Tag: Christian Bale

Geekscape Movie Review: Ford v Ferrari

by MCDave

Although he isn’t necessarily a household name, James Mangold’s extensive résumé speaks for itself. Works like Walk the Line and Girl, Interrupted have captured Oscar statues, while efforts like Logan and 3:10 to Yuma have enjoyed universal acclaim. And smack-dab in the middle of awards season, Mangold drops another heavyweight contender for audiences to enjoy with this weekend’s arrival of Ford v Ferrari, a high-octane drama that speeds to the Best Picture race on the wave of audience and critical support.

A dicey business dealing between the pair of high-profile automakers, Ford and Ferrari, leads to a battle for racing immortality in the 1960s. Ferrari has dominated the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans race for years, but Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) will stop at nothing to defeat them. Therefore, he enlists the aid of car designer and former driver, Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), the only American to ever win the race himself, who believes that the hot-headed and stubborn driver, Ken Miles (Christian Bale), is the only man capable of beating Ferrari.

Ford v Ferrari proves to be one of 2019’s most appealing cinematic experiences for a multitude of reasons. For starters, the script is a magnificent blend of hearty comedy and compelling drama that bounce off one another all while developing wildly interesting and likable characters. Matt Damon and Christian Bale are gifted a brilliant and timely story, but it’s their attention to detail and dedication to craft that help take Ford v Ferrari to a whole other level. While it’s a little surprising that more hype hasn’t surrounded these performances as we approach the stretch run of awards season, I wouldn’t be shocked if at least one of them sneaks away with a nomination. Bale may be facing some stiffer competition with both of The Irishman’s supporting actors and a slew of other high-profile supporting turns to measure up against, but he also gives the slightly stronger performance. Damon is fine in his own right, but the character of Ken is so fascinating and Bale knows exactly how to capitalize on good writing. And not only does the script develop the framework for strong central characters, it also touches on some underdog and anti-establishment themes that naturally resonate with today’s moviegoers. In some instances, Ford v Ferrari regrettably re-gifts cookie-cutter moments of familiarity that soften an otherwise outstandingly executed film. Yet, James Mangold and company rise above these schematic similarities to Oscar contenders of the past by delivering what’s arguably Mangold’s best effort to date and one that should make a serious splash during this year’s awards season.

GRADE: 4/5

Geekscape Movie Reviews: The Big Short

by MCDave

With every new 2015 cinematic release, insiders and prognosticators are seeking a standout film to swoop in and take over the Best Picture race. In steps Adam McKay’s potential contender, The Big Short, a star-studded examination of the United States’ economic meltdown following the 2008 housing market collapse. But in a bit of a twist, McKay isn’t known for his dramatic appeal. In fact, the director has built quite the reputation as a comedy guru following his synergetic film-partnership with Will Ferrell in collaborations such as Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers and The Other Guys. Yet, perhaps McKay’s humerus touch could be exactly the spark needed to jump-start this Oscar tailspin.

Back in 2005 hedge fund manager Michael Burry (Christian Bale) recognized a dangerous trend in the United States housing market. And when he uses his full contractual authority to go against the wishes of his clients and bet against the power of the highly regarded banking system, word of his antics quietly spreads around Wall Street. While most insiders laugh off the possibility of a structural breakdown, other money managers and investors such as Mark Baum (Steve Carell), Jamie Shipley and Charlie Geller look beneath the surface of the markets and bravely follow in Burry’s footsteps.

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Adam McKay deserves copious amounts of respect as he achieves the remarkable feat of transforming dull and monotonous source material into a laugh-filled and enjoyable affair. The Big Short succeeds on many levels and, at its finest moments, uses unorthodox narrative techniques to capture the audience’s attention and hold it firmly for two plus hours. Be on the lookout for hysterical cameos from rising star and Australian beauty Margot Robbie, Chef extraordinaire Anthony Bourdain and pop-sensation Selena Gomez, all of which cleverly address the film’s nauseating banking and mortgage lingo in a spry and comical way. Furthermore, Steve Carell follows up his Oscar nominated turn in Foxcatcher with another exceptional performance. His cynical character is highlighted perfectly through the constant back and forth with bank trader, Jared Vennett, played by a typically charismatic Ryan Gosling. But through all of these impressive turns, it’s Christian Bale’s supporting work that stands out as the most likely to land in the awards season discussion. All in all The Big Short is a winning drama benefiting from outside-the box storytelling, a sturdy comical undertone and fine acting from its entire cast.

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However, despite all of the film’s glowing attributes and valiant attempts to withstand such boring source material, the inner workings of the financial and housing markets are an irrefutable turnoff. Industry verbiage and terminology prove to be inescapable as they bog down an otherwise hilarious screenplay and, to varying degrees, wear down the viewer. After repeatedly hearing phrases like “sub-prime mortgages” and “collateralized debt obligations (CDOs)” at nearly every turn for over two hours, disinterest inevitably settles in. Yet, just as The Big Short begins to test its audience’s patience, the movie’s self-aware director recognizes an urgency to wrap up the story. Hitting a wall is unavoidable, but McKay and company are still able to withstand the film’s own self-restricting limitations.

We all know a family or families impacted by the irresponsible actions of our banks and lenders during the economic collapse of 2008. The dark realities of this historical blunder are enough to warrant a dramatic retelling of such events. Adam McKay does an admirable job of oversimplifying a complicated situation and the result is an often hysterical and well-acted account of American greed. The Big Short is far from the Oscar frontrunner that many were desiring, but it’s still a journey worth taking.

GRADE: 4/5

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In Case You Missed It – March 2014

by MCDave

As we find ourselves gloriously trapped in the pinnacle of the DVD calendar year, much like February, March offers a multitude of powerhouse selections. One tactful marketing strategy has always been riding the wave of success generated from the annual Academy Awards ceremony, and 2014 is no different. Once again, the top three picks of the month all landed in my 10 Best of 2013, which means you have plenty of excellent titles to choose between.

#1. American Hustle

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Nominated for a whopping 10 Academy Awards, David O. Russell’s caper comedy, American Hustle, makes its way to DVD this month. Although the film found itself shutout at the awards ceremony, there’s still plenty to love about the movie. Christian Bale headlines a lengthy list of knockout performances as Irving Rosenfeld, a deadbeat con-man who gets arrested by an FBI agent and is forced to assist the authorities in an elaborate plot to take down powerful politicians and members of the mafia. It has its flaws, but American Hustle is one of 2013’s most thrilling and entertaining joy rides and one definitely worth seeing. (March 18th)

#2. 12 Years a Slave

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Unlike American Hustle, Steve McQueen’s adapted true story, 12 Years a Slave, had quite the successful showing at this past Sunday’s Oscar awards ceremony. Taking home three Academy Awards for its heartbreaking screenplay, a magnificent debut performance from Supporting Actress Lupita Nyong’o and the highly coveted Best Picture statue, 12 Years a Slave is a prototypical Oscar delight. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup, a free black man living in New York prior to the Civil War who is drugged and forced into a harsh life of slavery where he must struggle to survive. Uneasy and authentic, 12 Years a Slave isn’t the type of film you look forward to experiencing, but its one that’s saddled with great importance. (March 4th)

#3. The Wolf of Wall Street

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Martin Scorsese’s epic satire, The Wolf of Wall Street, also found itself shutout on Oscar night, but this blockbuster has blown away audiences since its Christmas Day release. Irreverent and ambitious, The Wolf of Wall Street tells the true story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort’s (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) towering rise to success and his ultimate demise. The debauchery is endless and the jokes are outrageous, in fact, there’s nothing low key and normal about Scorsese’s latest work. While some label this controversial tale as a perverse glorification of illegal activity, I view it as a comical journey into the modern day American-Dream mindset. (March 25th)

Honorable Mention: With a top three as strong as the films listed above, March is full of worthwhile secondary selections. First, there’s the crop of movies I still haven’t seen but I can’t wait to get my hands on, the list includes The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (3/7), indie sensation Kill Your Darlings (3/18) and the Academy Award Winning animated film Frozen (3/18). Three other flawed but enjoyable films finding their way to DVD this month are Out of the Furnace (3/11), one of the Coen brothers’ weakest but a still worthy feature Inside Llewyn Davis (3/11), and finally Disney’s movie about making a movie Saving Mr. Banks (3/18).

Geekscape Second Opinion: ‘American Hustle’

by jake108

American Hustle is yet another entry into what is beginning to shape up as the Golden Era of David O. Russell’s career as a filmmaker. Following last year’s hit Silver Linings Playbook, Russell stacks his cast with many of the same faces. The film is set around two con artists and one FBI agent. The film begins by setting up the two con artists, using conventions and techniques usually found in the gangster genre. Think Casino. The first 20 or so minutes have inner monologues, tracking shots, and long takes that all take character over plot. However, as long as we’re talking about David O. Russell here, character over plot isn’t a bad thing.

American Hustle is very much a character driven film, as it should be. Christian Bale knocks this role out of the park. And Jeremy Renner? It almost made me completely forget about how static Hawkeye was in The Avengers. Moving on. Both Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence are definitely deserving of best acting nominations. As the film went on, I couldn’t help but think that the two were playing themselves in some scenes. This thought was solidified upon further reading that there was more than a few scenes where the actors would improv. Bradley Cooper delivers what seems to be his greatest performance yet and has great chemistry with both Adams and Bale. Regardless, an ensemble cast that works this well together should not be so quickly overlooked. American Hustle deserves audiences for this feat alone.

As hinted at earlier, Russell’s directorial style is hitting a smooth stride; a stride so flawless, so self-reflexive, you can tell he’s having fun with it. It’s a film made with the same love and care that Silver Linings came from. The director trademarks are there, such as close ups of handholding, and the various musical montages are a blast. All this while the production and costume design will have you invested in the film’s setting and story.

Aside from a few ADR and editing quips, American Hustle delivers a powerful experience, one that with themes and questions that’ll have you thinking while you’re walking out of the theater. In American Hustle, everyone hustles to survive. Do you?

American Hustle is currently in limited release and goes wide on December 20, 2013.

I’d love to talk more about the film as you all see it, so don’t be afraid to comment below!

Be sure to read MCDave’s review of the film here!

Geekscape Movie Reviews: American Hustle

by MCDave

To steal a quote from Woody Harrelson in the 1992 comedy White Men Can’t Jump, filmmaker David O. Russell is “in the zone”. Russell finds himself in the midst of an unbelievable directorial stretch that will surely bring him his third consecutive Best Picture Nomination when they’re officially announced early next year. In his latest masterpiece, American Hustle, the writer/director puts a clever fictionalized spin on the FBI’s ABSCAM operation which took place in the late 1970s. So clever, in fact, that we may have found our next Academy Awards Best Picture winner.

After con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his seductive mistress, Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), are arrested for loan fraud by up-and-coming FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), they have two options: either face some serious jail time, or help DiMaso bring down four other high profile criminals. Needless to say Irving and Sydney choose the latter, assisting DiMaso in a sting operation that couples New Jersey politician Camine Polito (Jeremy Renner), countless political officials and dangerous members of the mafia. The only wild card in the matter is Irving’s wife, Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence), whose instability could put the whole operation in jeopardy.

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With David O. Russell’s American Hustle, you can expect a big-time splash that will leave a ripple effect on just about every major Oscar race out there. The filmmaker has coached his two previous casts to 7 … let that sink in for a minute … 7 Oscar nominations with their work in both Silver Linings Playbook and The Fighter. Current cast members Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence understand the greatness of Russell as he helped lead both of them to their only Academy Awards victories. As expected, American Hustle delivers no shortage of fine performances. From top to bottom the cast is excellent. It all starts with leading man Christian Bale who packs on the pounds and shaves the center of his head to truly capture the art of the comb-over. Not only does Bale display onscreen excellence yet again, he continues to remind us of his dedication to the craft. There may not be a more committed actor on the entire planet. But he is far from the only shining star, perhaps Bradley Cooper is most impressive with a towering turn as Richie DiMaso, a young FBI agent who becomes more and more obsessed with making the biggest bust in U.S. history. And let’s not forget Jennifer Lawrence. While the young actress moseys along and embraces all of the onscreen recognition and public love she’s been receiving, her performance actually feels like one of the least convincing roles in the film, although still fantastic. American Hustle‘s ensemble is spectacular and, without question, the finest of the year.

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You’ll need to search for flaws in David O. Russell’s American Hustle, but one irritating aspect is the director’s fixation on the time period. There’s no subtlety to it whatsoever. Russell continually throws the 1970 vibe right in your face by purposely calling attention to it throughout the entire film. In some ways it feels as though he sacrifices substance for style and it’s a shame. Furthermore, American Hustle does tend to drag on in its latter stages. You can sense where the movie’s headed, but Russell takes his merry old time getting there. Thankfully, the writer/director has mastered the art of story-telling and uses a sharp comedic tone to help balance his out-stretched tale of power, greed and pushing the limits. By the time American Hustle is all said and done, it’s obvious that Russell has a winning effort on his hands, one that’s assured to garner plenty of attention on its road to the Oscars.

With the clock winding down and the cinematic year coming to a screeching halt, 2013 finally has a film that stands out above the rest. American Hustle is an energetic and hilarious adventure. And despite the fact that its dramatics aren’t overly “touching” or “moving”, nor should they be, American Hustle is a fun and engaging ride that you won’t want to miss.

GRADE: 4.5/5

Check out lots of other reviews and fun movie lists at Movie Reviews By Dave.

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Out of the Furnace

by MCDave

For a large portion of 2013, Scott Cooper’s Out of the Furnace was one of the year’s most anticipated releases. It’s taken 4 years for Cooper to return from his successful writing/directing debut, Crazy Heart, one that earned Jeff Bridges an Academy Award for Best Actor. This time around he brings an army of reinforcements with an all-star cast of past Oscar Winners and Nominees including Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, Forest Whitaker, Sam Shepard and Willem Dafoe. And although early reviews have been extremely mixed with many critics openly speaking out against Cooper’s sophomore effort, I’m here to stand up and say that Out of the Furnace is by no means a bad movie. However, it fails to mask many of its sub-par elements.

Christian Bale stars as Russell Baze, a blue collar mill worker who’s struggling to make ends meet in the economically depressed steel town of Braddock, PA. His brother Rodney (Affleck) is a troubled soldier who bears the psychological scars from multiple tours in Iraq. But as Rodney refuses to give in to the steel-worker lifestyle, he finds himself caught up in a dangerous underworld of organized bare-knuckle fighting run by a ruthless criminal named Harlan DeGroat (Harrelson). When Rodney leaves one day and never returns, Russell must desperately take matters into his own hands and confront the ring-leader, DeGroat.

Film Title: Out of the Furnace

The backbone of Scott Cooper’s Out of the Furnace is the director’s remarkable capacity to develop strong central characters. It was evident in his first film, where Jeff Bridges stole the show. But here, Cooper has more pieces to work with and, for the most part, he does an excellent job of giving each character a purpose and a voice throughout the movie. Another productive aspect is the manner in which the feature begins. Out of the Furnace is an unmistakably dark and saddening film, a tone that Cooper embraces from the opening scene and never looks back. And as the feature progresses, its story is both captivating and deep, impressively developing in a rather unforeseeable fashion that helps hook the audience. With Bale, Affleck and Harrelson all in premier form, Out of the Furnace is a supremely acted and gripping tale of despair.

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Despite an alluring appeal, Cooper’s second effort is tainted by many shortcomings. The Baze brothers are both wonderfully developed characters that resonate with the audience, it’s Cooper’s specialty. Yet, the writer/director leaves plenty to be desired with Willem Dafoe’s massively unfulfilled sleazy character, John Petty. Furthermore, the feature is haunted by second rate dialogue, unnecessary inclusions (i.e. Rodney’s letter to his brother) and unrealistic sequences that become impossible to overlook. The scene where Russell searches out DeGroat by organizing a drug deal is so off the mark, it’s unforgivable. Clearly, Out of the Furnace is bogged down by blatant errors. However, its intriguing subject matter and strong performances are enough to sustain the film.

While many hoped that Cooper’s follow-up to Crazy Heart would shape the awards season outlook, the truth is it won’t. In fact, Out of the Furnace will ultimately stand as nothing more than an entertaining film with a fair share of miscues. There are elements to enjoy and reasons to watch, but keep your expectations in check.

GRADE: 3.5/5

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Watch Christian Bale Audition For ‘Batman Begins’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: This is damn cool.

The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector’s Edition is set to hit stores this Tuesday, and one of the great new special features just so happens to be Christian Bale’s screen test for Batman Begins. He performs complete in Batman Forever Batsuit, and even auditions opposite Amy Adams.

It’s really neat to finally be seeing this all these years later. On an interesting note, it appears that Bale’s oft-revered / oft-hated Batman voice is present in the audition, albeit in a toned-down form.

Take a look at the audition below, and let us know what you think!

http://youtu.be/EFK8kWf9hMM

Christopher Nolan & Zack Snyder On ‘Justice League’: Weighing The Pros And Cons

by Eric Diaz

Last night, movie super-scooper “El Mayimbe” of Latino-Review dropped his biggest nerd nuclear bomb of the year so far, revealing in a video message on his website that Warner Brother’s Justice League movie, which last we heard was once again in limbo, is indeed anything but. He revealed that Warner Brothers has hired Christopher Nolan to produce a Justice League film, with Zack Snyder probably directing and, most likely, David Goyer writing the script. In other words, the exact same creative team behind this summer’s Man of Steel.

 

Perhaps the biggest news in all this is that Warner Brothers wants Christian Bale to resume the mantle of Batman, which means instead of JL introducing the world to a whole new Batman, as was said to be the original plan, the movie would play off the continuity of Nolan’s previous Batman movies. This is all a bit of a shocker, as Nolan has insisted these last few years that his Batman saga is a stand alone story, unrelated to any larger DC cinematic universe. In fact, he has denied involvement with any Justice League movie project in the past. And while this was all probably true when he said it, nothing can change one’s mind quite like having a Brinks truck full of millions of dollars in cash brought to your house, as Warner Brothers surely did to get him on board in some capacity, and help save Justice League from potential disaster.

 

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The inclusion of Nolan and potentially Bale just made the budget of this movie skyrocket into the stratosphere; these guys are not going to come cheap. But Warners must realize they stand to gain so much more by including them, it is worth the price. Right now, Disney has not only Marvel and Star Wars, but two of the biggest names with geek cred attached to them in the form of Joss Whedon and JJ Abrams.

 

To have Justice League even come close to competing with them, they know they have to pull out all the stops, and that means bringing in Nolan and Bale, and throwing lots of $$$ at them to get them to play along. While geeks everywhere are likely doing a happy dance at this news, I’m here to weigh the pros and cons to a Christopher Nolan produced Justice League. While this is surely good news…that doesn’t mean there won’t be any potential downsides to it.

If these new rumors turn out to be true, then these two guys have a lot of reasons to be $miling.
If these new rumors turn out to be true, then these two guys have a lot of reasons to be $miling.

 

The Pros

 

The positives of a Christopher Nolan produced Justice League are obvious; for starters, he is easily the greatest genre filmmaker to come out of the past decade, hands down. Having a talent like Nolan overseeing  Justice League  in a “godfather” capacity means that you’ll have someone with excellent taste who knows crap when they see it, and won’t tolerate something half-assed and low quality. It doesn’t meant the movie is going to be automatically good, but it does mean it will have integrity and not just be seen by the general population as a knock-off of The Avengers (and yes, I know the Justice League came before the Avengers in the comics–the average moviegoer does not know that.) His name alone attached to this project adds a level of quality and prestige (no pun intended.)

 

Up until now, the only name creatively attached to Justice League was a writer from the television show Castle. This excited exactly no one. Warner Brothers knows they need a name with both geek cred and mainstream cred to compete with Abrams and Whedon over at Disney. And for them, those names are Nolan and Snyder. And by making the Justice League movie an extension of the multi-billion dollar Dark Knight franchise, this instantly makes the film an event for not just geeks, but for moviegoers all over the world. It is the safe choice and the smart choice.

 

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The Cons

 

Yes, believe it or not, there may be cons to a Nolan produced Justice League. My biggest, and really only, concern is that Christopher Nolan just doesn’t really like super-heroes all that much. He has stated as much in interviews in the past. Sure, in many many ways, his Dark Knight trilogy is closer to the comic book incarnations than anything yet put to film about Batman (except maybe the Bruce Timm/Paul Dini animated series from the 90s.) However, Nolan also has a serious penchant for “de-comic booking” almost every aspect of Batman’s world as to appear more “real.” For the most part, that worked like gangbusters on Batman.

 

The jury is still out on whether or not it worked for Superman, but so far, the early buzz is very, very good. But there is simply no way to de-comic book a concept like the Justice League. Aside from Batman and Superman, you have a guy with what amounts to being a magic ring, an immortal Amazon, and a guy who can run at the speed of light. Much like the Avengers, the JL is pure comic book tropes in all their multi-colored glory. I seriously hope we don’t get a ‘realistic” explanation, Inception style, for how the Flash’s power works, or how Green Lanterns ring functions, or any of that. It just isn’t needed.

 

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Hopefully, Nolan allows writer David Goyer (who I’m just going to assume is going to be writing this) to take the reins of the story here; he’s a fanboy writer who is steeped in comics lore, and even co-wrote a lengthy run on Justice Society of America with Geoff Johns in the early 2000’s. The best thing Nolan can do is stay out of the way of Goyer as he comes up with the story mechanics, because Goyer understands the dynamics of a big, cosmic super-team stuff in a way Nolan probably never will. Goyer’s weakness is his dialogue, but then that’s where Christopher Nolan’s brother Jonah usually steps in and helps out.

 

Whatever ends up happening, we don’t need a grim, realistic take on the Justice League. In my opinion, the two very best incarnations of the team are Grant Morrisson’s run on the comic from 1996-2000, and the Bruce Timm produced animated series. Both were colorful, wild, and filled with big ideas, but were not campy or cheesy. That is where their inspiration should come from. If Synder does indeed direct (which would be likely) based on his past movies he is certainly not afraid of the more comic-booky aspects of the League.

 

While not as overtly talented as Christopher Nolan, both Snyder and Goyer have the comic book sensibilities that Nolan lacks.
While not as overtly talented as Christopher Nolan, both Snyder and Goyer have the comic book sensibilities that Nolan lacks.

 

Ultimately, this is a very minor “con”–especially since Nolan won’t be directing the movie and will have less need to force his own aesthetics onto the final product. In the case of a Justice League movie, having Nolan involved will ultimately mean much more pros than cons in the end.

 

So What Can We Expect?

 

Assuming this is all true of course, we know next to nothing about what a Nolan/Snyder Justice League movie would look like, but it is likely that Warner is starting from scratch with the story and script. Which probably means no Darkseid as the villain, as he was reported to be in Will Beall’s now tossed-out script. One thing I do expect to stay is the idea of a “five members only” League, especially now with Nolan involved. Aquaman and Martian Manhunter are just a  wee bit too fanciful for Nolan’s aesthetic, and even if he isn’t directing, I’d imagine his first suggestion would be to keep the cast trimmed down and get rid of those two characters. But DC’s “Big Five” of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash and Green Lantern are sure to be included. They are the core of the League, and to be fair, the core of the entire DC Universe.

 

Since 1940, in one way or another, DC Comics has been publishing these five heroes continuously in some form; only Flash and Green Lantern were considered popular enough to have their own comic books alongside Supes, Bats and Wonder Woman in the 40’s, and although they went away in 1952, they were revived in new forms just a few short years later and have been published continuously ever since. No other DC super hero characters can claim such long uninterrupted runs, which is why these five characters are the backbone of the DCU, and are certain to be included in a JL movie. Anything or anyone else is gravy. But bank on those five being on the team, no matter how much Chris Nolan may hate the idea of magic green rings.

 

Another question is whether a movie like Justice League come together in time for summer 2015 at this point. While it seems unlikey, remember Joss Whedon was not officially announced to direct the Avengers until Comic-Con 2010, two years before that movie came out. And that turned out just fine. So it isn’t impossible, especially if this is something that they have been working on in secret for some time.

 

These five heroes have been, in one form or another, the core of the DCU for 70 years. Expect all five to be in a Justice League film.
These five heroes have been, in one form or another, the core of the DCU for 70 years. Expect all five to be in a Justice League film.

 

So What About The  Future Of The Batman Franchise?

 

Up until now, the party line has been that Justice League was set to introduce us to an all new incarnation of Batman, who would then be spun-off into a whole new Batman movie series. If Bale returns instead, his role will probably be strictly limited to appearing in Justice League movies, and his asking price for that alone will probably break the bank. So forget fourth, fifth and sixth solo Batman installments with Bale starring in them. So does that mean no Batman movies while a JL movie series is happening? A movie series that could possibly go on for a decade?

 

There is an obvious solution to this–you make the new Batman film franchise based on 90’s animated series Batman Beyond. This way, you can have a younger Bruce Wayne appear in the JL, and an old Bruce (with another actor–maybe Clint Eastwood, whenever he’s not busy talking to chairs) appear in Batman Beyond training a new protege in the future.  Warner Brothers probably saw the lukewarm reaction fans had to Sony rebooting Spider-Man so quickly, and fearing a similar reaction to having “Batman Begins… Again!” so soon probably made them re-think their strategy. A Batman Beyond movie series is the “have your cake and eat it too” solution, as it would keep the two franchises from conflicting with each other.

 

A Batman Beyond movie would keep the Batman film franchise alive, all while combing the best elements of Batman, Iron Man and Spider-Man.
A Batman Beyond movie would keep the Batman film franchise alive, all while combing the best elements of Batman, Iron Man and Spider-Man.

 

Of course, this is all still rumor at this point, but “El Mayimbe” has quite the track record when it comes to these scoops (and if turns out to be false, expect Latino-Reviews credibility to plummet just as fast as it went up.) If it is true though, then Justice League just possibly went from being an industry and fanboy joke to being a real contender.

Somewhere, Ryan Reynolds is waiting for Christopher Nolan's phone call. He will call...right?!
Somewhere, Ryan Reynolds is waiting for Christopher Nolan’s phone call. He will call…right?!

 

The Justice League Movie: A Mostly Coherent Guide To Super Friends on the Silver Screen

by Joe Starr

A lot of ‘to do’ and ‘ruckus’ has been made over how Warner Brothers should go about making a Justice League movie. Does Batman need to show up at the end of Man of Steel? How do we introduce people to all the characters? Should there be nipples?

While Marvel has had insane success with the first phase of their movie universe by bridging multiple hero movies into a shared storyline leading to The Avengers, 99% of all other movies with an ensemble cast typically manage to give you a story and characters within the first 10 or 15 minutes. And if Avengers has taught us anything about audiences at super hero movies, you don’t need to justify crazy powers, clashing genres, or put everyone in dark black leather. The crowd just wants to be entertained.

So my advice to Warner Brothers? Regardless of how Man of Steel does, just go make a Justice League movie. People know who Superman and Batman are, a lot of people kind of remember Wonder Woman, and that’s really all you need to get on board.

In fact, to help out, I’ve graciously spent 15 minutes of my life outlining a movie for you and casting the roles. You’re welcome. Please pay me. I need to see a dentist.

JUSTICE LEAGUE!

So the first thing you need to do is give a quick nudge to where we are in the world. And how do we do that without Iron Man touch screen and holo displays? THE NEWS. Show us all 17 24 hour news channels in the DCU doing a quick blitz of President Lex Luthor, who was elected after the entire city of Gotham was held ransom by Bane and is now entering his second term with a strong anti metahuman agenda in response to Superman, explaining that in the wake of the recent death of American fighter pilot Steve Trevor, who crashed on  a mysterious Amazon Island, which recently appeared out of no where, these strange Amazon warrior tribes represents a clear and present danger to the United States and we’re gonna wipe the place out. USA! USA! USA!

Yeah that’s right, suck it Marvel! Ed Norton as Lex Luthor! I’m about to American History X a bunch of superheroes with SCIENCE! Eat a dick, Ruffalo!

We cut to chaotic footage of the D Day style invasion of the Amazon Island. It looks like a modern Saving Private Ryan but with 300 looking warrior ladies instead of Nazis.

“Victor can you believe all chicks with swords? It looks like something out of Revenge of the Titans, a great movie I saw in 3D 7 times! OH GOD ARROWS!” A young terrified marine named Victor Stone (John Boyega) saves a buddy with awesome movie taste by punching out a warrior lady but then gets nailed by a ton of friendly fire and some guy is like OH GOD MEDIC! And they cut back to Amy Adams as anchor Lois Lane at Daily Planet and she’s like ‘yeah so that was an awful thing to see. Here’s some cats in a wheelbarrow.’

Yeah I just watched Attack the Block. So what? 

We cut from the Victor Stone POV to a bunch of armored ladies forcing Princess Diana (that’s unfortunate) to evacuate because they need to make sure she’s safe and protected. Throw in some statues that look exactly like Lucy Lawless because who else would play Hippolyta in the eventual Wonder Woman movie? We get some tossed in lines about ‘that man that crashed in the iron bird…I thought he would recover! What happened?!’

Hi, I’m Katrina Law. I’m on the show Spartacus where I kick the crap out of people and am super beautiful. I’m literally the only actress on the planet currently qualified to play Wonder Woman. 

The Amazons maybe didn’t kill that pilot like the president says they did? OH SNAP SOMETHING IS ROTTEN ON THE ISLAND OF… Does it have a name? Sorry, I’ve been spending all my money on Avengers books my whole life. How stoked are you guys about Marvel Now? LOTS of really cool titles dropping and…Ok.

JUSTICE LEAGUE.

That’s where you throw the title. See? Just jump into this shit. Instead of overthinking about how to make this OK for an audience, just punch them in the face with it, show them how cool it looks to have Xena chicks beating the shit out of the cast of Blackhawk Down and have them be like ‘holy balls, what the eff word?!’ when the title drops. In addition to blowing everyone’s minds out of their buttholes, now we know Batman exists and that the Nolan Bat movies and Man of Steel are this movie’s Phanton Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, and A New Hope. Welcome to Empire Strikes Back.

Wait Joe! Remember at the end of TDKR when Batman retires and the Looper guy replaces him? Well, we’ll deal with that later. Ok? Hey look, a private jet owned by Wayne Enterprises!

Bruce Wayne is watching the news on the invasion from his private jet.

Bruce: “It’s hell over there, Alfred. A completely unprovoked act of aggression on a people we know nothing about.”

Alfred is played by Michael Caine again because that dude doesn’t turn anything down ever.

Alfred: “Well sir, perhaps you could show them what happens to acts of aggression in your city.”

Bruce: “That’s the problem, Alfred. This isn’t my city.”

Reveal of METROPOLIS! Batman is in Metropolis! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH.

Honestly? I don’t know who the hell should play Batman. But right now I’m going with Dustin Clare, because male DC heroes should never be played by American actors. ‘But a Bruce Wayne this young could never fit the Nolan timeline!’ you say? New 52 Batman banged Talia and had a 12 year old son in 5 years.

Argument invalid.

DAILY PLANET: Clark! Get in here! Yeah Perry? You’re covering the premiere of Honey Booboo The Movie tonight! But I thought I was covering President Luthor’s dinner? Are you kidding? You look awful on camera. Lane is covering the dinner! You’re covering this crap. GET ON IT.

People keep telling me I need to learn how to format scripts and I keep telling them to stop trying to hold me down. That scene was magic.

Also this movie needs to have a sense of humor about Green Lantern, where people always mention that they heard about what happened in Green Lantern and no one believes any of it because it just sounds ridiculous.

At the dinner, Luthor reinforces his stance on metahumans, that aliens like this…Superman not only spit at the law, they spit at the human spirit and the idea of human achievement. But in the spirit of human achievement, thanks to a partnership between Lexcorp and the Pentagon, the poster boy casualty of the Amazon Invasion, Victor Stone, has been saved! Project: Cyborg! Cyborg, covered in lots of cloth and gauze, waves to the cameras and asks the President when he can get back out there! Everyone claps because America. Also, Lois Lane hits on Bruce Wayne a bunch! “Hey Bruce we all thought you were dead after the Bane incident but when you ended up being fine we were all weirded out that you didn’t take your house back from those orphans and he’s like ‘Lets just say Gotham is in good hands and I’m focusing on a global scale.” See? Addressed. At some point he decided to unretire and then wink at the Grant Morrison fans with a seriously thin Batman Inc reference. It’s this movie’s unfinished Cap shield.

And then Diana from the Island busts in and is all like YOUR FAULT! ALL OF IT! Bruce Batmans up in a some kind of bad ass mobile costume suit up sequence and defends the president against her! It’s the first Batman sighting since the Gotham City siege!

Hey! Also in the room! It’s a catering guy! It’s a misplaced plane! No! It’s Superman! Still played by Henry Cavill because I really want his movie to be awesome! High powered Lexcorp soldiers led by Amanda Waller still played by Angela Basset who’s been by the President’s side in like every scene he’s in are escalating the crap out of things! The president points to the cameras and says C WE REALLY NEED 2 DO SOMETHING THESE GUYS R A MENACE K THANX. Lexcorp troops are going to kill Wonder Woman and Superman is all like woah due process and they’re ‘like suck a dong Superman’ and so he grabs Wonder Woman and Batman and flies them to THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE. Wonder Woman and Superman fight because she’s freaked out and he locks her in a cell because chill lady.

Batman and Superman take a moment to size each other up. Everyone gets boners in the audience, except for people who are wondering where Thor is. You know where he is? He’s a hot lady in a cell in the Fortress of Solitude because Wonder Woman should be DC’s Greek God based Thor and her movie should have been the Clash of the Titans remake but in present day and how hard is that to figure out?

President Luthor announces a big Skynetty computer AI defense system to track and deal with metahuman threats. He laughs and reminds everyone that people always accuse him of being a Brainiac so that’s what it’s being nicknamed. Batman tries to check out the Brainiac project by breaking into Lexcorp. In one room he sees a big global map with different areas located, squints his eyes and says ‘Atlantis…?’ and then Cyborg attacks him because these heroes have to get on the same page, am I right??

But then it turns out that Luthor built Brainiac with what he thought was Krypton tech but it turns out to be whatever it is that Brainiac actually is and I’m not exactly sure what that is because looking at his Wikipedia page gave me a migraine. But any way, Brainiac attacks and Cyborg is saving people and Batman is in the holding cell Cyborg and Amanda Waller dumped him in all like ‘let me help you’ and Wonder Woman is like ‘let me help you’ to Superman and he’s all like ‘I dunno lady I’m a boy scout and you’re dangerous’ and she’s all ‘ughhhhh you’re an idiot but also my sexy male equivalent.’

And then Brainiac hits the Fortress of Solitude and trashes it. It’s on. Superman and Wonder Woman show up in Metropolis to fight it’s AI hordes. Cyborg goes against orders and lets Batman out and the team comes together. At some point Batman picks up a bow and arrow and says WELL THIS IS JUST STUPID staring right into the camera. Eventually Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Cyborg beat Brainiac through a series of progressively escalating CG action pieces that make up most of the third act of the movie and the world forgives Warner Brothers for Batman and Robin but not for the Matrix sequels.

NEVER FORGET

Brainiac not being completely dead is teased. At the end of the movie after the good guys win, Supes salvages the fortress to begin building a new structure so that they can keep an eye over the world they’re trying to protect. You know, like an Avengers Watchtower.

And then Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern shows up and Batman is like ‘oh, you’re real?’ and in the background a wacky homeless guy who earlier bet another homeless guy that ‘there’s no way a guy ever fought a purple jizz fog because how stupid does that sound?’ just quietly hands his buddy three bucks. And Green Lantern says ‘But seriously guys, I hate to sound ridiculous, but I’m a galactic peacekeeper, and Earth is about to be invaded. By Mars.’ And then there is this crazy shot of White Martian fleets mobilizing.

HEY we’re in the sequel to rub John Carter in Disney’s face a little more!

And there you go. You get the big three anchored by a young every man people can get behind because he served his country. You get Lex Luthor as a legit bad guy that isn’t scamming real estate agents: He’s the POTUS. You get guns vs. swords and you get super heroes vs. AI robot hordes. You get a Martian Manhunter tease. You get an Aquaman nod.

Because you guys HAVE to have an Aquaman nod.

*sighs, waits for millions of dollars to roll in*

See How Bane’s Mask Might Have Looked In The Dark Knight Rises!

by Matt Landsman

Images have surfaced from the new Complete Screenplays of The Dark Knight Trilogy book. In addition to the scripts of all three films, the book also contains storyboards with concept art. This piece of concept art from the opening plane hijacking sequence shows us how Bane might have looked in The Dark Knight Rises.


What do you think? Better or worse than the final film?

 

Enter Our Latest Contest And Win A Copy Of ‘The Dark Knight Rises: The Official Movie Novelization’!

by GeekscapeStaff

Who doesn’t love winning some free stuff? I know I sure do! Well, we’ve got 3 copies of  The Dark Knight Rises: The Official Movie Novelization to give away. And the rules for entering the contest are super easy:

1) Simply go to the Geekscape Facebook page and click ‘like’ 

2) Then find our contest post on the Facebook page and ‘share’ it on your personal Facebook page.

See, told you entering was easy.

The contest is only open to residents of the United States and Canada!

The deadline to enter is contest is 11:59 PST on August 5th so enter before it’s too late!

Once the contest ends we will randomly select 3 winners.

All you’ve got to do is share the contest with your friends and you’re entered. Good luck!

Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman return in the thrilling and hotly anticipated conclusion to Christopher Nolan’sDark Knight Trilogy.
The blockbuster movie will introduce new faces to the franchise as well, including Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway), Bane (Tom Hardy), John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard).
From the team that brought you Inception, The Dark Knight Rises is guaranteed to be the blockbuster hit of 2012. This enthralling official novelization will transport fans into a Gotham City once again under threat.

Geekscape Comics: The Five Best Batman Stories You HAVEN’T Read Yet

by Shawn Madden

We told you what Bat-stories inspired Christopher Nolan’s films. Did you read those? Do you still have an itch for more? Well have no fears! Well, except for the Batman. Fear him. But  anyway…I am here to give you the best Bat-stories you should read that you probably haven’t yet.

– Justice League Of America: Tower Of Babel by Mark Waid and Howard Porter

So, if there are any two stories that pretty much solidify that Batman can kick anyone’s ass it’s Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, where Batman outwits and outduels Superman (yes…Batman HAS kicked Superman’s ass numerous times now), and Mark Waid’s Tower Of Babel. Batman has a plan for everything. Batman states that his plans were a cautionary measure that he devised after the Injustice League swapped bodies with the Justice League with the aid of the alien tyrant Agamemno years earlier . Recognizing the dangers of villains gaining control of the heroes, he creates fail-safes in case such a situation ever happens again. The event also inspires him to create plans to stop the other heroes if they should go rogue on their own. But when an enemy unlocks those secret plans and uses them. Well we get to see Batman’s obsessive planning come to fruition and some not so happy JLA members after it. Definite must read. This arc is the basis for the animated Justice League: Doom.

– Batman: The Cult by Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson

Most of you think that no one can break the Batman (well, minus Bane…but this is before Knightfall) Well, you would be wrong. In The Cult, Batman is kidnapped, drugged, and broken down by Deacon Blackfire to a point we have never really seen him hit before.  While most of Batman’s great stories rely on his rogues gallery that is not the case here.
Starlin and Wrightson build a captivating story that truly shows Batman at his most desperate. There are also some wicked hallucinations in this story that make you wonder who is the most messed up person to write a Batman story.

– Batman: The Black Mirror by Scott Snyder and Jock

This is probably Snyder’s best work pre-New 52 right here. The concept of the story is that Gotham City is its own character that reflects its seedy nature upon those who try and protect it. The story focuses on two main protagonists, Dick Grayson aka the newly appointed Batman (don’t worry…no spoiler alert needed for that) and Commissioner Gordon. Gotham puts both of the city’s protectors to the test in this one. Dick discovers what it truly means to be Batman in Gotham as he sees a darker side of the city that he has never really seen before. And on the other side Gordon’s estranged son James Gordon Jr. makes his return to Gotham, bringing a dark past with him. I won’t go into any more detail here because I actually want you to read the story. You know you want to.

– Batman: Under The Hood Volume One And Two by Judd Winnick and Doug Mahnke

In 1988, writer Jim Starlin wrote a Batman story titled A Death In The Family that featured Jason Todd, the second Robin, being beat to death by The Joker with a crowbar. Intense right? Well, keep in mind the fans voted for him to die. The story of Jason Todd remained untouched for about  15 years, until the character re-appeared in the Hush storyline. Even though it was revealed that it was Clayface posing as Jason questions still arouse about just where Jason Todd was, because it was not in his grave. Black Mask has seized control of Gotham City’s criminal underworld, but his rule is challenged by the mysterious Red Hood, who has hijacked a crate full of 100 pounds of Kryptonite. You read that one right, Kryptonite. But the rest is meant to be read. This story sees the resurrection of a character that no one cared about to the point they wanted dead into one of DC’s coolest current characters. Read Red Hood And The Outlaws and disagree with me. I dare you. This story also inspired the animated Batman: Under The Red Hood which is arguably one of DC’s best animated films.

– Batman: Earth One by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank

This right here is my favorite. Much like Christopher Nolan did with his movies we get a modern re-telling and updated version of Bruce’s origin story with a few minor tweaks. Earth One doesn’t stick completely with the original stories of Bruce Wayne’s metamorphosis into Batman, but that’s a good thing. We get a fresh new take on it that makes a story we all know feel like something we have never read before. One of the most interesting parts of this story is that as he tries to fill out his role as Batman, Bruce Wayne fails more times than he succeeds, but succeeds where it counts. This makes him feel more human and relatable just like the Nolan movies. So if you’re one of those who are open minded to seeing different takes on characters this one is totally for you. If you’re not well, you may not want to pick this up.

Runners up:

– Batman/Grendel by Matt Wagner

– Batman: Son Of The Demon by Mike W. Barr and Jerry Bingham

So, Just Where Was The Joker During ‘The Dark Knight Rises’?

by Shawn Madden

Christopher Nolan made it clear that he had zero intention of mentioning The Joker in The Dark Knight Rises as a sign of respect to the late Heath Ledger. While some people may not be fond of that choice, I think it was in good taste to do so. But still some people wondered “Just where was he?!” Greg Cox’s novelization of the movie may just shed some light and give you an answer. An excerpt:

Now that the Dent Act had made it all but impossible for the city’s criminals to cop an insanity plea, it (Blackgate Prison) had replaced Arkham Asylum as a preferred location for imprisoning both convicted and suspected felons. The worst of the worst were sent here, except for the Joker, who, rumor had it, was locked away as Arkham’s sole remaining inmate. Or perhaps he had escaped. Nobody was really sure. Not even Selina.

Just in case you forgot, during a segment of The Dark Knight Rises Selina Kyle was held at Blackgate Prison for a short time.

Source: Nuke The Fridge

The Dark Knight Rises: Christian Bale Visits Victims Of Shooting In Colorado

by Shawn Madden

Earlier this week Christian Bale released a statement expressing his sympathy to the victims of the shooting in Colorado. Now it seems Bale has gone above and beyond and paid a visit to the victims of the incident. Bill Voloch, interim president of Medical Center of Aurora, said that The Dark Knight Rises star spent about two and a half hours visiting patients at the hospital.

“The patients were really happy to meet Bale,” Voloch said. “They are obviously big fans of his movies. They wanted to see Batman and were really pleased to see Bale.”

Bale also met with the officers and medical technicians that first responded to the incident. He spent about ten minutes with each person and made sure to visit each one.

“It was good for the patients,” Voloch said. “We hope it was therapeutic for them, and all the staff really appreciated him coming.”

Bale visited this hospital of his own choice and not representing Warner Bros. The executive vice president from Warner Bros. stated:

“Mr. Bale is there as himself, not representing Warner Brothers”

Kudos Mr. Bale. You really are the hero these people deserve and need right now.

Source: The Huffington Post

 

 

Christopher Nolan Bids Farewell To Batman

by Shawn Madden

Nolan gave a heartfelt adieu to the characters and events that have inhabited his Gotham in a foreword for The Art And Making Of The Dark Knight Trilogy. Thanks to a member of the SuperHeroHype forums we have it to share with you.

Alfred. Gordon. Lucius. Bruce . . . Wayne. Names that have come to mean so much to me. Today, I’m three weeks from saying a final good-bye to these characters and their world. It’s my son’s ninth birthday. He was born as the Tumbler was being glued together in my garage from random parts of model kits. Much time, many changes. A shift from sets where some gunplay or a helicopter were extraordinary events to working days where crowds of extras, building demolitions, or mayhem thousands of feet in the air have become familiar.

People ask if we’d always planned a trilogy. This is like being asked whether you had planned on growing up, getting married, having kids. The answer is complicated. When David and I first started cracking open Bruce’s story, we flirted with what might come after, then backed away, not wanting to look too deep into the future. I didn’t want to know everything that Bruce couldn’t; I wanted to live it with him. I told David and Jonah to put everything they knew into each film as we made it. The entire cast and crew put all they had into the first film. Nothing held back. Nothing saved for next time. They built an entire city. Then Christian and Michael and Gary and Morgan and Liam and Cillian started living in it. Christian bit off a big chunk of Bruce Wayne’s life and made it utterly compelling. He took us into a pop icon’s mind and never let us notice for an instant the fanciful nature of Bruce’s methods.

I never thought we’d do a second — how many good sequels are there? Why roll those dice? But once I knew where it would take Bruce, and when I started to see glimpses of the antagonist, it became essential. We re-assembled the team and went back to Gotham. It had changed in three years. Bigger. More real. More modern. And a new force of chaos was coming to the fore. The ultimate scary clown, as brought to terrifying life by Heath. We’d held nothing back, but there were things we hadn’t been able to do the first time out — a Batsuit with a flexible neck, shooting on Imax. And things we’d chickened out on — destroying the Batmobile, burning up the villain’s blood money to show a complete disregard for conventional motivation. We took the supposed security of a sequel as license to throw caution to the wind and headed for the darkest corners of Gotham.

I never thought we’d do a third — are there any great second sequels? But I kept wondering about the end of Bruce’s journey, and once David and I discovered it, I had to see it for myself. We had come back to what we had barely dared whisper about in those first days in my garage. We had been making a trilogy. I called everyone back together for another tour of Gotham. Four years later, it was still there. It even seemed a little cleaner, a little more polished. Wayne Manor had been rebuilt. Familiar faces were back — a little older, a little wiser . . . but not all was as it seemed.

Gotham was rotting away at its foundations. A new evil bubbling up from beneath. Bruce had thought Batman was not needed anymore, but Bruce was wrong, just as I had been wrong. The Batman had to come back. I suppose he always will.

Michael, Morgan, Gary, Cillian, Liam, Heath, Christian . . . Bale. Names that have come to mean so much to me. My time in Gotham, looking after one of the greatest and most enduring figures in pop culture, has been the most challenging and rewarding experience a filmmaker could hope for. I will miss the Batman. I like to think that he’ll miss me, but he’s never been particularly sentimental.

It’s been said numerous times but whoever has to follow up after Nolan really has his work cut out for him. There are few directors that I have seen with the level of passion that Nolan has for his work. While I and many others are sad we will never get a Nolan directed Bat-flick I eagerly await what he has coming next.

A Look Back At ‘Batman Begins’ And ‘The Dark Knight’

by Shawn Madden

The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters tomorrow at midnight and I thought I would take a look at Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. There is no doubt that this trilogy will go down as one of the greatest movie trilogies of all time. A main factor in this being the common theme that Christopher Nolan has always set as the heart of the stories. Rather than focusing on Batman as the superhero he focused on the man who was Batman and the symbol he created. Something that film makers that had come before failed to truly capture. As stated in Batman Begins:

People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can’t do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I’m flesh and blood. I can be ignored, I can be destroyed. But as a symbol — as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting. – Bruce Wayne (Batman Begins)

Ever since Batman Begins hit screens movies have began taking a more realistic approach to their characters thus making them more relatable. By making a story more believable you can lose yourself in it. Batman Begins took a risk by actually being the first Batman film to be actually about Batman. The film was not about the villains who took a back seat to the exploration of Bruce Wayne’s psyche. But what really made this movie had to be the casting. Christian Bale is by far the best Bruce Wayne to date and with a supporting cast that was flawless and made this first piece to the story truly memorable and a movie that improves over time rather than one that deteriorates. We were introduced to a new Gotham unlike the ones we had seen in the past and a Bruce Wayne unlike the ones we had seen in the past. This character was real. That was the difference here. One of the most memorable scenes in being a great ending scene that would lead into one of the greatest sequels ever made.

“Well, because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” – Alfred Pennyworth (The Dark Knight)

A line from The Dark Knight that to this day is still one of the most memorable. This movie truly set the bar for comic book films if not films in general. A movie that received criticism from the masses of the internet for its casting of Heath Ledger as Batman’s greatest villain of all time…The Joker. I remember clearly reading on an internet board the numerous randoms who referred to this move as “the worst casting decision ever made” and jokes about this actors role from Brokeback Mountain that even referred to this sequel as being “Broke-Bat Mountain”. And this once again proves just how wrong we all can be. If we thought the casting in Batman Begins was brilliant we hadn’t seen anything yet.

Nolan had made his masterpiece with The Dark Knight. It was dark, intelligent, incredibly exciting and cinematically rich, while remaining utterly true to the soul of its source material. The actors were at their finest here and truly gripping performances sucked us in to a movie that will go down as one of the greatest films ever made in my opinion. Not just because it is a comic book movie but because it is a fantastic film. The bitter-sweet tragedy here is that this was Heath Ledgers finest performance but sadly his last. If any actor deserved to win the Oscar for “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” in 2009 it was Heath Ledger. However the movie otherwise was snubbed at the Oscars and is now why they have expanded how many movies are nominated from five to ten. The midnight screening that I attended received a standing ovation for a film that honestly deserved it but at the same time left fans sad that we would never see Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker grace the screen again.

So now we approach the grand finale to the Dark Knight Trilogy. Tomorrow at midnight The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters and is already receiving praise from many. Once again some have been skeptical to casting but if history has taught us anything it is that we should have faith in Christopher Nolan here because he has not let us down before.

“If anything, it’s a tremendous responsibility and opportunity to sort of follow in the footsteps of somebody who was so brilliant. So I’m just grateful to be part of the family, actually, the Batman, Chris Nolan family. And that I got brought in to be the villain in this film.” – Tom Hardy on Heath Ledger

The Joker may be Batman’s arch-nemesis but Bane is one of the greatest enemies he has ever faced. Known best as the man who “broke the bat” we are truly in store for a completely different type of animal here. Bane is not only one of Batman’s greatest enemies physically but mentally. Tom Hardy has had his performance referred to as “powerful” and that “his simple presence intimidates anyone”. Do not compare his performance to Heath but instead remember that he is playing a completely different character and a new threat that we have not seen before. Many who have already seen the film have called this Christian Bale’s finest performance of the three and a fantastic end to the story that Nolan has set out to tell. While The Dark Knight may be a tough act to follow I have complete faith myself that we will be getting the film that we all need and deserve. There has been much talk that this could be the first comic book movie to win an Oscar and it seems quite possible that it can. Have we seen all that Nolan and company have to give?

Not everything. Not yet. – Batman (The Dark Knight Rises)

A look back at the trilogy:

 

Hot Toys Reveals The Dark Knight Rises: Bane Collectible Figure

by Shawn Madden

Can’t get enough of these Hot Toys figures? Well, I’m sure your wallet has had enough. The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters tomorrow at midnight and Hot Toys has unveiled their figure for Bane that is sure to put a Dent Act into some of our wallets. Bad pun…I know.

The Dark Knight Rises: Bane Collectible Figure – The Dark Knight Rises, the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, is coming in just one day! Celebrating the launch of this highly expected movie, Hot Toys is proud to present the 1/6th scale Bane Collectible Figure from this movie. The Bane collectible is highly detailed, specially crafted based on the image of Tom Hardy as Bane, highlighting the movie-accurate head sculpt with mask, detailed costume and accessories.

Thirteen Minute Featurette For ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

by Shawn Madden

If you can’t wait until July 20th for the fire to rise and need something to tide you over until then check out this thirteen minute featurette that contains plenty of interviews, behind the scenes footage and much more. This video shows just how much work Christopher Nolan and everyone involved in making this movie put into it and is quite impressive.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ hits theaters July 20th.

Source: TheMovieBox

Awesome ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Viral Campaign Reveals More Plot Points

by Scott Alminiana

With the release of The Dark Knight Rises fast approaching, Warner Bros. has been hard at work with their viral marketing campaign. There are three different batches of viral pieces  on the web that we’ve managed to get our hands on. Be warned that there may be some potential spoilers and/or plot points here, but at this point it’s hard to tell what those might be. Just don’t say that we didn’t warn you…

The first one is from DewGothamCity and shows a GCPD performance reveiw of Officer John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). The review shows that Blake is quite the officer and seems likely to move up the ladder quickly. Here’s what is written in the ‘comments’ section of his review:

“Officer Blake shows great dedication and tenacity. He made an impact in his assigned beat by building effective associations within the local community. High marks for skills and conduct. Needs minor improvement in his relationships with fellow officers. His thoroughness tends to make him judgmental of colleagues’ performances and leads him to question authority. Officer Blake has made a request to be transferred to Narrows Division. Given his success in his previous detail, transfer should be granted. Need more officers like him.”

This second piece is an email exchange between some reporters at the Gotham Observer. The emails are in regards to John Daggett, who from the sounds of it is a rather shady board member of Wayne Enterprises.  The emails goes on to mention Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard), Deputy Commissioner (Matthew Modine), and a series of penthouse burglaries. Hmmm, I wonder who that would be in reference to?

From: Mike Ross < micheal.ross@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 1:22 PM
To: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece
Just caught wind of another penthouse burglary. That’s five for the week. A couple of watches and a box of jewelry were stolen. Whoever did it must be coming out of thin air because literally no one has seen this person in action…at all. I got Gerald headed downtown now. Dep. Comm Foley’s doing a press conderence at City Hall. The Mayor wants to launch a task force. I guess all of these fat cats get to go cry to the Mayor when somebody steals from them.

From: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 1:15 PM
To: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

Let me kick it up the food chain to Gene and discuss it with him. But Mike, I have to say I’m with Terry on this one. I’d definitely start looking for a replacement. What about Congressmen Gilly wanting to rename the Central Library after this Miranda Tate lady who just got on the board of Wayne Enterprises? The Rogues appealing the NFF’s salary cap penalties?

From: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 12:57 PM
To: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

My feelings is, unless you have a full confession from Daggett himself, stay away from this. Calling this guy litigious is putting it lightly. Two years ago, Becker, Barton & McReynolds commissioned a gold bust of the guy to thank him for all the billable hours.Mike, I hear what you’re saying about Daggett’s place at Wayne E, but the paper can’t take a hit like we’re going to if we move further down this path. He’ll throw everything at us.

From: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 12:46 PM
To: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

Terry?

From: Mike Ross < micheal.ross@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 11:28 AM
To: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Cc: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

Right now, the former Mali Minister of Communications, who says the US is well aware of Daggett’s use of mercenaries to take over the mines by force. We’ve got five or six government officials speaking anonymously.

From: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 11:02 AM
To: Mike Ross < micheal.ross@thegothamobserver.net >
Cc: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

Who do you have that is speaking on the record?

From: Mike Ross < micheal.ross@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 10:41 AM
To: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Cc: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

Paul was covering several reports of destruction at a number of construction companies around the city. The companies are claiming that their sites, headquarters, warehouses, and depots are being sabotaged. GPD haven’t been able to trackdown the perpetrators. In fact, there’s no trace of them. GPD won’t confirm it officially, but they do believe something’s up. Paul did some digging and determined that every construction company in the area has been attacked except for John Daggett’s outfit. So Daggett naturally became the focus. Paul’s got a number of sources- speaking anonymously and off the record- about shady business dealings such as Daggett’s acquisition of African diamond mines. I feel it’s relevant because, let’s be honest, the guy is in position of power at Wayne Enterprises and therefore has a lot influence in the city.

From: Katherine Lamont < katherine.lamont@thegothamobserver.net >
Date: Wed, 2 May 10:22 AM
To: Mike Ross < micheal.ross@thegothamobserver.net >
Cc: Terry Degnan < terry.degnan@thegothamobserver.net >
Subject: Re: John Daggett Piece

Terry, cc’, just gt a call from John Daggett’s attorney. He’s in full attack mode, claiming libel, threatening action. Says the issue at hand is the following: a story on Daggett mentions Daggett hiring mercenaries to stage cups in West Africa to secure mining rights. His attorney said the claims are unsubstantiated accusations perpetrated by his rivals to taint his company’s reputation.What’s the verall angle of the piece?

Lastly is a handwritten letter from Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) to Bruce Wayne concerning the state of Wayne Enterprises. In the letter Lucius references the concerns of the board members regarding the budget of the R&D department.  The letter also mentions John Daggett and how he may be trying to gather support from other board members that could result in a potential power struggle. Here’s a transcript of the difficult to read handwritten letter as well as Bruce’s very simple reply to Lucius:

Dear Bruce,

I hope this letter finds you well.  Although I would have liked to have had this conversation with you personally, Alfred tells me I am better off writing as you are not receiving any visitors at the moment.  That being the case, I’ll do my best to detail what I feel is becoming a situation within the company.

It’s a given that in the current economic climate our investors have become increasingly concerned about how their money is being spent.  As such, our own profitability is being judged and analyzed, particularly by the Board itself.  In the past, we haven’t given them any reason to worry as both our earnings and spending have been consistent.  This allowed us the autonomy to dedicate resources to Wayne philanthropic programs as well as our own R&D endeavors.  But over the past five quarters, our earnings have been on the downtrend.  Meanwhile, our R&D spending has been on an astronomical uptrend.  And as the black grows fainter around the entire company, I am being put into a position where I have to answer certain questions, particularly about your energy project.

No one is going to dispute the fact that innovation is key to our growth and success.  It’s a mainstay of our business, which is all the more reason why the Board has begun to scrutinize our R&D budget and set their sights on your machine.  Since they don’t know exactly what you’re up to, all they understand is a vast amount of capital is being spent on something they now deem as fruitless – quest for clean energy.  Herein lies the problem.

The last time we spoke, you expressed your reluctance to move the project forward and initiate the next phase of trials.  I understand your argument as to why.  But if you want the company to continue to fund your efforts, I think it is time we give the Board more than just the overview they already have, enlightening them on what this project will mean to Gotham if you are successful.  On a personal note, I’d also like to let them know that with age, Bruce Wayne has decided to fill his father’s shoes, using Wayne Enterprises and all its resources to readily and reliably support our city.

Nothing bad can come from this, Bruce.  But if you decide not to address the issue at hand, I am not sure how long I can keep the Board at bay.  Making matters more difficult is your absence.  I am assuming you have your reasons for it and it is not my job to question those, but I fear that if you are going to drop off the radar for an extended period of time, we may risk another Bill Earle situation.  I can see a couple [of] Board Members already maneuvering to build influence around the table, most notably John Daggett, who I feel is the last person we want to engage in a power struggle.

When I agreed to take on this role I knew full well what the job and our agreement entailed.  I am also well aware of your preferred ways of handling all matters relating to Wayne Enterprises However, I must tell you that we are quickly approaching a set of circumstances that will unfortunately call for a change if we do not address the Board.  Change in most instances is not a bad thing, but in this regard I am worried.  I’m sure you consider my pessimism to be just another part of my charm.  That may be the case, but let’s remember: you didn’t hire me for my charm.

I look forward to hearing from you.

With luck it will be in person.

Regards,

Lucius Fox

 

Lucius,

Tell the board that as of today the program is shut down. As we discussed before, there is too much at stake and the risk is too great. That is my only concern.

-Bruce.

 

Does A Press Release Confirm Cillian Murphy’s Appearance In ‘The Dark Knight Rises’?

by Shawn Madden

Due to his appearances in both ‘Batman Begins’ and ‘The Dark Knight’ people have been speculating and wondering if we would once again see Cillian Murphy return in the final chapter ‘The Dark Knight Rises’. The actor that played Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow has kind of dodged the question and never really given a straight forward answer when asked recently. Now a new press-release for the ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ European Premiere has made its way online and seems to point to the fact that he does appear in it.

According to the release, the cast attending the premiere include:

Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Liam Neeson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine.

Now it’s time to lose your mind to figure out how he’s going to fit in. Could it be a cameo? A flashback? Is he involved with Bane? Is there a post credits scene of him, Batman and Bane eating some form of Mediterranean food? Guess you’ll just have to wait until July 20th.

Source: Hayuguys

Christopher Nolan To Join The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

by Shawn Madden

On Saturday, July 7, at 10:00 a.m. Christopher Nolan will receive a rare industry honor and be cemented into The Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, stated, “Everyone at Warner Bros. joins me in congratulating Christopher Nolan, who has been such an integral part of our family for the past 12 years. We are extremely proud of the cinematic legacy he has given us through his films. At only 41, Christopher takes his place alongside other industry giants featured at Grauman’s, and generations of fans will remember the extraordinary impression he left on their imaginations.”

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ hits theaters on July 20th.

Source: Market Watch

He Told You He’d Be Back! Arnold Talks Terminator 5

by Shawn Madden

And not only once but twice. Moviehole is reporting that Schwarzenegger is locked in for two ‘Terminator’ films. The first of which is set to begin filming next year. It also reported that it will continue on from ‘Terminator: Salvation’ which received mixed reviews from fans. Myself I enjoyed ‘Salvation’ and Bale as John Connor and hope they bring Bale, Yelchin and Bryce Dallas Howard back to reprise their roles.

Arnold stated: “I can’t say to much they want it held in secret if you know what I mean, but I will say that next year I will start filming it and it’s going to be one of the hardest films I have ever done I can tell you that already for sure”, Schwarzenegger said “… they have six months set aside just for filming, so I will be training and getting into the best physical shape I possibly can before filming starts. It does follow Salvation although some of the producers and franchise owner were not too happy about the job McG did with it but they felt it was good enough to continue on and they want the fifth and sixth installments to be the closing of the franchise.”

Rumors attached Justin Lin to take over the franchise from McG but his commitments to make more ‘Fast & The Furious’ movies keep delaying the project from going forward. It’s unsure if he is still even attached at this point. Are you ready to see Arnold toss on some shades and a leather jacket again? Or will it just make you shake your head versus get chills when you hear that ‘Judgement Day’ theme?

UPDATE: HD Version Of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Footage From MTV Movie Awards

by Shawn Madden

Well, Warner Bros and MTV are ripping down every available version of this video that hits the net.

Did I find a version that’s still up? I sure did. Sadly i’m unable to embed the video but I can give you a link to it. It’s definitely about to raise your excitement levels for this movie if they have not already peaked.

Check it out before it gets taken down.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ MTV Movie Awards Footage

The fire rises July 20, 2012.

Bale May Be Willing To Return For A Fourth Film

by Shawn Madden

Well, many people have been wondering if Nolan is going to kill Batman in the third and final film in his “Dark Knight Trilogy”. And tweets online about the movie bringing the test audiences to tears made it look that way too.

UK filmmaker Danny Allen tweeted recently: “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES has been reducing test screening audiences to tears…. if it matches the truly haunting trailer I don’t blame them.”

But now it looks like that idea has been squashed by Bale in the recent Empire. When asked about returning again he stated “My understanding is that this is the last one. I think it’s appropriate, I think it’s going out at the right time. But…if Chris came to me with a script and said, ‘You know what? There is another story’ then I would love the challenge of making a fourth one work.”

Now Bale could just be playing a game here to not reveal too much but I don’t truly see Nolan killing off Bruce.

Bale was also asked how he would feel about coming for “Dark Knight Returns” style Batman and to play the character as a much older man. He went on to say “That could be an interesting one, couldn’t it? Twenty years down the track…”.

The fire rises July 20, 2012.

 

 

The New Dark Knight Rises Poster… And Our Hearts Sink

by Matt Landsman

The new poster for The Dark Knight Rises is here and it’s…underwhelming?

Within five minutes of the release of the poster by WB, the internet has collectively flown into outrage over the lazy design of the new poster utilizing a pre-existing image of  batman against a recolored version of the first teaser poster. Amateur photoshop work for sure, and many fans have called WB’s marketing into question.

What do you guys think of this poster? Love it? Hate it? Framing it on your wall? Share your opinions with Geekscape!

 

Watch The Final Trailer For The Dark Knight Rises In Full HD!

by Matt Landsman

The new trailer has just dropped for The Dark Knight Rises and wow…it’s awesome!

The Dark Knight Rises starring Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway and Michael Caine opens in the US July 20th 2012.

Troma Entertainment’s Lloyd Kaufman Reminds Us, It Gets Better

by Saintmort

The fine people at Troma Entertainment have released a video of Lloyd Kaufman’s (as seen/heard on Geekscape and Saint Mort Show) failed addition to the It Gets Better movement. Proving once again that Troma does comedy better than anyone else they manage to satirize the It Gets Better Movement, make fun of Christian Bale’s T4 freak out  and say that Lloyd Kaufman is a celebrity. Enjoy!

The Dark Knight Reviewed

by Jonathan

I’m not going to hide it, but ever since I saw Adam West don the spandex, I’ve been a Batman fan. I’ve slugged through the good movies (Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Begins), the goofy movies (Original Batman movie) and the travesties (Batman Forever, Batman and Robin), all in the name of a love for the cape crusader. With this in mind, I eagerly as possible in a post-Phantom Menace world, I’ve awaited the release of Dark Knight, the newest movie in this linage of batman movies.

Its been 24 hours since I was let out of the movie, and all I can say is this:

The Dark Knight is amazing.

While there is no denying that the Dark Knight is an action film at its core it is really an ensemble film. Each core member of the cast, Bale, Ledger, Eckhart and Oldman in their respective roles of Bruce Wayne, The Joker, Harvey Dent and Jim Gordon are given equal screen time both together and alone. This results in the movie being as much a study in character as it is about exploding buildings. The biggest question addressed by the movie is of how these characters deal with their responsibility. Ultimately many of the characters, both major and minor, are shown to shy away form making any firm choices where they would ultimately be responsible. This is shown from the mob unleashing the Joker on the city to Dent’s reliance on his double headed coin.

The biggest part of this move that everyone will be talking about is the portrayal of The Joker by Ledger. Gone is the joke buzzers and mayhem of The Joker from his previous incarnations, and instead in its place is a calculating man who is severely left of centre. This Joker is an agent of Chaos who prefers to cut his victims instead of gassing them. The horror of this character is further strengthen by drawing from elements in the comic, The Killing Joke. Most notably is the idea of The Joker attempting to show that any man, no matter how good they are, can be destroyed by a really bad day.

Being a new take of the character, the film makers also made some interesting changes to his origin. The biggest being the refusal to give him any origin or motivation for his actions. As Alfred says in the movie, ‘Some men just want to see the world burn’, and The Joker is this man. While the rest of the cast is shown to struggle with the weight of responsibility and the choices that must be made, and lived with, The Joker is shown to be a primal force of nature. He comes in like a hurricane, causes his damage, and when he is finally dealt with, all are different for the experience.

Ledger, like Eckhart and Oldman owned their roles. I got chills watching the scenes where Ledger and Eckhart interacted with each other. Each monologue by Ledger is also a treat to watch, and the attention paid to the finer details, such as body language do nothing but build his case for an Oscar nomination this year. In general the casting for the film is strong, with perhaps the weakest point in it being the title character Batman. Bale is shown, and continues to be the best Bruce Wayne to grace the screen, but his Batman, and his raspy voice is at times distracting.

We cannot discuss this movie without addressing the one question on everyone’s mind, is the Dark Knight better then Iron Man? If you looking purely at the generation of money, then yes, Dark Knight will be the better movie. If you look at the question in terms of acting and story, then the answer becomes less clear. To compare Iron Man and the Dark Knight this way is like asking a father to pick between his two children.

And as comic fans, we are all the better for having two children then just the one.