Tag: TDKR

First Clip From ‘The Dark Knight Returns: Part One’!

by Shawn Madden

Warner Bros. has released the first clip from the animated adaptation of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns and does it look good. I mean, it looks really good and could even go on to top my personal favorite, Under The Red Hood. The story takes place a decade after Bruce Wayne gave up being Batman and entered retirement. The Dark Knight Returns is one of the best Batman stories ever told. It definitely is on top of the all-time must-read comics list and from the looks of it this may join it on top of the must-see animated movies.

It’s been a decade since Bruce Wayne hung up his cape, following most of the other superheroes who had been forced into retirement. Facing the downside of middle age, a restless Bruce Wayne pacifies his frustration with race cars and liquor – but the bat still beckons as he watches his city fall prey to gangs of barbaric criminals known as The Mutants.

The return of Harvey Dent as Two-Face finally prompts Wayne to once again don the Dark Knight’s cowl, and his dramatic capture of the villain returns him to crime-fighting – simultaneously making him the target of law enforcement and the new hope for a desolate Gotham City. Particularly inspired is a teenage girl named Carrie, who adopts the persona of Robin and ultimately saves Batman from a brutal attack by the Mutant leader. Armed with a new sidekick, and re-energized with a definitive purpose, the Dark Knight returns to protect Gotham from foes new…and old.

The Dark Knight Returns: Part One will be released September 25th.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Talks About The End Of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

by Shawn Madden

Last night Joseph Gordon-Levitt appeared on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show and the actor discussed the ending of The Dark Knight Rises. This included him discussing if he has any interest in returning for a sequel…if that somehow ever happened. If you haven’t seen the movie by now you probably shouldn’t be reading this or watching the video below. Just saying.


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?

 

Even President Obama Loved Anne Hathaway As Selina Kyle!

by Shawn Madden

So, when Anne Hathaway was first cast as Selina Kyle many fans were not too happy to say the least. But since the release of The Dark Knight Returns many have begun praising her performance and it’s being said that out of the entire cast she has the best chance to receive an Oscar nomination. And to top off the list of people that loved her performance, during a fundraising event at Henry Weinstein’s home in Connecticut, President Barack Obama revealed his thoughts on the actress.

“She’s spectacular. I got a chance to see Batman, and she was the best thing in it. That’s just my personal opinion.”

The internet trolls are not happy.

Source: The Huffington Post

Want To Have Your Own Batcave Home Theater?

by Shawn Madden

Got an extra two million lying around the house that you’re wondering what to do with? Well, wow about installing a replica of the batcave from The Dark Knight Rises?  Elite Home Theater Seating has done just that for one of their clients. The client has even gone as far as making their 12,000 square foot dwelling  mimic Wayne Manor down to the bust of William Shakespeare concealing a switch for elevators and a fingerprint scanner which allows access to the theater itself. The theater even includes a fifteen foot Batmobile, six batsuits, 180” film screen, winged gargoyles, private cylindrical stainless steel elevator with a glowing bat symbol, a secret tunnel exit, bat computers, and race-car inspired home theater chairs. Whoa.

Source: National Confidential

Is The Batman Reboot Set For 2016?

by Shawn Madden

Now, while none of this is confirmed at the moment, there are some rumblings around the water cooler regarding what DC and Warner Bros. have planned for Batman now that Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy is done. Sorry to those of you who had hoped that you would see the continuation of that story but Nolan has been saying for quite some time that he was done.

Moving on. Remember when news broke that we would see Justice League hitting the big screen in 2015? It appears that the plan is to follow up with a new Batman movie afterwards. Not one where we yet again see his origin story but instead one where we see Batman in his second year of crime fighting. Possibly an adaptation of Year Two? The film would definitely be set in the same universe that DC is going to begin setting up with Man Of Steel (which I can personally confirmed that a source has stated they have gone back and added things into the movie) and quite possibly every DC movie that follows. We will keep you updated as we find out more details.

Watch The First Trailer For ‘Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part One’!

by Shawn Madden

Thanks to the people over at MTV Geek we have the first trailer for DC’s upcoming animated feature, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part One. This upcoming animated movie is based on the classic Frank Miller graphic novel of the same name.

Get More: MTV Shows

It’s been a decade since Bruce Wayne hung up his cape, following most of the other superheroes who had been forced into retirement. Facing the downside of middle age, a restless Bruce Wayne pacifies his frustration with race cars and liquor – but the bat still beckons as he watches his city fall prey to gangs of barbaric criminals known as The Mutants.

The return of Harvey Dent as Two-Face finally prompts Wayne to once again don the Dark Knight’s cowl, and his dramatic capture of the villain returns him to crime-fighting – simultaneously making him the target of law enforcement and the new hope for a desolate Gotham City. Particularly inspired is a teenage girl named Carrie, who adopts the persona of Robin and ultimately saves Batman from a brutal attack by the Mutant leader. Armed with a new sidekick, and re-energized with a definitive purpose, the Dark Knight returns to protect Gotham from foes new…and old.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part One goes on sale September 25th, 2012!

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

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.

Hot Toys Gives A Sneak Peak At Agent Coulson And Chitauri Footsoldier Figures!

by Shawn Madden

Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong are both coming up, and collectibles company Hot Toys gives us a sneak peak at what we can expect to find on display during the show. Prepare to empty out your kids college fund. Again.

The annual Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong event will kick off this Friday! Fans may have expected to preview a series of upcoming collectibles there!

We will be showcasing the firstly unveiled Mark VII & Hulk from The Avengers, The Bat and Catwoman from The Dark Knight Rises……

A great surprise to fans – the prototype of Agent Phil Coulson and Chitauri Footsoldier from The Avengers will be unveiled there!

What’s more, we will also showcase our first collectible figure of the 1/4th scale series at the Ani-Com! Batman fans can have a look at our first-of-its-kind 1/4th scale Batman Collectible Figure from The Dark Knight Rises!


Source: The HDR

Geekscape Comics: The Stories That Inspired Christopher Nolan’s Batman Films

by Shawn Madden

So, you just saw The Dark Knight Rises and want to read some of the stories that influenced Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy? Well, we are here to help you out with that!

Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli

A young Bruce Wayne has spent his adolescence and early adulthood, traveling the world so he could hone his body and mind into the perfect fighting and investigative machine. But now as he returns to Gotham City, he must find a way to focus his passion and bring justice to his city. Retracing Batman’s first attempts to fight injustice as a costumed vigilante, we watch as he chooses a guise of a giant bat, creates an early bond with a young Lieutenant James Gordon, inadvertently plays a role in the birth of Catwoman, and helps to bring down a corrupt political system that infests Gotham.

The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Taking place during Batman’s early days of crime fighting, The Long Halloween tells the story of a mysterious killer named Holiday, who murders people on holidays, one each month. Working with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant James Gordon, Batman races against the calendar as he tries to discover who Holiday is before he claims his next victim each month, while attempting to stop the crime war between two of Gotham’s most powerful families, Maroni and Falcone. This novel also acted as a main introduction for one of Batman’s most eluding foes, The Calendar Man, who knows the true identity of the Holiday killer but refuses to share this with Batman. He instead works in riddles and leaves Batman hints from his Arkham Asylum cell. The story also ties into the events that transform Harvey Dent into Batman’s enemy, Two-Face.

Knightfall by various writers/artists

The story takes place over approximately six months. In it we see Bruce Wayne suffer from burnout and systematically assaulted and crippled by Bane. This is the story where we see Bane “break the bat” which is what he has become most known for doing. Wayne is replaced as Batman by an apprentice named Jean-Paul Valley, who becomes increasingly violent and unstable, tarnishing Batman’s reputation. Eventually, Wayne is healed through paranormal means, and reclaims his role as Batman. Knightfall resulted in long-term ramifications for the Batman mythos, as Batman’s trust from the police, the public, and fellow superheroes had to be rebuilt. Additionally, Wayne realizes the peril and burden of attempting to work in solitude, leading to the eventual creation of the modern incarnation of the Batman family. The events of Knightfall also led to the resignation of Wayne’s loyal butler, Alfred Pennyworth. We also see one element of this story in Batman Begins when they release the inmates from Arkham Asylum.

No Man’s Land by various writers/artists

The story began with a major earthquake hitting Gotham City. This was followed by the storylines “Aftershock” and then “Road to No Man’s Land” which resulted in the U.S. government officially evacuating Gotham and then abandoning and isolating those who chose to remain in the city. “No Man’s Land” covered, in detail, a period in the lives of the residents of the city, explaining all events from the time of isolation, until its time of re-opening and the beginning of rebuilding. This story influenced quite a bit of the second half of The Dark Knight Rises.

The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland

The plot revolves around a largely psychological battle between Batman and his longtime foe the Joker, who has escaped fromArkham Asylum. The Joker intends to drive James Gordon, the Police Commissioner of Gotham City, insane, in order to prove that the most upstanding citizen is capable of going mad after having “one bad day.” Along the way, the Joker has flashbacks to his early life, gradually explaining his origin. Heath Ledger studied this story heavily while preparing for The Dark Knight.

The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson

The Dark Knight Returns is set ten years in an alternate future, with a worn and weary, aged Bruce Wayne. He numbs his conscience with alcohol to soothe the guilt he feels for his responsibility for the death of Jason Todd. Gotham City is under siege by a vicious criminal gang who call themselves the Mutants. Wayne unleashes his demons to confront the new threats to Gotham, and Batman is born again. Wayne finds himself struggling with the decline of his physique as he patrols and defends Gotham City. An inexperienced but courageous young girl named Carrie Kelly saves Batman’s life, and Wayne takes her in as a new Robin. Batman is seen now as a menace to Gotham’s society and an anti-vigilantism wave is carried on from the government.

I hope you guys enjoy reading these and finding what bits and pieces Nolan and the cast took inspiration from and even maybe just enjoying some stories you may have not read before.

Five Easter Eggs You May Have Missed In ‘The Dark Knight Rises’!

by Shawn Madden

So, if you have not seen The Dark Knight Rises by now I advise you to not read any further because spoilers do lie ahead.

– Christopher Nolan loves Year One. Juno Temple played a version of Holly Robinson.

If you didn’t know by now, Christopher Nolan loves Frank Miller’s work. He even once gave his brother Jonathan an issue of Year One as a birthday present. So, right off the bat, I could tell who this character was from her first introduction. If you somehow have not read nor seen (there is an animated version which is great) Batman: Year One, here is a little info on the character:

Holly first appeared in Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One as a juvenile prostitute who lives with Selina Kyle. Holly plays a small but significant role in the story when she encounters a disguised Bruce Wayne during one of his early attempts at crimefighting and stabs him in the leg. Wounded by this attack and a subsequent battle, Wayne escapes back to his home, brooding on the fact that his enemies do not fear him. This encounter is an impetus for his creation of the Batman persona. As such, Holly plays an indirect role in the Dark Knight’s origin.

Now obviously the character is different in the movie, as many of them are in the Nolan-verse, and she only had a very minor role, but it is definitely a cool little nod to the fans of Year One.

– Roland Daggett from Batman: The Animated Series

Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn portrays John Daggett in The Dark Knight Rises. In the animated series, Roland Daggett runs a rival corporation called Daggett Industries. In the movie, Daggett runs a rival company and uses Bane to take Wayne Enterprises down (which doesn’t necessarily work out well for him in the end).

– Killer Croc in the sewers

Remember when Foley makes the comment about Gordon seeing “giant alligators” down in the sewer? Now, some of you are going to say that this is far fetched but hear me out.

It’s not. Because Killer Croc already did appear in the Nolan-verse. I take it that many of you have already forgotten about Batman: Gotham Knight, the animated DVD that was released which took place between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight? THE SHAME!

If you didn’t, you’d realize that Batman and Gordon have already gone into the sewer where they ended up fighting Killer Croc. Yup. This was the same animated short that also saw Jonathan Crane putting someone on trial and sentencing them to death. Sound familiar now?

– Yet ANOTHER Frank Miller reference during the chase scene

Remember during the chase scene when a veteran cop tells a rookie to “sit back, you’re in for a show?” As pointed out in our recent TDKR analysis podcast, that’s a wink-and-a-nod to an almost identical scene from The Dark Knight Returns, a story which features a similarly resurgent Batman after years of retirement, once again showing that Nolan does know his source material.

– All of the numerous Robin Easter eggs. Yup. Robin Eggs. Both intentional and unintentional.

If you’ve seen the film than by now you know the ending. And you’ve probably figured out that John Blake is somewhat of a mixture of Dick Grayson and Tim Drake. Grayson was an orphan in the comics while Tim Drake figured out that Bruce Wayne was Batman, thus leading to him becoming the third Robin after Grayson’s first.

Did you also notice the name of the one football player to survive the field caving in?

Now, Hines Ward was obviously playing himself but they definitely could have changed the name. But maybe Nolan and company left it as kind of a nod to Burt Ward who played Robin in the television series? Intentional? Unintentional? What do you think?

And I know quite a few people that missed this one. That R is the one that Tim Drake used on his Robin suit. Now, it’s a truly “blink and you miss it” moment, but Nolan could have taken it out and instead chose to leave it.

So, while none of these are really big deals, they are cool nods to the fans. Bravo Nolan.

Now, can you think of any that we might have missed?

Let The Games Begin! A Review Of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

by Shawn Madden

Prepare to have all your expectations met and more. Much like I stated in my piece that took a look back at the other films… some had their doubts about The Dark Knight Rises‘ casting. I am here to say have no worries. This is Christian Bales finest performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Forget about Heath Ledger as The Joker and do not try to compare  that performance to Tom Hardy’s Bane. This is an entirely different beast and Bane is both menacing and vicious. The muzzled voice due to the mask makes the character all the more real and for me made him even more threatening. Anne Hathaway is great as Selina Kyle and pulls the role off quite well. The standout performance to me, thought, is Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake. Going in, I underestimated the importance of the character. He brings humanity, decency, and probably a bit more physicality than you might be expecting to the story. The only person I expected more from would be Marion Cotillard, but I am going to avoid spoiler territory here. She is good but I expected a bit more from her.

Is the movie better than The Dark Knight? In some ways… yes it is. There definitely is more action in this one. That’s for damn sure. Some of the interaction between characters is really touching, especially between Wayne and Alfred. It’s really hard to compare the two because they truly are two different films that are going to be incredibly hard for many to pick between as the best chapter of the trilogy. It is a satisfying ending that lives up to all expectations. Whoever makes a Bat-film after Nolan is going to have their work cut out. That ending alone is going to be talked about for weeks on end. Whether it be praise of the whining of the internet purists who are never happy with anything. I hope they realize that this is an interpretation just like the many we have seen in the comics over the years and a damn good one. We can’t see the same stories and endings we already know because as cool as it would be…they’d grow stale and boring. I already expect that there are some out there cracking their fingers getting ready to type angrily. But let us move on past that and to the end here.

I cannot comment too much on the ending because I refuse to spoil anything. The last fifteen or so minutes of the movie are phenomenal. There was a really short period where I was almost angry at Nolan until the first plot twist eased my worries. You will get it when you see it. I am still thinking about it right now as I write this. Some have even gone on to state “Holy fuck!” after. No, really. The person that I went to the theater with absolutely did.

This movie goes out with the appropriate bang that was needed to conclude Nolan’s trilogy. I agree with those praising it and stating that this could be the first comic book movie to win an Oscar. Between the writing, the performances and the incredible visuals, the movie is on par with anything we can expect to see come Awards Season. So, why are you still reading this? Stop reading reviews (and definitely avoid spoilers) and just go see the damn movie, already!

5/5. Hands down. Bravo, Nolan and Company.

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:

 

First Clip From ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Hits The Net

by Shawn Madden

Gary Oldman appeared on The Jimmy Kimmel show this evening and brought along a clip from ‘The Dark Knight Rises’. The clip features John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) questioning Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) about the last known sighting of Batman.

 

New Trailer For ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Revisits The Journey

by Shawn Madden

Revisit the entire journey up until ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ with this new trailer. The trailer reminds us that there really isn’t anything out there quite like Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Saga.

The saga ends with ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ in theaters July 20th.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Day To Be Celebrated By Comic Shops On July 19th

by Shawn Madden

Do you like free comics? Of course you do! DC Entertainment and comic book retailers across North America are declaring Thursday, July 19 “The Dark Knight Rises” Day. And in celebration retailers across the country will be giving away the free Batman: Earth One Special Preview Edition comic book featuring the first chapter of the graphic novel Batman Earth One written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Gary Frank. The book will also contain a preview of ‘Batman Vol. 1 The Court of Owls’, the New York Times #1 best-selling graphic novel collection of the hit series written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Greg Capullo.

DC Entertainment Vice President of Marketing, John Cunningham stated “The arrival of The Dark Knight Rises in theaters is a seminal moment for comic book readers and moviegoers; what better way to mark the occasion than with a free Batman comic book that rewards a broad range of fans and taps into the unprecedented excitement surrounding this film.”

Source: DC

New Action Packed Trailer For ‘The Dark Knight Rises’!

by Shawn Madden

With about about a month to go…we have a new full length trailer for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ courtesy of Nokia. I can definitely say that this is the most exciting trailer I’ve seen yet.

The fire rises in theaters on July 20th.

Geekscape Comics: Check Out The Variant For ‘BATMAN #11’

by Shawn Madden

The stunning conclusion to “THE COURT OF OWLS” epic! All is revealed in “THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF WAYNE.”

Check out this variant by artist Andy Clarke.

Source: DC Comics

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.

 

 

Nolan Discusses “The Bat” And The Joker In “The Dark Knight Rises”

by Shawn Madden

During filming of “The Dark Knight Rises” a mystery vehicle popped up on set. Numbers of YouTube videos and pictures of it flooded the internet leading to tons of speculation. Many assumed it was the Batwing but it was never officially named. Until now. “It is called The Bat,” the director tells Empire Magazine in the latest issue. “I spent a long time trying to figure out clever names for ‘bat-something-that-would-fly’, then you go: ‘Oh, it’s a bat.’ It’s very much based on a doubt-bladed helicopter idea, once again a realistic approach to military hardware. We had Corbould and his guys build it full scale and come up with this great driving rig for it so we could photograph it in real streets, and there’s a big computer graphics component to it as well. It’s fun to take Batman to the next level in terms of his transportation and weaponry – in terms of his ability to fight people.”

One of the most memorable parts about “The Dark Knight” was Heath Ledgers performance as The Joker. He left such an impression that after news of his death many internet forums lit up with topics wondering what Nolan would do with the character post “The Dark Knight”.

Many fans had hoped for a recasting or a reference. Maybe even for use of some unused “The Dark Knight” footage. But Nolan had adamantly stated there will be no mention of him in the threequel. “We’re not addressing The Joker at all. That is something I felt very strongly about in terms of my relationship with Heath and the experience I went through with him on The Dark Knight. I didn’t want to in any way try and account for a real-life tragedy. That seemed inappropriate to me. We just have a new set of characters and a continuation of Bruce Wayne’s story. Not involving The Joker.”

Source: Empire

New Action Packed “The Dark Knight Rises” TV Spot RISES Excitement Levels

by Shawn Madden

The most recent trailer and TV spots have been a tad mellow…

But this one was definitely exciting. Some awesome bits of new footage too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wj9Z5Qvn_gQ

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!