The Dark Knight Rises
Ho boy. Where to start?
O
M
G
That was probably the most perfect way to end the Nolan Batman series. The movie on a whole is a great ending. A great continuation from the Dark Knight.
Most, if not all, the acting was spot on, and it was nice to see some new faces in the mix. I just about had a fan-gasm when I saw Burn Gorman. I even had to lean over to my date and say "See that guy there? He was in Torchwood!" Sad to see him as such an unapologetic bad guy, but with a face like his, you know...(I kid!) As for some of the other newcomers...Anne Hathaway is a darn good Catwoman, and I like the fact that her 'cat ears' actually have a function. I also fell in love with Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character immediately. That may be just my lingering Arthur-love though. Naturally, because he was so likeable right away, I instantly assumed he was cannon-fodder (or Bane-fodder?) Luckily, he beat the odds! Woohoo! A character I liked survived!
And of course, Bane. I tried not to root for him, I really did. And just because I didn't completely hate him doesn't mean I wanted Batman and Co. to lose. It was (like the example with JGL) just my lingering Eames-love. Even had some brief Eames/Arthur fanfic flashbacks at one point. Good thing they didn't have a scene together - I think I would have imploded. But back on topic now - Tom Hardy's Bane is a great villain. A force to be reckoned with, even against the mighty Batman. But he's not better than the Joker. Maybe it's the fact that Heath seemed to hold NOTHING back in his performance.
Marion Cotillard. Talia al Ghul. I. Fucking. Knew. It.
The story is really good too. It pains me to say that it's not great, however. It starts very slowly, with the tension building slowly like a piano wire tightening. Then it snaps. And as the wire twists out of control, this way and that, so does the plot.
Now on to less positive things.
I think the editing, particularly in the beginning, wasn't up to par. It seemed disjointed and quick, when it didn't need to be. I have a feeling that there was a LOT of footage that hit the cutting room floor - I hate it when such a thing is obvious, especially on the FIRST VIEWING.
In the end, though, this is a great way to close the book on this particular Batman universe. As many people with see in the ending though, Nolan hasn't really closed the book. In a way, he's tucked his quill away, but left the book sitting on the table. A worthy successor might be able to open the book and add to it. But this movie - and the two preceding it - will be tough acts to follow indeed.
8/10
For reference sake:
Batman Begins: 7/10
The Dark Knight: 9/10
The Dark Knight Rises: 8/10
O
M
G
That was probably the most perfect way to end the Nolan Batman series. The movie on a whole is a great ending. A great continuation from the Dark Knight.
Most, if not all, the acting was spot on, and it was nice to see some new faces in the mix. I just about had a fan-gasm when I saw Burn Gorman. I even had to lean over to my date and say "See that guy there? He was in Torchwood!" Sad to see him as such an unapologetic bad guy, but with a face like his, you know...(I kid!) As for some of the other newcomers...Anne Hathaway is a darn good Catwoman, and I like the fact that her 'cat ears' actually have a function. I also fell in love with Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character immediately. That may be just my lingering Arthur-love though. Naturally, because he was so likeable right away, I instantly assumed he was cannon-fodder (or Bane-fodder?) Luckily, he beat the odds! Woohoo! A character I liked survived!
And of course, Bane. I tried not to root for him, I really did. And just because I didn't completely hate him doesn't mean I wanted Batman and Co. to lose. It was (like the example with JGL) just my lingering Eames-love. Even had some brief Eames/Arthur fanfic flashbacks at one point. Good thing they didn't have a scene together - I think I would have imploded. But back on topic now - Tom Hardy's Bane is a great villain. A force to be reckoned with, even against the mighty Batman. But he's not better than the Joker. Maybe it's the fact that Heath seemed to hold NOTHING back in his performance.
Marion Cotillard. Talia al Ghul. I. Fucking. Knew. It.
The story is really good too. It pains me to say that it's not great, however. It starts very slowly, with the tension building slowly like a piano wire tightening. Then it snaps. And as the wire twists out of control, this way and that, so does the plot.
Now on to less positive things.
I think the editing, particularly in the beginning, wasn't up to par. It seemed disjointed and quick, when it didn't need to be. I have a feeling that there was a LOT of footage that hit the cutting room floor - I hate it when such a thing is obvious, especially on the FIRST VIEWING.
In the end, though, this is a great way to close the book on this particular Batman universe. As many people with see in the ending though, Nolan hasn't really closed the book. In a way, he's tucked his quill away, but left the book sitting on the table. A worthy successor might be able to open the book and add to it. But this movie - and the two preceding it - will be tough acts to follow indeed.
8/10
For reference sake:
Batman Begins: 7/10
The Dark Knight: 9/10
The Dark Knight Rises: 8/10