The Dark Knight Rises

[Slaky]

So, have enough seen it to discuss what happens?

Yes. SKO and Slaky are right, it was the balls. No point in responding to Chuck.

The initial fight between Batman and Bane was just brutal. And although you knew he was going to make the leap in the prison, it didn't make it any less satisfying when it happened. The one quibble my wife had was how Batman got back into Gotham so easily what with it being entirely cut off. It took me a minute but then I realized: it's because he's fucking Batman.

It sucks that Ledger died after the last one. Considering that there were callbacks to basically every major character from the first two, you just have to think he would have been involved somehow.

SPOILER ALERT

Nah. It'd be impossible to involve the Joker in that one and not make it his show. I love Christopher Nolan because he based all three movies off of my favorite Batman story arcs and yet went way beyond the original material so I had no idea what would happen. Batman Begins was based on Batman: Year One, while The Dark Knight combined The Long Halloween and The Killing Joke. This one was Knightfall. I spent the entire movie waiting for Bane to break his back. When it happened I was somehow still shocked and traumatized. The ending of this film was beyond satisfying. I'd have been perfectly content had he lived or died, since he pulled off both so well.

Well said. It would have been cool if they included the venom that made Bane grow when he was ready to kick ass but Bane has to be one of the best villains I've seen in a long time. He was truly frightening. When Batman began winning that rematch and finally broke his mask with a punch I was ready to cheer like it was some kind of walk-off home run. So bad ass.

If someone has the guts to make a Batman with JGL as Robin and maybe loosely base it on older Batman  or even Batman Beyond, it could be pretty cool.

I mean, every so often it seems that these series reboot - like Spider-Man this year - but how can you reboot Batman knowing the Herculean effort it would take to even come close to being as good as this trilogy? What's the point?

The good news for me, as a video game dork, is that as long as they keep making the Arkham Asylum/City games it's almost like the series can never die. If you truly can't get enough Batman - I suggest you pick up both games. It's all of the voices from Batman: The Animated Series (which fucking owns) and the art and storylines are dark, epic and creepy as fuck. They do tons of callbacks and include as many characters as possible. Rumors are the next game is going to use Gotham City as a sandbox environment and the game will be more do whatever you want than ever before.

Anyway, I'm going to go read my Batman books again.

Batman!

[SKO]

So, have enough seen it to discuss what happens?

Yes. SKO and Slaky are right, it was the balls. No point in responding to Chuck.

The initial fight between Batman and Bane was just brutal. And although you knew he was going to make the leap in the prison, it didn't make it any less satisfying when it happened. The one quibble my wife had was how Batman got back into Gotham so easily what with it being entirely cut off. It took me a minute but then I realized: it's because he's fucking Batman.

It sucks that Ledger died after the last one. Considering that there were callbacks to basically every major character from the first two, you just have to think he would have been involved somehow.

SPOILER ALERT

Nah. It'd be impossible to involve the Joker in that one and not make it his show. I love Christopher Nolan because he based all three movies off of my favorite Batman story arcs and yet went way beyond the original material so I had no idea what would happen. Batman Begins was based on Batman: Year One, while The Dark Knight combined The Long Halloween and The Killing Joke. This one was Knightfall. I spent the entire movie waiting for Bane to break his back. When it happened I was somehow still shocked and traumatized. The ending of this film was beyond satisfying. I'd have been perfectly content had he lived or died, since he pulled off both so well.

Well said. It would have been cool if they included the venom that made Bane grow when he was ready to kick ass but Bane has to be one of the best villains I've seen in a long time. He was truly frightening. When Batman began winning that rematch and finally broke his mask with a punch I was ready to cheer like it was some kind of walk-off home run. So bad ass.

If someone has the guts to make a Batman with JGL as Robin and maybe loosely base it on older Batman  or even Batman Beyond, it could be pretty cool.

I mean, every so often it seems that these series reboot - like Spider-Man this year - but how can you reboot Batman knowing the Herculean effort it would take to even come close to being as good as this trilogy? What's the point?

The good news for me, as a video game dork, is that as long as they keep making the Arkham Asylum/City games it's almost like the series can never die. If you truly can't get enough Batman - I suggest you pick up both games. It's all of the voices from Batman: The Animated Series (which fucking owns) and the art and storylines are dark, epic and creepy as fuck. They do tons of callbacks and include as many characters as possible. Rumors are the next game is going to use Gotham City as a sandbox environment and the game will be more do whatever you want than ever before.

Anyway, I'm going to go read my Batman books again.

Batman!

Batman: The Animated Series is so fucking good. I was four when it first started, so I never got much beyond HEY BATMAN during the original run. My friend owns them all and Mask of the Phantasm on DVD and insisted I watch them again a few years ago. Utterly brilliant. I respect the Burton films, but Mask of the Phantasm is the best non-Nolan Batman film. Period.

Also, Slak, I actually fist pumped when he broke Bane's mask, so you can decide whether that makes you awesome or lame in my company. I'll also cop to real, human tears from the moment he bid farewell to Gordon by mentioning the coat from the first movie right up until the end.

Why can't Christopher Nolan make every movie ever?

[Bort]

SKO: Knightfall is a big part, but it also works in some Dark Knight Returns. And a really cool nod to Batman '66 with trying to dispose of a big round bomb.

[SKO]

SKO: Knightfall is a big part, but it also works in some Dark Knight Returns. And a really cool nod to Batman '66 with trying to dispose of a big round bomb.

Yeah, I meant to toss that in. He usually borrows major elements from two-three major storylines and then the rest is all of his genius finding a way to combine them and create something entirely new with them. Definitely a lot of odes to the the Dark Knight Returns, with people speaking about "the Batman" like a thing of the past and wondering if he'll ever come back.

[SKO]

SKO: Knightfall is a big part, but it also works in some Dark Knight Returns. And a really cool nod to Batman '66 with trying to dispose of a big round bomb.

Yeah, I meant to toss that in. He usually borrows major elements from two-three major storylines and then the rest is all of his genius finding a way to combine them and create something entirely new with them. Definitely a lot of odes to the the Dark Knight Returns, with people speaking about "the Batman" like a thing of the past and wondering if he'll ever come back.

You know, and the whole heroic death that isn't actually a death. That's from Returns, as well.

[Yeti]

This is exactly what I wanted. I never really read the comics, or saw much batman beyond the Keaton movie, and the 90s versions, but I like hearing those who actually are knowledgeable about them to discuss it. Gracías

[R-V]

SKO: Knightfall is a big part, but it also works in some Dark Knight Returns. And a really cool nod to Batman '66 with trying to dispose of a big round bomb.

Yeah, I meant to toss that in. He usually borrows major elements from two-three major storylines and then the rest is all of his genius finding a way to combine them and create something entirely new with them. Definitely a lot of odes to the the Dark Knight Returns, with people speaking about "the Batman" like a thing of the past and wondering if he'll ever come back.

You know, and the whole heroic death that isn't actually a death. That's from Returns, as well.

Like Yeti, haven't read any of the comics. Is all of Nolan's source material Frank Miller/Alan Moore stuff?

[SKO]

SKO: Knightfall is a big part, but it also works in some Dark Knight Returns. And a really cool nod to Batman '66 with trying to dispose of a big round bomb.

Yeah, I meant to toss that in. He usually borrows major elements from two-three major storylines and then the rest is all of his genius finding a way to combine them and create something entirely new with them. Definitely a lot of odes to the the Dark Knight Returns, with people speaking about "the Batman" like a thing of the past and wondering if he'll ever come back.

You know, and the whole heroic death that isn't actually a death. That's from Returns, as well.

Like Yeti, haven't read any of the comics. Is all of Nolan's source material Frank Miller/Alan Moore stuff?

Some of it. He tends to incorporate elements and plot points from stories throughout the entire Batman universe. I wouldn't say he's more reliant on Moore or Miller than anyone else. Nolan's interpretation of Batman himself certainly is more reminiscent of Miller's, whereas I'd say Burton's was more the 1930s-1940s brooding detective Batman and Shumacker's was barely better than the campy 60s version. I would recommend to anyone who hasn't read the comics and wants to see where Nolan got a lot of his source material the following arcs or one shots, which are usually available in collected editions at bookstores or libraries:

Batman: Year One
The Long Halloween
The Killing Joke
The Dark Knight Returns
Knightfall

I'm guessing Bort or Slaky can fill in the ones I've left out, but those five stick out the most to me.

[Bort]

It's not a plot lift, but for tone and a willingness to re-design villains for a freestanding story, I think Nolan also read Grant Morrison & Dave McKean's Arkham Asylum.

[SKO]

It's not a plot lift, but for tone and a willingness to re-design villains for a freestanding story, I think Nolan also read Grant Morrison & Dave McKean's Arkham Asylum.

Your comment about the bomb being an homage to Batman '66 reminded me of how awesome the references to past Batman films were in this one. When Selina Kyle says "there's a storm coming, Mr. Wayne" and Arnold is there in his neon Mr. Freeze suit and says "and an icy wind is going to blow!" I shed a single tear. That's just great film making.

[Saul Goodman]

I enjoyed Batman's "So that's what that feels like" line. Also, Anne Hathaway looked crazy hot. I agree, Nolan should direct everything from now on.

[Slaky]

I enjoyed Batman's "So that's what that feels like" line. Also, Anne Hathaway looked crazy hot. I agree, Nolan should direct everything from now on.

I don't think she's hot at all but she did a nice job in the movie. To me she's the opposite of a lot of actresses who are attractive but absolutely horrible at acting. Like January Jones.

[Bort]

It's not a plot lift, but for tone and a willingness to re-design villains for a freestanding story, I think Nolan also read Grant Morrison & Dave McKean's Arkham Asylum.

Your comment about the bomb being an homage to Batman '66 reminded me of how awesome the references to past Batman films were in this one. When Selina Kyle says "there's a storm coming, Mr. Wayne" and Arnold is there in his neon Mr. Freeze suit and says "and an icy wind is going to blow!" I shed a single tear. That's just great film making.

Did you ever read No Man's Land? Gotham is hit by an earthquake then taken over by the criminals, so the government cuts off all the routes in and out and basically give up on the city.  Jim Gordon, Batman, and allies struggle to maintain order. I completely forgot about it, but it was clearly an inspiration.

[CT III]

It's not a plot lift, but for tone and a willingness to re-design villains for a freestanding story, I think Nolan also read Grant Morrison & Dave McKean's Arkham Asylum.

Your comment about the bomb being an homage to Batman '66 reminded me of how awesome the references to past Batman films were in this one. When Selina Kyle says "there's a storm coming, Mr. Wayne" and Arnold is there in his neon Mr. Freeze suit and says "and an icy wind is going to blow!" I shed a single tear. That's just great film making.

Did you ever read No Man's Land? Gotham is hit by an earthquake then taken over by the criminals, so the government cuts off all the routes in and out and basically give up on the city.  Jim Gordon, Batman, and allies struggle to maintain order. I completely forgot about it, but it was clearly an inspiration.

I read it.  I was kind of hoping that's what would happen to Happy Valley.

[SKO]

It's not a plot lift, but for tone and a willingness to re-design villains for a freestanding story, I think Nolan also read Grant Morrison & Dave McKean's Arkham Asylum.

Your comment about the bomb being an homage to Batman '66 reminded me of how awesome the references to past Batman films were in this one. When Selina Kyle says "there's a storm coming, Mr. Wayne" and Arnold is there in his neon Mr. Freeze suit and says "and an icy wind is going to blow!" I shed a single tear. That's just great film making.

Did you ever read No Man's Land? Gotham is hit by an earthquake then taken over by the criminals, so the government cuts off all the routes in and out and basically give up on the city.  Jim Gordon, Batman, and allies struggle to maintain order. I completely forgot about it, but it was clearly an inspiration.

I read it.  I was kind of hoping that's what would happen to Happy Valley.

I've never read it. A friend of mine told me about it yesterday, though, and I now intend to borrow it from him. Anne Hathaway is hot. I now lose all of my cool points for opposing Slaky, but, God damn, I mean, that ass.