THE LEGEND ENDS….AND A SUPERHERO RISES?

My buddy, Thomas "Hellspawn" Mancini, posted the latest “Dark Knight Rises” trailer on my Facebook page yesterday, just after I viewed it on Superherohype.com.  He is obviously a more “efficient” geek than I am, however, I'd still like to add my three and a half cents to this preview.  First, as some of you may know, I was not a huge fan of “The Dark Knight” film.  I really wanted to love it, but after watching it once in the theater and once on DVD (yeah, I didn’t even spring for the Blu-ray) I remained really, for lack of a better term, confused.  I was a huge fan of “Batman Begins”, and thought it was a perfect blending of a “super-hyper” and “realistic” world.  It delivered the foundation for what I felt was the most original/dramatic/action-filled “Batman” franchise there had ever been.  The story was well written and very heartfelt in establishing the reason why Bruce Wayne “must” transform into the Batman.  So I really had high hopes for TDK.  Considering the circumstances that had occurred prior to the film’s release, most of us were eager to see just how well the “Joker” and “Two-Face” played into the story.  I, unfortunately, felt that I spent over two hours watching something that left me feeling a little hollow.  Not even that “good hollow” like at the end of “Empire Strikes Back”.  I guess what I assumed from the title “The Dark Knight”, that Batman was going to kick some serious butt, but…what I got was “Why so serious?”

Since I’ve already used my “Empire” reference…I’ll just keep rolling with that.  From what I’ve seen of “The Dark Knight Rises” advertising, I get the distinct impression that this is Batman’s “Return of the Jedi”.  (Fingers crossed… no Ewoks…or missile toting penguins)  The tag line “The Legend Ends” has been used in posters and billboards.  Some might make the assumption that because this is Nolan’s final “Batman” film that he will “end” his vision of the Batman.  I may have completely missed the bus, but I believe what is meant by this is that “The Legend” will give way to “The Hero” of Gotham City.  I am sure that Nolan will remain connected to the Batman franchise in some capacity.  After all, whether I liked TDK or not, it is still one of the highest grossing movies of all time. 

That being said, there is no doubt in my mind that “The Dark Knight Rises” will surpass its predecessor … in both bank, and in the hearts of fan-boys.  This new trailer looks outstanding, and as long as we are given the “superhero” that we expect “The Bat” to be, bat-fans will be triumphant.  We have already seen what kind of superhero magic that Marvel can bring to the big screen in the last several years.  It’s time that Warner/DC use this opportunity to their advantage.  I trust the Nolan and Goyer will not disappoint with this one, and I wait with great anticipation for “The Man of Steel”!

BARLOW-OUT!