he definately lacked that sharpness of character possessed by Ra's, Joker, Two Face, and even Talia. Bane was like a brick wall that Batman came up against, a moving one at that, and he represented the challenge that highlighted the fact that perhaps the Dark Knight's best days were behind him. Of every villain in Nolan's films, I found Bane the weakest.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I didn't really find Bane's motivation very convincing, honestly. The other villains felt like fully formed people with understandable, if irrational, driving forces behind them, but Bane just felt a bit flat for me. I still really enjoyed the film though :)

[Captain Untouchable]

I'm certainly not calling Bane dumb. He just wasn't the genius level intellect that he's "meant" to be. The fact that he's brains wrapped in brawn is his defining feature in the comics: I don't feel that was adequately portrayed. *shrug*

As for the other stuff I mentioned, I found this really interesting editorial (http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/BIGBMH/news/?a=64959) written by a "civilian" / member of the public over at ComicBookMovie.com, which looks at the themes that were set up in The Dark Knight, and whether or not TDKR was in keeping with those.

[Captain Untouchable]

These are always fun. :)

WQJuGeqdbn4

"The epic final chapter that will mildly entertain you when you're watching it, but will ultimately anger and disappoint you when you actually start thinking about it." -- Sounds about right. :lol

[Lilaena De'Ville]

This comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray today.