1269 replies to this topic

[Messervy]

...I still think The Caped Crusader is the best title, albiet campier than the established tone.

Well, I was under the impression that that one was the title-to-be. Nolan said it a long time ago, while shooting TDK. It would be way better than "rises", which is plain idiotic. I do hope this is only a working title draft.

[Harmsway]

THE CAPED CRUSADER, a title of which I'm not much of a fan, is indeed better than THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

[Quantumofsolace007]

http://spider-bob.com/villains/dc/DrHugoStrange.htm

Tom Hardy is about 5'10....

I'm glad they axed the Riddler/Penguin.

Since Strange is technically the longest running batman villian (he beats Joker by a few months though there was a Dr. Death in the recent Batman reborn story line but he was there briefly in a blink if you'll miss it cameo) I'm hoping he is used.

[double o ego]

I'm sure the title will serve the story, but didn't Batman rise in Batman Begins? Wasn't the fact that he had risen evidenced in the sequel being called The Dark Knight?

You need to pay closer attention. Batman rose to the challenge of taking on the responsibility of being a scape goat by the end of TDK. Obviously, this new film will be about the people of Gotham realising what batman is about and all the crap he does for them. The title of the movie could have been better but it's not bad, in fact it's fitting.

[Zorin Industries]

The first two titles sort of didn't compliment each other (and not in a bad way either) so a good title could have been something simple like GOTHAM. Anyway, it's only a title.

[Jim]

Seems like a perfectly decent title for a Batman film.

[Robinson]

I like Harmsway's title more than TDK Rises. It's just so agressively boring for a title to the sequel of the 3rd biggest movie ever. Who came up with it anyway, G-Lucas?

Lest we forget, folks hated "The Empire Strikes Back" as a title when it was first announced.

Us fanboys are never satisfied. We couldn't see Heath Ledger as The Joker and he brought an interesting take on the character.

They'll have my $15.00 (I'm guessing that's how much movies will cost when this installment is released), regardless of what the title is. Even if they call it HIGHLANDER II: THE QUICKENING.

[Righty007]

I know know why there's another thread on this film but this is the original.

[Righty007]

http://debrief.comma...ght-rises-2012/

[zencat]

Merged.

[Harmsway]

Eh. Don't like Strange as a villain, largely because of his zombie henchmen. Too wacky.

He doesn't necessarily have to have zombie henchmen, y'know. He does in BATMAN AND THE MONSTER MEN, but not elsewhere.

[K1Bond007]

Well, for my two pence, I like it as a title. Just sayin'

I have no problem with it. I bet they probably wanted The Dark Knight Returns and didn't want to draw comparisons (not in a strict sense) to Batman Returns so they changed it. It's not like Batman Begins was a great title.

I don't really care who the villain is either. With the focus of the first two films being on the mob, I'm gonna bet on Black Mask though. I think Nolan could do a realistic portrayal.

[Captain Tightpants]

Eh. Don't like Strange as a villain, largely because of his zombie henchmen. Too wacky.

He doesn't necessarily have to have zombie henchmen, y'know. He does in BATMAN AND THE MONSTER MEN, but not elsewhere.

I just find him similar to the Scarecrow, that's all. I could see Strange working as some kind of FBI profiler working alongside Harvey Bullock in the hunt for Batman, thouh. Just not as the resident Big Bad. I'd like to see that role go to Onomatopoeia, even if he is relatively new to the Batverse.

If it were down to me, I'd probably try to work in elements of Joker and A Serious House On Serious Earth, with the Scarecrow being released from Arkham and setting about rebuilding his drug trade and going to war with Onomatopoeia over it. When things start getting out of hand and the public believing that Batman's war on crime has gone too far, the FBI - in the form of Bullock and Strange - are called in to deal with the situation. Meanwhile, Batman himself would be caught up in Arkham, trying to deal with Deacon Blackfire who has started a cult among the criminally insane. The two stories would cross over at some point, with Onomatopoeia being little more than a henchman to the real Big Bad. Hugo Strange could well fall under the sway of the Scarecrow, having an od reaction to fear toxin (which most of Gotham are by no immune to).

[sharpshooter]

I'm sure the title will serve the story, but didn't Batman rise in Batman Begins? Wasn't the fact that he had risen evidenced in the sequel being called The Dark Knight?

You need to pay closer attention. Batman rose to the challenge of taking on the responsibility of being a scape goat by the end of TDK. Obviously, this new film will be about the people of Gotham realising what batman is about and all the crap he does for them. The title of the movie could have been better but it's not bad, in fact it's fitting.

I get all of that, but The Dark Knight Rises as a title is sort of Batman Begins all over again. Said in a different way. Batman did rise in Batman Begins, he did so over the course of the film. It's the first Gotham knew about him. I think we needed to have something different sounding, that's all. I'm sure they could have thought something up.

[Loomis]

Eh. Don't like Strange as a villain, largely because of his zombie henchmen. Too wacky.

He doesn't necessarily have to have zombie henchmen, y'know. He does in BATMAN AND THE MONSTER MEN, but not elsewhere.

Why not create some new villains? Seriously. Just sayin'.

Anyway, there's a rumour that Two-Face will be in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. D'yer reckon it's true, Harms?

[sharpshooter]

Anyway, there's a rumour that Two-Face will be in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. D'yer reckon it's true, Harms?

While I'm not Harms, if so, it's going to be in flashback form.

[Loomis]

I hope he isn't in it at all. I find Harvey Dent a much more compelling character than Two-Face. I could use some flashbacks of Eckhart as Dent, but I've no desire to see any more of his hammy Two-Face routine.

Looking back on THE DARK KNIGHT, I'd say that the reason it works so well for me (apart from being a Batman movie where for huge stretches of the running time one completely forgets one is watching a Batman movie ) is that Eckhart and Ledger co-dominate the film like Pacino and De Niro in HEAT. Bruce Wayne/Batman is a necessary evil who's often completely sidelined (thank goodness, for he's a self-righteous bore and Bale can barely act).

[Harmsway]

Why not create some new villains? Seriously. Just sayin'.

I've suggested as much before. I'd love to see Nolan come up with somebody new. But honestly, my money is on Talia al Ghul, daughter of Neeson's Ra's, being the face of villainy in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

Anyway, there's a rumour that Two-Face will be in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. D'yer reckon it's true, Harms?

Nolan has made some comments that make me think that it's a very likely possibility, albeit in flashback form. At the end of THE DARK KNIGHT, Dent is dead, and I don't foresee a resurrection.

[Captain Tightpants]

I've suggested as much before. I'd love to see Nolan come up with somebody new. But honestly, my money is on Talia al Ghul, daughter of Neeson's Ra's, being the face of villainy in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

The problem there is that you start veering off into DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE territory. I think the inclusion of Talia would be a step backwards, particularly if she were to be a villain and especially if she's looking for payback. It would just lose momentum after THE DARK KNIGHT. But I think she could be an interesting character if she was written in a way that she allies herself with Batman when it suits her. My money is riding on Batman dealing with threats that are less visible than the Joker and Ra's al Ghul were, but are still equally dangerous to the people of Gotham. That's why I keep bringing Deacon Blackfire and Onomatopoeia into it - Blackfire has his undergorund cult and Onomatopoeia can blend into his surroundings, so the people of Gotham may not be aware Batman is protecting them from him. This would naturally bring up the question as to whether those villains are even worth pursuing, and whether Batman's heavy-handed tactics (which he would describe as pre-emptive strikes in an effort to prevent the rise of another villain like the Joker) are all that justified. Meanwhile, there's still the pursuit of Batman to be considered, and I still like that idea that was floating around which saw the Riddler become obsessed with Harvey Dent after finding inconsistencies in the police reports. If Hugo Strange is written as a straight psychiatrist or some kind of profiler, then I don't see why such a trait could not be adapted to him.

Nolan has made some comments that make me think that it's a very likely possibility, albeit in flashback form. At the end of THE DARK KNIGHT, Dent is dead, and I don't foresee a resurrection.

Fan speculation suggests that if Batman could survive the fall from the burnt-out building, then Dent could, too. I always figured Batman survived because 1) he had no momentum in going over the edge in the way Dent did, meaning Dent hit the ground harder than Batman, 2) Batman landed on his feet, while Dent landed face-down, and 3) Batman was dressed in his armour, which may have blunted the impact. Of course, in order for Dent to have survived the fall, everything that happens from the moment Batman is out of Gordon's sight - the memorial for Dent, smashing the Bat-signal; everything - has to be some kind of fantasy, Gordon's mind imagining the consequences of what he is about to do. And there is nothing to indicate that (although we move through three layers of the dreamscape - Saito's limbo, the pagoda and the apartment - before we surface in reality in INCEPTION, and there is nothing to show us that these are dreams until the characters actually wake up).

Besides, Nolan has confirmed that Dent is dead.

[Double-Oh Agent]

Count me as one of those not liking The Dark Knight Rises title. I would have much preferred The Caped Crusader. I also like Tarl Cabot's suggestion of The Batman.

As for which villain(s) will appear, my guess is Black Mask and either Professor Strange or the Ventriloquist.

My casting suggestions would be Michael Clark Duncan for Black Mask, Ed Harris for Prof. Strange, and John Lithgow for the Ventriloquist (not a great final suggestion but he's all I can think of at the moment).

Finally, I am disappointed that the Riddler won't be in the film. Oh well, I'll still be looking forward to it anyway.

[Captain Tightpants]

Finally, I am disappointed that the Riddler won't be in the film.

The Riddler might be well-known, but he's no guarantor of quality. I'd rather Nolan choose a villain that fit the story rather than simply ticking all the major boxes from the rogues' gallery.

[Harmsway]

The problem there is that you start veering off into DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE territory.

Sure. I don't really like the idea, but I do find it very possible.

I think the inclusion of Talia would be a step backwards, particularly if she were to be a villain and especially if she's looking for payback. It would just lose momentum after THE DARK KNIGHT. But I think she could be an interesting character if she was written in a way that she allies herself with Batman when it suits her. My money is riding on Batman dealing with threats that are less visible than the Joker and Ra's al Ghul were, but are still equally dangerous to the people of Gotham. That's why I keep bringing Deacon Blackfire and Onomatopoeia into it - Blackfire has his undergorund cult and Onomatopoeia can blend into his surroundings, so the people of Gotham may not be aware Batman is protecting them from him. This would naturally bring up the question as to whether those villains are even worth pursuing, and whether Batman's heavy-handed tactics (which he would describe as pre-emptive strikes in an effort to prevent the rise of another villain like the Joker) are all that justified. Meanwhile, there's still the pursuit of Batman to be considered, and I still like that idea that was floating around which saw the Riddler become obsessed with Harvey Dent after finding inconsistencies in the police reports. If Hugo Strange is written as a straight psychiatrist or some kind of profiler, then I don't see why such a trait could not be adapted to him.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES suggests that Batman will be redeemed in the eyes of Gotham. It's my guess, then, that there will be a very visible outside threat that allows Batman to display his heroism to all of Gotham.

[Captain Tightpants]

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES suggests that Batman will be redeemed in the eyes of Gotham. It's my guess, then, that there will be a very visible outside threat that allows Batman to display his heroism to all of Gotham.

Oh, of course - that's why I said the storylines would cross over. Batman would eventually be forced out of "hiding" to deal with the threat, but I think it would be interesting to explore the concept of unseen threats to begin with and examine whehter they're worth taking out and if Batman is being too brutal about it. I'm thinking of something akin to the Scarecrow or Hong Kong sequences in THE DARK KNIGHT: not too long, and of varying importance to the overall story, but interesting.

Actually, I was reading about a pitch Joss Whedon made to WB shortly before Nolan picked up the project. his idea revolved around a young Bruce Wayne going into Arkham and interrogating a Hannibal Lectre-like villain. The studio didn't like it (Whedon reckons it was because it involved an original villain), but I think there's an interesting idea to go with there in the aftermath of THE DARK KNIGHT: the Joker's preence has shaken Batman's beliefs. Everything he thought he knew about the criminal fraternity has been thrown off-balance by the Joker. I could see Batman going into Arkham and interrogating a villain - an original creation, perhaps - that has that larger-than-life quality in an attempt to understand the new generation of supercriminal.

Of course, you'd have to stray away from the basic plot of "A villain the hero arrested wants to talk shortly before his execution and the hero must try and get the location of his victims' bodies out of him, but it's really all an elaborate game to torture the hero with a second villain who was a student of the original killer".

[Vauxhall]

Not too fussed by the title. Not amazing but it could be markedly worse. A bit disappointed there will be no Riddler but, to paraphrase Harvey Dent’s slogan, “I believe in Christopher Nolan”. I’m sure he’s got something excellent in mind.

[Vauxhall]

Quite a few articles around the net suggesting Nolan is looking for two female leads for the movie - one love interest and one villain. Some sites are saying that he's looking at Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts, Blake Lively, Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway and Keira Knightley for the parts, but others say Vera Farmiga, Charlize Theron and Kacie Thomas. Not sure how credible any of these reports are though. Speculation was only to be expected.

[coco1997]

It's interesting that they're allegedly casting for two female roles. That would suggest that one is a love interest and the other is a villain. I've been calling for a villainess for some time, but Catwoman isn't the type of character who could carry a film by herself. Of the above candidates, how about:

Rachel Weisz as...Talia al Ghul
Naomi Watts as...Vicki Vale

Talia seems to make the most sense if they're not going with Catwoman. I suppose the 'love interest' could be an entirely new character, but it would be nice if they maintained some connection to the comics by going with Vale.

[Vauxhall]

Vicki Vale would be an idea. I also saw Julie Madison suggested, although that character would have to be altered somewhat, I'd guess.

[Matt_13]

Or he could mean he wants one actress who can play both a love interest and villain (Catwoman/Selina Kyle).

[mttvolcano]

Or he could mean he wants one actress who can play both a love interest and villain (Catwoman/Selina Kyle).

I am thinking that maybe the case, and the other female would be either another villian or someone high up in the government ranks in Gotham. Maybe, she could be forcing Gordon to hunt down the batman, like the one who takes over for Harvey Dent.....I am making this up as I go along....

[Single-O-Seven]

Some recent TDKR stories have been reported on IGN:

The first is a rumoured (and well-known) leak on which Batman comic arc the film will follow:

http://movies.ign.co.../1136276p1.html

The second is Bale commenting on his possible future with the franchise beyond the third film:

http://movies.ign.co.../1136324p1.html