The Batman - Dark Knight Rises.

Batman - He is the night...
Do I need to say Spoiler alert?

Batman, who art in Gotham cowled, be thy mane.

For many of us Geeks especially in the crowds I run with, have a special place in our hearts for the Batman.

My love of the Batman started at quite a young age watching the animated TV series on a Saturday morning, or if I was lucky enough catching the odd episode of the original Adam West Batman when it was on.

Then as I grew older I was gifted the experience of the Tim Burton Batman movies, my crush with the dark knight bloomed into a full blown love affair at this point. I read what comics I could at friends’ houses or some that were bought with pocket money.

Over the years I have watched Batman movies enjoying them with each incarnation of the Batman played by a variety of actors, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer & George Clooney. Now to get off track for a moment I don't blame George Clooney for what happened in Batman & Robin, It was the unfortunate combination which led to its total camp existence.

Now back to what this Blog tonight was supposed to be about, Batman and the upcoming Batman Dark Knight Rises.

In 2005 Christopher Nolan stunned us all with Christian Bale in a very realistic Bat suit, filled with Grit and lip smacking reality driven action. Nolan’s ability to draw from the original cannon and comics with small nods, while setting Gotham as a modern day city with real problems. This movie has all sorts of subtle fan service which made this experience a wonderment to behold. Victor Zasz making a guest appearance in this film, as well as introduction to Rhaz Al Ghul being one of the Dark Knights greatest nemeses from the comics was excellent to see. I greatly enjoyed this film; in fact I will probably watch it tonight after this post has been written.

In 2008 the Sequel the Dark Knight arrived and my goodness did it pack a punch, with one of the best interpretations of the Joker and most of us heralded heath ledgers performance as it was outstanding. The story in Dark Knight leads us to a world where Batman has become more established, Gotham is starting to heal. We were introduced to the Shining knight Harvey Dent who quickly becomes co-protagonist with Batman. Tragedy and Triumph occur in this film several times which Births Two Face. Each turn of this story is gritty and deals with a great moral story based in choice.

Then at the end of the film Batman chooses to be thought of as the villain, because he hopes that such an action will bring the people of Gotham together, and fight crime day-in-day out with his intrusion.

Now The Dark Knight Rises is coming out sometime this month, I have been pumped for this film; I must have watched the trailer dozens of times, each time leaving me chanting ”Matelo Matelo Bane Bane Matleo matleo Bane Bane." 

So I ask myself this question, what should we be expecting in a now post Avengers (Movie) World?

It won't be the giddy escapist fun action adventure with Aliens invading Manhattan, Avengers is the closest to a perfect comic book movie I have ever seen. Batman Dark Knight Rises won't be anything like the Avengers and that's ok by me.

Nolan’s vision for Batman has always been set in a realistic world, skyscrapers, and a modern world with a modern world’s problems. Nolan’s settings and themes have always been dark and of suffering, suffering created the Batman so it is a major theme in the movies.

What has always made the Batman experience so defined for me, even so far back as the comic books has been the Villains. Dark Knight Rises will indeed focus on at least two villains Bane & Cat woman. 

For a properly satisfying climax (As this is Christopher Nolan’s last Batman Movie), Bruce Wayne has to be driven to the very breaking point of his emotional, mental and physical endurance. Bane is perfect for this role...

Bane? Bane people ask? Isn't he a wrestler?

To which I respond, No...  Bane is one of the most menacing and brilliant foes Batman has ever encountered  

 Bane is very combat capable, but he is more than a physical challenge to the Dark Knight, he is a strategist and plays many games to outwit and out manoeuvres Batman.

Whatever nefarious schemes Cat woman and Bane have planned for the Bat, I am looking forward to July 20th.

I'll let you know what I think after I see it on July 21st...