Monday Morning Quarterback Part II
By BOP Staff
July 18, 2012
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Kim Hollis: Let's put aside box office discussion for a moment and discuss expectations for The Dark Knight Rises. Based on what you've seen in previews and commercials, as well as what you've heard from pre-release buzz, what are your perceptions about Chris Nolan's final film in the trilogy?
Edwin Davies: For fear of sounding fanboyish, it looks pretty epic, and whilst I have avoided spoilers or plot details, I get the sense that it will end in such a way that no one will be able to continue the story without starting from scratch. This doesn't strike me as another case of what happened with the Spider-man films, where the third film was just another installment that wound up being a final one, this time they seem to have set out to put a full stop at the end of the story.
It's for that reason that I predicted back in May that The Dark Knight Rises would take the opening weekend record from The Avengers, and that it would ultimately gross more than that film. Whilst both of those goals seem harder to achieve now, I stand by that assertion, and think that the level of hype that has built up prior to the release of the film, and that sense of it being the final installment, will push it to those heights.
Bruce Hall: I am sticking with my suggestion that no matter how much money The Avengers makes, it won't be the best super hero film of the year. The Dark Knight Rises will be that picture, and sadly, it really feels to me as though there should have been an installment between this one and the last one. I wonder if those rumors of a two story arc with The Joker were true. Either way, Chris Nolan has created a fantastic three part comic book opera that comes as close as anyone has to bridging the gap between Summer Blockbuster and Mainstream Drama. By this time next week, I think we'll all have to work really hard not to dive into hyperbole as we discuss this film.
Felix Quinonez: I've been trying real hard to avoid all spoilers, it seems like there are A LOT of them. But going by only the commercials I'd have to say it looks awesome. It seems like all of the right elements are in place and it looks like it will be a very satisfying conclusion for the series. I am still a little concerned that they're going to try to fit in too much in the movie. I kind of felt The Dark Knight had a similar problem and that the ending for that movie was a bit rushed. But if anyone can pull it off, it's Christopher Nolan.
Jason Barney: I have tried to avoid spoilers as well. I am pretty excited to see it, although I probably won't go this weekend. I love theaters but don't like crazy crowded ones. The trailers are what has done it for me, although Chris Nolan and his marketing people do have a great way of putting information about a film out there. This has been building for awhile. These movies have been much darker than most superhero films, but still kept the magic of superhero genre alive. I have seen the trailer more times than I can count, and find it very creepy in some parts. The feeling they have been able to establish is the perfect aura following up the Joker in the last film. I am really happy that Avengers has done so well, but am excited to see what Batman's take will be.
Shalimar Sahota: I viewed the first two of Christopher Nolan's Batman films on their opening day. The Dark Knight Rises will be no exception. I've enjoyed the moody trailers with Hans Zimmer's score, but am not actively seeking out information or reviews that will spoil my enjoyment. In fact I will most likely read just the single review before watching. I'm thinking it probably won't take the opening weekend crown from The Avengers (given the lack inflated 3D ticket prices), but the finality of it, with it being advertised as "the epic conclusion" ought to be enough to drive people to want to know 'how' it ends before they have it ruined by someone who can't keep their mouth shut.
Reagen Sulewski: This is kind of a weird film to get a handle on the buzz for. There's an almost reverent tone that many have for The Dark Knight, but at the same time there's a strange backlash towards Chris Nolan. With the unique set of circumstances that surrounded TDK which can't possibly be repeated, there's a sense of an inevitable let down, but any time we have "The End" of something, people get up for that. In the end, I think we have to trust in the guy that's brought us two near-perfect Batman films so far, and that he won't fumble at the goal line.
David Mumpower: Simply by perusing this thread, we can clearly see the issue this movie faces. It is expected to be the biggest opening of all time by some and better in quality than The Avengers by others. This is like drafting a baseball player and saying that if their career falls short of Hank Aaron, you will be disappointed in them (i.e. the Jason Heyward Scenario).
I am not slavishly devoted to Christopher Nolan the way that others are and I am one of the blasphemous few who believe that Batman Begins is superlative to The Dark Knight. I agree with Felix that the end of the latter film is muddled to the point of incomprehensible. Batman Begins, on the other hand, is a near perfect film. I have a strange point of view here in that because of his usage in Gail Simone's sublime series, Secret Six, Bane is my favorite Batman villain. I should be ultra-excited about this sequel. The fact that the commercials have yet to grab me is alarming.
What hurts is that the "Why so serious" campaign is exactly the sort of inimitable masterpiece that marketers dream of having once in their careers. Following that up is - to continue the baseball analogies - like playing the game after you hit four homers the day before. It is all but impossible to meet the previously established expectations. What we need to accept is that a segment of the population will wake away this weekend going, "Ugh! What a letdown." This is unavoidable. The question is how big a percentage of early adopters will feel this way.
I would add that the way I can identify that The Dark Knight Rises is a special event is that I'm going to an 11 a.m. showing on Friday. In fact, I've blocked off the whole day in case my wife, a Batman nerd to the nth degree, wants to watch it multiple times.