3D hurts my eyes. It gives me a headache, it makes me feel ill and most sickeningly of all, it raids my wallet moreso than an already expensive ordinary ticket price.
Don't worry, this won't be an unreserved rant at the cinematic tool. There are some advantages of 3D, but they are simply heavily outweighed by the disadvantages. Let's have a look at why 3D should be scrapped in favour of the normal film reels that many prefer.
Profit: $2,782,275,172. Blimey.
The sad truth is that since the release of Avatar in 2009, 3D has been like that newcomer to the party who had a little too much to drink and is now overenthusiastically hitting on every single person in the room. Audiences lapped up its arrival (Avatar is currently the highest grossing movie of all time worldwide) because James Cameron's sci-fi about the Na'vi living on the fictional planet of Pandora utilized the groundbreaking technology of 3D. Slap the glasses on and see that colourful world in 3 dimensions right before your eyes. Oh what fun it was to see all those people wave their hands in front of them, trying to catch the flowers that simply weren't there!
Yet the appeal was first ruined for me by the extra cost. Even owners of Unlimited Cards for certain cinemas, which grant you access to as many movies as possible for a small payment per month, have to pay extra for a 3D. Not exactly 'Unlimited' then is it? It is currently an extra £2.10 to get into a 3D showing of a movie - add to that the price of 3D glasses which are at least 80 pence and you're spending almost £3 more than you usually would for a perfectly enjoyable experience from a normal movie reel. That's before you even get to the extortionate food prices.
Oh, how exciting...
The fact is that, in a lot of 3D movies, not every scene is even converted to 3D. In fact in some cases, vast majority of the film is still in 2D, despite your extra costs. The action scenes often make use of your goofy glasses, sure, but most of the film is just as easily watched without them. I noticed this with Prometheus in particular. Where most of the film is full of dialogue and mysterious, slow (boring) walks through caves, the 3D is completely unnecessary. Ooh look, that rock is in 3D. Great.
Animations are usually an exception to this rule, with their 3D abilities available for almost all of the film due to their nature. Toy Story 3 was in 3D for the vast majority of its running time, as was Tangled.
Even movies that don't look particularly action packed are bringing the tool into their film-making techniques. The Great Gatsby, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and is set for release on Boxing Day this year, is going to be in 3D. Anyone who has read the book will know that the story is relatively void of any action scenes, with all the conflict coming from emotional dialogue between the characters of Tom, Gatsby and Daisy. Is it really necessary to distract from a brilliant story like this classic by wearing a set of silly glasses?
Lightsaber in yo' face!
Add to that the re-releases of older movies; most recently Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace3D in February this year. All six Star Wars films are set to be re-distributed after a 3D conversion to each. Disney have also followed this trend by releasing some of their old classics such as Finding Nemo, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Many more are planned to hit cinemas for the second time in their legacies, all having been converted to 3D. I really really want to believe that the movie studios are simply sending a gift to their fans - "remember when you watched this on video when you were a kid? Hey, now watch it on the big screen!" - but I feel like the honest truth is that they're looking to make a quick buck. I would much rather see The Lion King in the cinema in 2D than distracting 3D.
Still, 3D isn't all bad. Some people do enjoy its format, especially kids. Ice Age 4 was visually enjoyable in 3D (shame about the script), and it was clear that a lot of time and effort had been put into the animation to make it fun; and a flipside of the re-release coin is that 3D is always another excuse to watch your favourite animated classics again.
Like I said, however, these are very rare positives, and the truth is that movies are only produced in 3D to make a bit of extra money on top of its already costly ticket sales. Would Avatar have been the highest grossing movie in the world - ever! - if the extortion of 3D wasn't an option? Would The Dark Knight Rises have beaten the profits of The Avengers already had the latter not been available in 3D? I wonder.
Overall, it's really apples and oranges. Some like it, some don't. To me, it's simply a gimmick designed to be sneaky and increase profits while unfortunately delivering aches to my head and my wallet. Directors and producers need to have some integrity and stand by their original film-making goals - or perhaps they can't see that clearly enough behind their 3D glasses.
The Dark Knight Rises is still dominating the box office, and given that this trilogy has been seven years in the making, it'd be fair to say it's had its fair share of fantastic cinematic moments.
Here are the top 10 moments of Chris Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy (with spoilers!):
10. "A legend, Mr Wayne." - Batman Begins
Kicking off the countdown is Liam Neeson's immortal speech from the first act of Batman Begins. We all know that it was the death of his parents which made Bruce seek the means to fight injustice, but it was Ducard (later revealed to be Ra's al Ghul) who really set the wheels in motion for the existence of the Batman. Encountering a battered, bruised and beaten Bruce Wayne in a cell halfway across the world from Gotham, Ducard sows the seeds of Bruce's future. "If you make yourself more than just a man...if you devote yourself to an ideal, and if they can't stop you, then you become something else entirely."
"Which is?"
"A legend, Mr Wayne."
It is this encounter that leads Bruce to the League of Shadows where he learns the skills and techniques necessary to fight the criminals in Gotham. Little does he know that his teachers will soon become his enemies.
9. "So that's what that feels like..." - The Dark Knight Rises
In a rare moment of comedic fresh air, Batman gives Catwoman a lift in his fancy new flying batmobile "The Bat." As they discuss their next steps, Batman's attention is momentarily captured by a helicopter behind him and, as he turns back, his feline friend is gone.
"So that's what that feels like..." he grumbles, a homage to the countless times he has vanished from Commissoner Gordon's side as the old cop mumbles to himself.
Though for some reason, even though he is completely alone, Bruce even talks to himself in his deep Bat-voice. Talk about a psychologist's field day.
8. "Hit me." - The Dark Knight
Harvey Dent has falsely revealed himself to be the Batman, and Joker is taking the bait like a moth to a flame. Attempting to assassinate Dent while the attorney is being transported to County Prison, Joker doesn't count on the real Batman stepping in. Following a brilliant stunt in which Joker's truck is literally flipped over on to its head, Batman races towards the killer clown on his Batpod.
"Hit me." The Joker cries, as Batman speeds closer and closer. "C'mon, c'mon I want you to do it, HIT ME!" Refusing to break his "no killing" rule, Bruce skids around the Joker and slows to a pathetic halt.
The sequence is a further example of why The Joker simply cannot be beaten - how does Batman defeat an enemy who wants him to kill him?
7. "Wanna see a magic trick?" - The Dark Knight
If you ever need a clear example of The Joker's sick sense of humour, this is it. In a perfectly creepy blend of childlike humour and brutal violence, Heath Ledger's interpretation of Joker places a pencil upright on the desk.
"I'm gonna make this pencil...disappear." As soon as one of Maroni's goons attempts to grab him, Joker grabs his head and slams it down on the desk - and, by extension, the pencil. "Ta-dah!"
This scene alone caused The Dark Knight to become one of the most complained about movies in 2008 - its 12A rating was deemed inappropriate for the level of violence and (mild) horror, particularly in the case of Aaron Eckhart's grotesque portrayal of Two-Face.
6. "What doesn't kill you simply makes you...stranger." - The Dark Knight
The opening scenes of The Dark Knight give us an intense bank heist, fronted by none other than The Joker himself. Disposing of his associates in order to keep all the money, The Joker then proceeds to shoot the owner of the bank.
"Criminals in this town used to believe in things...honour...respect...what do you believe in, huh?"
In one of the creepiest villain reveals in cinematic history, The Joker removes his mask with a vicious grin.
"I believe that whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger." Completing the job by unleashing what we can only assume is toxic gas within the bank, Joker picks up his cash and casually departs. It's the genius plan, as well as the easy and effortless manner in which he kills both his fellow robbers and innocent people, that shows us the anarchy that this unknown man is about to unleash on Gotham.
5. "Crashing this plane...with no survivors!" - The Dark Knight Rises
"They work for the mercenary...the masked man..."
"Bane?"
Not one to fall short of a spectacle, Chris Nolan introduces Bane with style in the introductory moments of The Dark Knight Rises. A cocky CIA agent brings three thugs on board an aircraft with him, preparing to interrogate them, before discovering that one of the men is actually Bane himself, who reveals he planned to get caught in the first place.
"You got yourself caught. So what's the next step of your master plan?" the agent asks.
"Crashing this plane," growls Bane, the menace in his voice growing wider with his eyes. "With no survivors!"
Yet again, Nolan shows us his incredible knack for pulling off real stunts with no CGI, presenting us with a plane hijacking another plane in mid-flight. Bane takes down the authorities within his aircraft, then proceeds to capture Dr Leonard Pavel.
"Calm down, Doctor, now is not the time for fear," he says calmly as Dr. Pavel screams. "That comes later." This incredible sequence shows us Bane's incredible intellect, his brute strength and his intentions for Gotham - and none of them are good news.
4. "Anyone can be a hero..." - The Dark Knight Rises
The biggest emotional highlight of the final film sees Batman about to make the ultimate sacrifice for Gotham by taking Bane's bomb out of the city's reach. Commissoner Gordon, who has acted as a fair representation of the good still left inside Gotham's people, approaches Bruce as he steps inside the Bat.
"I never knew or cared who you were," he says. "But don't the people deserve to know the hero who saved them?"
"A hero can be anyone," replies Bruce. Just when you thought it couldn't get any more tearjerking, he brings us right back to the very start of Batman Begins. "Even someone doing something as simple and reassuring as putting their coat around a young boy's shoulders to let him know the world hadn't ended."
As the Bat soars into the sky, dragging the bomb in its wake, Gordon steps back and the realisation hits him.
"Bruce Wayne...?"
3. "You should use your full name. Robin." - The Dark Knight Rises
The gasps and the titters were many as John Blake's real name was revealed to be Robin, who as we all know is Batman's true sidekick. It makes sense, as Blake's purpose in the movie was as a supporting role of Gordon and Bruce, feeding them information and providing them with back-up in action packed situations. As John arrives at Wayne Enterprises to pick up items left for him in Bruce Wayne's will, his true name is announced. Despite his claims that Robin would never make an appearance in his films, Nolan threw us a curveball and gave a nod to the fans of the series. The final few moments of the film see Alfred witnessing Bruce alive and well (and most importantly happy), while John Blake ventures into the Batcave. As he steps on a platform and RISES to become the new Batman, the screen fades to black. Pretty epic stuff, and it brings the story full circle back to Ra's al Ghul's initial ideals. Bruce Wayne might not live forever, but Batman will. He has become "a legend."
2. "And then...I will break you." - The Dark Knight Rises
The moment that Bane was announced as the primary villain in The Dark Knight Rises, the question on everyone's lips was: will he break the bat? Foolishly attempting to take on Bane, despite a bruised and battered body, Bruce finds much more than he bargained for in the most intense scene in the film.
"Let us not stand on sentiment here..." Bane walks menacingly towards Batman. "Mr Wayne."
Batman steps forward and fires all he has at Bane's enormous body, but the masked terrorist shrugs off each and every blow. This is the first time we've seen a more physically superior force than Batman, and the more desperate Bruce gets, the harder it becomes to watch. There is no music to accompany the harsh sounds of punches and kicks being thrown, as well as Bane's harsh dialogue. A highlight of the battle is the terrifying moment in which Bruce desperately throws his batarang around Bane: "Theatricality and deception!" the masked murderer laughs. "Powerful agents to the unitiated." He then proceeds to lift Batman up one handed by the throat. "But we are initiated - aren't we Bruce? Members of the League of Shadows."
And yet the most chilling, heart pounding moment of all comes when Bane utters the words all Batman fans have waited for: "And then...I will break you." Bruce attempts one last stand, but Bane effortlessly knocks him down.
"I wondered which I'd break first!" he taunts, lifting the Dark Knight above his head. "Your spirit...or your body!" In a shockingly brutal move, Bane snaps Bruce's back upon his enormous knee. Just like in the comics, Bane breaks the Bat and the momentous event is executed in spectacularly fierce fashion. The scene is, for me, the best moment of the entire movie and it raises the stakes even higher for Gotham and its citizens.
1. "You have nothing to threaten me with!" - The Dark Knight
Let's deconstruct the number one moment of Nolan's Batman trilogy (hell - the number one moment of any comic book movie) piece by piece.
Having been captured, Joker suddenly finds his head being slammed fiercely on to the table in an interrogation cell. Ouch. What follows is five minutes of genius cinema, in which the power slowly shifts from good to evil. For that's exactly what this is - a struggle between the forces of justice and authority; versus the anarchic, loathsome and insane rabble of evil.
"Where's Harvey Dent?" growls Batman. As the audience, we are on his side and we are confident that, now that the Joker is in custody, we will determine who he is, what his motives are and how he came to be this psychotic mess. The camera pans slowly round as Batman listens to Joker's ramblings about the mob and the way things were before the caped crusader appeared on the scene.
The horrific consequence of Joker's chaos: Two-Face
"Why do you wanna kill me?" he asks. Bruce is consistently in the centre of the camera - we know his place, we know who he is and why he is there. Joker laughs manically.
"I don't wanna kill you!" his face swings in and out of the camera shot - he is a mystery that can't be pinned down, a force of nature that can't be held in one place. "What would I do without you?"
It is this sentence which has defined the relationship between Batman and Joker for years - the Joker only does what he does to see how Batman and the rest of the world will react to it. He himself describes his actions like that of a "dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it!" That's his idea of fun: everything is a game to him. "You. Complete. Me." he retorts, to an unfazed Bruce.
An excellent piece of foreshadowing next, as The Joker explains that Batman shouldn't act like a cop - he is only accepted now because they need him. "Don't talk like one of them, you're not. Even if you'd like to be. To them, you're just a freak."
His voice darkens at the last syllable - a clear indication that "freak" is one of Joker's buzz words. "They need you right now. When they don't..." The camera has now switched to Batman's right shoulder, where before we were looking over his left. The situation is changing - Joker is slowly but surely gaining control of the conversation. "...they'll cast you out. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. When the chips are down, these uh...these civilized people...they'll eat each other." For a madman, the Joker does talk some sense.
"Introduce a little anarchy."
Then comes the twist. Joker has in fact kidnapped both Harvey and Rachel Dawes, Bruce's lifelong friend. Bruce mercilessly beats Joker, screaming "Where are they?" in an effort to punch the information out of him, but Joker simply laughs.
"You have nothing - nothing to threaten me with, nothing to do with all your strength!' he boasts psychotically - a further indication of his madness and the fact that he simply cannot be beaten. Batman can kill Joker if he wants, but that would just show the people of Gotham that their hero is a common killer just like the criminals.
Incredible performances from Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, as well as an abundance of plot twists in just a handful of minutes, makes the interrogation scene the best moment of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.
You can read my full review of The Dark Knight Rises by clicking right here and my opinion piece on The Dark Knight's Next Steps by venturing here.
We're halfway through what has been a rather diverse summer thus far, so lets take a look at some of the films still to hit cinemas before autumn.
Ted
Director: Seth Macfarlane
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Seth Macfarlane, Mila Kunis
Release Date: August 1st
Haaaave you met Ted? Family Guy creator Seth Macfarlane's first foray into live action features sees a young boy's teddy bear come to life, only to grow up and become as foul-mouthed and immature as its owner. Now a man, John (Mark Wahlberg) hopes to marry his long-term girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis), however she feels the relationship can't move forward with John's bear Ted (voiced and motion-captured by Seth Macfarlane) constantly driving them apart.
The premise is original, the cast are exciting and (according to American reviews) the comedy is top notch, even on a par with Family Guy at its best. Seth Macfarlane seems to be splitting himself constantly between all his projects, however it looks like he may be back on top form at last. Mark Wahlberg has proven himself to be a more than capable comedy actor, holding his own opposite Will Ferrel in The Other Guys, and Mila Kunis is one of the most diverse new talents of recent years. Hopefully Ted can offer us a refreshingly comedic affair following the seriously tense superhero extravaganzas of recent weeks.
Total Recall
Director: Len Wiseman
Cast: Colin Farrel, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bill Nighy
Release Date: August 3rd
Welcome to Recall. This remake of one of Arnie's biggest hits sees factory worker Doug Quaid (Colin Farrel) living in a futuristic world where Earth has been divided into two superpowers. Suffering from violent nightmares, and depressed with his boring existence, Doug seeks the help of the 'Rekall' corporation, which provides its clients with memories that they wish to have. Suddenly hit with the realisation that his mind holds that of a dormant secret agent's, Doug must find out who he really is and why his memory has been erased.
Yet another (slightly unnecessary) Hollywood remake, Total Recall looks exciting enough by the trailers. Colin Farrel seems like an odd choice to portray a character previously performed by Arnold Schwarzenneger, however the script and the intriguing story full of twists and turns should be enough to keep the film from becoming a forgettable affair.
The Bourne Legacy
Director: Tony Gilroy
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton
Release Date: August 13th
There was never just one. The fourth instalment in the 'Bourne' franchise is a departure from the norm as Jeremy Renner takes over from Matt Damon in the lead role. Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner), an agent of Operation Outcome, may find that his employers are not as trustworthy as they seem. 'Jason Bourne was just the tip of the iceberg,' states antagonist Eric Byer (Edward Norton). Defying his organisation's unethical commands, as well as avoiding their decision to annihilate all of their agents, Aaron goes on the run with scientist Marta Shearling (Rachel Weisz). Jason Bourne set the wheels in motion for something much bigger which Aaron Cross will now have to deal with.
The original Bourne trilogy, starring Matt Damon in the pivotal role as Jason Bourne, was a fantastic success. Sceptics have raised eyebrows at Jeremy Renner's ability to carry the new film (and the possible sequels to follow), however given the actor's brilliant action performances in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and The Avengers, as well as his fantastic character driven role in Oscar-winner The Hurt Locker, the Bourne series should be in perfectly safe hands.
The Expendables 2
Director: Simon West
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenneger
Release Date: August 17th
Thought The Avengers was action packed? Think again. The Expendables 2 reunites the world's biggest action heroes in an ensemble cast that could form their own private army. Following a botched job in which one of their own is killed by rival mercenary Jean-Vilain (Jean-Claude Van Damme), the Expendables venture into hostile territory - with some familiar new recruits. Revenge is the name of the game, as Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) seek to avenge their fallen brother-in-arms.
Following very brief and disappointing cameos from Arnie and Bruce Willis in the first outing, Expendables 2 looks to be fleshing out their roles. Plus it's going to be pretty awesome watching Jean-Claude Van Damme go toe to toe with Sylvester Stallone. Hell, let's just watch stuff blow up for a couple of hours.
Premium Rush
Director: David Koepp Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon, Jamie Chung Release Date: September 14th
Time for rush hour. The hype surrounding Premium Rush has been minimal, however if the trailers are anything to go by it should be an intriguing, exciting film in the style of Jason Statham's 'Transporter' movies. Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Wilee, a New York bike messenger who picks up an envelope from Columbia University. Bobby (Michael Shannon), a corrupt cop, tries to steal the envelope, prompting Wilee to take a sneak peek at its contents. Discovering the importance of the package, Wilee avoids cops and crooks alike as he weaves his way through the fast and furious traffic of New York city to get it delivered.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt's status as an actor has improved dramatically following his brilliant roles in Inception and The Dark Knight Rises, so if anything will carry this film it's him. While the premise of the movie is a little cheesy, Premium Rush looks like an hour and a half of fun which takes its inspiration from Transporter.
Looper Director: Rian Johnson Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt Release Date: 28th September
Joseph Gordon-Levitt can expect to rake in the cash this September, as he also takes the lead role in Looper. Set in a futuristic world in which time travel has been made illegal, Joseph Simmons (Gordon-Levitt) is a 'Looper,' an assassin who kills people sent back to his time from the future. There is only one rule: never let your target escape. Easy enough, until one of Joseph's targets turns out to be a future version of himself (Bruce Willis). His older self overpowers him, and the failure of this job causes Joseph's employers to hunt him down and attempt to kill him. Dodging his trackers, Joseph has to find and kill his future self in order to stay alive...but what does that mean for his the rest of his life?
One of the most original movies of the year so far, Looper looks like an exciting thrill ride with an excellent time-travel twist. Bruce Willis has been in some slightly lacklustre B-Movie action films lately, however this (as well as The Expendables 2) should allow him to reclaim his crown as action king. The plot is fresh (thank goodness - we're getting far too many remakes and sequels this year) and, judging by the trailers, the film will be full of action packed, edge of your seat scenes. And who ever expected Joseph Gordon-Levitt to end up playing a younger Bruce Willis?
Overall, there are still plenty more exciting movies coming our way this summer. The Dark Knight Rises may have toppled its competition this week, but 2012's great movies are far from over.
Check back to Movies Under The Microscope for reviews of all these films when they are released!
WARNING:There be SPOILERS for The Dark Knight Rises ahead...
The Dark Knight Rises hit cinemas on Friday, reeling in an estimated $249millionin its opening weekend alone. The reviews have been generally positive (you can read my own one by clicking here), even if, on reflection, the plot has a few gaping holes that one would not expect from a Christopher Nolan film.
Still, we're not here to look back anymore. It's time to look forward, and here are some possibilities in which Batman could continue with or without Nolan and his vision of Gotham:
John Blake Becomes Nightwing (Probability: 3/10)
So the big reveal at the end of The Dark Knight Rises was that John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) had not actually been using his full name. "You should use your legal name," says the woman dealing with Bruce Wayne's will. "Robin."
Aha! So despite Nolan and Christian Bale's rants that Robin would never appear within this version of the Batman story, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's young, optimistic detective is actually Batman's true sidekick. It makes sense, as Blake's function in the movie was as an operative for Bruce, feeding him and Commissioner Gordon information and assisting in the smaller yet essential parts of his plans. At the end of the movie, just when emotions are soaring high, we see Blake enter the Batcave. Stepping on a platform, we see him rise upwards as the screen goes black.
The idea:
Did Blake's ascent into the Batcave imply he would wear the Batsuit? Or perhaps a different alias altogether - Nightwing. For those who don't know, Nightwing was the guise adopted by Robin in the comics after he was dismissed by Batman. However, after Bruce Wayne's apparent death, Nightwing took up the mantle of Batman.
A Nightwing movie would be nothing short of awesome if, and only if, Joseph Gordon-Levitt was on board. It wouldn't necessarily need Christopher Nolan at the helm - in fact, I would prefer a slightly more lighthearted change of direction for the character Amazing Spider-Man style - darker than the original Spider-Man movies but cleverly staying away from the morbid origin story of Batman Begins. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the perfect actor for the role, as he has proved in the past he is no stranger to action or emotionally engaging story arcs. His performance in The Dark Knight Rises was the highlight of the movie for me, and I'd enjoy seeing him continue in the same universe.
The storyline? Blake starts out as Batman, but quickly finds he is in way over his head. Some of the public idolize him with the belief he is carrying on Batman's work, but most feel that he is spitting on the caped crusader's grave by impersonating him weakly. Meanwhile, envious cop Edward Nigma becomes obsessed with the Batman's detective work (which would involve some kind of organised crime ring) and lays traps for him. Blake realises he can't be Batman - only Bruce Wayne will ever be that hero. Modifying the suit, painting it blue (referencing his past life as a cop) and getting rid of the bat ears, John Blake will find his true identity as Nightwing, taking down the Riddler and proving that Batman's legacy lives on: 'anyone can be a hero.'
Justice League (Probability: 6/10)
After the mammoth (ha) success of Marvel's The Avengers, I can imagine the conversation in the DC headquarters went like this:
"So..."
"Yeah."
"We should probably er..."
"Yeah."
"Justice League?"
"Justice League."
Those unfamiliar to the Justice League universe will be un/interested (delete as appropriate) to know it's basically The Avengers for the DC Universe. Characters already established in their own storylines merge their paths together. Batman teams up with the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Green Lantern to fight evil such as The Joker and Lex Luthor. The Justice League movie is rumoured to be released in 2015 (which is incidentally also the same year as Avengers 2).
The idea:
Man of Steel is set for release next year, so with Justice League following only two years later I'm expecting this to set up an Avengers-style post-credits trend which will merge each movie into the next. Batman is rumoured to be getting a reboot shortly too, which could either lead into the Justice League movie or follow immediately after. Perhaps have Superman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman carry out their adventures in Justice League, then in that post-credits scene introduce a new Batman. Still, I have a nagging feeling that whoever portrays Bruce Wayne in future films will have a damn hard time matching the standards of Christian Bale's brilliant performance.
Games (Probability: 10/10)
Batman: Arkham Asylum and its sequel Batman: Arkham City are two absolute triumphs of gaming. Mixing detective work and mystery with action, and a plot so full of twists and turns it's like drink driving in the Batmobile, the Arkham games are fantastic to play and are just as good as the movies themselves. Almost all of Batman's foes come together to take down the caped crusader, including The Joker, Harley Quinn, Doctor Strange, Two-Face, The Riddler, Mr Freeze, Poison Ivy and Scarecrow. Plus, with cameos from Robin, Nightwing and Catwoman, the games are really a playpark for any Batman fan. The third game in the series has been announced this week, with developers Rocksteady informing fans that the storyline will be a prequel to the first game. We will see how Batman met Joker, and how their psychological battle of wits and warfare progressed up to the point of Joker's capture leading into Arkham Asylum.
Overall, the Batman universe is nowhere near finished yet. Nolan's trilogy opened and closed like a perfectly bound book, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character certainly has huge potential to break out from those bonds and run the show. Whether or not this will ever happen is anyone's guess for now. Some might even say it's a Mr. E.
By Dean Johnstone
Man of Steel is released June 14th, 2013. Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City are available on PS3 and Xbox 360. The Dark Knight Rises is in cinemas and IMAX now, and you can read my full review by clicking right here.
The spectacular, enormous finale of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is finally upon us. Full to the brim with heart pounding action, flawless acting and an emotionally resounding finale The Dark Knight Rises lives up to its full potential. It's not without its very minor flaws, but The Dark Knight saga has come to a fitting conclusion that should satisfy fans the world over.
First, lets discuss my own cinematic experience. It really says a lot about Christopher Nolan's work in that at least two hundred people were willing to go and see the movie at 5am on its opening day (yes, that's right - 5AM!). When the lights went down and the gloomy, brooding Warner Bros. logo faded on to the screen, a cheer, a whistle and a tumult of applause broke out amongst the audience. After waiting four years for the final chapter, The Dark Knight Rises is finally here and, as a cop says to a younger rookie as Batman zooms past: 'You are in for a show tonight, son.'
"I'm not afraid. I'm angry."
Eight years after the death of district attorney Harvey Dent, along with the sudden disappearance of the Batman, Gotham is blissfully swallowing the idea that Batman killed Dent's victims. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has become a hermit, allowing himself to constantly remain in the confines of Wayne Manor as he refuses to confront the outside world and come to terms with Rachel's death. However, he is soon stirred out of his misery by Selina Kyle aka Catwoman (Anne Hathaway), a skilled cat burglar with a hidden agenda, and Bane (Tom Hardy), a ruthless, brutal mercenary who claims he wishes to 'carry out the destiny of Ra's al Ghul.' Aided by Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman), enthusiastic young cop John Blake (Joseph Gordon Levitt) and dependable Alfred (Michael Caine), Bruce decides to don the Batsuit once again and stop Bane's plans for the city. It's a tale which comes around full circle, with Bane's origin story looping back to the League of Shadows where Bruce recieved his training in Batman Begins.
Think of a superhero version of James Bond on steroids, then throw a little bit of nail biting tension and an epic finale to rival The Lord of the Rings, and you'll almost be on your way to summing up The Dark Knight Rises. While the pacing is a little slow during the first hour (Bruce doesn't actually suit up until at least 50 minutes in), when Batman finally returns and tracks down Bane's henchmen in a thrilling high speed chase, it's a whoop and clap moment. Hans Zimmer's soaring score accompanies the caped crusader as he races down the freeway, reminding us why we loved such epic moments in the first two instalments. Christian Bale's performance as Bruce Wayne is his best yet, showing us a character with real emotional depth and a conflicted conscience. In Dark Knight he was simply an established hero within Gotham, and a man with one aim: take down the Joker. Good vs. evil. However, Dark Knight Rises gives us good vs. evil vs. self. Bruce wants to fight injustice - he just doesn't believe Batman can exist in such a world anymore.
"Born and raised in hell on Earth."
Tom Hardy is absolutely terrifying, brutal and shockingly fierce as Bane. It is a testament to his acting talent that so much emotion and anger can be shown purely through his body language (specifically his eyes) due to the large mask covering most of his face. From breaking necks to tossing people aside one handed, Bane knows no limits when it comes to violence.
And yet, there's something a little unfulfilling about the Bats vs Bane confrontation. Perhaps it's because the Bats vs Joker scenarios were so psychologically fuelled that a fight based purely on strength was going to feel slightly lacklustre and - dare I say it - lazy in hindsight."You've come back to die with your city," taunts Bane. "No," replies Bruce. "I've come back to stop you." This kind of back and forth is a far cry from the "You have nothing to threaten me with. Nothing to do with all your strength," dialogue from the Joker. Still, it's immensely entertaining, and the final climactic battle between Batman and Bane on the steps of Wall Street in broad daylight is hugely invigorating, and the script manages to provide more twists and turns in the final moments of the battle than any point in the trilogy so far.
Yet for me, the standout character of the entire movie is John Blake, as played with youthful enthusiasm by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. A character created solely for Nolan's movie, Blake (like Commissioner Gordon) is one of the only decent cops left in Gotham. Working closely with Gordon, he draws Batman out from his exile in Wayne Manor, persuading him that Bane is a force that must be stopped. As for the rumours surrounding Blake's real identity within the story...lets just say he has the best character arc of the movie.
"I knew who you were as soon as I saw your face, Bruce."
Gordon-Levitt, who worked with Nolan previously on Inception, gives an incredible performance. The young actor refuses to be overshadowed by Hollywood greats in the ensemble, instead giving a performance that nails the film down, keeping it grounded and human where sci-fi elements such as an atom bomb and a flying Batmobile threaten to throw the movie up in the air alongside The Avengers.
"I wondered which I'd break first. Your mind or your body."
It's tricky to say many more positive things about the film without giving away too many spoilers, however it's clear to see that Christopher Nolan's trend for not using CGI where not necessary will continue for a long time. In the opening moments, a plane is hijacked mid-flight by another plane - Nolan actually filmed this in Scotland (land of the free, home of the Bane...aha!), and in another epic set piece later in the movie an entire football stadium is demolished from within, causing the players to tumble to their early graves underneath the pitch.
So it's clear The Dark Knight Rises knows it status as a blockbuster. Nolan chooses to give us a more action packed thrill ride than The Dark Knight's psychological battle of wits, which pays off immensely as a satisfying conclusion. While I would have liked to see a similar confrontation again, this is the final instalment in an epic trilogy, and therefore all out war is the only way it could bow out in style.
Where does it sit in the series? It's too early to say for sure right now, but in my personal opinion it's the best out of the three. The themes of Batman Begins (facing your fears, rising up against those who oppress you) are executed with the cinematic style of The Dark Knight resulting in a movie Christopher Nolan has clearly been gearing towards since Batman Begins, even if he didn't know it then. Overall it's the most Batman-esque movie of the series, with the group of people surrounding Bruce providing him with a team much like that which he had in the animated series.
Begins. Falls. Rises.
It's with a heavy yet mostly satisfied heart that we bid farewell to the superb Christian Bale's time as Batman, as well as the rest of the unbeatable ensemble cast that we've known for seven years. Easily the biggest and best movie of the year so far, The Dark Knight Rises ties a nice, neat ribbon around the story that reinvented Batman for our generation.
Summary
The trailers have been out for months, as well as several TV spots and other promotional materials, so when The Dark Knight Rises kicks off at a sluggish pace, it's a little like finally getting your own Batmobile and getting told you can't drive it at more than 20mph. Yet when that's all over and the Batman makes a triumphant return, the final film in Christopher Nolan's trilogy soars to heights never before seen from a comic book movie. The cast are superb, the action is heart pounding and the story reaches tearjerking emotional highs. You ready for the inevitable bad joke? Here it is. This is the Batman movie the world deserves, and it's most certainly the one it needs right now. God help whoever decides to reboot this.
9/10
See it if you liked: Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Avengers (2012)
