A Miner for a Heart of Gold

I desired liberty; for liberty I gasped; for liberty I uttered a prayer; it seemed scattered on the wind then faintly blowing.

Read This Post. Then You Have My Permission To Die

Been meaning to write a post about Batman. Batman. Batman. Batman. Batman. For the past one week. It started out with wanting to write about how nearly flawless the first two in the trilogy are and how I have zero expectations from the third because of the aforementioned cause and reason.

Let's look at the two mainstream CBMs that have been made and survived to conclude with a trilogy  - Spider-Man and X-Men.


While both hold a special place in my heart - Spider-Man because of the comics and '03 or '04 videogame and X-Men [which speaks for itself really], both delivered two wackily-paced no-brainers as the grand finales to their respective trilogies.


While Spider-Man 3 managed to overcast the emotional perfection of its prequel with the disparaged new villians, a Hobgoblin Harry who ends up as a Marvel version of Two-Face [later dead] and the complete bastardisation of one of the important emotional foundations of Spider-Man - Uncle Ben's death.


X-Men: The Last Stand manages to dissolve Proffesor X's shiny, bald head into smithereens amongst other things, invoke resentment towards the once-interesting love triangle between Wolverine, Cyclops and Jean Grey and destroy, yet again, the wonderfully crafted ending of the X2.




So after seeing those two abominations I mentioned up there, I had no expectations for this one.
However, it surprised me.


Definitely a good movie. Entertaining. Surprisingly pleasant despite its length [UH. DON'T LAUGH.] Excellent casting [Joseph Gordon-Levitt is spectacular.].Philosophically sound. Great emotional content. Fabulous technical additions [ LOL BAT COMES IN BLACK]. A promising back story which disappointed a little. Accurately-timed mood transitions. A likeable Catwoman.

Tumbler killing Batpod here bitches.

I enjoyed the movie a lot. Giggled very loudly at the jokes, screamed ecstatically when any old character turned up [especially Crane heehee], let out a small sob when Batman died & subsequently Gordon read out that wonderful speech. However, there were PLENTY of plot points that nag you while you sit invested in real-time. 

One of the things I did NOT enjoy at all was the all-pervasive intelligence of Bane. He seems to have all his connections intact, a massive underground army that shares his ideals, the resources to locate Batman's armoury, a weakness only taken advantage of at the very end and a very off-putting relinquishment of villainy to Ra's al Ghul's daughter.

On the positive side, his intimidating physique and garblegarble voice and obvious physical superiority was what held him together as an overall good antagonist. While The Joker had psychopathic charisma, Bane delivered his through brute force. To destroy inequality. And to outsmart Batman in every way possible.




As I had not done any prior research on the movie for fear of spoilers, the introduction of Marion Cotillard was a surprise. Why would one introduce her as a love interest over Anne Hathaway? And kaboom, Batman and Tate get it on near the fireplace, discussing their scars. It has fishy written all over it.

It seems the writers wanted us to figure out the truth about who the REAL villain was. However, was that plot point necessary? Not. At. All. While Gotham is in fear of a very BS-sounding nuclear attack, a mob of street-fighting Underground-crazies & ALL the policemen, not to forget impending death, we fear the stab of a delusional, revengeful woman. TOO MUCH GOING ON THERE.


Lastly, Batman was just a little underplayed. No gadgets? No weapons? Only street-fighting, League of Shadows-style? The  Bat was awesome though. And so was the scene that led up to him "Rising."



Alfred was lovely as usual. The Bruce/Alfred father/son relationship is one of fiction's most breathtakingly beautiful relationships [especially in this trilogy.] 

Also, Crane's return in the semi-dystopic "democracy" and the trickery of a "Death or Exile" choice was fascinating. 


Before I conclude, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Not-Robin was brilliant. He served as the quintessential fanboy everyman. Except with more Gryffindor-courage and Ravenclaw-intellect than average. You could be him and follow him too. His acting prowess is enchanting and so is his screen presence. ^_^

Lastly, the ending. It was flawless. Exactly how the ending to a monumental series should be like. Batman dies [YAYAY] in the eyes of everyone, sacrificing his life, serving as a hero and an inspiration for generations to come. A. Perfect. Tragedy.


However, the pleasure of his death vanishes when one sees Alfred sobbing & choking about how he failed the three Waynes. As one's heart pains over Alfred's tears,  Alfred moves to take a seat at a restaurant, [reminiscent of his previous 'vision.'] And there he is, Bruce Wayne drinking cheerfully with Selina Kyle.


Alfred and Bruce share a knowing look but don't speak with each other.
Robin inherits the Batcave.
And the credits roll.


ARGH. The feels I have for this ending. Thank you Goyer and Nolan. Thank you. =']


Here I conclude my long and disarrayed post. If you've stuck till the very end, thank you reader. Do tell me what you thought about it. TDKR, I mean. 
AHAHA, after THAAAT you have my permission to die. 




I bid adieu for now.
PIE PIE.
Dream about 'em pies.
And Bat in Black.
And Robin.
Oh did I mention?

VERDICT: FIVE AND A HALF-EIGHTHS OF TALIA'S MOLE. Oh, and that bonus HALF is for the acting.
Both Batman Begins & the Dark Knight get seven and a half.