- I secretly wanted to hate this just to fight with Nolan's cultish fan boys but goshdarnit, I thought this was a terrific closer to Nolan's Batman trilogy. I didn't care for Batman Begins so much but I did love The Dark Knight. I rewatched that film the other night and I was reminded by how batshit (pun intended) intense the final 40 minutes of the film was. I thought, can this film top that? I believe it did (not by much but it did). Tom Hardy is quite good as Bane, one of the main villains (although nothing here can top Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning performance). The end game of this one is highly crazy inventive that will put you at the edge of your seats. I will not spoil it so much here but I will say that this is actually less of a superhero movie and it's more a big, intense ENSEMBLE action-driven crime drama (which just happens to have people in costumes in it).

I have to agree. I think what I like about the trilogy is that all the movies are separate movies, but they are all connected. We really see Bruce Wayne evolve from when he started to when he ended, and you really want the best for him. There was some real heart in this film. I have not felt invested and cared about a movie character since Luke Skywalker. I really felt satisfied when I finished watching this film, something I also have not felt with movies.

I wanted to throw something out there: considering the ending, could we see an attempt at a Nightwing spinoff? I would really like to see more obscure DC comic book heroes come to life. And does this end or starts a possible Justice League movie?

Loved it. Also loved the nod to old batman times by giving Blake's real name as Robin without resorting to making a Robin character which would have sucked. Hathaway as Selina Kyle was a great choice. I really did enjoy Bane and had no problem understanding what he was saying through the voice effects. Overall, it was a solid movie, a great end to the trilogy, and on a side note, I sure hope Christoper Nolan working with Zach Snyder on Man of Steel helps it not become a predictable shitfest which is the case with Snyder movies

First and foremost, Hans Zimmer's score was excellent! (Oscar worthy?) It really set the tone throughout this movie-- jarring and tension-filled... and so inspiring and heartfelt at the end. just great!

I could sit here and nitpick EVERY movie, ever. Was The Dark Knight Rises perfect? no, but it did come from a place (Christopher Nolan), that was hesitant to make this movie. Even with Nolan's heartfelt sentiments about working on his Batman trilogy, he did what he had been doing-- taking the source material and molding it into HIS story.


Bane- Please, for the love of GOD/Buddha/The Gods/Non-God/etc do NOT compare Bane to The Joker. Even in the comics, the complexity of each character is so varying, that to compare what the actors did (could do) is asinine. Bane is motivated by pain, and as it turns out his (non-sexual)love of Talia Al Guhl (film). He appears devoid of emotion, and Nolan did a great job of masking his face (for a lack of better terms- emotion-conveyer) by something he uses to hide his pain (humanity).

Selena Kyle- I LOVED this version of her. She was written quite well (sorry Mike Schmidt)- fierce but feminine, and masking her insecurities w/false arrogance and smart-ass remarks (keeping most people at bay). I loved that they never referred to her as "Catwoman", too. Sure they alluded to it ("Cat" burglar and her goggles that just happen to resemble cat ears when flipped up)- which is another great bit for the die hard fans.

John Drake- Another liberty taken by Nolan, with the source material. the ambiguity of this character was a nice touch- as most people suspected and HOPED he would become Robin- deflating those suspicions as the movie wraps up-- only to zag, and give the fanboys what they wanted. The use of the name "Robin" was a nice homage, as well. ***my neurosis reading into this--- Nolan has emphatically verbalized that he is done with the Batman franchise--- but he's not declared the same for a spin-off franchise with Robin/Nightwing... of course, this could also be to avoid spoilers for how TDKR ends***

BATMAN VS BANE I- Batman goes in cocky, and during the course of the fight (and Bane's brilliant taunts), he realizes that every advantage he THOUGHT he had (surprise/strength/anonymity) were countered by Bane (Bane KNOWING he had Batman beat, had no fear). Outcome= Batman broken.

BATMAN VS BANE II- Bane is taken aback by the knowledge that someone was able to do what he thought was impossible (escaping the prison and surviving massive injury). The balance of fear has shifted in Batman's favor, as he couldn't escape the prison w/o overcoming fear.

HOW DID BRUCE GET BACK TO GOTHAM?--To me, very little suspension of disbelief is needed--
Just because Bane managed to bankrupt the man, does not mean he's entirely without resources. It's ignorant to assume Wayne no longer has friends outside of Gotham-- friends willing to help him return (secretively, if need be).

The Ending- while some people have verbalized discontent w/the "Happy Ending", I think they do so prematurely. Just because Nolan ends TDKR w/Wayne & Kyle out of Gotham and traveling together (also appeasing Alfred), that doesn't necessarily mean they'll stay together (though they are broken individuals/kindred spirits). I interpreted the ending as "this is what they're doing, now." they Could stay together, or they could both miss their former lives and revert back.

all-in-all, I don't see how Nolan's Batman series ISN'T in the talks of "Best Trilogy". From start to finish, we were treated to 3 exceptionally made movies, taking comic-book source material and weaving it together (with SOME liberties) into a great (3-part) story, grounded in reality.

Hi, folks; first time poster. Love the podcast!

I just listened to the Dark Knight Rises geek-out (what fun!), and wanted to comment on one of the things Chris and the guest thought was extraneous, i.e. Matthew Modine's part in the film.

His character represented, I believe, a seed of corruption that could grow into what we saw in Batman Begins. He's rubbing elbows with influential politicians in one scene, mockingly defying Gordon in another, and when the sh*t hits the fan, he's a coward while Gordon is trying to take back the city. One could almost imagine Modine's character (if he had become Commissioner) playing politics, giving and asking favors, and possibly getting in bed with new or returning mobsters. In time, the corruption would spread, and Gotham would be right back where it started 8+ years prior.

No, it's not a terribly essential part, but it does sort-of remind us of what Gordon's fighting for (and Batman), and it's important. When in doubt, just realize Christopher Nolan doesn't do anything without a reason.

Just my $.02.

Thanks!

Have to agree. Plus Commissioner Gordon, as good as he is, was working for a vigilante that ended up killing Harvey Dent (well that is how the people of Gotham view it). I don't think people completely trust Gordon.