The Dark Knight Rises You Have My Permission To Lounge - Part 9

[The Chris]

Yup.

I can't take a lot of TDKR criticism seriously anymore because of this exact thing. Not only that, because the film has problems, people want to put this movie on a similar level as a Snyder film. It wasn't as tight as BB/TDK, so it must be complete trash.

I've been watching Collider's Top 50 CBMs rankings, and some of their crew tear into TDKR like it was BvS. It's cringeworthy.

Good thing I've been avoiding those videos. The rankings so far has me rolling my eyes.

 

[The Batman]

The rankings lost credibility as soon as they had films like Age of Ultron ahead of TDKR. I feel like the videos will only become tolerable once they reach the top 15 or 20.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

I haven’t watched TDKR in its entirety since my initial theatrical viewing.

We’ve been subjected to a lot of garbage since then, so perhaps it’s time to revisit it.

 

[Brother Jack]

I haven’t watched TDKR in its entirety since my initial theatrical viewing.

We’ve been subjected to a lot of garbage since then, so perhaps it’s time to revisit it.

I recommend watching the other two first. Rises really benefits from having those films in your head as you watch it.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

Was thinking of doing a whole rewatch too

 

[Tacit Ronin]

3A) Quality over quantity. It's not the comics. It' not trying to obey every comic book rule. Bruce did more for the city and did more physically in one year (i still think he was Batman for a bit longer) than most Batmen did in live-action or comics. The intention was to show a real human being in our world, and the consequences. So to me, this part is a comic purists nitpick. Don't keep referencing Miller because Bale acted like Batman a lot more in his absence than Miller's Bats did in his absence.

3B) Already had this battle over the summer with our poster Joker. And i should dig it back up because i never got around to finishing my argument. I don't mind this criticism. Fair enough, but i don't agree with it. Nolan answered this when he said we needed Batman and Gordon's lie to mean something. For the lie to have weight and for it to work, Gotham needs to be free of Batman. Also my argument is that we did see them hunt Batman but of course most don't agree with me on that. I still stand by it.

3c) Politics. I don't see anything wrong here. Great stuff. Makes it even more interesting. My politics and views do not need to be met 100 percent in the film that i'm watching. That's ridiculous. I see no problems here.

3d) I was completely satisfied with the end of the trilogy, it moved me. I don't care what others feel while i'm watching the ending. It's perhaps my favorite ending to any comic book movie, it tied everything up in a bow, and it's perfect. No problems here. He also writes this "Rises takes this up by showing Bruce still mourning for Rachel, which seems to be one of his reasons for having retired." and THAT is why i stopped reading in the first place. If you're going to write an analysis, try to actually pay attention to the films. Nonsense.

So where are all the Snyder level problems? I don't see any.

It's the politics part that you don't care and glossed over that is Snyderesque. And it's perfectly legitimate to not like a movie over political differences. As it is to not like a movie based on thematic differences. Not to mention politics, character and theme are intertwined. One doesn't exist without the other.

Should we love Birth of a Nation? I mean, it's very well crafted.

3a: I agree. The idea that Batman only operates for six or seven months is striking. It's hard to get used to as a fan. But once you accept that this is a self contained trilogy not beholden to the comics. The idea is not wrong on its face.

3b: I think you can interpret the follow-up to the ending either way. As Batman retired, or as Batman limping along. After all, Batman is whatever Gotham needs him to be. And Gotham needed Batman gone.

 

[shauner111]

I personally don't care what the politics are in a film. Snyder went a bit overboard with it , Nolan didn't hit you over the head with one side. Either way, I got over that stuff quickly with Batfleck and the rest of em'. My issues had to do with tone, characterization, plot, editing, direction, cinematography, special effects, acting, motivation or lack of. That's why i can't even entertain the possibility of comparing Nolan's film to Snyder's. Will never even reach the same ballpark for me. Ever.

My issues with Rises are little nitpicks. A couple of editing mistakes, or ADR early in the film, or how i wanted it to be a little longer. That's all. Comparing the two is like comparing PTA's Magnolia to Matrix Reloaded.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

The story for Arkham Knight is crap, but I still prefer it to BvS.

I recommend watching the other two first. Rises really benefits from having those films in your head as you watch it.

Was thinking of doing a whole rewatch too

I don't know if doing so affected me or it was something else, but when I did my one Batman movie a day marathon I actually liked The Dark Knight Rises a little less than I did before.

 

[Iceman]

I liked TDKR so much more the 2nd time I saw it. The first time was a bit disappointing.

 

[shauner111]

I literally cry everytime that ending hits. Just such great emotional warmth and fantastic large scale filmmaking.

 

[Ryan]

Interesting article. He addresses a few of the problems that I had/have with the film to this day and points out the few strengths I felt the film had. I don't think he added anything new to the debate. I still find the Dark Knight Rises to be one of the most hotly debated films from the trilogy. Still I think people will remember it more fondly as time goes one with the current DC product that's being put out.

 

[BatLobster]

I liked TDKR so much more the 2nd time I saw it. The first time was a bit disappointing.

Same with me. The first viewing is such an emotionally exhausting experience, there were so many nerves about whether it would live up to my expectations and I felt pretty aware as I was watching it that the film was not as tight as TDK. I knew walking out that there was going to be a lot of backlash before I read any message boards or clickbait articles. Obviously I knew there was much to love about it, but I had a hard time pinning down my overall feelings.

I re-watched Begins before I saw it a second time, and the second time was where everything just clicked with me and I really came to appreciate the film. I think I was just able to better sink my teeth into the themes, knowing where it was all ultimately leading. And once I accepted that it was never meant to be a standalone movie to the extent that TDK was and was more of a direct product of both its predecessors, a lot of my initial hesitance went away and I was able to really embrace it as a great trilogy-closer.

 

[titansupes]

Same with me. The first viewing is such an emotionally exhausting experience, there were so many nerves about whether it would live up to my expectations and I felt pretty aware as I was watching it that the film was not as tight as TDK. I knew walking out that there was going to be a lot of backlash before I read any message boards or clickbait articles. Obviously I knew there was much to love about it, but I had a hard time pinning down my overall feelings.

I re-watched Begins before I saw it a second time, and the second time was where everything just clicked with me and I really came to appreciate the film. I think I was just able to better sink my teeth into the themes, knowing where it was all ultimately leading. And once I accepted that it was never meant to be a standalone movie to the extent that TDK was and was more of a direct product of both its predecessors, a lot of my initial hesitance went away and I was able to really embrace it as a great trilogy-closer.

I had an almost identical experience.

EDIT: To the point where I just deleted a bunch of text about my experience because it was basically a clone of yours.

But what got it really clicking with me was All-Star Superman,oddly enough. I recognised some broad similarities in their endings so did a re-read before my second viewing.

 

[shauner111]

Man, when I walked out of Rises the first time, I was so thrilled and assumed that everyone on the boards would love it. The only disappointment I felt was the next day when some folks were complaining. Oh well.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

I watched the Punisher. It was better than I thought it would be. The show went in some surprising places that were richly satisfying.

 

[The Batman]

Still I think people will remember it more fondly as time goes one with the current DC product that's being put out.

As soon as 2013 happened, I stopped nitpicking TDKR. Every major superhero film that year was lacking in way that TDKR wasn't. And then much the DCEU's output cinched it for me. I can't say TDKR is as bad as those films, not with a straight face.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

That Avengers trailer truly serves as a reminder of the magnitude of WB's **** up.

 

[shauner111]

Haha it really does. 2 billion right there.

 

[StarLord]

Thanos makes Steppenwolf look like a ****ing Atari character.

 

[BatLobster]

It's pretty sickening to think about how much money Disney is about to make in the next 6 months between The Last Jedi and Infinity War, haha. But my gosh, they really are making WB look like amateurs.

I actually thought Thanos looked pretty dumb, but literally anything is better than Steppenwolf...

 

[shauner111]

Much better than Mr. Born To Be Wild. Didn't like Spidey's suit. But everything else got me pumped.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Seriously, THANOS might be the best mocapped character we've yet seen. It's a breathtaking achievement. He looks real.

 

[StarLord]

Kane with the awesome gifs as usual.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Those eyes. Hollywood has bridged the uncanny valley.

 

[BatLobster]

He def looks better in that more contrasty lighting. The first shot where he appears in broad daylight, the design looked more computer-ish to me.

You can clearly tell it's Brolin though, and that's cool.