The Dark Knight Rises - letdown or not?

[Fudgie]

Hey guys and gals I want to get some opinions away from the Bat forums to see what other general CBM fans thought about Rises.

Did ya think TDKR was a let down or not? Just place your vote on the poll and lets see some numbers.

[Deathstroke]

Yes.

[BH/HHH]

No, it's weird I hated some aspects of it but it was such a great film

[Duran Man]

I loved it. The best of the trilogy IMO.

EDIT: I just realized I voted 'yes' by mistake

[Drz]

Script should have been tweaked, concerning plotholes like Bruce's leg, but for me it was not a letdown.

[TheWatcher]

Not in the least. That's why I paid $36 to see it 4 times.

[zeptron]

No.

However I did find Bane's death anticlimactic.

[Anno_Domini]

Originally Posted by Duran Man

I loved it. The best of the trilogy IMO.

EDIT: I just realized I voted 'yes' by mistake

So Fudgie...it should be 9 'No's and 8 'Yes's then, lol.

Duran will learn to pay attention

[Boom]

Huge letdown. Only saw it twice, and have no strong desire to watch it again.

[flash13]

No, I liked it better than TDK.

[shauner111]

I also saw it 4 times in theaters. Not a letdown at all. Favourite film of the year with Skyfall and Looper pretty close behind.

[Mace Dolex]

I loved it and it was a perfect end to the trilogy, no movie can be perfect that if you go analyzing every mistake that takes the fun out of watching the movie.

Lighten up to all those nitpicking dorks!

[Bruce_Begins]

The Dark Knight Rises - letdown or not?

This is a matter of opinion, not a fact.

Opinions are subjective and vary from person to person. What one feels about TDKR depends on what he/ she was expecting from the movie.

Some of us went to watch the movie with an open mind, some were prepared to view this movie as the end to Nolan's Batman saga, this movie being the conclusion to Nolan's Bat universe.

Then, there were some who went in expecting to see a comic book accurate depiction of Batman and expected this a one of the continuing adventure of Batman much like Bond movies keep continuing the Bond franchise, with each movie being a new mission.

As Nolan had already made clear before beginning shooting of TDKR, he was going to end the trilogy, and we already got many "on Location" photos of Bane, the fight scenes between the Cops and Bane's Army, spy pics. of Talia, Catwoman and many other spy footage, which did kind of spoiled those moments on screen, this never happened with BB or TDK, so for some it may have been the case of knowing too much before watching the movie.


To me this movie was better than TDK.

[8Diagrams(WU)]

I didnt like how the theme is sort of the end of batman instead of him rising into the batman we all know with his mission clear. It breaks batman comic book convention a bit enough to make the nitpickiest geeks uncomfortable. Other than that it was a super epic movie, just as good or even better than TDK and it maintains the deep personal feeling the entire trilogy has while also presenting the best twists in the trilogy. Too bad its the last one.

[Deathstroke]

Originally Posted by Boom

Huge letdown. Only saw it twice, and have no strong desire to watch it again.

Agreed. TDK was a fully realized movie.

TDKR just had too much scripting issues to be considered superior. Tons of obvious plotholes as well.

Talia was poorly handled. The characterization of Bruce Wayne wasn't stellar either. He was 'retired' for 8 years, comes back for a few days, and then gives it all up and retires again?

"Anyone can be Batman" ? I found that line absurd. Bruce Wayne is Batman. His experiences and psyche shape what Batman is.

I found John Blake to be a complete throwaway and pointless character. It was basically Nolan trying to shoehorn JGL into this film. I don't logically buy Blake as someone with the resources and training to take up the mantle.

I thought the relationship between Bruce and Selina was half-assed too. This was the one thing Batman Returns did so much better than TDKR. I didn't buy that Bruce would go off with this woman. They barely knew each other and hardly connected.

Bane and Talia's motivations could have been better too. Their entire plan of giving Gotham hope and then just blowing it all up seemed rather cartoony. All it did was buy time for Batman and Gordon to stop them.

[Bruce_Begins]

"Anyone can be Batman" ? I found that line absurd. Bruce Wayne is Batman. His experiences and psyche shape what Batman is.

I think that the line was "Batman can be anyone", there is a difference between the two lines and their meaning.

[Human Torch]

I wasn't let down.There are some things I'd have liked done differently.(Bruce retiring,only been on the job 2/3 years,Etc)But I can't say I was disappointed at all.

[Doctor Octopus]

I was very let down by it because I think Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are great. The Dark Knight Rises wasn't.

[Anno_Domini]

Originally Posted by Deathstroke

"Anyone can be Batman" ? I found that line absurd. Bruce Wayne is Batman. His experiences and psyche shape what Batman is.

You must hate this guy

[Deathstroke]

Terry was mentored and trained by Bruce, different scenario.

I think Wayne and Blake had about two conversations.

[NewYorkSpider]

Yes.

[Anno_Domini]

Originally Posted by Deathstroke

Terry was mentored and trained by Bruce, different scenario.

I think Wayne and Blake had about two conversations.

Although you did say Bruce Wayne is only Batman.

Bruce may not have mentored or trained Blake, he did give him the necessary tools to take on the mantle of the Batman. Giving him they metaphorical keys to the Batcave which most likely also includes the knowledge of Batman's many gadgets which Blake will have to train with himself to be the perfect successor.

[MAKAVELI25]

This movie was a big letdown from me, and I say this as someone whose first and second favorite comic book movies are, respectively, The Dark Knight and Batman Begins. I was going to buy the trilogy DVD but I honestly have no desire to purchase TDKR. I might just buy BB and TDK and call it a day

[Excelsior.]

Huge letdown.

[Deathstroke]

Originally Posted by Anno_Domini

Although you did say Bruce Wayne is only Batman.

Bruce may not have mentored or trained Blake, he did give him the necessary tools to take on the mantle of the Batman. Giving him they metaphorical keys to the Batcave which most likely also includes the knowledge of Batman's many gadgets which Blake will have to train with himself to be the perfect successor.

Terry was basically functioning as an extension of Bruce's will. It was different. Bruce was too old to fight so he guided Terry to handle the physical aspects of Batman. They worked together.

With Blake, Bruce uncharacteristically retired in his prime (again) and just left everything to Blake, a man he had two conversations with.

Even funnier is that it costs millions to maintain all those gadgets and 'tools' that Bruce left him. On top of lacking the training, Blake lacks the financial means to be Batman as well.


It was elements like that which made this film seem half-assed. BB and TDK did a great job explaining most things in a grounded, logical and believable manner. TDKR was rather sloppy from a scripting point of view. Goyer and the others got too cocky after TDK.

BB and TDK seemed fairly true to the source material and to the character. TDKR (especially the ending) felt like an Elseworlds tale. I really didn't want to ultimately see Bruce viewing 'Batman' as a burden he must eventually give up in order to attain 'happiness.' It ruined so much about what made TDK great, about Batman enduring in the face of adversity.