FILM REVIEW - The Dark Knight Rises (Spoiler-Free)

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Written by: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer (based on the comics by Bob Kane)
Starring: Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine
Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama
Certificate: 12A
Release Year: 2012

This film has made such an impact, and it came out so long ago, that it's a miracle we haven't got round to reviewing it yet. But we've finally seen it, and it's brilliant.

The Dark Knight Rises is the final film in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. It takes place 8 years after the events of The Dark Knight and starts with Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) as a recluse. Gotham has entered a crime-free golden age, and it seems the caped crusader is no longer needed. But then a mysterious masked figure known as Bane (Tom Hardy) arrives in Gotham, intent on reeking havoc on the city.

With this being Nolan's final Batman, there was alot of hype, and alot more people skeptical as to whether it could live up to the standards of it's predecessors. But never fear! It more than does, and provides one of the most complex and creative superhero films to date.

Normally I would pick out a particular actor who did particularly well, but in this incredibly talented cast this is nearly impossible. Christian Bale was fantastic as always, and Tom Hardy played a wonderfully unsettling villain, especially considering the standard set in the previous film by the late Heath Ledger. Possibly the biggest surprise was Anne Hathaway. With credits to her name such as The Princess Diaries, she didn't seem the obvious choice to play the seductive Selina Kyle. But her performance was very impressive and fresh. I'm running out of superlatives.

As to be expected from a Nolan film, the plot was complicated enough to keep the audience intrigued and excited, but doesn't overly confuse them. Excellently written, and brilliant cinematography.

Overall, epic. Don't miss it.

10/10

Tom :)

FILM NEWS - Superhero News

The Dark Knight Rises Review Round-Up
We are very close now to the release of Christopher Nolan's final Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises. Some lucky reviewers have seen it all ready (*envy*). Overall conclusion? It's pretty insane!
For a full review round-up, visit Den of Geek.
For a collection of stills from the movie, click here.

Marvel Dominates Comic-Con
Let's take it film by film...

This logo was released at Comic-Con. It's a shame that this wasn't given an epic title, but hey, it's good for consistencies sake. It has been confirmed that Ben Kingsley will be playing the main villain in this film, The Mandarin. It is also confirmed that another villain appearing in the  film will be Iron Patriot. This has come as a surprise to alot of people as Iron Patriot is normally associated with Spider-man. In the original Marvel comics, Iron Patriot is another alias of Norman Osborne a.k.a. The Green Goblin. Could this mean the new film The Amazing Spider-Man is to be incorporated into the combined Marvel universe? Because of copyright reasons, we think it's unlikely.

The upcoming Thor film now has a proper name and a release date! The name doesn't really tell us anything about the film, but it sounds cool. Add this to your diaries.

Captain America 2 was also given a name and release date at Comic-Con. Unlike the first film, The Winter Soldier will be set in modern day. This title also tells us who the villain will be in the film, as the Winter Soldier in the comics was none other than James "Bucky" Barnes.

It is confirmed, the other big Marvel film of 2014 will be Guardians of the Galaxy. Most people believe (but it hasn't been confirmed) that the film will exist in the same universe as all the above and will be used to introduce Thanos, the villain who appeared at the end of The Avengers and who is likely to be the main antagonist in The Avengers 2.

And finally, Marvel  surprised us all by announcing that Edgar Wright's Ant-Man has got the green light. No release date has yet been pinned on it, but at least we now know it will definately happen. I'm very excited!

Man Of Steel Poster

At Comic-Con, director Zack Snyder unveiled this poster for upcoming Super-Man reboot Man Of Steel. Snyder also announced that a teaser for the film had been tagged onto the reel for The Dark Knight Rises, which opens this weekend.

Which of these superhero films are you most looking forward to? Mine's Ant-Man! Let us know your thoughts in the comments...

Tom :)

FILM GALLERY - "The Dark Knight Rises" Stills

If you didn't know (and why not?!) Christopher Nolan's epic conclusion to his Batman saga, The Dark Knight Rises, is released this weekend. Here's a selection of stills from the movie to celebrate...

Tom Hardy as villain Bane

Bane vs Batman

Bane vs Batman again

A close-up of Bane's mask

The Dark Knight  on his trusty steed

Christian Bale and Michael Caine's response when Warner Bros. suggest another sequel

Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) and Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway)

"You want me to wear that?!"

Director Christopher Nolan on set of TDKR

Nolan again

Levitt tells Oldman that he's actually in a dream within a dream...within a dream...

Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox

Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate

Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle aka Catwoman

The Tumbler reeks havoc on the streets of Gotham

On a scale of 1 to my-head's-about-to-explode, how excited are you for TDKR? Let us know in the comments...
Tom :)

FILM NEWS - Loads of short stuff (I mean loads)

The Happytime Murders
A new R-Rated Muppet Movie. Directed by tod burger. He says: "I want to try to make the heat of puppet movies. I want to be the dark night or heat but in a world where puppets and humans coexist." and "It is full-on R. There is swearing, there's sex, violence, murder" He does say also how he is making all new characters. As we can't have the normal ones doing drugs and killing hookers ect. obviously! This could be really good or really bad.
Alex Cross
Based on a book by James Patterson. It is due in October, directed by Rob Cohen(The Fast And The Furious), Staring Tyler Perry and Matthew Fox. The First trailer was released. See it here.


Dredd
First Look at the new trailer. It will be in cinemas at Christmas.
View the trailer to the Right! >>>


Sesame Street Movie
Yerp that's happening written by Joey Mazzrino ( the writer of the TV show), that's about all the news there is on that!


Highlander reboot
Ryan Reynold has been cast as the lead.

Avatar 4?
James Cameron is making 3 Avatar sequels at the same time. As Avatar 2 is not due until 2015 then not finish the franchise until 2020. I know Tom doesn't like Avatar but I really like it, personally I hope they go to the planet that Pandora orbits, or visit one of the other moons!

Transformers 4
Michel bay will be doing a final 4th transformers movie, but it will be cheaper, well the mandate cut (whatever that is) is about $30m. He said “We’re taking the story you’re seen – the story we’ve told in three movies already – and we’re taking it in a new direction.”. 

Battel of the Kids Animated Horror Comedy Movie Things (or KAHCMT's, I know catchy right):

• Hotel Transylvania:
• An animated moive with a horror tinge. See the new trailer here. This has some really funny parts!

• Frankenweenie:
• Tim Burton's new movie has a new trailer. It is an updating of his 1980's short film. It has the director of Alice in Wonderland on board. See the trailer here.

• ParaNorman:
• These 2 go up against this. See the Trailer here.

Silver Samurai

Taken 2
First Look at the new movie staring Liam Neeson from Taken and Maggie Grace. It comes out in October. See the trailer here.

The Wolverine 
This film will start filming in a few weeks. All we know is it will follow the comics of 1982 by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller. Part will be have the villain Silver Samurai, according to rumours.

Movie trailer round up thing from source fed! That I haven't covered.
(V/H/S, Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2, Monsters University, The Dark Knight Rises)

Full The Dark Knight Rises trailer here!

What are you most exited about?
Kieron :O

FILM NEWS - Wreck-It Ralph and Super Hero News

Wreck-It Ralph Trailer Released At E3
Wreck-It Ralph will be the best video game movie mash-up ever when it is released in November. Well it will be the only one. It was announced at E3 last week with this trailer:

Oooooohooooh sometimes, it get this feeling: This will be really good even for a kids movie!


Wrech-It Ralph is an arcade game in which Ralph lives in a tree house. But his house is bulldozed and relocated to a garbage dump so a building can be built in its place. So he trys to destroy it, however Fix-it Felix Junior fixes the house. If you as the player fix the house completely before Ralph destroys it your minions throw him of the roof. You can play the game here! Im terrible at it :(

In the film Ralph decides to leave his game and try's other out other games with themes from Pong to Halo 4. However he accidentally releases something that will corrupt all the other games. Looks awesome! And I'm looking forward to looking out for Easter eggs of lots of different video game characters that I know. In the trailer we see Bowser and the Pacman ghost. However its not from Pixar so will it be good?

Brave
But you know what is from Pixar, the upcoming movie Brave. Which has released a new teaser trailer. Said to recapture the magic missing from cars 2 and other recent flops. Yet not as good as WALL-E or Toy Story 3.

Sten Lee's children are growing up!

New Clips for The Amazing Spider-Man have been released here, here, here, here and here. Yerp I think that's it. I've got to say, it is looking action packed and funny. There is also talk of Spider-Man from this summers film being a new addition to the Avengers. Sony has the rights to Spider-Man but in a recent interview about the Avengers Avi Arad said "everything is possible" saying of a collaboration "it's great for Disney, it's great for Sony". Personally I think they should scrap Thor because he is boring. But they are working on Venom first.


Venom is a spin-off from the new Spider-Man movie featuring Eddie Brocks story (Peter Parker's best friend, that tries to kill him). Avi Arad says he wants it to be as close to the comics as possible. Hopefully we think they will be in the same universe.

Other news from the Marvel universe is that Stan Lee admits that "they hadn't quite found the right formula with the Hulk". Until now! He says Mark Ruffalo in the avengers "nailed it"

New Dark Night Rises Promo

Enough said!

Storage 24
Looks good. Check out the trailer here
.
Magnificent Seven
MGM’s remake of The Magnificent Seven cast that has been announced so far list is full off top quality actors:
Tom Cruise as Chris
Matt Damon as Vin
Kevin Costner as Britt
Morgan Freeman as a villain.
I wonder who else they are going to have on the cast, leave your suggestions in the comments.


Kieron :O