Last night I was lucky enough to attended an IMAX screening of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises prologue. The prologue (which is just the first six minutes, plus flashes of about a dozen different scenes from the movie) was set to premiere with 70 mm IMAX prints of Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol when the film debuts this Friday. However, through an online viral campaign called "Operation Early Bird," a set of theaters was revealed. It turned out that the locations would be hosting screenings. Once the listing of theaters was released, screening passes became available to the public. /Film had been covering the activity thoroughly, and being a Christopher Nolan fan I jumped at this opportunity.
The film begins with a prisoner exchange outside of an airplane. Soon after, the plane takes flight, and a CIA agent begins questioning the captives about Bane. Just like The Dark Knight, the first scene is a villain reveal and heist- but this time, what's being stolen is something a bit more lively than money.
The first six minutes of The Dark Knight Rises are jaw dropping. It's clear that Christopher Nolan is continuing to evolve his style. The prologue's shots (especially a semi-Kubrickian one in which the camera moves down a "tube" while pointing up) reflect a blending of the aesthetics of Inception and The Dark Knight with a terrorist thriller twist. It would be safe to say that certain aspects of Nolan's direction are more kinetic than in the past, though not hectic.
With the suggestions that Bane is a terrorist, The Dark Knight Rises feels more indicative of the zeitgeist than The Dark Knight. The Joker was similar in some sense, but Bane is visually (the military garbs) and aesthetically (his militant posse, as opposed to the Joker's henchmen) reminiscent of more realistic terror figures.
It will be tough for Tom Hardy (Bane) to live up to Heath Ledger, but he looks to be a great villain regardless. Bane can physically challenge Batman (versus Scarecrow's chemicals or the Joker's handymen), and the mask is a terrifying look. His energy is primal and presence intimidating, as if a cage fighter decided to start a high tech modern militia. Sadly, it's almost impossible to understand a word the guy says. In addition to a heavy accent, the mask muffles all of his lines. It'll be a rough ride for audiences if this isn't changed.
Hans Zimmer's score is great so far. A bit of the chanting from the trailer makes an appearance, and it's just as "boomy" as one would hope for.
If you've been following the viral campaign (namely the doomsday device and the detained scientist) then the prologue will make good sense. I don't want to say what happens word for word, because there are plenty of other places where you can find that online. All I can say is that things are looking pretty darn good.
*The header image is of a t-shirt I got at the screening. There were Bane ones too. (SPOILERS FOR THE DARK KNIGHT) The chalked-on look hints at some sort of grassroots movement for Batman- maybe Gotham revolts after Bane reveals how Harvey Dent died, and a few citizens still support Bruce Wayne. How fitting for the state of protest that parts of the world are currently in.
0 comments:
Post a Comment