ladyofleithian | Finally got around to seeing THE DARK KNIGHT RISES...

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Finally got around to seeing THE DARK KNIGHT RISES...

...and I loved it! Wonderful movie -- although damn, was it intense. And to be fair, so were the last two Batman movies, but still...holy God. 0.0.

Trailers I got:

-The Expendables 2. I haven't watched the first Expendables, but this trailer looks pretty fucking amazing.

-Oz: The Great and Powerful. I'll admit, at first I didn't realize that this was the trailer for that movie -- I know. XD -- so I was a bit confused as to why they were showing a black and white movie trailer, and then, "Oh." (Cue the obligatory facepalm moment. XD)

-Jack Reacher. Looks...okay, I assume. Not sure if I want to go see it, TBH.

-Argo. Ben Affleck's latest movie -- basically based on a real life case the Canadian Caper, where the U.S. and Canadian governments managed to rescue six hostages by saying they were part of a film crew for a (fake) movie. So far, the trailer looks pretty good. And considering that Ben Affleck's directing...well, it's going to be amazing, no doubt.

-Red Dawn (remake). I'll admit, watching the trailer, I was a bit uncomfortable (let's say that it involves the U.S. government breaching our rights...considering all the SOPA bullshit and so on, that hit pretty close to home for me), but it looks pretty damn good. *Makes note to watch the original Red Dawn*

The movie experience:

Let's say I managed to talk my parents into letting me go see it. My dad took me -- my mom didn't want to go, I think. Especially considering that she'd found the previous movie, The Dark Knight, a bit too intense for her tastes -- I know she wouldn't let me watch it for a while. And to be fair, I can see her point -- I know what happened to Harvey Dent and Rachel Dawes broke my heart (not helped by the fact they were two of my favorite characters in the film). Probably worse for her considering she doesn't like sad endings. Which I can agree with -- honestly, I can deal with characters being put through hell as long as they come out triumphant in the end. The movie in general put me on the edge of my seat -- and you may or may not call me crazy, but Bane scared the hell out of me. I'll admit I had some doubts about Bane from what I heard, but Tom Hardy delivered.

Things I loved:

-Jim Gordon's eulogy for Harvey Dent in the beginning. *sniffles*

-Bane. The only thing I really didn't like was how muffled his voice could get at times (more on that later), but other than that, Tom Hardy was incredible as Bane. If he doesn't get an Oscar for his performance any time soon, I'm going to be disappointed. He really did a good job at making Bane threatening -- I know his scene in the football stadium came to mind, when he was calling the people of Gotham to take the city back, so to speak. Also, when he kills Daggett. I hated the guy (Daggett, that is), but I'll admit, even I was cringing when Bane took him out. It definitely helps that they managed to build him up as threatening beforehand -- the prologue, for example. And the cutaway as Daggett starts to scream was super-effective, leaving the viewer to imagine what was going on. *Shivers*

+ Also, his first fight with Batman. Just the back-and-forth between them, Bane taunting him, beating the tar out of one another, and Bane ultimately breaking Batman's back -- even though I should have known it was coming, I still cringed. Doesn't really help what the doctor in the prison says when he sees Batman's condition.

+ And talking to the incapacitated Bruce in the cave. Just the fact that he wants Bruce to suffer before finally killing him... *Shudders* Especially in terms of watching Gotham just go insane.

-Alfred. *Sniffles* Seriously, his talk with Bruce about how he doesn't want to bury another member of the Wayne family just broke my heart. (Goddamn you, Michael Caine. :( ) Heck, during the scene, I was pretty much like, "Come on, Bruce -- just give him a hug or something!" I was just frustrated with the both of them -- although thinking about it, I can understand (sort of) why they did what they did. And then later, at Bruce's "funeral", when Alfred apologizes for "failing" him...considering how the last time they talked, it was an argument about Bruce becoming Batman again, that was just...ow.

+ And then it turns to happy tears when Alfred goes to the cafe near the end and sees Bruce and Selina together. Especially considering that earlier in the film, he was talking about Bruce having a normal life. Mostly illustrating it via Alfred being in a cafe somewhere, looking up, and seeing Bruce with a wife, and perhaps children. Bruce wouldn't have to say anything, but he'd see Alfred, and...well, they'd know.

* So, TL;DR, goddamn you Michael Caine. Enough said.

-The scene in the football stadium. 'Nuff said. Also, later, Bane showing up at Wayne Enterprises.

-Joseph Gordon-Levitt was also wonderful in this movie as John Blake, the man who later became Robin. Some of my favorite scenes with him include rescuing Jim Gordon (and poor Gordon -- he just went through a lot of crap in this movie), taking charge of the kids, and, at the end, taking up Batman's mantle.

-Bane revealing the truth about Harvey Dent on television and Blake calling Gordon out on it. (Although I frankly want to know where Bane got it)

-Cillian Murphy returning as the Scarecrow was extremely effective -- I know the "exile or death" scene (basically, whatever you choose, it doesn't make a difference: you're still walking across thin ice in the end) gave me chills. Especially in regards to that one poor officer that had to walk across the ice and fell in. Add the fact that apparently, if you attempt to swim away, you're dead, and I can only conclude that the poor man didn't make it. It also made me terrified for Commissioner Gordon and the others when they were captured -- although I nearly cheered at Gordon standing up to the Scarecrow and basically saying, "You think we're going to go out without a fight, psycho? You're wrong." And later, when they manage to not only get across the ice safely, but light the Bat Signal. Seriously, Gordon? You were fantastic in this film, my friend. Absolutely fantastic. 'Nuff said.

-While we're on the subject of fantastic, Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. Helps she's one of my favorite actresses, but seriously, she kicked ass in this film. I loved her banter with Bruce at the party, for example, as well as saving that kid from being beat up, and later, when she comes back for Batman to save him from Bane (who's pretty much disregarded Talia's orders and decided to just kill him immediately instead). Let's say it's hard to pick a scene -- she was just awesome all around. :)

-Bruce making his way out of the pit. Made even more awesome considering that I was on the edge of my seat the first time he did it, with the rope -- and it's shown multiple times in the movie that there's no chance with the rope. And I was actually wondering at one point if the reason they had the rope there was to just trip up anyone who was trying to escape (especially with Bane's speech about giving people false hope when Bruce is first trapped in the prison), but considering their reaction when Bruce actually makes it without the rope -- I think they actually did want to escape, all of them, and they wanted Bruce to escape too. I think that they just had the rope there through a bit of a misunderstanding -- they were afraid to fall, never mind that the rope was actually holding them back from reaching the rocks.

+ And to be fair, I can see their point. I know I was all but on the edge of my seat when Bruce was trying to make his way out of the prison.

-Gotham City going, to quote a wise man, straight to the speed of apeshit. Heartwrenching and nightmarish, but wonderfully done as well.

+ Especially the prisoners rioting in the jail cells. *Shivers*

-The revelation of Miranda Tate as Talia Al Ghul. First off, it was a really well-executed twist, especially considering that I was led to believe, as the movie progressed, that Bane was Ra's Al Ghul's son and that Ra's excommunicated him from the League of Shadows for being "too extreme" -- and knowing Ra's, if someone's excommunicated for being too extreme...yeah. And then the truth sets in that Miranda Tate, Bruce's trusted assistant, was the one holding the key to the detonator to the bomb, and the child spoken of that climbed out of the pit. And in a way, it presents a different side to Bane -- who was presented previously as a cold, calculating, ruthless, Dangerously Genre Savvy (if weirdly charming at a few points) Magnificent Bastard (rather true to his comics incarnation in the sense Bane is *extremely* intelligent. See how he ultimately defeats Batman in KNIGHTFALL, for example). It gives him a pitiable side, especially in the fact that he suffered the injury that requires him to constantly wear a mask because he was trying to save a child from life in a hellish prison. And then was ultimately rejected by Ra's Al Ghul, a man he looked up to judging by his dialogue about fulfilling Ra's's vision, because Ra's couldn't look at Bane without being reminded of the prison his wife was put into. Is it in the comics? Probably not, but it *works*.

+ Not to mention Bane's reaction in the scene where Talia reveals the truth to Bruce -- just the tears in Bane's eyes. And Talia calling him "my friend". Seriously, even though they're doing something absolutely horrible in planning to blow up Gotham City, in a way, I feel really bad for them.

-Speaking of Talia, Marion Cotillard was the perfect choice for Talia. I loved her in INCEPTION, but playing Talia? She was absolutely fantastic.

-Speaking of Ra's, even though it was just a cameo (and a hallucination on Bruce's part as well), I loved Liam Neeson -- briefly -- reprising his role as Ra's. As well as the flashback regarding what happened to the "great love" mentioned in BATMAN BEGINS. While I hate how he treated Bane -- especially considering Bane just *saved his daughter's life* -- I can also pity him, if only because, in BATMAN BEGINS, you can see that the loss of his wife really affected him.

Things I Didn't Like:

-Bane's voice. While Tom Hardy did an incredible job, I think the only bad thing was that at times I couldn't really hear Bane's voice very well. And while it does make sense, what with the mask and everything (and the movie doesn't show what exactly the prisoners did to Bane to the point he'd need the mask just to keep the pain at bay, but it's implied, what with the bandages, etc.), there were times when I was going, "Huh? You're Gotham's what? Say what now?" So that was pretty frustrating at times.

-Christian Bale's Batman voice got occasionally distracting. Don't get me wrong; he did a great job, but there were times when the Batman voice was a bit much. Also, perhaps I'm just overreacting, but him beating the crap out of Bane kind of made me cringe. Granted, this Batman *is* a bit more brutal than other incarnations of the character (e.g. leaving Ra's Al Ghul to die in Batman Begins, etc.) and he did need to disarm the bomb, but still...not exactly your finest hour, Batsy. (Or am I not getting it, once again?)

So, all in all? Loved it. :3 A few problems here and there, but I loved it. :)

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Yup, exactly what I expected, point for point.

*head/desk* Damn you, Christopher Nolan. I'm glad you're done wrecking the story now.

But, glad you enjoyed yourself.

Well, thank you, at any rate. :)

Hey, I know how it works - people clearly enjoy these movies. I try not to bash fans, just the guy pulling the strings.

That's definitely good. :) *Sighs* Believe me, it's not because I have low standards and am easily entertained. It's because, somehow, they managed to sell it for me. I think it was mostly the actors -- putting words on the page is one thing, seeing them acted out onscreen is a different matter. And it's because it was...well, really well-executed. :)

Edited 2012-08-12 00:44 (UTC)

I'll have to take your word for that. They didn't pull it off in the previous two for me, as you know. That said, the BBC did a full-cast audio version of Knightfall years ago that fills the void for me nicely and actually told the story from the comics. Love me some old school radio.

Oh, nice! :D *Makes note to check out*

It's a hard one to find. They released it on cassette back in the day. I transferred it over to MP3 years ago, but that doesn't do you a whole lot of good. All I can say is good luck on the hunt.

I'm glad you liked TDKR! :)

It was brilliant! :D What were your favorite parts? :)

I loved Alfred and Bruce's last exchange before Alfred quits his job, Selina's moment of decision whether she flees the city or stays and helps out, the revelation about Talia, the Bruce/Selina kiss, Batman's "final" sacrifice... so many scenes, lol.

I loved those Selina moments too. Hell, I loved Selina in this movie in general. And the revelation of Talia and Bane's relationship. And Talia calling Bane "my friend" while caressing his mask -- and the look in Bane's eyes. Marion Cotillard and Tom Hardy were fantastic.

And Alfred. Although... ;.;

Edited 2012-08-12 02:26 (UTC)

I saw the movie yesterday, and... meh.

I mean, there were a lot of enjoyable things in it, many of which you listed. I just didn't feel there was much cohesion to it. I don't know what I'm supposed to think at the end. What was that whole pasted-on class struggle theme about? (either way, taking arguments for economic justice and putting them in the sociopathic villain's mouth is icky - but I'd like to know what the hell Nolan thought he was saying, so I can know how offended I should be) Was the way Batman basically acquired any technology he thought could possibly maybe somehow be put to harmful use and locking it up in his basement supposed to be neurotic and paranoid, or was he justified in thinking that the world is just that dangerous and people are stupid and evil and can't be trusted with anything more advanced than a can opener? (if it's the latter, then again I must be offended. Really, I just want enough information to know whether I have a moral duty to hate something, is that so much to ask? :P ) What story, in essence, did I just watch, if you take away all the booming music and explosions?

And while Bane was definitely a badass, that high-pitched voice and posh accent really didn't work for me.

Now, I'll grant you, without reservation, the awesomeness of Catwoman... ;)

Very good points. TBH, I mostly saw it as a parable for how, exactly, madmen get into power. Taking advantage of desperate situations. I guess it's not the problem of the people ruling Gotham City, but the men they put their trust in to help them (seriously, why Bane and Scarecrow?).

And yes, Catwoman was amazing. :3

In regards to Bane being the one to talk about the classism and that, I got the impression that he didn't really buy it himself. He was just saying it to get the people of Gotham to listen to him and to shit stir, before blowing them all up. That, to me, was the difference between Batman, Selena, and Bane and Talia. Bruce tried to use his resources to resolve the poverty issues peacefully. Selena didn't mind watching the upper class crash and burn by their own hubris, but she really did believe in what she said and didn't like the wanton violence against innocent people. Bane and Talia just were trying to fulfill Ra's Al Ghul's goals. He had thought that Gotham was irredeemable and was going to let them go insane and destroy themselves, so Bane and Talia did the same.

Apparently Nolan based the whole class revolution of Gotham after the french Revolution, with the jail breakout based on the fall of the Bastille.

And I know what you mean about Bane's voice. My dad saw the movie, and he completely didn't get most of the airplane scene, particularly why Bane transferred some of the doctor's blood into the dead body.

Very well-said regarding Bruce and Selina vs. Bane and Talia! :D They really are mirrors of one another, aren't they? :)

And yeah, the airplane scene...I'll admit that scene frustrated me if only because I was like, "What's he doing? Why is he transferring the blood?" Et cetera, Et cetera. Otherwise a great scene. :)

I can definitely see what your mother is talking about, I found The Dark Knight intense as well. Although The Dark Knight Rises can be tense too, it wasn't as traumatic as The Dark Knight because there were some really disturbing scenes in that movie.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought Bane and Talia were sympathetic despite their role in the movie. I think they really made an impact on the audience, to the point where friends of mine actually ship them as a couple. Personally, I thought Bane's love for Talia was more paternal but I can see where the shippers are coming from, you have to really care about a person to make so many sacrifices for them, which is what Bane did for Talia.

I know what you mean. I mean, the Joker? *Shudders*

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought Bane and Talia were sympathetic despite their role in the movie. I think they really made an impact on the audience, to the point where friends of mine actually ship them as a couple. Personally, I thought Bane's love for Talia was more paternal but I can see where the shippers are coming from, you have to really care about a person to make so many sacrifices for them, which is what Bane did for Talia.

This, seriously.

Yeah, the Joker in that movie was too many levels of creepy for my liking, although the actor did a stupendous job.

Seriously! He was amazing. :)

I wish for once they'd do an Oz movie that was actually remotely faithful to the books. I'm probably alone in my dislike of the Wizard of Oz movie, but I'm of the view that when you change the whole premise of the story (making it all a dream), you've missed the point of the thing you are adapting.

Such an amazing movie. I was going nerdgasm like not just because of how intense it was, but all the references and throwbacks to Knightfall.

I'm not sure why folks would criticize the class struggle bit. It's been an element throughout the movies so far, and with what's happening on Wall Street nowadays, it was a pretty good avenue for storytelling.

Joseph GL's character was a mix of all three Robins, as I understand it. Their personality types and such. It'd be interesting to see what they do with that...

Hey! :D *hugs*

And I definitely agree, regarding the KNIGHTFALL bits. Also, the class struggle commentary and everything. I think it was also more of a critique about how dystopias come into being -- madmen playing on the fears of the people to get into power.

And definitely agreed regarding Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Robin. I'd really love to see where they go with that.

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Finally got around to seeing THE DARK KNIGHT RISES...

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