Re: The Dark Knight Rises reviews
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:00 pm
I have so many thoughts and responses to THE DARK KNIGHT RISES and everything surrounding it, I ended up writing the longest post I have ever done on this (or any other) board. I added chapters just to better layout my thoughts. Expect spoilers throughout.
1. My Reaction To The Movie
2. Other People’s Reaction To The Movie
3. My Thoughts On Christopher Nolan
4. My Predictions For The Movie’s Oscar Chances
5. My Thoughts On The Shooting Tragedy
6. My Thoughts On The Epithet “Fanboy”
1. My Reaction To The Movie
I was anticipating this film more than any other Hollywood release this year (and second to only THE MASTER in terms of all 2012 film releases). I went into this follow-up certain it could not match the heights set by its predecessor, but still knowing from Nolan’s impeccable track record that it would be better than 99% of Hollywood action blockbusters.
I saw the film on IMAX (I have done this with only a few other Hollywood films, and none since 2007). I am a cheap skate who goes to the pre-noon showings of films so I only have to pay $6, so believe me when I say paying almost $18 for an IMAX ticket was worth every penny. If you have access to a true IMAX theatre on a huge screen (not the small screens calling themselves IMAX) and want to truly experience the awesomeness of this film, I suggest forking over the extra money.
As for the film itself, I really enjoyed it. I certainly thought it was more fun than the typical comic book movie. It was expertly made, well acted, had great action sequences I could actually follow and enjoy, and was clearly made by people who took the film seriously and wanted the audience to take it seriously. I wish all action films (or mainstream films in general) put this much talent into making a piece of entertainment. I am of the belief that no movie should be made with the idea that acting, writing, and directing are not important as long as it is “fun.” All movies, from serious Oscar-bait to diverting popcorn fare, should be well made. Nolan and everyone else involved in this film clearly felt the same way, and offered us an example of what all summer blockbusters should strive for.
I particularly appreciated how real all the action scenes felt. Nolan has said he uses computer-generated imagery only when absolutely necessary. CGI has now become synonymous with special effects, but Nolan reminds us that special effects can actually happen on set and involve a certain amount of risk. Unlike the cartoon-like smash-em-up of THE AVENGERS, I felt like these action sequences had more stakes to them since most of what was happening on screen happened in real life. No matter how photo-realistic CGI becomes, I still know that is an animated Hulk fighting those aliens in New York. I am not sure how they did that amazing opening sky-jacking sequence, but it seemed absolutely real. It made the whole thing more thrilling since my brain kept saying “How the hell did they do that?” rather than “Cool F/X!” I also loved the rush of the cops coming at Bane’s henchmen. Knowing that those were real people rather than just pixels made it all the more powerful when they were gunned down. They knew they were no match against the weapons, but they were not going down without a fight.
In terms of the cast, everyone did an excellent job. All of the returning actors once again made it clear they were not going to phone it in just because they were in a comic book flick. Michael Caine particularly gave the much put upon Alfred a surprising amount of emotional heft. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was good, though I was not sold on his being a suitable replacement as the caped crusader. I had worried about Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, thinking there is no way she could be convincingly tough. I must say, while she does not top the splendid Michelle Pfeiffer, she definitely gave a great performance. In fact, I wanted more of her. Tom Hardy as the movie’s big bad-guy had impossible shoes to fill following Heath Ledger as the Joker. He certainly came across as physically imposing, but his voiced should have been altered to be deeper. They really needed a Darth Vader sound coming from him rather than Austin Powers’ Dr. Evil. I think Michael Clarke Duncan would have done an excellent job, both visually and aurally. It would have complicated things regarding the red herring of Bane’s origins, but I think that whole subplot should have been dumped anyway.
Speaking of which, a minor criticism I have for this film comes from the way Nolan connected it to BATMAN BEGINS. Marion Cotillard’s character being the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul was a twist I did not see coming (though I knew she was going to betray Batman), and ultimately did not care about. While it may not have been canon, making Bane the offspring of Ra’s al Ghul was far more interesting. It could have made a fascinating link between Bruce Wayne becoming Batman to avenge his dead parents, and Bane wanting to destroy Gotham to punish Batman for killing his dad. Also, if Nolan wanted to have a romantic interest for Batman, he should have stuck with the love/hate relationship of Catwoman that has always made the character so interesting. As it was, Cotillard’s character relied on way too much coincidence to pull off her revenge (the romance, the company take over, being involved in the Gotham resistance).
Ultimately though, my biggest problem with the film was the timeline. Other than allowing for the Bruce Wayne in prison subplot, there was no reason Bane’s takeover of Gotham should have lasted three months. It really killed any tension by having most of Gotham pretty much sitting around seemingly unconcerned that their city had been taken over by terrorists who could vaporize them at any second. Also, there is no way the U.S. government would allow a nuclear device stay mobile like that. They would rather see it explode in Gotham than have it leave the island and possibly make it to Washington, D.C. (assuming that exists in this movie’s universe). It also made me wonder why the hell Bane was sending supplies to the police underground, or keeping any of Gotham alive since the ultimate plan was to kill them.
Bane holding Gotham hostage should have only lasted 72 hours at the most. That would have allowed enough time for action sequences and fights, but none of the prison silliness. I am not sure why Nolan included the prison escape subplot. It did not seem necessary to the overall story or the dramatic arc of Bruce Wayne. Perhaps it was to explain how Wayne was able to finally let go of the pain that turned him into Batman and why he was able to “retire.” However, since I thought they should have actually killed Batman, it makes the prison portion of the movie even more superfluous.
None of these criticisms were enough to make me dislike THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. I loved it as much as the other two Nolan Batman films and both of Tim Burton’s Batman films. It was more fun, intelligent, and emotionally affecting than anything Hollywood usually gives us. These plot issues I mentioned were just the thoughts I had after the lights came up. They were not enough to destroy my enjoyment of the film overall. I am really happy I saw THE DARK KNIGHT RISES on the largest screen possible, and I plan on seeing it again. I certainly hope it makes as much money as the last Batman film so that Nolan can continue to make more of these types of intelligent large-budget films – particularly more films like INCEPTION.
2. Other People’s Reaction To The Movie
Any film with high expectations is going to attract folks ready to tear it down. In terms of enjoying and critiquing films, I do my best to be objective. I want to love or hate a film based on what I saw on the screen, rather than any positive or negative gossip or back-story surrounding the film’s production. While I always have high expectations when seeing a Christopher Nolan film, I judge his films using the same criteria I use for any other movie. I also do not want to let minor quibbles with the plot completely undue the enjoyment I had from the film overall. Sometimes my problem with the plot or story are not minor and they do drag the entire film down no matter how good everything else was (PROMETHEUS and the STAR TREK reboot are two recent examples).
What I really do not understand is being angry at a film that tries something ambitious and fails. It is not as if Nolan bit off more than he could chew. He simply knew the studio would allow him to say only so much on matters of socio-economic justice and the voice of the people vs the government. He said what he could while still finding time to slip in the action scenes required of a Batman film. He certainly is asking us to think at the movies more than most folks in the U.S. are used to. JURASSIC PARK might focus on the dangers of genetic engineering or DISTRICT 9 brings up racism and poverty, but both are ultimately sci-fi action flicks. Asking the audience to think about certain general topics (terrorism, class inequality, government authority, etc) without telling them what they should think is not the same as a plot hole.
Obviously if you read my reaction above, you know I have my own criticisms of this film. However, not getting what you want from a movie is not the same as a film being a failure.
3. My Thoughts On Christopher Nolan
People seem to fall into a love-him-or-hate-him dichotomy with Christopher Nolan, and this board is no exception. I have made clear how much I love Nolan’s films, from his three small thrillers to his four large action movies. I have seen all of his films except FOLLOWING. Nolan clearly is very interested in the psyche. All his films tackle issues of identity -- who a person is and who they present themselves to be. I appreciate that Nolan wants the audience to ponder certain questions, but never expects us to accept a definitive answer.
I also think he is a master of cinema. He understands how to bring all aspects of filmmaking together to support the story. His use of cinematography and sets to set mood are quite amazing, and he knows how to properly use editing to add interesting layers to a film (some even subliminal). Also, his collaborations with Hans Zimmer have brought about some of the best scores of the composer’s career.
I am not sure why people have such strongly negative feelings about him. He has a distinctive cinematic voice, but his style is not overwhelming like Tim Burton or Steven Spielberg. He is certainly not a hack like Michael Bay. It just baffles me.
Thankfully, critical and financial success for all of his movies has guaranteed he will be around for awhile. I am certainly glad we have his films, and hope that the level of care and intelligence he puts into his action flicks will inspire higher quality blockbusters from all of Hollywood.
4. My Predictions For The Movie’s Oscar Chances
I was one of the folks who was outraged when the Academy snubbed THE DARK KNIGHT for Best Picture, and even thought it would have been a far more worthy winner than SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. I did not think THE DARK KNIGHT was the best film of the year, but felt it was the perfect fit for the category of Best Picture. It excelled in both the cinematic (editing, f/x, cinematography, etc) and dramatic (acting, writing, directing) categories. I am still not sure why the Academy snubbed it. The film clearly had support from both critics and people in the industry (all the major guilds nominated it). Whatever the reason, it led to quite a bit of outcry from a wide variety of folks (not just the fanboys, as haters love to say).
Expanding the field to 10 nominees was a disastrous idea that cheapened what a Best Picture nomination meant. While there have been some great films nominated which would have previously been left out (A SIMPLE MAN, WINTER’S BONE, et al), it has also allowed some truly horrific films to be included (specifically THE BLIIND SIDE).
We will never know if INCEPTION was part of the top five Best Picture nominees or was in the next five. However, we do know Nolan was for the third time snubbed by the Academy for a Director nomination (after thrice being nominated by the Director’s Guild). I have to say THE DARK KNIGHT RISES will probably not be the film to finally earn him a Director nomination from the Academy. I am not certain it will also be left out of the Best Picture nominations, but I think it is a good bet. The only sci-fi/fantasy film that will likely appear in the big category is THE HOBBIT.
In terms of nominations THE DARK KNIGHT RISES will receive, Visual Effects, Sound, and Sound Editing seem like good bets. Set, Cinematography, and Score are certainly possible, but these categories will be crowded this year and the Batman film will probably not be among the five nominees. I would say definitely a nomination for Editing, if it were not for the still shocking and ridiculous snub of INCEPTION. No other categories seem likely, and no wins seem possible against THE HOBBIT.
5. My Thoughts On The Shooting Tragedy
I do not have much to say on the subject. Like Sonic Youth said, there are only about 3 million people in this country who had a chance to see THE DARK KNIGHT RISES without the thought of this act of terrorism in their mind. Much like the folks who watched THE CHINA SYNDROME prior to the Three Mile Island incident, only a few people will know what it was like to watch this film free from the terrifying incident forever connected to it. I saw the film at a 10:45 pm Saturday screening. I must say watching the film less than 48 hours after the incident made the whole thing much more believable. There really are evil people out there who wear costumes and masks, and go around killing large numbers of people for frighteningly bizarre reasons. The villains exist, so of course we want to know the heroes are there to stop them. Batman is one of the most popular and enduring comic-book heroes because he does not have special powers like Superman or Spider-Man. He is just a guy with the determination to save lives. Most people feel, with the same suit and gadgets, they could be Batman too.
6. My Thoughts On The Epithet “Fanboy”
I asked this question before but never received a satisfactory answer: what is a fanboy? I know what it means, but I keep seeing people throwing it around in a context that does not seem correct. I always thought a fanboy was someone who usually is a fan of sci-fi/fantasy media (print or film), and who has little to no interest outside of those two genres. When I first encountered it, the name was gently mocking. I am not certain of the origins, but I thought it was embraced by the geeks it was describing.
These days, it seems like fanboy is the pejorative version of the word fan (which I might remind you is short for fanatic). It still seems aimed at geek culture, but it is no longer gently mocking – now it is all out vicious. I love a variety of artists, mediums, and genres. Yet, it seems my love for Christopher Nolan would lead me to be labeled a fanboy rather than just a fan.
I feel like at this point we need to have a Godwin’s Law (which states that anytime a person in an argument resorts to calling the other person Hitler, they have lost the argument) approach to this term. I would say calling someone a fanboy says more about you than the person you want to insult.
If you happen to have read my entire post, then thank you. I hope I added something interesting to the conversation.
1. My Reaction To The Movie
2. Other People’s Reaction To The Movie
3. My Thoughts On Christopher Nolan
4. My Predictions For The Movie’s Oscar Chances
5. My Thoughts On The Shooting Tragedy
6. My Thoughts On The Epithet “Fanboy”
1. My Reaction To The Movie
I was anticipating this film more than any other Hollywood release this year (and second to only THE MASTER in terms of all 2012 film releases). I went into this follow-up certain it could not match the heights set by its predecessor, but still knowing from Nolan’s impeccable track record that it would be better than 99% of Hollywood action blockbusters.
I saw the film on IMAX (I have done this with only a few other Hollywood films, and none since 2007). I am a cheap skate who goes to the pre-noon showings of films so I only have to pay $6, so believe me when I say paying almost $18 for an IMAX ticket was worth every penny. If you have access to a true IMAX theatre on a huge screen (not the small screens calling themselves IMAX) and want to truly experience the awesomeness of this film, I suggest forking over the extra money.
As for the film itself, I really enjoyed it. I certainly thought it was more fun than the typical comic book movie. It was expertly made, well acted, had great action sequences I could actually follow and enjoy, and was clearly made by people who took the film seriously and wanted the audience to take it seriously. I wish all action films (or mainstream films in general) put this much talent into making a piece of entertainment. I am of the belief that no movie should be made with the idea that acting, writing, and directing are not important as long as it is “fun.” All movies, from serious Oscar-bait to diverting popcorn fare, should be well made. Nolan and everyone else involved in this film clearly felt the same way, and offered us an example of what all summer blockbusters should strive for.
I particularly appreciated how real all the action scenes felt. Nolan has said he uses computer-generated imagery only when absolutely necessary. CGI has now become synonymous with special effects, but Nolan reminds us that special effects can actually happen on set and involve a certain amount of risk. Unlike the cartoon-like smash-em-up of THE AVENGERS, I felt like these action sequences had more stakes to them since most of what was happening on screen happened in real life. No matter how photo-realistic CGI becomes, I still know that is an animated Hulk fighting those aliens in New York. I am not sure how they did that amazing opening sky-jacking sequence, but it seemed absolutely real. It made the whole thing more thrilling since my brain kept saying “How the hell did they do that?” rather than “Cool F/X!” I also loved the rush of the cops coming at Bane’s henchmen. Knowing that those were real people rather than just pixels made it all the more powerful when they were gunned down. They knew they were no match against the weapons, but they were not going down without a fight.
In terms of the cast, everyone did an excellent job. All of the returning actors once again made it clear they were not going to phone it in just because they were in a comic book flick. Michael Caine particularly gave the much put upon Alfred a surprising amount of emotional heft. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was good, though I was not sold on his being a suitable replacement as the caped crusader. I had worried about Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, thinking there is no way she could be convincingly tough. I must say, while she does not top the splendid Michelle Pfeiffer, she definitely gave a great performance. In fact, I wanted more of her. Tom Hardy as the movie’s big bad-guy had impossible shoes to fill following Heath Ledger as the Joker. He certainly came across as physically imposing, but his voiced should have been altered to be deeper. They really needed a Darth Vader sound coming from him rather than Austin Powers’ Dr. Evil. I think Michael Clarke Duncan would have done an excellent job, both visually and aurally. It would have complicated things regarding the red herring of Bane’s origins, but I think that whole subplot should have been dumped anyway.
Speaking of which, a minor criticism I have for this film comes from the way Nolan connected it to BATMAN BEGINS. Marion Cotillard’s character being the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul was a twist I did not see coming (though I knew she was going to betray Batman), and ultimately did not care about. While it may not have been canon, making Bane the offspring of Ra’s al Ghul was far more interesting. It could have made a fascinating link between Bruce Wayne becoming Batman to avenge his dead parents, and Bane wanting to destroy Gotham to punish Batman for killing his dad. Also, if Nolan wanted to have a romantic interest for Batman, he should have stuck with the love/hate relationship of Catwoman that has always made the character so interesting. As it was, Cotillard’s character relied on way too much coincidence to pull off her revenge (the romance, the company take over, being involved in the Gotham resistance).
Ultimately though, my biggest problem with the film was the timeline. Other than allowing for the Bruce Wayne in prison subplot, there was no reason Bane’s takeover of Gotham should have lasted three months. It really killed any tension by having most of Gotham pretty much sitting around seemingly unconcerned that their city had been taken over by terrorists who could vaporize them at any second. Also, there is no way the U.S. government would allow a nuclear device stay mobile like that. They would rather see it explode in Gotham than have it leave the island and possibly make it to Washington, D.C. (assuming that exists in this movie’s universe). It also made me wonder why the hell Bane was sending supplies to the police underground, or keeping any of Gotham alive since the ultimate plan was to kill them.
Bane holding Gotham hostage should have only lasted 72 hours at the most. That would have allowed enough time for action sequences and fights, but none of the prison silliness. I am not sure why Nolan included the prison escape subplot. It did not seem necessary to the overall story or the dramatic arc of Bruce Wayne. Perhaps it was to explain how Wayne was able to finally let go of the pain that turned him into Batman and why he was able to “retire.” However, since I thought they should have actually killed Batman, it makes the prison portion of the movie even more superfluous.
None of these criticisms were enough to make me dislike THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. I loved it as much as the other two Nolan Batman films and both of Tim Burton’s Batman films. It was more fun, intelligent, and emotionally affecting than anything Hollywood usually gives us. These plot issues I mentioned were just the thoughts I had after the lights came up. They were not enough to destroy my enjoyment of the film overall. I am really happy I saw THE DARK KNIGHT RISES on the largest screen possible, and I plan on seeing it again. I certainly hope it makes as much money as the last Batman film so that Nolan can continue to make more of these types of intelligent large-budget films – particularly more films like INCEPTION.
2. Other People’s Reaction To The Movie
Any film with high expectations is going to attract folks ready to tear it down. In terms of enjoying and critiquing films, I do my best to be objective. I want to love or hate a film based on what I saw on the screen, rather than any positive or negative gossip or back-story surrounding the film’s production. While I always have high expectations when seeing a Christopher Nolan film, I judge his films using the same criteria I use for any other movie. I also do not want to let minor quibbles with the plot completely undue the enjoyment I had from the film overall. Sometimes my problem with the plot or story are not minor and they do drag the entire film down no matter how good everything else was (PROMETHEUS and the STAR TREK reboot are two recent examples).
What I really do not understand is being angry at a film that tries something ambitious and fails. It is not as if Nolan bit off more than he could chew. He simply knew the studio would allow him to say only so much on matters of socio-economic justice and the voice of the people vs the government. He said what he could while still finding time to slip in the action scenes required of a Batman film. He certainly is asking us to think at the movies more than most folks in the U.S. are used to. JURASSIC PARK might focus on the dangers of genetic engineering or DISTRICT 9 brings up racism and poverty, but both are ultimately sci-fi action flicks. Asking the audience to think about certain general topics (terrorism, class inequality, government authority, etc) without telling them what they should think is not the same as a plot hole.
Obviously if you read my reaction above, you know I have my own criticisms of this film. However, not getting what you want from a movie is not the same as a film being a failure.
3. My Thoughts On Christopher Nolan
People seem to fall into a love-him-or-hate-him dichotomy with Christopher Nolan, and this board is no exception. I have made clear how much I love Nolan’s films, from his three small thrillers to his four large action movies. I have seen all of his films except FOLLOWING. Nolan clearly is very interested in the psyche. All his films tackle issues of identity -- who a person is and who they present themselves to be. I appreciate that Nolan wants the audience to ponder certain questions, but never expects us to accept a definitive answer.
I also think he is a master of cinema. He understands how to bring all aspects of filmmaking together to support the story. His use of cinematography and sets to set mood are quite amazing, and he knows how to properly use editing to add interesting layers to a film (some even subliminal). Also, his collaborations with Hans Zimmer have brought about some of the best scores of the composer’s career.
I am not sure why people have such strongly negative feelings about him. He has a distinctive cinematic voice, but his style is not overwhelming like Tim Burton or Steven Spielberg. He is certainly not a hack like Michael Bay. It just baffles me.
Thankfully, critical and financial success for all of his movies has guaranteed he will be around for awhile. I am certainly glad we have his films, and hope that the level of care and intelligence he puts into his action flicks will inspire higher quality blockbusters from all of Hollywood.
4. My Predictions For The Movie’s Oscar Chances
I was one of the folks who was outraged when the Academy snubbed THE DARK KNIGHT for Best Picture, and even thought it would have been a far more worthy winner than SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. I did not think THE DARK KNIGHT was the best film of the year, but felt it was the perfect fit for the category of Best Picture. It excelled in both the cinematic (editing, f/x, cinematography, etc) and dramatic (acting, writing, directing) categories. I am still not sure why the Academy snubbed it. The film clearly had support from both critics and people in the industry (all the major guilds nominated it). Whatever the reason, it led to quite a bit of outcry from a wide variety of folks (not just the fanboys, as haters love to say).
Expanding the field to 10 nominees was a disastrous idea that cheapened what a Best Picture nomination meant. While there have been some great films nominated which would have previously been left out (A SIMPLE MAN, WINTER’S BONE, et al), it has also allowed some truly horrific films to be included (specifically THE BLIIND SIDE).
We will never know if INCEPTION was part of the top five Best Picture nominees or was in the next five. However, we do know Nolan was for the third time snubbed by the Academy for a Director nomination (after thrice being nominated by the Director’s Guild). I have to say THE DARK KNIGHT RISES will probably not be the film to finally earn him a Director nomination from the Academy. I am not certain it will also be left out of the Best Picture nominations, but I think it is a good bet. The only sci-fi/fantasy film that will likely appear in the big category is THE HOBBIT.
In terms of nominations THE DARK KNIGHT RISES will receive, Visual Effects, Sound, and Sound Editing seem like good bets. Set, Cinematography, and Score are certainly possible, but these categories will be crowded this year and the Batman film will probably not be among the five nominees. I would say definitely a nomination for Editing, if it were not for the still shocking and ridiculous snub of INCEPTION. No other categories seem likely, and no wins seem possible against THE HOBBIT.
5. My Thoughts On The Shooting Tragedy
I do not have much to say on the subject. Like Sonic Youth said, there are only about 3 million people in this country who had a chance to see THE DARK KNIGHT RISES without the thought of this act of terrorism in their mind. Much like the folks who watched THE CHINA SYNDROME prior to the Three Mile Island incident, only a few people will know what it was like to watch this film free from the terrifying incident forever connected to it. I saw the film at a 10:45 pm Saturday screening. I must say watching the film less than 48 hours after the incident made the whole thing much more believable. There really are evil people out there who wear costumes and masks, and go around killing large numbers of people for frighteningly bizarre reasons. The villains exist, so of course we want to know the heroes are there to stop them. Batman is one of the most popular and enduring comic-book heroes because he does not have special powers like Superman or Spider-Man. He is just a guy with the determination to save lives. Most people feel, with the same suit and gadgets, they could be Batman too.
6. My Thoughts On The Epithet “Fanboy”
I asked this question before but never received a satisfactory answer: what is a fanboy? I know what it means, but I keep seeing people throwing it around in a context that does not seem correct. I always thought a fanboy was someone who usually is a fan of sci-fi/fantasy media (print or film), and who has little to no interest outside of those two genres. When I first encountered it, the name was gently mocking. I am not certain of the origins, but I thought it was embraced by the geeks it was describing.
These days, it seems like fanboy is the pejorative version of the word fan (which I might remind you is short for fanatic). It still seems aimed at geek culture, but it is no longer gently mocking – now it is all out vicious. I love a variety of artists, mediums, and genres. Yet, it seems my love for Christopher Nolan would lead me to be labeled a fanboy rather than just a fan.
I feel like at this point we need to have a Godwin’s Law (which states that anytime a person in an argument resorts to calling the other person Hitler, they have lost the argument) approach to this term. I would say calling someone a fanboy says more about you than the person you want to insult.
If you happen to have read my entire post, then thank you. I hope I added something interesting to the conversation.