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The Dark Knight Rises |OT2| The Legend... Continues

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I rewatched the film four days ago and can barely remember anything about him. He's the guy that refused to come back out of his house when Gordon came knocking, right?
 
Oh jesus, now you guys want to drag that bullshit out to a two-parter?

All that needed to happen pacing wise to fix the film was to cut out both Catwoman and Blake and dedicate all their screen time to Bruce. Shit is plain as fucking day.

Movie so obviously needed and wanted to be Bruce Wayne's film, but instead smothers him in extraneous characters for the sake of fan service payoffs.

Yep.

Movie needed to focus on Bruce and his core relationships to Alfred/Gordon/Fox. The fact that Alfred disappears 40 minutes in, that Gordon is bedridden for a good portion of the film, and that Fox's role is reduced to an expository character is aggravating.

If you going to make a movie about how he pushes those people away and eventually reconnects, you better reestablish those relationships in something more than offhanded ways in the last twenty minutes (or five in the case of Alfred).
 
Yeah Foxx is used for exposition and more forced payoffs.

'I'm retired.'

'Well why don't you come and humor me anyway, if only so we can set up the autopilot bullshit device and this shitty new vehicle.'
 
Yep.

Movie needed to focus on Bruce and his core relationships to Alfred/Gordon/Fox. The fact that Alfred disappears 40 minutes in, that Gordon is bedridden for a good portion of the film, and that Fox's role is reduced to an expository character is aggravating.

Reduced? That's his role in all three movies.
 
Yeah Foxx is used for exposition and more forced payoffs.

'I'm retired.'

'Well why don't you come and humor me anyway, if only so we can set up the autopilot bullshit device and this shitty new vehicle.'

It bothers me because he is actually a character in TDK and has something of arc: supporting Bruce initially, disagreeing with his tactics later on, but ultimately having his faith restored in the end.

Goddamn, I miss TDK's treatment of the supporting cast (excluding Rachel).

Reduced? That's his role in all three movies.

Wrong. He had an arc in both BB and TDK. TDKR actually turns him into the exposition machine that people have joked about.
 
Oh jesus, now you guys want to drag that bullshit out to a two-parter?

All that needed to happen pacing wise to fix the film was to cut out both Catwoman and Blake and dedicate all their screen time to Bruce. Shit is plain as fucking day.

Movie so obviously needed and wanted to be Bruce Wayne's film, but instead smothers him in extraneous characters for the sake of fan service payoffs.

That's a completely different story then. Selina you could probably excise without affecting the plot or themes of the film, but Blake is integral. It's not just "cut Blake, easy fix!"

And I still think it's a betrayal of the other theme in TDK that regular Gothamites were taking back their city.

Blake is the proof of that happening!
 
He's a character in BB too. His being marginalised by Rutger Hauer, his peculiar interest with Bruce and eventual friendship after he saves Bruce's life, all coming together with Foxx eventually being put at the head of the Wayne board.

Yes, he's used for exposition in BB and TDK, but it feels perfunctory and forced in TDKR because that is ALL he is.
 
I don't know about you, but I paid to see Lucius Fox Rises.

This is totally reductionist and misstates my argument.

I paid to watch Batman; that includes his interactions with developed characters who help flesh him out (by acting as support or foils) and are more than megaphones designed to deliver Nolan's overwrought plot.
 
He's a character in BB too. His being marginalised by Rutger Hauer, his peculiar interest with Bruce and eventual friendship after he saves Bruce's life, all coming together with Foxx eventually being put at the head of the Wayne board.

Yes, he's used for exposition in BB and TDK, but it feels perfunctory and forced in TDKR because that is ALL he is.

Such a pity.
 
He's a character in BB too. His being marginalised by Rutger Hauer, his peculiar interest with Bruce and eventual friendship after he saves Bruce's life, all coming together with Foxx eventually being put at the head of the Wayne board.

Yes, he's used for exposition in BB and TDK, but it feels perfunctory and forced in TDKR because that is ALL he is.

Yeah, I should have added he was a character in BB as well.

I know some people think that Bruce gets a little lost in TDK, but BB/TDK as a whole do a much better job balancing their ensemble than TDKR, where all the returning players are marginalized (or feel like parodies of themselves).

That's a completely different story then. Selina you could probably excise without affecting the plot or themes of the film, but Blake is integral. It's not just "cut Blake, easy fix!"

Blake is the proof of that happening!

But I don't buy Blake as a proof of that transition. I understand that's what the movie wants you to walk away with, but I don't think the writing supports it. He isn't developed enough as an individual and his interaction with Bruce isn't extensive enough for me to understand that he was "inspired" by Batman in any capacity.

His actions don't feel particularly inspired by Batman; he's just a resistance fighter like everybody else (another notion that is woefully underdeveloped).
 
Yeah, I should have added he was a character in BB as well.

I know some people think that Bruce gets a little lost in TDK, but BB/TDK as a whole do a much better job balancing their ensemble than TDKR, where all the returning players are marginalized (or feel like parodies of themselves).

Just like Connie in The Godfather part III.
 
He's a character in BB too. His being marginalised by Rutger Hauer, his peculiar interest with Bruce and eventual friendship after he saves Bruce's life, all coming together with Foxx eventually being put at the head of the Wayne board.

Yes, he's used for exposition in BB and TDK, but it feels perfunctory and forced in TDKR because that is ALL he is.
His being marginalized by Hauer is one of the clunkier scenes in the whole trilogy, it's full of weird deductions by the characters (I've just explained what the device is, why did you lose one?), it is blatant exposition, and is really only used to set up the "memo" gag for the end of the film. It's the punchline to a lame payoff joke. It's barely characterization. It's my least favorite scene in Begins.
 
I didn't like this much in the theatre, even though I'm a huge fan of the good batman movies over the years. I picked up the blu ray anyway, sometimes the theatre can ruin the experience.
 
His being marginalized by Hauer is one of the clunkier scenes in the whole trilogy, it's full of weird deductions by the characters (I've just explained what the device is, why did you lose one?), it is blatant exposition, and is really only used to set up the "memo" gag for the end of the film. It's the punchline to a lame payoff joke. It's barely characterization. It's my least favorite scene in Begins.

There are a lot of lame jokes/recurring lines in BB, though; sometimes it feels like the last third of the movie is just people parroting lines they said earlier in the film. It doesn't change the fact that Lucius and Bruce have a relationship that develops in BB/TDK that isn't taken any further in TDKR.

It's sort of like Han in ROTJ; he's there purely for the fans, because his character clearly is coasting off the development/goodwill of the other two films.
 
The first time I saw it in the theater I didn't really like it that much. Batman is injured at the beginning, shows up for a few scenes and then gets injured again. I saw it on a plane today and it was better. I could actually understand MOST of what Bane was saying, but still not all. It's a good movie but not great.

The plot doesn't make too much sense. Why is Bane and co. bothering to have the masses revolt against the rich people if they're just going to blow up the place in a few months? Why do they feed the cops, if again, they're just going to blow up the whole place in a few months? I did like Bane as a villain though, when I could understand what he was saying.
 
His being marginalized by Hauer is one of the clunkier scenes in the whole trilogy, it's full of weird deductions by the characters (I've just explained what the device is, why did you lose one?), it is blatant exposition, and is really only used to set up the "memo" gag for the end of the film. It's the punchline to a lame payoff joke. It's barely characterization. It's my least favorite scene in Begins.

You're wrong. The exposition for them losing the microwave emitter came in the form of another Wayne Enterprises employee coming to Hauer in the boardroom.

'Its...'

'Missing?'

The point of Foxx finding out via Earle's questioning about the device is so Bruce can find out via Foxx (since Earle would never tell him) and discover exactly how the LoS will be distributing their poison.
 
The first time I saw it in the theater I didn't really like it that much. Batman is injured at the beginning, shows up for a few scenes and then gets injured again. I saw it on a plane today and it was better. I could actually understand MOST of what Bane was saying, but still not all. It's a good movie but not great.

The plot doesn't make too much sense. Why is Bane and co. bothering to have the masses revolt against the rich people if they're just going to blow up the place in a few months? Why do they feed the cops, if again, they're just going to blow up the whole place in a few months? I did like Bane as a villain though, when I could understand what he was saying.
He liked giving people hope before destroying them. I forget why. Probably because he's in EVIL LOVE!
 
The first time I saw it in the theater I didn't really like it that much. Batman is injured at the beginning, shows up for a few scenes and then gets injured again. I saw it on a plane today and it was better. I could actually understand MOST of what Bane was saying, but still not all. It's a good movie but not great.

The plot doesn't make too much sense. Why is Bane and co. bothering to have the masses revolt against the rich people if they're just going to blow up the place in a few months? Why do they feed the cops, if again, they're just going to blow up the whole place in a few months? I did like Bane as a villain though, when I could understand what he was saying.

Well obviously like all villains, he needed a reason to prolong his actual goal. Bane wanted to provide the illusion of hope which he considered the ultimate torture of the mind, and something far greater than physical torture before he blew up the city.
 
Just rewatched all 3. Rises is decent just not enough Batman/Bruce. To much time on random side shit I really don't care about Robin or Catwomen. They are cool but just give me a pay off for the characters in the past movies.
 
You're wrong. The exposition for them losing the microwave emitter came in the form of another Wayne Enterprises employee coming to Hauer in the boardroom.

'Its...'

'Missing?'

The point of Foxx finding out via Earle's questioning about the device is so Bruce can find out via Foxx (since Earle would never tell him) and discover exactly how the LoS will be distributing their poison.
No, it's not the exposition for losing the device, it's the exposition for how the device works. He comes to Lucius and asks about the microwave emitter, Lucius describes it and then says something like, "But I thought that program was shut down? Why, did you lose one?" because he somehow intuited that knowledge based on a simple question for info about the device. And then Earle says he's firing Lucius for some reason, capped off with "Didn't you get the memo?" What memo? That he's fired? What? That scene is awful.
 
So Wal-Mart online screwed me out of a pre-order for the Cowl Limited Edition.

I'm pretty much guaranteed never to be able to buy it again, aren't I?
 
No, it's not the exposition for losing the device, it's the exposition for how the device works. He comes to Lucius and asks about the microwave emitter, Lucius describes it and then says something like, "But I thought that program was shut down? Why, did you lose one?" because he somehow intuited that knowledge based on a simple question for info about the device. And then Earle says he's firing Lucius for some reason, capped off with "Didn't you get the memo?" What memo? That he's fired? What? That scene is awful.

Bro, maybe you need to watch the movie again.

EXECUTIVE
It looks like someone fired it up at
sea- judging from the damage to the
ship and cargo.

EARLE
What about the weapon?

The Executive shifts, uneasy.

EXECUTIVE
It's..

EARLE
Missing?

Then the executive nods.

How the fuck is that not exposition for the fact that they've lost the device?

When Earle goes to Lucius he tells him 'Tell me everything you know about TECH#1857985 or whatever the fuck it is.'

Then Foxx says, 'Why, did you lose one?'

Which is understandable.
 
Gordon tells Blake that he needs to go in front of the camera to let the people know they are safe. Blake says no.
Next scene Blake says Gordon should go in front of the camera.

Wat
 
Dude, re-read my posts, I was saying the exposition in the scene I am talking about between Lucius and Earle isn't the exposition for the device being lost. Yes, that comes earlier in the film with the executive barging in. Lucius delivers different exposition about the device before asking "Did you lose one" randomly which seems to prompt Earle to fire Lucius.
 
After seeing this once in the theatre, I liked it a lot — after watching it at home tonight, I love it. It seems much more re-watchable and better paced than TDK. For a movie that's almost three hours long, it really doesn't feel that way.

The audio on the BD is phenomenal, as is with the other two in the trilogy. The LFE is beastly even on my modest HTIB setup.
 
That 5 minute special feature about the Chant tickled my fancy. Great stuff. What a mesmerizing soundtrack.

So I have a stupid question:

The IMAX format is 1.44:1, right? That's the aspect ratio of the image in all IMAX scenes in TDK and DKR. When viewed at home on a 16:9 conventional widescreen set, and on the Bluray, the IMAX scenes pop out of the 1.85:1 (or is it 2:39:1?) that the standard portions of the films are shot at, and take up the whole screen, at 16:9. But that's not the whole image, is it? 16:9 is wider than IMAX, so you lose a bit off the top and bottom, right?

Basically, what I'm getting at is, are the original IMAX shots basically lost, and unavailable for home viewing? Kind of sucks.
 
After seeing this once in the theatre, I liked it a lot — after watching it at home tonight, I love it. It seems much more re-watchable and better paced than TDK. For a movie that's almost three hours long, it really doesn't feel that way.

The audio on the BD is phenomenal, as is with the other two in the trilogy. The LFE is beastly even on my modest HTIB setup.
Mmmmm ... I think I'll give in and buy a disc after all. Trilogy set wait is too much after reading posts like these.
 
Mmmmm ... I think I'll give in and buy a disc after all. Trilogy set wait is too much after reading posts like these.

Trilogy set is....out already? I mean, I was looking at it at HMV today. $39.99. Unless there's a high-end CE or something planned for 2013 that I don't know about.

the_dark_knight_trilogy_bluray.jpg
 
artist is saying the wait for the trilogy set is too long, so he'll instead opt to pick up the movie now and perhaps the trilogy set down the road anyway.

Dude can't get enough of those bat drink coasters.
 
artist is saying the wait for the trilogy set is too long, so he'll instead opt to pick up the movie now and perhaps the trilogy set down the road anyway.

Dude can't get enough of those bat drink coasters.

Doing the same thing except I'll sell these films when I get the trilogy.

On a rewatch. It's not as bad as I thought but it's still disappointing and stands out like a sore thumb amongst the other two films. Takes too long to get into the groove and once it picks up there are still some silly moments scattered, and some really dumb decisions too (just the whole arc behind Blake. I know it was setup for the ending but there was little logic to it)

Love the last 12 or so minutes though honestly Batman would have been just fine ending at The Dark Knight.
 
Gordon tells Blake that he needs to go in front of the camera to let the people know they are safe. Blake says no.
Next scene Blake says Gordon should go in front of the camera.

Wat

I'm almost positive Gordon says something that convinces Blake while they're talking in the car. It is at the very least implied. Now we're grasping at straws folks.
 
I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT HARVEY DENT, BUT PERHAPS I BETTER NOT *puts envelope away*

Who thought that was a good idea?
 
I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT HARVEY DENT, BUT PERHAPS I BETTER NOT *puts envelope away*

Who thought that was a good idea?

Not to mention Bane telling everybody HAD NO IMPACT AT ALL on the rest of the story. They should have just left that out instead of ruining TDK's perfect ending.

edit: you know what? fuck all of Bane's useless speeches on second thought. Can't believe some liked him more than Joker. I'd have preferred him mute, plus he's just completely neutered after the Talia reveal.
 
Not to mention Bane telling everybody HAD NO IMPACT AT ALL on the rest of the story. They should have just left that out instead of ruining TDK's perfect ending.

edit: you know what? fuck all of Bane's useless speeches on second thought. Can't believe some liked him more than Joker. I'd have preferred him mute, plus he's just completely neutered after the Talia reveal.

The first fight and Bane in the prison were fantastic.

The more I think about it, the more I wish it really were two movies... there's a ton of extra stuff that could have been fleshed out. Still love the movie though.
 
Yeah I liked his monologue to Bruce in the fight and prison. But the football speech and the Harvey Dent speech were so bad. The latter especially was just meaningless tbh.
 
Yeah I liked his monologue to Bruce in the fight and prison. But the football speech and the Harvey Dent speech were so bad. The latter especially was just meaningless tbh.

It's just justification for Bane to have a bigger army to impose his will on Gotham, even if it's as flimsy as it is. All those prisoners are locked up because of the laws made in Dent's honor, if it turns out he's a monster, then he can justify letting them go in a warped sense.
 
Not to mention Bane telling everybody HAD NO IMPACT AT ALL on the rest of the story. They should have just left that out instead of ruining TDK's perfect ending.

Really? No impact at all? What about pushing Blake forward in his critical view of the police, as well as prompting that fantastic shackles line.

Jim Gordon: There's a point, far out there when the structures fail you, and the rules aren't weapons anymore, they're... shackles letting the bad guy get ahead. One day... you may face such a moment of crisis. And in that moment, I hope you have a friend like I did, to plunge their hands into the filth so that you can keep yours clean!

John Blake: Your hands look plenty filthy to me, Commissioner.

I thought reading Gordon's speech was odd, especially since Bane obviously could have been lying, but it did have a point.

It's just justification for Bane to have a bigger army to impose his will on Gotham, even if it's as flimsy as it is. All those prisoners are locked up because of the laws made in Dent's honor, if it turns out he's a monster, then he can justify letting them go in a warped sense.

Yup. Exactly.
 
The whole plot device of Gordon conveniently writing out a full confession that he decided not to say (but is perfectly fine mentioning to a large audience) is ridiculous.
 
That 5 minute special feature about the Chant tickled my fancy. Great stuff. What a mesmerizing soundtrack.

So I have a stupid question:

The IMAX format is 1.44:1, right? That's the aspect ratio of the image in all IMAX scenes in TDK and DKR. When viewed at home on a 16:9 conventional widescreen set, and on the Bluray, the IMAX scenes pop out of the 1.85:1 (or is it 2:39:1?) that the standard portions of the films are shot at, and take up the whole screen, at 16:9. But that's not the whole image, is it? 16:9 is wider than IMAX, so you lose a bit off the top and bottom, right?

Basically, what I'm getting at is, are the original IMAX shots basically lost, and unavailable for home viewing? Kind of sucks.

The IMAX stuff goes full screen.
 
The whole plot device of Gordon conveniently writing out a full confession that he decided not to say (but is perfectly fine mentioning to a large audience) is ridiculous.

Your shrink never told you to write letters to/about people you hate and then not mail them?

And then mail them anyway?
 
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