The Dark
Knight Rises, the third instalment in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy
opened to much fanfare and critical acclaim across the world last month. Now
I’ve never understood how perfectly reasonable, fully grown men can be so
fascinated with other men in masks and body suits, but hey, we all have our
flaws. Personally, I have a thing for women in masks and body suits. So I think
to myself, right, I should probably check this out. Which I promptly do.
Am I alone in thinking Mr. Nolan & Co completely ripped
off an Archie comic in writing this movie? The story is set eight years after The Dark Knight, and the once
crime-ridden city of Gotham is now in a state of Riverdale-like peace and
tranquillity. We have Batman, channelling Archie Andrews, getting himself into
all sorts of trouble by falling for the wrong girl, Miranda Tate. Miranda of
course is a billionaire psychopath, much like Veronica, and has decided to put
her considerable good looks and money to good use by annihilating Gotham. Then
there’s Selina Kyle, the sporty girl-next-door who we just know would be so right for Batman, much like Betty for
Archie.
I could go on and on. Bane, for all his League of Shadows
infamy, is really just Big Moose with a marginally better vocabulary. Lucius
Fox, played by Morgan Freeman with no small amount of self-mockery, is oddly
reminiscent of Professor Flutesnoot and his lab experiments. But the clincher,
for me, was Alfred, Bruce Wayne’s butler and confidante. I had to punch myself
in the throat to keep from laughing out loud when kindly old Alfred tells Bruce
he kept looking across his usual table at a restaurant in Florence where he was
holidaying, hoping to see him there, wifey in tow. I mean, holy smokes, Alfred!
This is Batman we’re talking about- crusader of justice, terrified of winged
mammals. It’s the kind of thing only moms are allowed to say. You just know
Archie’s mom would say the same thing if he were pushing forty, living at home
and sporting a faux-bohemian goatee. Yes Alfred, you old romantic, we’ll always
have Florence.
15 comments:
O Boy!
Not knowing Archie that well I'll take your word for it, I thought the movie was ok but just ok!
Ahaa, its nice dialogue regarding this paragraph at this place at this blog, I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting here.
Web Development Jaipur
your blog don't allow for a reaction that doesn't think a post either is (a) funny; (b) interesting; or (c) cool.
so how I am supposed to log in my reaction now?
Lurker, I thought it was about sit-throughable to be honest, just didn't see what all the fuss was about.
Anonymous, you could try using *words*, like we used to do in the old days. I promise not to be offended.
Will the making of Batman movies ever end? Let's just retell a story that has been told a billion times already! Where's original? Can't people come up with their own ideas?
I laughed at the anonymous comment and your response! god forbid we use words! lol
I'm going to write a review of TDKR soon. I wrote about the other 2 films on my old blog, now gone like Archie!
Batman is something people either love or don't. It makes me think of Star Wars. For years, I never understood the fascination. Then my father died and I found the films (particularly the original trilogy) to be very healing and I began to understand the fascination.
I never liked the Batman films until Nolan. He made it far more applicable to urban life and the human quest for balance. There is a big yin/yang component to all 3 films--lots of opposition that works as action/non-action. Considering he is representing ultra big industry bucks, he does well with the bigger themes. I should probably save some of this for my review whenever I get to it.
I thought the first Nolan Batman film was the weakest, but that is probably because The Dark Knight was so good. The trilogy actually gets better, not worse, although a lot of people are going to like The Dark Knight over this last one as it is excessive in Hollywood gimmicks--I found that annoying. Other than that, people will like what they like. I still don't understand Twilight or True Blood groupies, but hey, it floats their boat. I just try to get out of the way when I have to hear about it!
Dan- I agree man, it's not like there's a paucity of stories to be told. I guess studios will always pander to the lowest common denominator. No harm in a little fun, but this movie really was pushing it.
Susan- I actually prefer the Tim Burton movie, maybe because they hold some kind of nostalgic value. Ledger's Joker was admittedly riveting, but I really didn't think it was a great movie. Guess I'm just not a superhero fan. I do look forward to your review though; always glad to read about a different perspective.
Yeah, I'll try to get to it this weekend.
I liked Burton's second Batman, with the Penguin and Catwoman. It is way, way different than the Nolan Batman, as though Batman himself is a mediator between what some call crime and others call loneliness of the spirit. I didn't care for the first film. The only other Batman film from that era that I watched was the one with Val Kilmer. It was a super hot day in Chicago, over a hundred degress, so we ducked into a movie theater to get some AC. Only redeeming facet.
Oh, oh! I almost read your entire post, and I have yet to watch the movie! Soon. Like in the next two years kind of soon.
Hey, why not copy stories which most people do not remember. Just watch the exact quotes . . .
Ok. I will seek some dog-eared torn mags at the corner raddiwallas.
These days alas I seem to watch only K Jo movies. :)
I couldn't agree more... A Batwoman would be so much more worth my while. Batman in New York a.k.a. Gotham... give me a break. Where's Michelle when you need her?
Workingdan is right. So right. I can't wait for another new unoriginal reboot. Superman's next.
Interesting one!!
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