Posted on 07/21/2012 6:39:37 PM PDT by Bratch
From a purely cinematic standpoint, director/co-writer Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises" is a genuine masterpiece. Actually, it's a triumph.
Surpassing the extraordinary hype and expectations surrounding the conclusion to his epic trilogy seemed impossible, and yet somehow Nolan achieved just that. The fact that I'm even debating whether or not "Rises" surpasses its perfect predecessor speaks volumes. Without giving anything away -- without telling you if it's tragic or happy or bitter or sweet -- let me just say that the final few minutes of "Rises" represent one of the most intensely satisfying movie moments of my life.
And beyond filmmaking skills that will surely place him among the all-time greats, what kind of crystal ball does Nolan have access to that gives him the prescient power to begin a project years ago that upon delivery would be as timely and relevant as the latest refresh of the Drudge Report? "Rises" is about many things, but it is mostly about a rousing defense of an America under siege by a demagogue disguising his nihilistic rage and thirst for revenge and power as a noble quest for equality.
Sound familiar?
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
The firehosing of the race rioters was an unmistakable reference to white racist Southern cops, not to UN peacekeepers.
Nobody over 30 remembers that. PurebUN looking dudes all the way. Again, read the leftie comments. The think it’s right wing.
Sorry, I didn’t get one hint of “class” but TOTAL resistance to government.
Everybody regardless of age knows those images of blacks getting hosed down. They’re iconic. I’m in my thirties, wasn’t around when all that went down, but I know those images well. Every skull full of mush is taught them in public school.
How do you NOT get class out of the richie rich district led by Marie Antoinette exploiting poor Appalachian coal miners. I mean, how much more obvious could they have made it?
If you do want to gauge the movie by looking at the left’s opinion of it, here are some positive reviews from online socialist magazines. There are probably more out there but these are the first ones that popped up on Google:
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=27954
http://socialistworker.org/2012/01/26/hope-and-the-hunger-games
http://workersparty.org.nz/2012/04/05/movie-review-the-hunger-games/
They’re seeing the exact same class exploitation themes that I’m seeing and Ed Morrisey is seeing, except of course they’re happy to see them.
While you are apparently beyond convincing, I will post a detailed reply later from ALL THREE books that explain the metaphors so that there is no question.
I teach college kids every day. You’d be astounded what they know . . .and don’t know.
this effort to dramatize the original is annoying
The Adam West series wasn't the original. The comic book was. And it was dark for its time - a combination The Shadow and Sherlock Holmes.
First Bane is a dig at Mitt Romney and now the whole film is a “slap” at Obama?
I would doubt Nolan had any political intentions in making the movie.
I am cackling at your post!!
uh ok about 7 posters have made this point.
I don’t like dark stuff, I think one has to filter what one lets through their eyes to their soul. For that reason, I don’t like creepy movies, dark movies, scary movies, graphic movies. I like the ones it takes more intelligence to develop where there is an actual script with writing, where audience reaction is healthy, not manipulated and did you ever notice it takes more intelligence to build than to destroy? More intelligence to portray light than darkness? I go for the good stuff.
I was trying to make a point, but I moderated it a bit to meek the dots easier to connect (see tagline).
Using the books to explain the “real” meaning doesn’t work because most people haven’t read the books. What matters is what the movie means by itself. That’s what most people will take away from it.
For instance, you talk about there being a states rights theme because the Capitol oppresses all the districts, some of which are probably middle class, and not just the po’ folks of the coal mining district. Well, you really don’t get a sense of that in the movie because the other districts are either glossed over or not presented at all. Instead what you get is basically Marie Antoinette vs. the coal miners, which is about as blatant of a class warfare theme as one could possibly think up.
Thanks for the list of authors. I wrote them down to take to the library.
Yes, it's true you don't get a full sense of the districts in the movie, but again, 99% of those who go to the movie have read not just one of the books, but all, many times, like Twilight. Now, if you're going to deny what the overwhelming theme and comments of the books are, then you really do not want to be open to argument and are hard headed then we have no more to discuss.
Yep.
but again, 99% of those who go to the movie have read not just one of the books, but all, many times,
I doubt it. I think you're the one who's weaseling.
One further note. Luke Williams(The fiction not the business writer) (halfway through it) is strange and disappointing.
Have you looked at the demographics of the movie and series? Now, are you interested in what this series is about, or are you beyond persuading? Don’t want to waste my time. If the former, I’ll provide you with substantial if not overwhelming evidence.
Yeah, I’m aware of the demographics. The books were a hit with teenage girls. But when I saw the movie, the theatre wasn’t packed with a bunch of teenage girls. It was a fairly typical mixed audience.
I don’t buy the premise that the books redeem the movie, at least as far as its impact on the general public. It has to be understood on its own. The fact that you have to use the books to salvage the movie is a pretty good indication that the movie is something less than a clear conservative statement.
Ok, won’t waste my time with someone unpersuadable by evidence.
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