Christopher Nolan Comes To The Defense Of His Rabid Fanbase

Christopher Nolan Comes To The Defense Of His Rabid Fanbase

Known collectively as Nolanites, and causing a bit of a stir on Rotten Tomatoes and other film sites for attacking negative reviewers, the director of the Dark Knight Rises weighs in on the controversy.

By MarkJulian - Jul 19, 2012 03:07 AM EST
Filed Under: The Dark Knight Rises
Source: The AP

Fielding questions on the red carpet at Wednesday's London premiere of "The Dark Knight Rises," Nolan came to the defense of his fans that are taking heat for their responses to negative reviews.

"I think the fans are very passionate about these characters the way a lot of people are very passionate. Batman's been around for over 70 years and there's a reason for that. He has a huge appeal, so I think you know people certainly respond to the character," he said.

Nolan also touched on the lunacy surrounding conservative 'pundit' Rush Limbaugh's assertion that the choice of Bane as a villain is somehow a reference to Mitt Romney's connection to Bain and a left-wing conspiracy.

"I'm not sure how to address something that bizarre, to be honest. I really don't have an answer for it, it's a very peculiar comment to make," said Nolan.

Morgan Freeman, a man who isn't afraid to speak his mind cut straight to the point.

"Chris wrote a fictional story that didn't have any political thoughts in mind, so it's like art or something you know, it's all in the mind of the beholder," Freeman said.

Of course we shouldn't forget that Bane has been a comic book villain for oh, I don't know, roughly 20 years. Nolan is good but he's not psychic.

RELATED CONTENT:
Chris Nolan says 'NO' to a Justice League movie.
EDITORIAL: How To Make A JUSTICE LEAGUE Movie Different From THE AVENGERS
CBM Quiz: Test Your Christopher Nolan Batman Knowledge



Running Time: 2 hrs 45 min
Release Date: July 20 2012 (USA)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Starring: Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Juno Temple, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Written by: Jonathan Nolan (screenplay), Christopher Nolan (screenplay), David S. Goyer (story)


The Dark Knight Rises is an upcoming superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Jonathan Nolan and the story with David S. Goyer. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film will be the third installment in Nolan's Batman film series, and is a sequel to Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008). The Dark Knight Rises is intended to be the conclusion of the series. It stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman. The film will take place eight years after the events of The Dark Knight and will introduce the characters of Selina Kyle and Bane—portrayed by Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy, respectively—two villains from the Batman mythology.







THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Star Tom Hardy On Whether He'd Return As Bane For Upcoming Deathstroke Team-Up Movie
Related:

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Star Tom Hardy On Whether He'd Return As Bane For Upcoming Deathstroke Team-Up Movie

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Star Joseph Gordon-Levitt Reveals Whether There Was Ever Plans For A ROBIN Spin-Off
Recommended For You:

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Star Joseph Gordon-Levitt Reveals Whether There Was Ever Plans For A ROBIN Spin-Off

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Coachella
Coachella - 7/19/2012, 3:38 AM
CBM of the year!
Coachella
Coachella - 7/19/2012, 3:39 AM
@patrickbateman47- How is Chris arrogant?
BigDamnHero
BigDamnHero - 7/19/2012, 3:43 AM
I love Batman, I think Nolan's films are great and I can't wait to see the movie on Friday. But I don't think that these people should be defended. They're giving the rest of the fans a bad name.
sirbonesalot
sirbonesalot - 7/19/2012, 3:47 AM
Nolan is a douche..........
batfan175
batfan175 - 7/19/2012, 3:50 AM
This is not defending anything or anyone. it's just an analysis of the situation. lots of people want a good atman movie and some are just crazy enough to really get upset at negative reviews. t's not like he endorses the death threats. It's more like he knows what's at the root of the situation. There's nothing in here saying he condones death threats.
R888
R888 - 7/19/2012, 3:52 AM
Not sure what to think about this
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 7/19/2012, 3:52 AM
I didn't say Nolan condones death threats. I said he comes to the defense. Reading comprehension skills!
marvel72
marvel72 - 7/19/2012, 3:54 AM
nolanites your leader has spoken,but he really didn't say anything about not sending death threats to critic's.

he just said you guys were passionate,does that mean he hasn't got a problem with death threats to critic's.
SteveBosell
SteveBosell - 7/19/2012, 3:54 AM
I guess CBM just wants to perpetuate lies. If people had read the comments under nailbiter111's post, you'd all know that Limbaugh didn't create the comparison. He merely pointed out that people are GOING TO make that comparison.
Varunn1602
Varunn1602 - 7/19/2012, 3:58 AM
@patrickbateman47

The first comment was just his opinion in terms of using the new IMAX technology. It's not like he's saying that he created the IMAX technology.

The second comment was in response to the question whether he was sad that the Academy duped all of his films in the Best Film(except for Inception) and Best Director categories.

It's you who is arrogant here.
Spartan11
Spartan11 - 7/19/2012, 4:05 AM
I where did the mentality come from where people feel the need to send death threats over something like a bad review.
usclerkguy
usclerkguy - 7/19/2012, 4:06 AM
Marvelites are douchebags.
Nolanites are arrogant douchebags.
But it is funny to watch em go at it.
Vafrous
Vafrous - 7/19/2012, 4:07 AM
Nolan is a boss...
LP4
LP4 - 7/19/2012, 4:08 AM
Mark Julian- It wasn't Rush Limbaugh's assertion but nice try
Vafrous
Vafrous - 7/19/2012, 4:10 AM
Looks like some fans are just as passionate for Nolan. Can't wait for this movie...
Ceejay
Ceejay - 7/19/2012, 4:13 AM
@patrickbateman47 - You may find his statements arrogant but he's not lying about anything, he's basically speaking the truth. You simply don't like what he has to say.

&0 mm film formats existed since the 1930's but apart from some widescreen 70mm films, nobody's done a real feature film with the IMAX 70mm format because of the difficulty of using the huge and noisy cameras. The last 20 years cinema has gone the way of digital for everything, film-makers have found ways to cheat to create art rather than do what pioneering film-makers did in the golden age, and build everything for realism.

Nolan's gone back to that tradition and built everything for realism. Plus he's done what nobody had done before and shot nearly three quarters of the film in IMAX using genuine IMAX cameras. We literally are talking about a technical feat of a scale not attempted since the silent era!
inky
inky - 7/19/2012, 4:14 AM
i neither like or dislike this director his works thus far have been the typical fare and in my oppinion he realy needs to up his game to be one of the greats.
as is the honest truth only time and product will tell.
these mad fans who have in recent times gone over the top do need to realise the world does not revolve around this one director and should realy shut up and let the guy do his work. he is not a god nor is he one of what the movie industry calles the greats but that is only due to his not being there yet.
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 7/19/2012, 4:17 AM
CAN YO DO ANOTHER COMICBOOK CHARACTER NOLAN?.....PLEASE
RidiculousFanBoyDemands
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 7/19/2012, 4:18 AM
Hobbit fans will be worse than the Avengers and Batman fans combined. I'm calling it right now.
Ceejay
Ceejay - 7/19/2012, 4:25 AM
It's amazing how people misconstrue things to be what they want it to be rather than what it actually is.

Nolan gives an analytical response to a question that prompted for him taking a side, he chose not to and instead explained why fans making such baseless remarks feel compelled to do so.

He neither defends them by saying they have a right to such actions nor does he rebuke them by stating a moral standing. Yet this report feels it needs to be non arbitrary by choosing to headline his statement as one of defence of death-threats! Worse thing is that people read the headline, read the report and still can't make a simple distinction to the contrary! ..amazing, a comic site full of people who can't honestly understand what they've read!
SuperDan89
SuperDan89 - 7/19/2012, 4:26 AM
Nolan out smarted the Marvelites and hammered them to the point of desperation. And in their desperation, they turned to words (like arrogant) in which they didn't fully understand.
mgeoff88
mgeoff88 - 7/19/2012, 4:26 AM
WTF, death threats? Why do some of these people care so much what critics have to say? It's just film critics reviewing a movie. It's not like they're personally insulting Bob Kane or Batman, well even then, that doesn't ever justify sending death threats.

They're reviewing a director's interpretation of a character. Some people really need to get a grip.

And forget the critics, go and see the movie and see what you think of it. There's a lot of movies I like that were underrated, but what matters is that I enjoyed them.
FilmsFan
FilmsFan - 7/19/2012, 4:27 AM
OK!
Again!!

Their really are a lot of idiots or deliberate asshloles here!

I wrote in detain in a comment about my feelings for those Asshole who gave death threats to some one on a movie review!

But what Nolan said is just right!
People are passionate about these characters & that mean extreme emotion!
So when some reads something really insulting they got really really angry!
& what Nolan is saying is that Reviewers & Fans both have responsibility towards the RESPECT of these characters!
What fans do in reactions isn't justified at all but that's how humans react (stupidly) when something close to them is insulted!

& those movie critics who post negative reviews without even seeing film needs to get it in their head!
& some other reviews just happens to insult people working in film & the characters! So what really they expects after that insult!
Both are wrong!
Fans more!!
RidiculousFanBoyDemands
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 7/19/2012, 4:29 AM
Yeah, Nolan doesn't defend anything. He's just making an observation of the situation. However headlines are supposed to exaggerate or be very coy so you are compelled to click on the article. AOL is notorious for it on their homepage.
One2three
One2three - 7/19/2012, 4:30 AM
*Imagines* Nolan does a marvel character next. All the trolling marvelites instantly turn into nolanites in droves!! Lmao. Oh the irony. This site is full of it!!
KurtCrawler
KurtCrawler - 7/19/2012, 4:30 AM
If anyone is so serious about the Batman movies, that they are giving Nolan death threats, obliviously people have now gone insane.
AmazingFantasy
AmazingFantasy - 7/19/2012, 4:31 AM
Nolan needs to tell his fan base (Nolanites) to clam down a little bit.
Vafrous
Vafrous - 7/19/2012, 4:33 AM
@Gunsmith I wouldn't mind seeing Nolan direct a Suicide Squad movie, but as since he's done with comic book movies, I hope he does a Bond movie in the near future...
ScottScottScott
ScottScottScott - 7/19/2012, 4:33 AM
I saw an early screening of TDKR and all I have to say is that as a Batman fan, as an avid comic reader. I HATED it so freaking much. I have so many issues with it. But alas i can not share them without going into spoiler mode so let's just say I am not pleased with it.

I have no Idea why DC doesn't get it. Marvel made movies without compromising the integrity of their characters, and they were all successful (Marvel Cinematic U, not the crap from Fox.) Yet DC seems to feel they have to damage the integrity of theirs to make a good move.

Nolan doesn't get Batman never will. Please bring on the reboot! Get someone who is an actual fan of the comic to make it please!!!
inky
inky - 7/19/2012, 4:34 AM
@puyguy it seems if your an example of one of those who think overly highly about this director, you in that statement proove the point of being very young and brainless.
sadly all you do is proove the stereo type and make more normal people laugh at your ineptitude.
FilmsFan
FilmsFan - 7/19/2012, 4:35 AM
... & if Nolan is defending ANYONE & ANYTHING then he should've riped RUSH's stupid & obnoxious statement BUT HE DIDN'T!

This is his personality!
He doesn't like to express opinion with a Clear cut & on-the-Face answer!

He didn't even said anything about that stupid theory, so does that mean its true?!?
NO SHIT!

Stop behaving like idiots!



& MARK can u please CHANGE the words of Title!
Nolan didn't DEFENDED ANYONE or ANYTHING; He just reminded that BATMAN is very popular & people are passionate!
Nothing about HIS FANS, Reviews or threats!
Ur title is misguiding! Please tweek it!!
silverdog
silverdog - 7/19/2012, 4:35 AM
king douchebag has spoken!!
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 7/19/2012, 4:38 AM
I don't think he's defending fanatics here. He doesn't excuse the ridiculous insults and threats. He's just saying he understands fan passion for the character and why people would be defensive.
RidiculousFanBoyDemands
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 7/19/2012, 4:39 AM
I can assure you my thunder buddy Grif LOVED the movie.


Varunn1602
Varunn1602 - 7/19/2012, 4:39 AM
And here comes grif. Please come and join the party. Idiots like patrickbateman47 could really use some help.
One2three
One2three - 7/19/2012, 4:40 AM
This is what Christopher Nolan actually meant to say;
"NOLANITES ASSEMBLE!"
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
View Recorder