Christopher Nolan responds to Aurora, Colorado shooting
"Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of The Dark Knight Rises, I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community. I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families."
The Dark Knight Rises was released July 20th, 2012 and stars Tom Hardy, Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Liam Neeson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Marion Cotillard, Morgan Freeman. The film is directed by Christopher Nolan.
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Sean
@red-ruddy Yes, he certainly is.
10 months agoby @themoviefanaticFlag
THE JOKER
And well said Nolan... This is truly why you are the man!
10 months agoby @mcleve02Flag
THE JOKER
@rasapocalypse I agree 100%
10 months agoby @mcleve02Flag
Rasapocalypse
Hmm...I think that this movie was exactly what it was meant to be, a closing point for this incarnation of the Batman.
Why?
This Batman lives in an unpopulated DC universe. By this I mean there is the Batman, who is governed by real world physics and repercussions for his actions, for example the broken ass body he has. He doesn't have super powers, he's not indestructible, he's not invincible and he wears down with age. Money will only get you so far, and in this story he even loses that, the money. His armory is gone, he has no funds, his body was broken, he needed out and so when the opportunity arose he took it. There are also only Batman's foes, which have very toned down abilities of his comic book counterparts. Once again an example of this is Bane, though he was very tough, didn't run on venom like he does in the comic. Once again this is the writers trying to keep it real, or as real as a Batman movie can be.
An unpopulated DC universe?
By this I mean, as hinted in the previous rant, there only seems to be Batman and his immediate character base, nothing else. There is no Superman, Wonderwoman, or Martian Manhunter. No JLA to swoop in and help save the day so to speak. This makes it hard for the studio to justify a JLA movie or the like without ending this incarnation of Batman and reboot/restarting with a more DC wide friendly setting. After, if these characters did exist in Nolan's Bat-verse don't you think Superman would have shown up about 3 seconds after Bane said there's a bomb and make it so there's no bomb?
It had to end like this.
As for JGL's role, hinting at a new Batman, Nightwing or Robin, it was inevitable. I do agree it was not well written in, but it had to happen. For as much as its Nolan's Bat-verse it still is Batman and in most, if not all versions of the Batman, there is a line of followers who take up the mantle. Who knows what he'll become, only that he'll carry on the legacy.
Bottom line is that this incarnation had to end so we could have a more DC wide friendly Batman who will fit into a new DC movie verse which will probably parallel what Marvel has done.
These are just some thoughts.
10 months agoby @rasapocalypseFlag
lawrence mccullah
Dark knight rises movie of the year. avengers second place
10 months agoby @lawrence-mccullahFlag
thedude-abides
@bawnian-dexeus Lol (at batman comment). Agreed.
@slysnide Yeah, the Talia reveal and the JGL story carried no weight whatsoever. JGL's story was just awkward, and the Talia thing, for all the reasons you mentioned, was emotionless. The deus ex machina of Catwoman saving the day was totally expected, as it was when Batman saved Gordon from exile and Robin from getting shot. Just completely predictable and foreseeable stuff. I don't want it to sound like I didn't enjoy the movie or anything; those are all just things I think could've been handled better.
10 months agoby @thedude-abidesFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
@narrator@thedude-abides I respect your gripes gentlemen. Just for the hell of me saying it, Bruce making it into Gotham well, not to stray away from the logic of the comic books, he's the goddamned Batman. My only fan boy comment. As for the nuke, well, I didn't find it too much of a problem. One way to reboot Gotham the way Ra's wanted. And can we really call the prison in the east the Nolanverse version of the Lazarus Pit? All I got was, "that's no pit, that's a green screen for a long ass hole when the article came out." No Santa Prisca Peña Duro prison? Fine, we get the alternative version. The whole Bane being Ra's son was a short "fuq me", until Talia showed up. The Romance threw it to the waters, but alas, that magnanimous duo between the titans of DC was truly outstanding.
10 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
Rayzilla
My opinion on the film ****WARNING SPOILERS****
First of all, I hate how it started 10 years later. that was completely pointless, i could understand if the joker was coming back and he was in the asylum. This story had no real meaning, it just seemed to pop out of nowhere. As for the gadgets, i understand that the batwing was cool but hey that was the only new thing there except for the tumbler copies. I was also very dissapointed that there was no new batsuit. everything seemed too rushed and undetailed. Also I agree with alfred, bruce wayne could have saved the city without becoming batman. He could have just used his resources and boom, saved the day. And I felt no excitement when batman appeared because they werent in a real crises. it was just some bad guys taking hostages, they should've have waited atleast until the middle of the movie to introduce him, also with the batwing, they introduced it too early, you have to built excitement for these type of things. I also didn't like how once all the cops were trapped underground and suddenly everyone felt all hope was gone. No the civilians could've done the same thing a cop could've done. The only part I liked about the movie was the ending, that was one of the best endings I've seen so far. Too sum it all up, i felt the movie was rushed and confusing, i was quite dissapionted.
10 months agoby @rayzillaFlag
slysnide
***SPOILERS***
@narrator@thedude-abides: Agreed with your gripes. I also was baffled by how Blake just randomly deduces who Bats is. I figured out why later, but it threw me for a loop. And the nuke was pushing it. I mean if he has a detonator, and wants to destroy the city, then why not just hit the button and not reveal yourself or your plan at all? I figured it had something to do with putting the people through an emotional roller coaster for the world to see, so that after the demise of Gotham, the new inhabitants could learn from the actions of the anarchist citizens. idk. That's just me. But I also hated the Tate/Talia twist. I mean we all knew it was coming, but Tate was such a shallow background character to begin with that the revelation carries no weight. Had she been a trilogy character then maybe it'd be different. All it did in the end was take away Bane's independence. And Cottillard is a good actress, but she sucked as the revealed Talia. Totally plain and unconvincing. And that tearjerker of Alfred admitting his failure to Bruce's parents doesn't set in at all cause we find out he's still alive and at peace with himself a minute later. Though I have to admit I liked how Bane went out cause of how sudden it was. idk maybe a few months from now I'll think it was too fast and undramatic given the enormity of the character. Hell it wasn't dramatic at all. Just funny in a badass way. It was reminiscent of Joker's challenge to Batman, save for being done with a cannon instead of the front tire. I gave it a 4.5 though because of all the other as of yet unmentioned symbolism in the film. The idea of the Greek Hero of legend (Bats) Versus the Insane Cultist of what's ironically 3 Western Religions (Bane). Epic Showdown that's been long overdue in cinema. The symbolic meaning behind it I mean. I just wish the showdown was in a cathedral. The city hall rotunda was cool for its symbolism too, but it was very plain inside. No great statues representing justice or flags/portraits. Just a plain marble room.
10 months agoby @slysnideFlag
the MovieGhost
@ejk1 LLLIIIIEEEEESSSSSS!
10 months agoby @the-movieghostFlag
SherlockHolmes2009
No words could have been used better, Nolans a great man. As for that conversation down below: The Dark Knight Rises=Best Superhero Film of 2012
10 months agoby @SherlockHolmes2009Flag
ejk1
Nolan, good words.
As far as the discussion beneath this post, all I have to say is this:
The Avengers>TDKR>ASM. That is all.
10 months agoby @ejk1Flag
thedude-abides
Be my guest, @narrator.
10 months agoby @thedude-abidesFlag
the Narrator
Agreed. And "refrigerator logic", eh, @thedude-abides? I must say I'm not familiar with that expression, but it sounds brilliant. Mind if I adopt it? Lol.
10 months agoby @narratorFlag
thedude-abides
@narrator And to you, good sir.
People have been saying the same things to me when I've brought up the film's many flaws, most specifically and the one that really irked me, "Are you f*cking high?" That coming from someone who instantly proclaimed it the best movie of all time, and who knows 1/10 of what I do about film. Not that I take anything anyone says into account unless it's true, but the general disregard for logic is what's most upsetting here.
I'm with you 100% on everything you've said. I can't really elaborate on anything without it becoming redundant, but to the point of there being no suspense and seeing everything coming a mile away, nothing was more obvious to me than the first encounter between Bane and Batman. We knew from the trailer Bane wins the first confrontation with Batman, nearly killing him. Therefore, the entire buildup to Batman coming out of hiding was for not because the suspense was already gone due to the fact that we already knew the outcome.
And the refrigerator logic, which is an industry term I love to use that simply means the things you notice after you've seen the movie that leave you scratching your head while you're getting something from the fridge, was endless. Bruce waltzing back into Gotham City after martial law is in effect and all the bridges have been blown? I know there has to be some level of suspension of disbelief when watching a film, but that was unforgivable.
10 months agoby @thedude-abidesFlag
the Narrator
Amen, @thedude-abides, @dan1!
Finally, someone understands where I'm coming from! People keep telling me that I'm looking into the film too much, expected too much, or some such bullsh*t. They even go so far as to say that "no film is perfect", etc. The excuses that those defending the film's OBVIOUS issues use are getting annoying and old. "Can you do better? Than don't judge." I swear, the next person to use that pathetic argument for this film will get a proverbial kick in the head from me.
***Mild to Heavy Spoilers***
For rather obvious issues, I hated the nuke. Why the f*cking nuke? Cliche and boring, it didn't evoke in me the slightest bit of emotion or fear for Gotham. The beautiful thing about the drama in TDK was that the Joker never threatened TOO MUCH, to the point of making you not care anymore. Bane simply wants to push and push to extinction, which is plain boring. Which brings up JGL's Blake character trying to get kids out of a city... while the rest of the city does what,exactly? Oh, that's right - nothing. Seriously?
The cops being stuck under the city made sense from a strategic viewpoint, but why bother keeping them all alive just to end their lives with a nuke? Just for them to be able to escape, rally, and rebel? Why would someone as smart as Tate's character not plan for Bruce to beat the odds and escape the pit? Why make her betrayal and true identity so transparent? I saw it coming a f*cking mile away, as did my friend who knows nothing about Talia's character. And to make Bane some huge badass, and then reveal that it was all for love of a girl/women... and then to have Catwoman just kill him with a f*cking canon shot... totally idiotic.
Gordon's arc was never completed, I saw the epilogue coming when Alfred first randomly brought up the scene in the first act of the film, there were far too many useless cameos from B-list actors for no suitable reason, and unlike in TDK, the whole "Gotham is a part of the story and must be focused on" felt forced here.
I have a LOT more gripes, but I ultimately gave the film a slid 4 out of 5 based off of ambition, what little sentimentality it had, and a few epic moments throughout. It could have been a lot worse, but it's definitely not a 5 star film, by a long shot (unless you're simply a fanboy caught up in the moment). A B- for the Bat's.
10 months agoby @narratorFlag
red_ruddy
Guy is such a sick f*ck
10 months agoby @red-ruddyFlag
incmob
Alot of things felt very forced and the first act was very slow and the last act felt overstuffed. I also agree with @dan1 that the flashbacks seemed out of place... not really for the batman films because all of them have had it but seemed like they needed to have more so the audience might be able to follow along better. And seriously... I think Bane would have been just as intimidating if you could understand him more clearly. there were several parts i had no idea what he said and only caught on by one of his thugs answers to his inaudible questions. i thought it was a good movie but not great.
I of course watched all three films in a row at my local theatre (i havent watched to first two in about a year or so, to help with the experience and making it fresh for me) had i not seen them all together i dont think i would have enjoyed the film as much as i did. But based on the other two films for many parts this did not feel like a batman film.
10 months agoby @incmobFlag
Dan
@thedude-abides I'd really like to see a Nightwing/Batgirl movie that had The Killing Joke part of it (Joker shooting and paralyzing Batgirl, her becoming Oracle). Could be crazy emotional stuff. And different.
10 months agoby @dan1Flag
thedude-abides
@dan1 Gotcha. I'm down for anything Batman as long as it's quality. I wouldn't even mind seeing a four or even five-part installment (in another series, obviously) just to give the characters and the overall story more time to play out.
10 months agoby @thedude-abidesFlag
Dan
@thedude-abides In the Hush storyline, Hush is a trenchcoat, gauze wearing villain that manipulates all of Bats' rogues gallery to act in unpredictable and even more violent ways, Batman has a more fleshed out romance with Catwoman, and it's just awesome.
The Arkham Asylum/City games would be cool too as stories.
10 months agoby @dan1Flag
thedude-abides
Bear in mind I know nothing of the comics, the extent of my Batman prowess coming from the movies and The Animated Series.
10 months agoby @thedude-abidesFlag
thedude-abides
@dan1 Lol. Seriously?
10 months agoby @thedude-abidesFlag
Dan
Bring on the reboot. Hush or Arkham storyline.
10 months agoby @dan1Flag
thedude-abides
@bawnian-dexeus Agreed.
10 months agoby @thedude-abidesFlag
ROFLitschristian
@felipe-11 Exactly. Nolan just gives us sheer fun.
And I am saying it has replay value to a certain degree. It's just to me, thinking about how amazing TDK was is more fun than replaying it a dozen times, which I have.
10 months agoby @ROFLitschristianFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
Least we liked it :)
10 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
ROFLitschristian
@the-movieghost They really do though. All 3 are such outstanding films. Nolan gave us one hell of a trilogy.
10 months agoby @ROFLitschristianFlag
thedude-abides
@dan1 Agreed. Very much looking forward to Les Miserables as well.
10 months agoby @thedude-abidesFlag
Dan
@thedude-abides 3.5 out of 5. Surprised and pleased you liked Hathaway. Though I think Les Miserables will be her shining moment if the trailer was any indication.
And yeah, definitely not enough Batman time. A lotta talk about Batman, but little of him. I like Bale's Bruce Wayne, but not a majority of the movie. That's part of why it didn't feel very Batman movie-ish.
10 months agoby @dan1Flag