I wish I had watched the first two films more recently before seeing The Dark Knight Rises in the theater, because there were moments that confused me. I hadn't really planned to see the movie in the theater, though, it was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision. I have enjoyed the trilogy; it's so dark and poignant and completely unlike the cartoonish Batman movies that came out when we were kids. I am somewhat surprised to see so many Batman toys out in store because I don't think I would take a child young enough for toys to see this movie. There was one point when I was sitting in the theater thinking, "I can't believe I am crying at a Batman movie."
I am convinced that the threat/fear of terrorism is the reason that they were able to do a complex, dark Batman trilogy and that one could write an entire paper on that subject. I do think that The Dark Knight was the best of all the movies because Heath Ledger made a better villain. I do wonder if The Joker would have been in the final movie if Heath Ledger hadn't died.
I honestly haven't heard... I never felt the Joker's absence in the story, but it's entirely possible they may have utilized his character, perhaps put him in the role that Scarecrow had.
I have read that they refused to mention the Joker out of respect for Heath Ledger though.
I don't think that they could have used the Joker without Heath Ledger but I did think about the part in The Dark Knight when the Joker tells Batman, "I think we'll be doing this for years to come" and wonder what might have been. I do think the movie suffered from a lack of a great villain, although Catwoman and Blake were really good.
There's always the comics for the constant battle of wills between Batman and Joker. :) But I think too that one can argue, movie-wise, that the Joker existed because of Batman, and it was just another reminder to Wayne that this gig couldn't be long-term.
I also just saw this, and I'm actually feeling a little disappointed. It was a good film, and I enjoyed how Nolan wrapped everything up. Despite the three films differences they all felt as if they were part of one solid whole, which is quite impressive. I guess it's because I'm used to such tightly plotted stories from Nolan, and where as this one felt kind of over stuffed and even sloppy at times, it was really disorienting form me.
On a more positive note, it's nice to see that Nolan's learning how to write complex, interesting female characters. I really enjoyed Catwoman in this one.
It's definitely a movie I think needs to be seen more than once to really sink in. I never got the feeling it was overstuffed or sloppy, but I did feel the length of it.
And yes, Catwoman rocked. Someone mentioned that it's like Nolan learns a new thing every movie, and in this one, he finally figured out how to handle women. Let's see if it sticks.
I thought the movie was good but I was a little disappointed as well. I loved the cast. Catwoman was awesome in every scene she was in. It was a little long and felt myself daydreaming during many scnese since it was just sooo long. They could have cut a lot out and put more action.
Now, the last 15 minutes was perfect. When the movie ended I was like "I want to watch THAT movie!" Seriously, why couldn't that last 10 minutes be it's own movie? It felt like while this is an ending to a triology it was a set up, like a middle movie. For me, it made the previous 2 horus and 30 minutes seem like a waste.
I really hope it's just all a joke and Nolan does one more film. He HAS too! You can't end it like that!
There is no need for one more film. The story has been told. That ending was pitch-perfect for the fact it provided closure, and how many superheroes ever get real closure? To make another film could potentially destroy the theme that's been built so solidly over all three: that Batman is a symbol, not a man. And a symbol can last forever. But not the man. :)
I don't want to spoil anything here in the comments. It would be kind of cool to see what happens next with Blake's character, but even that would be starting a story over, and Bruce Wayne's shadow would loom over everything, especially in terms of audience expectation.
I absolutely loved this film. We watched the first Thursday night, the second Friday night, and this one Saturday morning. And I loved it. Sure there were tiny places I rolled my eyes but it was great. I saw the villain coming (that was a bit obvious I felt) but it was great. And I know people will bitch about the last five minutes but that's what made it for me. I needed closure and I'm always so sick to death of superhero comics never getting that.
Yay, I'm not the only one completely in love. And yes, that ending was so wonderful. The closure was necessary. Let the comics keep Batman going on until infinity, but this... this was needed, and wonderful. I've always wondered what would happen next, and I loved seeing that.
I didn't like this movie. Which makes me kinda sad because I really loved the first two (especially the Dark Knight) and I was very enthused for this one, and I generally love Nolan films
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She was wonderful. The second she dropped the shy act at Wayne Manor at the very start? I was like, "Oh, this is AWESOME."
And while the film muddled it (intentionally, I think), the hubby pointed out that Kyle and her buddy were likely prostitutes, as was her origin in the Frank Miller's Batman: Year One. And if that's the case, Kyle has every reason to hate humanity and society, and I think Hathaway handled that anger really, really well.
Also loved Gordon-Levitt as Blake. Though every time they said his name, I kept thinking Eddie Blake, aka the Comedian, from Watchmen, which probably isn't the best character comparison to make...
Did the end at least work for you? The last five minutes or so?
The last five minutes were fine. But that was "thrilling fight to save Gotham from crazy person with a nuke" then "resolution." None of what I had issue with was there.
I agree I think it was implied that, at the very least, Kyle started out as a prostitute. Her plight is interesting to me. She feels she made the choices she had to make and they were never choices she was entirely comfortable with. Maybe she did. Maybe she had other options. It's hard to know. It's pretty clear, though, that her whatever options were extremely limited, and this has put an otherwise good woman in a position where she does a lot of ungood things.
I thought that was handled well.
Hathaway acted the part fantastically. I just love how she can exude sweet and innocent, but with enough of an edge sort of skirting around the corners that you're stuck wondering if she's *really* that person. I liked how that worked in this role, because you want to believe, like Wayne does, that Kyle is deep down a good person...but there's enough there to make you really
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I am convinced that the threat/fear of terrorism is the reason that they were able to do a complex, dark Batman trilogy and that one could write an entire paper on that subject. I do think that The Dark Knight was the best of all the movies because Heath Ledger made a better villain. I do wonder if The Joker would have been in the final movie if Heath Ledger hadn't died.
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I have read that they refused to mention the Joker out of respect for Heath Ledger though.
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On a more positive note, it's nice to see that Nolan's learning how to write complex, interesting female characters. I really enjoyed Catwoman in this one.
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And yes, Catwoman rocked. Someone mentioned that it's like Nolan learns a new thing every movie, and in this one, he finally figured out how to handle women. Let's see if it sticks.
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Now, the last 15 minutes was perfect. When the movie ended I was like "I want to watch THAT movie!" Seriously, why couldn't that last 10 minutes be it's own movie? It felt like while this is an ending to a triology it was a set up, like a middle movie. For me, it made the previous 2 horus and 30 minutes seem like a waste.
I really hope it's just all a joke and Nolan does one more film. He HAS too! You can't end it like that!
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I don't want to spoil anything here in the comments. It would be kind of cool to see what happens next with Blake's character, but even that would be starting a story over, and Bruce Wayne's shadow would loom over everything, especially in terms of audience expectation.
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And while the film muddled it (intentionally, I think), the hubby pointed out that Kyle and her buddy were likely prostitutes, as was her origin in the Frank Miller's Batman: Year One. And if that's the case, Kyle has every reason to hate humanity and society, and I think Hathaway handled that anger really, really well.
Also loved Gordon-Levitt as Blake. Though every time they said his name, I kept thinking Eddie Blake, aka the Comedian, from Watchmen, which probably isn't the best character comparison to make...
Did the end at least work for you? The last five minutes or so?
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I agree I think it was implied that, at the very least, Kyle started out as a prostitute. Her plight is interesting to me. She feels she made the choices she had to make and they were never choices she was entirely comfortable with. Maybe she did. Maybe she had other options. It's hard to know. It's pretty clear, though, that her whatever options were extremely limited, and this has put an otherwise good woman in a position where she does a lot of ungood things.
I thought that was handled well.
Hathaway acted the part fantastically. I just love how she can exude sweet and innocent, but with enough of an edge sort of skirting around the corners that you're stuck wondering if she's *really* that person. I liked how that worked in this role, because you want to believe, like Wayne does, that Kyle is deep down a good person...but there's enough there to make you really
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