"The Dark Knight Rises (and so should I, it's nearly 9)", let's state it right-away, was
much better than I expected.
Hard as I tried to keep away from all reviews, I was aware of the fact that the filum didn't exactly meet with general approval ("Libération", for one, appear to have hated it).
Following on its, er, predecessor, "The Dark Knight" serves up a scenario that piles on the complexities and ambiguities of what constitutes "right" and "wrong", "good" and "bad" -no wonder the Fatamericans hated it! It doesn't do "clear-cut" and doesn't offer a finger-pointing morale wrapped in ribbons at the end -in other words, it is pure Nolans. (The Nolan brothers, that is.)
In political terms, it is equally difficult to label the filum "right-wing" or "left-wing" as both sides discovered to their embarrassment when they tried to reclaim and/or denounce it, only to look very foolish indeed. The revolting radio demagogue R*sh L*mb**sh tried, apparently. (And failed, as ever.)
Is "The Dark Knight" an apology of ********** ******? Kindof..., but then what about its stress on ************** ************ ****** at ****** right up the ****?
The ********* ****** ******* subplot is as clear an indictiment of ******** ********* as one can discern in this smogarsbord of twists and double-twists. Now watch the Nolans go and add *** ******** ************ ****** to the equation: this certainly throws the cats among the pigeons, does it not? Eh??
Scratches his chin Loig, it's a good thing that the series is coming to an end though (or is it?????)
as the voice gimmick was getting a bit grating, methought: it is frankly hard at
times to understand what your man -or your man, for that matter- is
saying.
Hans Zimmer provides his usual crashing-atmospheric soundtrack to the proceedings; Michael Caine still blows the blahdy doors off after all these years (as well as various motorcars, buildings, neighbourhoods, whatever); our friends ******** ******** and ******* ********* turn up for a fun cameo -always welcome!; Marion Cotillard still holds an inexplicable attraction for Christopher Nolan.
Now then for some major tut-tutting: having Clark Kent wake up at the end in a "it was all a dream", bizarre cross-superhero, ending was a bit cheeky I felt (even though consistent with "Inception" or "Memento"). Talk of final twists, who could have ever seen this one coming eh!!
Reply |
Reply to all |
Forward |
Print |
De
Hard as I tried to keep away from all reviews, I was aware of the fact that the filum didn't exactly meet with general approval ("Libération", for one, appear to have hated it).
Following on its, er, predecessor, "The Dark Knight" serves up a scenario that piles on the complexities and ambiguities of what constitutes "right" and "wrong", "good" and "bad" -no wonder the Fatamericans hated it! It doesn't do "clear-cut" and doesn't offer a finger-pointing morale wrapped in ribbons at the end -in other words, it is pure Nolans. (The Nolan brothers, that is.)
In political terms, it is equally difficult to label the filum "right-wing" or "left-wing" as both sides discovered to their embarrassment when they tried to reclaim and/or denounce it, only to look very foolish indeed. The revolting radio demagogue R*sh L*mb**sh tried, apparently. (And failed, as ever.)
Is "The Dark Knight" an apology of ********** ******? Kindof..., but then what about its stress on ************** ************ ****** at ****** right up the ****?
The ********* ****** ******* subplot is as clear an indictiment of ******** ********* as one can discern in this smogarsbord of twists and double-twists. Now watch the Nolans go and add *** ******** ************ ****** to the equation: this certainly throws the cats among the pigeons, does it not? Eh??
I rest me case.
ChristianBale does
ChristianBale (and is getting pretty good at it by now); Tom Hardy is back on the steroids; Hathaway is ...OK.
Certainly not bad, but nothing outstanding either (Miou Miou and Meryl
Streep can rest easy). One may start to wonder whether her career will mimic Our Scarlett's, better known as the Alice "Clueless" Silverstone or David "Laughing Gnome" Bowie syndrome... Will she ever be able to best her "Princess Diaries" performance (gasps, swoons, faints, gasps again, squeals, blushes, goes and takes a cold shower)? Only time will tell.
Oh, and deffo felt she looked considerably better without the hideous blood red lipstick.
Talking of human brickhouse Hardy, it is worth noting there's quite a
few beefy men about, and the filum is at times in danger of veering into Michael Mann
territory. (Michael Mann is this guy who loooooves featuring
massive men -usually in impeccable suits- wielding gigantic phallic
firearms for some reason.)
Thankfully, the inspiration and tome remains mostly resolutely Gothic, cf. the variations on underground settings, weird masks, torches, inventive punishments, black as the new black, etc. I am pretty sure "Arkham Asylum" is one of the main inspirations behind the movie (but I read the comic 20 years ago, so yous'll have to forgive me if my memories are a bit vague by now).
Hans Zimmer provides his usual crashing-atmospheric soundtrack to the proceedings; Michael Caine still blows the blahdy doors off after all these years (as well as various motorcars, buildings, neighbourhoods, whatever); our friends ******** ******** and ******* ********* turn up for a fun cameo -always welcome!; Marion Cotillard still holds an inexplicable attraction for Christopher Nolan.
Now then for some major tut-tutting: having Clark Kent wake up at the end in a "it was all a dream", bizarre cross-superhero, ending was a bit cheeky I felt (even though consistent with "Inception" or "Memento"). Talk of final twists, who could have ever seen this one coming eh!!
Still eh, all in all pretty good.
Typically accomplished
script by the Nolan lad that revisits topics from previous instalments and offers variations on the themes, ties up various loose
ends, and even manages to integrate ingenious references to recent
political/social events such as the ********12******xu**** *******, the
******* ay caramba ******* ****** ** ** -or even the **** ****** of
*********** ********* **** **** *** ******** ****! Nice touch there, I think yous will agree.
Very topical.
A batty (batty: geddit??????????!!!!) 7 out of 10 mark.
