All-Encompassing Christopher Nolan Discussion Thread

[titansupes]

 

[Rocketman]

Also, what would WB offer him more? He has had 4 consecutive major successes, he can pretty much do whatever he wants right now. I agree that he should resurrect his John Hughes film.

 

[Napoleon]

I think at this point in his career, Nolan can do whatever the hell he wants and I'll see it.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I don't see why he couldn't do his Hughes film. I imagine it's much different than Scorsese's and if it's the best thing he's ever written, why wouldn't you make it?

 

[Matt Mortem]

I give Nolan a lot of ****. I think his last handful of films have not been very good at all. Having said that I rewatched The Dark Knight recently and it holds up so very well. It's still a fine film. Batman Begins too. Still, I think the free reign he's been given isn't exactly a good thing and I'd like to see him try a more modest story.

 

[redfirebird2008]

I give Nolan a lot of ****. I think his last handful of films have not been very good at all. Having said that I rewatched The Dark Knight recently and it holds up so very well. It's still a fine film. Batman Begins too. Still, I think the free reign he's been given isn't exactly a good thing and I'd like to see him try a more modest story.

I'll take Interstellar, Inception, and Prestige over TDK any day of the week. He had pretty much full control on all of them. I'd like to see him do something much smaller scale like The Prestige again.

 

[Rocketman]

Here's my relationship with Christopher Nolan's films.

I've been a hardcore Batman fan since I was 2. When I heard Nolan was doing Batman: The Intimidation Game, I thought, "Um, okay, no idea who this dude is, so whatever." When it was explained that it would be an origin story and a grittier reboot in the style of Year One, I thought, "You know what? This Nolan guy's in good hands with this Batman project because he's making the Batman film that should've always been made in the first place. He can't lose." - I also thought it was a good way for him to get acclimated into the Hollywood system (which it ultimately was).

Then I rented Memento and Insomnia. And then I tracked down Following. I was blown away. I said, "Batman couldn't be in better hands with this filmmaker." My opinion totally flipped. Forward 12 years later, and it's honestly a tie for my fandom between Nolan and Batman.

Now, truth be told, I think Nolan's best films are mostly his non-Batman ones, but that's just my opinion. I rank them:

1. Inception
2. Interstellar
3. The Prestige
4. Memento
5. The Dark Knight
6. The Dark Knight Rises
7. Batman Begins
8. Insomnia
9. Following

I still haven't seen the perfect Batman film, but Nolan was the closest. [BLACKOUT]But I do think Batman Returns is the best Batman film.[/BLACKOUT]

 

[redfirebird2008]

Here's my relationship with Christopher Nolan's films.

I've been a hardcore Batman fan since I was 2. When I heard Nolan was doing Batman: The Intimidation Game, I thought, "Um, okay, no idea who this dude is, so whatever." When it was explained that it would be an origin story and a grittier reboot in the style of Year One, I thought, "You know what? This Nolan guy's in good hands with this Batman project because he's making the Batman film that should've always been made in the first place. He can't lose." - I also thought it was a good way for him to get acclimated into the Hollywood system (which it ultimately was).

Then I rented Memento and Insomnia. And then I tracked down Following. I was blown away. I said, "Batman couldn't be in better hands with this filmmaker." My opinion totally flipped. Forward 12 years later, and it's honestly a tie for my fandom between Nolan and Batman.

Now, truth be told, I think Nolan's best films are mostly his non-Batman ones, but that's just my opinion. I rank them:

1. Inception
2. Interstellar
3. The Prestige
4. Memento
5. The Dark Knight
6. The Dark Knight Rises
7. Batman Begins
8. Insomnia
9. Following

I still haven't seen the perfect Batman film, but Nolan was the closest. [BLACKOUT]But I do think Batman Returns is the best Batman film.[/BLACKOUT]

I love Batman Returns, but the sheer amount of drastic changes from the comic book characters will always prevent that one from being the best Batman movie. Begins, Phantasm, B89 and TDK are all better Batman movies.

Returns is arguably a better film overall than any of them though. Production values off the charts (best looking Blu-ray of the 90's), great performances from the actors, interesting parallels between the three main characters, phenomenal music, extremely ballsy decisions given that it's a summer tentpole, etc.

 

[Rocketman]

Production values off the charts (best looking Blu-ray of the 90's), great performances from the actors, interesting parallels between the three main characters, phenomenal music, extremely ballsy decisions given that it's a summer tentpole, etc.

These are all my reasons as well, but there are two additional elements that seal the deal for me:

1 - the fact that Batman truly takes a backseat in this film and is more of a supporting character in his own film / he's in the shadows... I agree with Burton's theory that this is how Batman should be. You can love him as a character, but his rogues are why you show up. You can try to dissect Bruce Wayne and peel as many psychological layers as you want, but the thing about Batman's appeal is that he's mysterious, he's a man of few words, and he's essentially a ghost story for criminals. I've ALWAYS felt this in the comics; there aren't many comic stories where Bruce Wayne as a man is explored thoroughly.

2 - the scene where Bruce and Selina are at the masquerade ball and they realize who each other are - best scene in any Batman film. The music, the emotion, the cinematography, it's perfect. Gives me chills.

 

[spider-neil]

Here's my relationship with Christopher Nolan's films.

I've been a hardcore Batman fan since I was 2. When I heard Nolan was doing Batman: The Intimidation Game, I thought, "Um, okay, no idea who this dude is, so whatever." When it was explained that it would be an origin story and a grittier reboot in the style of Year One, I thought, "You know what? This Nolan guy's in good hands with this Batman project because he's making the Batman film that should've always been made in the first place. He can't lose." - I also thought it was a good way for him to get acclimated into the Hollywood system (which it ultimately was).

Then I rented Memento and Insomnia. And then I tracked down Following. I was blown away. I said, "Batman couldn't be in better hands with this filmmaker." My opinion totally flipped. Forward 12 years later, and it's honestly a tie for my fandom between Nolan and Batman.

Now, truth be told, I think Nolan's best films are mostly his non-Batman ones, but that's just my opinion. I rank them:

1. Inception
2. Interstellar
3. The Prestige
4. Memento
5. The Dark Knight
6. The Dark Knight Rises
7. Batman Begins
8. Insomnia
9. Following

I still haven't seen the perfect Batman film, but Nolan was the closest. [BLACKOUT]But I do think Batman Returns is the best Batman film.[/BLACKOUT]

For me, it's;
1. The Prestige
2. The Dark Knight
3. Memento
4. Interstellar
5. Batman Begins
6. The Dark Knight Rises
7. Inception
8. Following
9. Insomnia

Notes;
a) Inception did nothing for me but the movie is slowly growing on me with repeat viewings.

b) TDKR gets worse with repeat viewings. I can see Inception and TDKR swapping places on the next viewing.

c) Prestige blew me away. I absolutely loved it on first viewing and love it more with repeat viewings.

d) There is a big gap between the first 3 movies and the rest (for me). 4 down to 9 are by no means bad movies but I just don't enjoy them anywhere near as much as the first 3 movies. I think Batman Begins and Inception are very overrated.

e) I think Nolan's Batman absolutely destroys all the Batman movie that come before and Batflek will have his work cut out to even be in the ball park.

 

[dude stannis]

I'm revisiting the LOTR trilogy and it's occurred to me, that aside from the absolute hack job that is The Hobbit, they don't really do the single story told over the course of multiple films anymore. Kill Bill and Red Cliff are done in this style too. Would you guys be patient enough for a Nolan two or three parter?

 

[spider-neil]

I'm revisiting the LOTR trilogy and it's occurred to me, that aside from the absolute hack job that is The Hobbit, they don't really do the single story told over the course of multiple films anymore. Kill Bill and Red Cliff are done in this style too. Would you guys be patient enough for a Nolan two or three parter?

I don't see Nolan doing that. He is very much a 'purist' and I think he will want to tell self contained stories. Batman was the exception and even those movies can be seen individually without having seen the other movies in the trilogy.

As an aside, I hope Nolan's next movie is a Sci-Fi. Sci-Fi is my favourite genre and Nolan has 'out there' concepts that are really interesting.

 

[Reek]

For me, it's;
1. The Prestige
2. The Dark Knight
3. Memento
4. Interstellar
5. Batman Begins
6. The Dark Knight Rises
7. Inception
8. Following
9. Insomnia

Notes;
a) Inception did nothing for me but the movie is slowly growing on me with repeat viewings.

b) TDKR gets worse with repeat viewings. I can see Inception and TDKR swapping places on the next viewing.

c) Prestige blew me away. I absolutely loved it on first viewing and love it more with repeat viewings.

d) There is a big gap between the first 3 movies and the rest (for me). 4 down to 9 are by no means bad movies but I just don't enjoy them anywhere near as much as the first 3 movies. I think Batman Begins and Inception are very overrated.

e) I think Nolan's Batman absolutely destroys all the Batman movie that come before and Batflek will have his work cut out to even be in the ball park.

Do you consistently rewatch movies you don't actually like in order to hate them more?

 

[Cory]

 

[Schlosser85]

TDK and Inception are my top Nolan films.

 

[vanson]

TDK and Inception are my top Nolan films.

mine too

 

[titansupes]

TDK, The Prestige and Memento for me, with TDKR ridiculously close behind.

 

[OutOfBoose]

I think, I love all Nolan movies, except for Interstellar, Insomnia and The Following. But my favorite is definitely Inception. Also, TDKR, while being a narrative catastrophe, still somehow wins my heart.

 

[Schlosser85]

I don't flat out dislike any Nolan movie.

 

[The Joker]

Ok since we're ranking Nolan's movies;

1. The Dark Knight
2. The Prestige
3. Memento
4. Batman Begins
5. Inception
6. The Dark Knight Rises
7. Interstellar
8. Insomnia
9. The Following

 

[kvz5]

Mine changes every now and then but my #1's been constant.

The Prestige
Memento
Batman Begins
The Dark Knight
Inception
The Dark Knight Rises
Interstellar
Insomnia

 

[childeroland]

The Prestige
Batman Begins
Inception
The Dark Knight
Insomnia (this one grows on you)
Memento
Following
(don't care for Interstellar or TDKR).

 

[Malicked]

1) The Dark Knight
2) The Prestige (this really gets better on rewatches for me)
3) Batman Begins
4) Inception
5) Memento
6) The Dark Knight Rises
7) Interstellar
8) Insomnia
9) Following

 

[Napoleon]

1. The Prestige
2. The Dark Knight
3. Batman Begins/Inception (tie)
4. The Dark Knight Rises
5. Interstellar

Please Note: I haven't seen his other three films and I only saw Interstellar one in theaters, and I didn't really get it, so I'll definitely have to watch it again.

 

[Snow Queen]

1. The Dark Knight
2. The Dark Knight Rises
3. Inception
4. Interstellar
5. The Prestige
6. Batman Begins
7. Memento
8. Insomnia
9. Following