That's not just a random reference to purposefully vague and self-important Matrix dialogue just for the hell of it, no: my reaction to either trilogy's final chapter is one of disappointment and bewilderment. Hell, both trilogies start out strong only to grow progressively worse. Even as a guy who'd long since jumped off the Nolan-Batman hype train I was hoping for something just a little bit more substantial than this.
The suffocating pacing, for one, only serves to highlight the worst elements of Nolan's filmmaking style. It tries to cram almost two movies worth of character introductions and plot elements into a semi-regular "epic movie" running time, and still tries clumsily to tie the story into the series' first installment. There's hardly a chance to catch a single breath between all the overly slick Trailer Joke Decay-ish one-liners, overblown action sequences, self-indulgent monologues, heavy-handed metaphors, and aforementioned skeevy plotlines. It seems a bit to me that they kind of winged the whole thing a tad after the whole Ledger tragedy probably scuppered the original finale idea. Don't know, just seems to make sense. (It probably wouldn't have been much better, anyway.)
Anyway, on to the good points. Bale makes a fine Batman to the very end... despite Nolan's cowardly attempt at giving him a "happy ending" (Or did he? Vague, multi-interpretational Chris Nolan ending powers, activate!). Bane was cool and a believable badass, despite his Sean Connery speech impediment. I guess Tom Hardy can look intimidating, as long as they put a Goatse mask on him. Too bad they couldn't stick the landing: his unintentionally (?) underwhelming exit launched a clusterfuck of titters from every aisle around me. While it was nice to see Dr. Crane back, as well as another mystery character from Batman Begins, it only served as a depressing reminder of the potential that once shone so bright in that first film.
The Dark Knight Returns is pure Nolan, for better or worse; style overly poorly wrought substance. I was hoping this film's comparative failure would at least help kill off the trend of "gritty" contemporary superhero films, but alas, no dice thus far. Darn the luck! Darn! No sir, I didn't like it.
Wholly unsatisfying conclusion, Batman!
"Everything that has a beginning has an end."
That's not just a random reference to purposefully vague and self-important Matrix dialogue just for the hell of it, no: my reaction to either trilogy's final chapter is one of disappointment and bewilderment. Hell, both trilogies start out strong only to grow progressively worse. Even as a guy who'd long since jumped off the Nolan-Batman hype train I was hoping for something just a little bit more substantial than this.
The suffocating pacing, for one, only serves to highlight the worst elements of Nolan's filmmaking style. It tries to cram almost two movies worth of character introductions and plot elements into a semi-regular "epic movie" running time, and still tries clumsily to tie the story into the series' first installment. There's hardly a chance to catch a single breath between all the overly slick Trailer Joke Decay-ish one-liners, overblown action sequences, self-indulgent monologues, heavy-handed metaphors, and aforementioned skeevy plotlines. It seems a bit to me that they kind of winged the whole thing a tad after the whole Ledger tragedy probably scuppered the original finale idea. Don't know, just seems to make sense. (It probably wouldn't have been much better, anyway.)
Anyway, on to the good points. Bale makes a fine Batman to the very end... despite Nolan's cowardly attempt at giving him a "happy ending" (Or did he? Vague, multi-interpretational Chris Nolan ending powers, activate!). Bane was cool and a believable badass, despite his Sean Connery speech impediment. I guess Tom Hardy can look intimidating, as long as they put a Goatse mask on him. Too bad they couldn't stick the landing: his unintentionally (?) underwhelming exit launched a clusterfuck of titters from every aisle around me. While it was nice to see Dr. Crane back, as well as another mystery character from Batman Begins, it only served as a depressing reminder of the potential that once shone so bright in that first film.
The Dark Knight Returns is pure Nolan, for better or worse; style overly poorly wrought substance. I was hoping this film's comparative failure would at least help kill off the trend of "gritty" contemporary superhero films, but alas, no dice thus far. Darn the luck! Darn! No sir, I didn't like it.