10 Things I'm Worried/Excited About - The Dark Knight Rises

10 Things I'm Worried/Excited About - The Dark Knight Rises

Five things I'm worried about and five things I'm excited about, when it comes to The Dark Knight Rises

Editorial Opinion
By AnthonyMango - Dec 04, 2011 12:12 PM EST
Filed Under: Batman
Source: ToeKneeManGo

Whenever a new film comes out that I'm a fan of, I always end up overanalyzing the littlest details and jumping to my own conclusions, positive or negative. Naturally, that brings about some things I get very excited about and some things I'm equally anxious about in a bad way. Let's take a look at a few of those things in regards to THE DARK KNIGHT RISES...



THINGS I'M WORRIED ABOUT

1. Possible 8 Year Gap

I’m very, very nervous about this. I don’t see how it’ll make any sense and work. Not only does Gordon look in the hospital scene from the teaser to not have aged 8 years, but to say that the police have been chasing Batman and accusing him of murder for EIGHT years is just drastic. Considering the time lapse between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight is what, a year or two maybe, I can’t imagine this being a logical jump in time. It’s too far. If you were to say a year, then sure, I can see that. But eight years is meaning that Bruce is now about 40 and he’s still wearing the same suit made by Lucius in TDK, we still have no Robin, and for what? I’m still really hoping that this is just some messed up report or rumor with no foundation.

2. Small Bane

Don’t get me wrong, if you gave me a choice between seeing what we’ve seen so far versus having what many people suggest – a WWE superstar playing a giant luchador – this new take seems much more interesting and has better potential. That’s coming from someone that owns his own wrestling website (Smark Out Moment, check it out and my YouTube show Smack Talk if you’re interested – plug over). Bane still looks nowhere near as intimidating as I was hoping he would be, particularly if that voice we’ve heard is what they end up with (I’m not expecting it to be, though).

3. TOO Reflective of Batman Begins

I keep hearing all of this mirror imagery that they’re going to set up between Batman and Bane. While I’m a big, big supporter of making things turn around full circle (even if it’s just referencing a joke from earlier in a conversation), you run a risk of being repetitive and pointless if you do it too much. If this is a film that starts off the same as Batman Begins but from Bane’s point of view, then references the two of them as being similar throughout the whole film, which might consist of a plot that is basically just “League of Shadows takes a weapon and plans on destroying Gotham with it”, then why not just watch Batman Begins again?

4. Catwoman Not “Catwoman” Enough

Look, I wasn’t expecting her to spit out a bunch of cat puns and wear the original cat mask from the 40s or anything, but from what we’ve seen, there really isn’t anything “Catwoman” about her yet. She’s got a black outfit, her character is Selina Kyle, and she’s hot. Those are the similarities we know right now. It annoys me when I see things like the goggles look the way they do when, if you’re adding something like that into the film, it wouldn’t be any more difficult to just make the goggles look like the comic book version. These goggles don’t look like cat eyes, and as much as people say when she has them up on her head that that resembles cat ears, I don’t see it. It looks more like a woman in an Emma Peel Halloween costume sporting some goggles on her head. Considering how Catwoman’s modern outfit is something that would work perfectly well in Nolan’s realistic world, I don’t see why they seem to be stripping all of the CATwoman characteristics away from it. Whips, a cowl, and goggles that resemble cat eyes aren’t exactly like asking for a mutant shapeshifting mud monster (sorry Clayface). Then again, I’m sure we haven’t seen it all, so I’m hoping I’m proven wrong about this and we get “Catwoman” on the screen, instead of just “Woman on a bike dressed in leather named Selina Kyle”.

5. Ending the Trilogy by Ending Batman

Personally, I like my stories to end with a sense that the story will continue after you’re done watching it, but in a way that we can all make up the details so much as we know the big picture. This is extended even more so when it comes to comic book movies and any other kind of serialized franchise in similar fashion. I don’t want my Ultimate Spider-Man to end with Peter Parker just being killed and then that’s it (nor do I want someone else to take up the role, Miles or Ben or Miguel, but that’s a different discussion). I want it to end knowing that Peter’s still out there as Spider-Man, but in a better place with it. Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking, think more along the lines of the end of Return of the Jedi (still work to be done, but we know the rebels have won and will ultimately fix everything) versus the end of another one of my favorite movies, Reservoir Dogs (hint: you’ll never see Reservoir Dogs 2 lol). I don’t want to see Batman crippled and retired. I don’t want Bruce to be killed off. I want to see that Batman has ascended to greatness and is going to clean Gotham up even if it takes one criminal at a time – but damn it, he’ll do it even if he has to do it until the day he does eventually die. By the way, when speaking about ascending, I can’t stress enough how much I’m disappointed with the title “The Dark Knight Rises”. The word ‘rises’ is used far too much in movies recently and I think replicating the ‘The Dark Knight’ part was just lazy. Plus, if they do in fact want to end this by ending Batman, then that would be quite stupid to name the film “Rises”, wouldn’t it? They keep speaking about this being a definite end to things, which has me worried.

THINGS I'M EXCITED ABOUT

1. The Track Record

I was first turned to Nolan with Memento, which I loved. Insomnia fell flat, and I’m not the biggest fan of Prestige (not bad, just not good enough to own IMO), but Inception, Batman Begins, and The Dark Knight are all three films I own and love. Batman Begins is what I consider the best comic book film ever. Thus, I’m excited to see what they bring us in this next film. If it’s more of those 3 instead of the Insomnia quality, then this should be a real treat.

2. Bat Cave

First we have a rough concept, then we have more of a bat-garage than anything else, but by now, we’ve GOT to have the true Bat Cave! I don’t expect fluorescent lights and motorized platforms with a giant penny and dinosaur and whatnot, but I’m definitely expecting to see a more decked out Bat Cave in this version. If I start hearing that we won’t see it, I’ll be really disappointed.

3. Bane and Catwoman (and possibly Talia)

They might not be what I want them to look like and for all I know, that’s as good as it’s going to get, but for now, I’m excited to see what Nolan pulls out of these two characters in the film. I’m a fan of both of them – more so Catwoman than Bane, but I’ve been getting more into Bane the past few months and he’s growing on me – so even though I really was hoping for Riddler, I’m still more than up for these two. This would be a different story if you were telling me the new female lead would be Roxy Rocket and the new villain was Calculator, haha. The possible addition of Talia is another welcome addition that I’m looking forward to seeing.

4. Hans Zimmer is the Man

I have a playlist dedicated to any type of song that sounds similar to the Hans Zimmer style, whether it’s the Transformers or Island soundtracks, production music like “Kingmaker” by Immediate Music, or something by Hans Zimmer himself. The guy does quality work and I love it, so I’ll be keeping my eye on the score for sure (or should I say my ear?).

5. Future Recognition in Retrospect

This is definitely jumping ahead, but it's something that is on my mind nonetheless. If this film is as good or better than the previous films, because of it being the last of a trilogy, we might finally see Christopher Nolan and the rest of the cast/crew responsible for it be recognized for their work. I'm not expecting it to win Best Picture, but it seems like the Academy took a lot of necessary flack for snubbing The Dark Knight that they might have listened to when it came time to think about Inception. If Lord of the Rings can win Best Picture and countless other awards for ending its trilogy, why can't a Batman trilogy get some respect as well? It's a possibility, and we'll have to see what the final product is before speculation about awards could possibly make any sense, but the sheer concept behind the potential that it has to make that impact is something I'll be eagerly in anticipation for.

So what are some things that you're worried and/or excited about for Nolan's third and final outing with the Batman?


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superbatspiderman
superbatspiderman - 12/4/2011, 2:23 PM
I don't think they will kill off or get rid of Batman in the movie. I think the plot will be Bane beats Batman and Batman goes into hiding then Batman rises and defeats Bane with the help of Catwoman. I don't think they will eliminate Batman. Also Tom Hardy being short will be fixed on post production I can almost guarantee that. We just need to have faith in the filmakers.
theghostmannz
theghostmannz - 12/4/2011, 3:08 PM
i trust nolan wholeheartedly. he'll deliver a killer film. he's done such an excellent job so far with batman begins and the dark knight. setting the third film 8 years ahead and presenting a worn down batman is an awesome. it means he'll be the underdog in the story with raises the stakes dramatically. we naturally see heroes as being the ones on top in a story but i like the idea of batman not being in top form and having to fight his way back mentally and physically. i think batman will come out on top in the end but not before having the shit beaten out of him and being mentally and emotionally drained. nolan's approach to this comic book character has genius all the way. he's delivered a version that's taken it to a whole new level from the burton films. i still like burton's batman but nolan's given us a batman for mature audiences. nolan's the man!
Rhys
Rhys - 12/4/2011, 4:03 PM
The 8 years gap is actually one of the things I'm MOST excited about in this film. Every time some little bit of news came out for TDKR, I got progressively less excited about it. But hearing about the 8 year gap re-sparked my interest.

I like the idea because it puts the characters in a place we haven't seen them before. We aren't just picking up where the last movie left off, we're seeing them now years in the future. This might freshen up the characters, giving an opportunity for us the rediscover them. Also, having an older Batman makes Bane seem all the more his superior.

I still don't think this film will live up to the hype. It might end up being surprisingly good, but I seriously doubt it'll be as good as the fans are thinking.
alucard365
alucard365 - 12/4/2011, 4:32 PM
Small Bane lol, the main stream audience don't even know who Bane is, let alone care how big he suppose to be.
Bernie123
Bernie123 - 12/4/2011, 5:27 PM
remember manny paquiao..he's 5'6 and weighs no more than 160. he's the best boxer in the world and stands shorter than most fighters. its not about height or weight. its about skill. and bane is supposedly a wrecking ball
MrReese
MrReese - 12/4/2011, 6:23 PM
i wood like 2 c more villains given a nod 2 in the 8 yr gap.N i think itll end like batman begins except batman saying thank u 2 Gordon on top of the building with the bat signal up n runnin
AnthonyMango
AnthonyMango - 12/4/2011, 7:30 PM
Wouldn't the main stream audience, if they don't know one way or the other, think a bigger guy would be a more imposing and dangerous threat than a smaller guy with the same qualities? Just saying. You don't have to be huge (hence the Manny Paq reference Bernie's saying above me) but still, when you have a character like Bane whose main physical characteristic is that he's huge and he's played by someone smaller than the hero, it just seems like it'll come up short (pun intended lol).
DRock59
DRock59 - 12/4/2011, 7:43 PM
Good read, hear are my thoughts...

I think the time lapse between Batman Begins and Dark Knight is less than a year. Dark Knight picks up pretty much right where Batman Begins left.

Bruce fled Gotham for Japan during his freshman year at Princeton, so he was about 19 then. He returned to Gotham 7 years later (as mentioned in BB) and became Batman at age 26. Add 8 years and Bruce is 34-35 in Dark Knight Rises which is believable.

There better be a Bat Cave! At the end of Batman Begins Alfred eluded to rebuilding Wayne Manor "specifically the southeast wing"

*Spoiler alert*
There's also Ra's Al Ghul. The news was confirmed back in March that Liam Neeson shot a scene in India. *That's all I'm spoiling*
RunDTC
RunDTC - 12/4/2011, 7:47 PM
I'm by far most concerned about Hackaway as Catwoman

I'm most excited for Nolan's vision of Bane
Oxion
Oxion - 12/4/2011, 9:37 PM
umm....no 8 years is perfect. Think about it, Batman Begin was when Batman was first starting out, The Dark Knight was what a year after that movie? Batman is still a [frick]in noob, he needs that time to settle in Gotham, to really have his name known and gain experience. Nobody wants to watch a film series where Batman stops being Batman in only three [frick]in years. Just trust in Nolan.
blaklodge
blaklodge - 12/4/2011, 10:38 PM
I agree with your point about Nolan. I think the fact that he's behind this will make up for a lot. And if the Academy has any balls, they'll nominate this for best film. But they never have balls.

Buuuuuut A THEORY ON WHY BRUCE WAYNE WILL PROBABLY DIE IN TDKR CAN BE FOUND HERE.

http://www.chinashopmag.com/2011/12/will-bruce-wayne-die-in-the-dark-knight-rises-who-will-replace-him/
surgeonviper
surgeonviper - 12/5/2011, 1:12 AM
First off fantastic piece. I enjoy a thorough bit of examination.

Now... The 8 year thing bothered me at first. i didn't really understand what Nolan was doing either. It was obvious that he is recreating THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. But how is he going to keep the mood right? Long layoffs like you suggest could make this material seem dated before it begins. Destroying all of the momentum created in the previous two. A worse case scenario is the movie feeling anti-climactic. That is never good.

So why the long delay?… Why would he distance himself from such a mega thriller as THE DARK KNIGHT?

I think I may have an idea of what Nolan is up to. Having written three screenplays myself and knowing how pacing is like “the secret sauce” in a movie i believe he's using the gap to shield us from a crucial element of DKR on purpose. My theory is The 8 year gap will be used to hide the progress of batman’s technology...

Think about it.

Last we saw him he was being hunted and beaten. He lost his ride and was using a motorized scooter to get from a to b.. Everyone assumes he is long dead disinterested and getting saggy in the midsection. Surely he hasn’t been working out… So when Bruce pushes a button and a hidden stairway suddenly appears that leads to a mega structure. A technical marvel armed to the teeth with weaponry and all sorts of exotic contraption he has collected, we’ll know our friend the knight has been busy. And the pacing mind you will have been effective.

Because at that moment your first response will be that of awe(granted you haven’t spoiled the whole movie for yourself by that time)

For this moment to work. There is no formula yet. However, Nolan may have found it. One thing that makes Nolan “special” is He knows pacing. Just watch those inter-cuts in TDK or MEMENTO or INCEPTION they are the work of a master storyteller who understands timing is key, moving chess pieces across the board waiting for the right moment to catch you off guard with that “holly cow” moment and dazzle even the hardest skeptic with expert precision. In Nolan’s game. Timing… Is everything.

For RISES to be extraordinary we “must” witness a threat that is so overwhelming that Bruce knows that the only way to beat this foe is to lay dormant and wait. Because a straight on attack will not end well. And Bruce needs time to collect all the data to learn who the wild cards are. Whose against him. Who are his allies(in DK for instance he didn‘t plan on Harvey being betrayed by rogue cops. Who are they?) … So he waits Patiently for the right time to strike. A sort of endgame scenario. All or nothing. Put all of the chips in the middle of the table and call.

The threat has to be enormous mind you. A cancer or plague if your will. For this to be successful Bane has to be at the forefront and he’s got to be truly menacing. Overwhelming. So powerful that though the previous two movies in the series are quite nice. This one has to stand alone because the nemesis makes the movie bigger somehow. MORE EPIC. FIERCE FINALITY.

To service the pacing I’d focus on the Bane character who as you said is mirroring Bruce. Focus on Bruce‘s inner demons. The corporation. The city in chaos. All of these things going on at once. Will the dark knight return? Does he care?

Wait for the “right“ moment and then…

With a push of a button. All of your questions are answered definitively.
PapaEmeritus
PapaEmeritus - 12/5/2011, 3:04 AM
If you'd asked me, back in 2007 / 2008, if i'd something that i was worried about TDK, i would said to you: Heath Ledger as the Joker.

Ain't no need to worries, son!
surgeonviper
surgeonviper - 12/5/2011, 5:47 AM
BTW

The conspiracy to destroy Gotham might be huge. Think of it like peeling an onion open.

How big does this conspiracy go?

For a finale like this. I'd be skeptical of every character. Especially those we've seen in the previous movie. Batman was undone not just by the joker. But by cops.

It is my hunch that not only is Batman dealing with a militant faction that is taking over the vacancy left by the mafia. Turning Gotham into a sort of third world country. But the corruption may even be perpetrated by none other than say "the mayor." who maybe put Gordon in position to fail on purpose.

That might explain how the previous commissioner and the judge's inner circle were infiltrated so easily.

This kind of cancer would cause any mastermind to think very carefully about how to approach taking action.

I hate to play spoiler. So i'll shut up now.

Organa1978
Organa1978 - 12/5/2011, 6:38 AM
The only thing that worries me is a predictable and cliche ending when Bruce retires as Batman and lives happy after that.
AnthonyMango
AnthonyMango - 12/5/2011, 7:41 AM
@FatherMidnight - That's one thing that's keeping me from panicking. When I heard Ledger would be Joker, and then saw the pictures and heard that he was just wearing makeup, I thought "Well, there goes a good Batman trilogy", but he obviously proved me wrong. Since I've been wrong before, I have to keep my speculations as just speculations, instead of KNOWING that it will suck like some other movies out there, haha.

I'm hoping when the film comes out, I'll have to bite down and say that I was wrong about all the things I was worried - like I did with Joker. Naturally, I'd rather admit to being wrong and enjoy the film than to be right and not enjoy it.
dpguy
dpguy - 12/5/2011, 8:30 AM
I'm concerned about the eight-year gap as well. It will undoubtedly result in Batman being largely absent for a substantial portion of the film. Wayne can't just suddenly suit up and start being Batman again after an eight-year hiatus. It's just not believable.

The inclusion of Catwoman worries me as well because establishing a believable origin within the allotted time frame will be difficult.

In Batman Returns, a timid, mousy secretary survives a fall from a window, survives. So she puts on a costume and starts beating the stuffing out of men twice her size. Sorry I just didn't buy it.
Screenx3
Screenx3 - 12/5/2011, 10:10 AM
I'm one of the guys who thinks the 8 year gap will work just fine. At the end of TDK we see Batman running from the cops as a fugative of the law,but we also see the memorial of Gatham's beloved DA Harvey Dent. I think the death of Harvey Dent will have a big affect on this third and final installment of Nolan's Batman trilogy.

Just like the death of Thomas Wayne inspired the people of Gatham to "limp on" and survive the economic terrorist attack set in motion by Ra's Al Ghul and his league of shadows. I think the death of Harvey Dent may have inspired the people of Gotham yet agan to save their city, wich may have resulted in a city, that at the begining of The Dark Knight Rises, no longer needs Batman. I think Bruce may have very well hung up his suit for the whole 8 year gap.

This is also how I think The Dark Knight Rises will be reflective of the first film(Batman Begins). Not so much with the origin of Bane, but with a Gotham without Batman and the rise of an evil that makes the presence of the Dark Knight necessary again.
KaioKen
KaioKen - 12/5/2011, 10:48 AM
I think Nolan is using smoke and mirrors about the whole, 8-year gap, thing. I believe that the Prologue descripton about Bane breaking Batman is true. I think it is 8-years between that point, directly after TDK, and when Batman has worked himself back into fighting shape to reclaim Gotham.
Kcolraw
Kcolraw - 12/5/2011, 11:43 AM
"the main stream audience don't even know who Bane is"

everyone AND THEIR MOTHER has played arkham asylum and arhkam city
jaysin420
jaysin420 - 12/5/2011, 12:16 PM
Great article, I think people are just over-thinking this way too much though.

Begins was a good movie, not great, and the only thing that saved TDK was Ledger giving one of the greatest performances in movie history.

Like really two-face? You're the nicest guy ever and then the Joker kills your girlfriend so you become just like him? Yea that makes no sense at all, I don't care if his whole family got killed in front of him, he wouldn't attempt to kill Gordon's kids! That's insane!

Now if Nolan really was a genius, he would have used the 8 year gap to explain why the Joker looks a little different (and a lot like JGL now lol) but instead we get mini-Bane, Cat-Boy and Talia Al Ghul?

Here's the truth- Nolan's pulling a Lost, he's making the ending so shitty that he doesn't have to talk about Batman for the rest of his life.
DarkKnight409
DarkKnight409 - 12/5/2011, 4:52 PM
@JaySin420, I disagree with you. First off Two-face and the Joker are not even close to the same. The Joker in TDK almost completely and literally embodied the concept of Chaos. He himself stated that he was "an agent of CHAOS." Two-face on the other hand was more or less what Bruce wanted to be before he left Gotham to understand and submerge himself in the criminal element, a vigilante with a gun. The differences between Harvey and Bruce are that Bruce decided that he could not bring himself to end a life, and that Harvey after telling Gordon that he had dirty cops in the MCU was in fact betrayed by them, had the love of his life taken away, and was himself horribly disfigured by the Joker and the Mafia. Therefore his mind twisted and in shambles, and with the direct influence of the Joker who introduced the idea to him that in order for justice to be done he would have to do it himself. Harvey in his fragile state and having the aid of his "lucky coin", set about to right the wrongs done to him, in the Biblical sense of an eye for an eye. The ones who he believed to have wronged him i.e. Maroni, Wuertz, Ramirez, Batman for saving him, and Gordon for not saving Rachel. Two-face, like Batman was created by a tragic event, and forged by indoctrination. Also the plot of TDK created by Jonathan Nolan, Christoper Nolan, and David S. Goyer coupled with Christopher Nolan's overall vision and direction, the ensemble cast and the work of an amazing crew, including Hanz Zimmer and James Newton Howard the composers, Wally Pfister the Cinematographer, Nathan Crowley the Production Designer (as well as the creator of the Bat-pod, and the Tumbler), Lindy Hemming the Costume Designer, and the company Framestore that created the visual effects for Two-face. The concerted efforts of all of these individuals as well as the ones not listed made The Dark Knight not only possible but one of the best films of all time, in my humble opinion.
DarkKnight409
DarkKnight409 - 12/5/2011, 5:22 PM
@surgeonviper, I agree with you, there is the high plausibility of a conspiracy to destroy Gotham, but I believe with the introduction of the Nixon character that Mayor Garcia might be killed off, giving Bane and the League of Shadows (if they are included in the film) a chance to put a puppet in his place and thereby allowing Bane to gain control of Gotham. Also the eight year time lapse excites me because it can show a Gotham that has been given a real new lease on life if you will, A Gordon who though he hasn't had to deal with the Mafia, or villans such as Scarecrow, Ras Al Ghul, or the Joker. But he might be weary of the though dwindling, still there crime rate, as well as the bureaucracy of his political position of Police Commissioner. Then Bane comes to Gotham to do the job that Ras could not do, destroy Gotham. I do not believe that Batman will be broken in the end, because Nolan has been known to use elements of some of the greatest Batman Graphic Novels and limited series in history, The Man who Falls, Batman: Year One, Batman: The Long Halloween, and a bit of dialogue for the Joker from Batman: The Killing Joke. Therefore with the introduction of Bane I believe that The Knightfall storyline will be of some if not major influence to the plot of the movie.
dpguy
dpguy - 12/5/2011, 6:15 PM
@DarkKnight409 Absolutely. You've probably seen the leaked photos of a large explosion at Blackgate prison setting all the inmates free. Apparently that happens in the movie. Catching all the blackgate prisoners and having to deal with Bane will wear Batman down for sure.
DarkKnight409
DarkKnight409 - 12/5/2011, 6:41 PM
@dpguy, actually the reason that I think that the league of shadows are a major element is because I personally believe that Marion Cotillard's character Miranda Tate is a cover for Talia Al Ghul, and because Nolan says that it brings the story of Batman full circle. I mean what better way to bring the story back to its beginning than to have the League of Shadows come back to Gotham City to try to finish what it started?
95
95 - 12/5/2011, 10:31 PM
I typed a long reply, but I accidentally left the page and it was deleted {sigh}.... oh well.

Worries:

1. The eight year gap is politically significant. Bane assassinates Political Leaders for the League of Shadows. Rumors suggest the prologue follows him on his assignment to kill a Gulf War[?] dictator. Mayor Garcia's second term in office ends in this film. It's also been mentioned that he attends the Rogues vs. Monuments Game @ Gotham Stadium in a Private Box when, well, things don't go so well for him.

Personally, I was worried that the "Bruce Wayne story" would end with him as a Younger Batman. Glad to see an older Batman in this one.

2. Bane's costume design makes sense from a thematic standpoint. Bane represents the archetype of PAIN. BB = FEAR. TDK = CHAOS. Plus, if I were Bane, I would rather dress in military armor than in Luchador tights. For me, Tom Hardy's performance is my only worry.

3. I don't buy all that Bane/Bruce mirror nonsense. TDKR is basically the Championship Heavyweight Boxing Match of the franchise. TDKR combines all the aspects of BB, TDK, and Inception that audiences enjoyed [i.e. Batcave, Tumbler, Batpod, Ra's al Ghul] and introduces plenty of completely new aspects on top of that [i.e. Batwing, strong female characters]. The scale is just EPIC.

4. I like Catwoman's look. Eight year gap = 2016 = Futuristic gear ??? Anne Hathaway is a, uh, interesting choice. Curious to see what happens. But hey, her role has been described to be "well written" on par with The Joker.

5. A definite ending is both the most exciting/confident and depressing aspect of this film.

Exciting:

1. Nolan definitely has a track record he can't break. I like BB, TDK, and Inception, seen Momento later and damn, he knows what he's doing.

2. Same here. I better not see the Batwing parked in some dingy ole' cave. Batbunker + Batcave + Futuristic tech = I'm happy.

3. Talia&Bane w/ 3 Tumblers&HEMTT & Rebels/Escapees *VS* Catwoman&Batman w/ Batwing&Batpod & Police Officers. EPICNESS!!!!

4. Agreed. The Bane chant is already a hit.

5. Nolan will not get Best Directing. He's behind some of the greatest films but he's not near the level of perfectionism as most winners. He often calls the shoot a day to keep studio execs happy. His films go under budget. Like Lucas with 'Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope', TDK had an incredible amount of mistakes, most seem to be deliberately left in to prevent reshoots and to prevent ruining the original film negative resolution. He surrounds himself with very talented people. Expect a nomination for Wally Pfister. 60% IMAX footage is absolutely impressive.

@toekneemango

Nicely written. You brought up very valid points. However...
Fear not, TDKR will blow our minds!
AnthonyMango
AnthonyMango - 12/5/2011, 11:26 PM
I certainly hope so, @3D.

And thanks to all those who have said they liked the article. I appreciate it a lot.

Also, I forgot about the Batwing. That's another worry of mine...looks interesting, but looks like it could also be a "WTF, really?" type of interesting haha.
Macksimus
Macksimus - 12/6/2011, 12:16 AM
The fact that Rises starts eight years after TDK is a very very good thing; it means that Rises will probably take after the Dark Knight Returns, which is considered by many to be the best Batman comicbook series ever.
Caedus137
Caedus137 - 12/6/2011, 7:54 AM
Wait, hang on a sec... Yes, Nolan has confirmed the 8 year gap, but he never actually said that Batman was going to be absent during this time... Ive just re-read the Empire spread... It picks up 8 years later and we obviously get an older Bruce Wayne, but just because he's wanted by the GCPD doesnt necessarilly mean he's been in hiding...He could have easily been keeping up the good work then evading capture using his League of Shadows evasion skills... But then again Gordon does state that "The Batman has to come back" so who knows? Good article though, mate.
Moonwalker1991
Moonwalker1991 - 12/6/2011, 2:30 PM
Good article. I played Arkham City recently, switching off between Batman and Catwoman, who I have to admit is fun to play as. And I compared her uniform and thought about the choice of style for Selina Kyle in TDKR. I'm hoping that Hathaway's character as Selina/Catwoman is written well. I believe in Nolan, and while her uniform isn't what I expected, it's okay, for this universe anyway. Yeah, the eight year thing bothers me. I don't like it. It's too big of a gap even for a movie. There's so much that can be told in between, and unless those missing adventures are going to be told in comic form or something, why just skip over it? I wouldn't. But then again this isn't my movie trilogy. Wish it was, but I'm not that fortunate. If only, though.
BLACKTHORN
BLACKTHORN - 12/6/2011, 3:58 PM
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/kryptonianmike/NolanNoob.png

just, shut up.
DarkKnight409
DarkKnight409 - 12/6/2011, 5:56 PM
@brazilianbatman, you need to understand that from the stand point of both Chris Nolan, and Christian Bale they have already but so much of there time, and themselves into creating these movies. Nolan initially told everyone that he would not be coming back to do another batman movie for fear of not being able to have a story that could keep him emotionally invested.

@Caedus137, Your right it doesn't say anything about whether Batman has been absent for those eight years or not. But I think that by Bruce wanting Gordon to tell everyone that it was Batman and not Harvey that killed all of those people, because Bruce saw that Harvey was the hero Gotham needed then, not the one that it deserved; that he has been if not completely absent at the very least reclusive.
DarkKnight409
DarkKnight409 - 12/6/2011, 5:58 PM
@ BLACKTHORN, I love the link that is the best caption ever, in the history of awesome captions!!!!!
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 12/8/2011, 8:58 AM
Bane will be big in the finished product. There's no way they will have Bane be smaller than Batman. Movie magic is an incredible thing.

Even the trailer made him look bigger, so i'm not worried about that.
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