"The Dark Knight Rises" Review and Discussion Thread (spoilers)

[Snaploud]

Guartho wrote:

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When you're done applauding would you mind answering the question, because I was being completely serious. I have never heard of a man made fusion reaction, practical or otherwise.

A thermonuclear bomb (also known as a hydrogen bomb) uses a man-made fusion reaction to increase the destructive power of a fission reaction (as opposed to an atomic bomb, which uses just a fission reaction). It was developed way back in 1951 (tested for the first time in 1952).

The first man-made semistationary fusion reaction goes back to 1968.

[Guartho]

Snaploud wrote:

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The first man-made semistationary fusion reaction goes back to 1968.

My mind is more blown than Justin Bieber at a community college sorority party.

[Lapis Exilis]

Interesting article on Time online about how Robin John Blake, while seeming to be a new character created just for TDKR, is actually an amalgam of the original 3 Robins. In fact I just noticed that his full name incorporates Dick Grayson's father's name as middle name - just as in Richard John Grayson. I had thought he was a pretty straight up nod to Dick Grayson, but the article points out solid material that came from Jason and Tim as well.

In the course of reading about some of this stuff, I've come across that Damian Wayne has been Robin the last three years (I haven't read a Batman comic in many years)? And I know Dick was Batman for a while - don't know if that's still going on but I assume not after the Return of Bruce Wayne story. So what's become of Tim in the comics?

[Snaploud]

Lapis Exilis wrote:

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In the course of reading about some of this stuff, I've come across that Damian Wayne has been Robin the last three years (I haven't read a Batman comic in many years)? And I know Dick was Batman for a while - don't know if that's still going on but I assume not after the Return of Bruce Wayne story. So what's become of Tim in the comics?

Tim now goes by the name Red Robin (changing his name/costume when Damian took up the Robin identity). He leads the Teen Titans, and there are rumors that they're going to pretend he was never a Robin and always went by the name Red Robin.

Dick is no longer Batman. He goes by Nightwing again (which is strange because his run as an additional Batman--holding the cowl along with Bruce--was quite popular).

[LaxScrutiny]

Snaploud wrote:

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Dick is no longer Batman. He goes by Nightwing again (which is strange because his run as an additional Batman--holding the cowl along with Bruce--was quite popular).

Popularity is no surprise, Dick has always been a great character.

[Samurai8472]

Lapis Exilis wrote:

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Interesting article on Time online about how Robin John Blake, while seeming to be a new character created just for TDKR, is actually an amalgam of the original 3 Robins

I think fans pretty much came to that conclusion too

Dick Grayson- Orphan

Jason Todd- Hot head

Tim Drake- Detective

[Lapis Exilis]

Snaploud wrote:

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Tim now goes by the name Red Robin (changing his name/costume when Damian took up the Robin identity). He leads the Teen Titans, and there are rumors that they're going to pretend he was never a Robin and always went by the name Red Robin.

Well if they'd retcon in the awful Son of the Demon and have Bruce running around with a biological son (which all sounds wildly soap opera-y to me) - and resurrect Jason Todd to boot, I guess nothing would suprise me when it comes to how they handle Robin.

Samurai8472 wrote:

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I think fans pretty much came to that conclusion too

Dick Grayson- Orphan

Jason Todd- Hot head

Tim Drake- Detective

Well, the article puts it a little differently:

Blake has the general demeanor, humor, and optimism of Dick Grayson - plus being a cop as Dick was (is?) when he first moved to the Nightwing title; he's an orphan from the wrong side of the tracks like Jason Todd (while Foley labels Blake a hothead, he doesn't ever seem to actually be one, certainly not anything like Jason was) and he figures out who Batman is like Tim.

[EnsignRicky]

Great end to an excellent trilogy.

I especially like how Blake now controls a Batcave under an orphanage full of likely candidates, ensuring that Batman may well live on forever.

[sojourner]

Guartho wrote:

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My mind is more blown than Justin Bieber at a community college sorority party.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_power

[Crusher Disciple]

The movie was a big "meh" for me. It was at least an hour long, and dragged too much.

I'm mildly satisfied with the ending. I'm happy for Bruce. I loved seeing Talia in the movie.

The highlight of the movie for me was Blake's character. I enjoyed watching him more than I did Bruce Wayne. Wayne was a little too much "50 Shades of Grey broken" for me this go around.

[Admiral_Young]

John's arc...especially the end...reminds me a little of Terry McGuiness as well.

[Emh]

Sweet Zombie Jesus! That was awesome!

I need to watch this at least once more to fully ingest this movie, but here are some random initial thoughts.

Tom Hardy was everything I wanted and more. He has come a long way since Shinzon (and in retrospect, I don't blame him for that performance). Layer Cake, Bronson, Rocknrolla, Inception, and now this. The man has an incredible charisma and physical presence as Bane, and although he's not as chilling as The Joker, he's very terrifying nonetheless.

Michael Caine stole every single scene he was in and he had me jerking back tears more than once. Alfred's falling out with Bruce was shocking and disturbing, but it also felt real and a lot of that is thanks to Caine. Seriously, give this man (another) Oscar!

Major props to Joseph Gordon-Levitt who did a terrific job as John Blake and I thoroughly enjoyed the overall character, including the Robin/Nightwing setup.

I loved Liam Neeson's cameo largely because I expected him to show up in a flashback, but I was also relieved he wasn't actually immortal (even though the idea was referenced). Cillian Murphy's two short scenes were also great. He looked llike he had a lot of fun despite the small role.

I was firmly in the "Bruce Wayne should die" camp and I was even convinced that he did die, but I do like his final fate nonetheless because Alfred's fantasy came true.

I even liked the few comic book moments like Miranda/Talia reveal "Bane wasn't Ra's Al Ghul's son! I was his daughter! Hahaha!" and her death scene "Ra's Al Ghul has won...hahaha....."

The Avengers was incredibly fun. The Dark Knight Rises was more. Not only was it an amazing movie, it was a fantastic conclusion to an astounding trilogy. Thank you, Christopher Nolan, thank you, a million thank yous.

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Hans Zimmer composed a piece of music as a tribute to those lost in Aurora.

[Emh]

Thank you for sharing that. Gorgeous piece of music.

[flavaflav]

Admiral_Young wrote:

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John's arc...especially the end...reminds me a little of Terry McGuiness as well.

bingo. this is exactly why I liked John's arc so much. I was definitely getting the McGuiness vibe the whole time... and having the Batman Beyond car flying around helped too.

edit: just wanted to add that something else I dug in the movie was how Ra's summoned his inner Qui-Gon to commune with Bruce! Ra's = not dead