by D. Jacob Ryals
I try to write short concise reviews. This one might be hard.
The first cinematic take on what it would look like, in the real world, if Batman really existed. What would Gotham look like, what vehicle would a real vigilante use to get around, if he had unlimited funds and the resources of a CEO. This is what Nolan thought it would look like. There isn't a whole lot of need to extend your disbelief.
Suck my dick about the "voice". Now that, that is out of the way...
Batman Begins (2005)
I had problems with the cape, flying thing, at first but, then Batman getting around rooftops with batarang and rope in hand, is not the most realistic way of getting around either. I liked the Tumbler as an idea and though I question its true stealth abilities, I bought it. We had all suffered through the Schumacher years and after some time, finally getting another shot at a Batman franchise was too good to be true. This was definitely a breath of fresh air and a promising beginning. We all know the origins for most of these iconic comic heroes but, it is nice to see when someone adds to it. The decision by Nolan to add things like Joe Chill (not the Joker, ya morons!) and getting to see Bruce actually prepare to become Batman was also something we had never really been shown before. Biggest story problem though, is the end. In the Knightsend storyline, from the comics, not saving someone had been defined as killing. So, Batman kills Ras Al Ghul. Not cool.
Also, Rachel Dawes, why?
the Dark Knight (2008)
Definitely the tent pole of the entire series. No one will deny how powerful the performances in this movie are. The most entertaining villain, Joker comes into frame. Joker is a hard character to pull off. It is very easy to fall into a trap of making him a very cartoonish character, with no real teeth. Nolan and Ledger really road that line of making the Clown Prince of Crime very true to its characters roots and mystery, while actually making you anxious, because this person could actually exist. One of the cool things about this movie, is that you think the movie is about the Joker but, the real story, as a whole is actually about Two Face.
Oh, and Fuck you, Rachel Dawes!
This movie won, not only my heart, but my undying devotion to Nolan for all time.
or at least for 4 more years...
the Dark Knight Rises (2012)
And then that happened. This movie will lose any self respecting ceni-phile in the first 20 minutes. Bruce Wayne is the Batman, is the WORST kept secret in Gotham City, apparently. This one thread at the beginning really unravels ANY enjoyment I can get out of this movie. I was SO on board with Nolan and his vision of Batman, that I don't think I will EVER watch this movie again. Now, there are some good things to be said about this movie. Hathaway's Catwoman, was great. Every scene that she leads is great, and the movie really shows off the moral center of the character. She is neither good nor bad. She is complicated. The connection between Bane and a surprise character is great. I think that Bane as a character, is well done, Bane as a design, on the other hand, is an epic fail. You guys love to bitch and moan about Batman's voice, get a load of Bane, the love child of Sean Connery and Darth Vader. Unfortunately, my opinion is in the minority, because this is a smart movie for dumb people.
In summary, I think we learned that Nolan should not trust his brother to write his movies. David S. Goyer, the Stan Lee of the modern superhero movie trend, helped write the first one, and I think that one has the strongest story of all three. Even, Dark Knight starts to unravel at the end. I feel like certain scenes were conjured and events leading to those scenes were poorly used to get from A to B. I never thought I would say this, even 2 months ago, but I give Nolan a B- overall.
