John Gushue . . . Dot Dot Dot

If The Dark Knight Rises had really tipped its hand in a trailer

I actually liked how Christopher Nolan wrapped up his Batman trilogy, but I still got a laugh out of the Honest Trailers take on The Dark Knight Rises.

 

The fake Gotham videogame that seems instantly cool

This image has been buzzing around the web for the last few days: an imagined version of Grand Theft Auto set not just in Gotham City, but with a retro/classic style of Batman, Joker, Two-Face and all the rest. I've never played any GTA game, nor really want to, but I have to say I'd be curious what this would look like. 

 

Quick thoughts on the Dark Knight Rises

I made the most of my last weekday of vacation by taking Nick to see The Dark Knight Rises; nothing like a Friday matinee to feel like an indulgence, (even under the grim shadow of the mass killings at a midnight screening in Colorado overnight). 

I liked the movie. I won't give away any spoilers, but Christopher Nolan has done a nice job of concluding the trilogy he wanted to make, while (I think) keeping fans happy. It also opens doors for DC and Legendary Pictures to continue with the seeds planted in this film, or reboot the whole story again. 

The scope of the film impressed me the most. The script was written long before the Occupy movement and the 1-per-cent tropes of us-vs-them that have played out in the news and pop culture, but they're embedded in the movie .. in addition to themes of terrorism, crime, overreaching laws, hero worship, idealism, corruption, loyalty, and on and on. It's all pretty ambitious. 

The set pieces are stunning, and I kept looking at the aerials of Gotham to figure out how Nolan's digital team pulled off creating a city that looks a lot like New York, but is not.

To go by Nick's judgment, we'll be seeing a second time before the summer is out. 

If cats ran the universe ..

... the trailer for Dark Knight Rises would go like this. (Notice that Bane has a purr (!) and that Catwoman is, um, a dog.) 

 

Robin raises a sensitive issue with Batman about Christmas

I love the Batman and Robin Comic Generator, and have used it in the past; I nicked this one from my friend Andrew's Facebook feed this morning. 

Would you see this movie?

I would. 

And I saw the original, too, and I do not remember it fondly. 

The alternative poster for Batman Returns was spotted here. 

There's a Robin among those Angry Birds

... and a bat, too. This is today's T-shirt design from RIPT.

Scream in Gotham

Seen through Tumblr via Sinapses.    

A reminder: Batman got his start in Detective Comics

This made me cowl. I mean, howl. As seen here.

Redundant

No need to do bat eyes, Batman. As seen here.

Batman helps Robin with his homework

"The Bat," from Bearskinrug. Brilliant.

 

The Beemer goes Batman

At the Geneva Motor Show today, BMW unveiled this forward-looking concept design, which looks kind of like what I would think Batman might like to drive. (Or just Bruce Wayne, perhaps.)

And that's only the exterior. Get a load of what would be on the inside:

Instead of traditional instruments and warning lights, the BMW of the future will display key information in a three dimensional head-up display in the direct sight line of the driver, eliminating the need for his eyes to re-focus on dials inside the cabin.

Check out more in the Telegraph.

Batman handles a bomb

This scene from the uber-campy 1966 Batman movie always makes me laugh:

 

Batman through history

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne is the latest rebooting of the bat-franchise ... this time, evidently, with a time-shifting story arc. (Um ... okay.) Above is a six-panel collection which shows Batman moving through time; click on the image to get a better look. If you look closely, you can see the bat logo in there. The series launches next month.

In the meantime, here's a closer look at the first cover.

Batman and Robin fight about the Fortis proposal

Just learned about the Batman and Robin Comic Generator. I put in a topic of some debate here in St. John's, about a proposal to build an office tower at a key location in the downtown.

You, too, can be Batman

Depending, of course. Click here for a Chris Brown item that aired on The National this week, on a theory about how anyone ... with hard work and dedication ... can become a crimefighter.

Holy crimefighting cake, Batman!

We use a merit-demerit point system in the house, to keep the eight-year-old boy moving in the right direction. If he does something well (especially without prompts), he earns a point; naughty behaviour takes a point away. It's worked well, with the kid earning points for a variety of things. His current objective: A Lego Batman game. By coincidence, I came across the above - which, believe it or not, is a cake made to celebrate the game's recent launch.

The Dark Knight is not for kiddies

The other day, I took my son to a matinee of Journey to the Centre of the Earth. (He liked it; I had a chuckle, mainly over the 3D stuntiness of it all.) At the popcorn stand, I was surprised to see a mom with a small boy of about three or four, loading up with snacks tied into the Batman promotion. And yup, into the Dark Knight they went.

I hadn't seen The Dark Knight by that point, but I had already been steered clear by parental warnings ... including one direct note from my friend Mike, who said, "Do NOT take Nicholas to it." I saw the movie, on my own, later on, and have to agree.

The Dark Knight is rated PG, and while it has almost no gore, it's pretty intense. It's a very well-crafted film, and it makes terrific, explosive use of tension, but it's way too much for my eight-year-old ... even though he's seen the preceding film, Batman Begins, on DVD. (Indeed, the film makes some very adult observations about using fear to manipulate people, but that's another kettle of fish.)

I'm not surprised parents would think the film might be appropriate: the stores are filled with child-targeting toys, products and spinoffs. But Christopher Nolan's film is aimed very much at adults, teenagers and mature children.

The choice is up to parents, but I'd stick to the more kid-friendly versions of the Batman story for younger kids.

A card for unsure Batman fans

As seen on someecards.com, the e-cards for "when you care enough to hit send," this example seems appropriate for some movie fans this summer.

Batman gets in a sing-song mood

A detail of an image on Dial B for Blog, for a piece that connects the darker movie Batman with the, well, sunnier TV version's theme music. 

A T-shirt that's damn interesting

I like the Damn Interesting website, which appeals to the curious. Here's the T-shirt to match, with a Batman-style (well, kind of) logo in the centre.

As seen here. Click on the tag below to see other T-shirts rounded up here.

Defying gravity in Gotham

What, you thought Adam West et al. on Batman risked life and limb to climb skyscrapers? Wicked.

Batmobile lore

Anyone who's paid more than a passing glance to Batman comic books, TV shows and movies knows that the Batmobile has had more than passing upgrade or two over the years. (The above is the first one ever, by the way.) The History of the Batmobile site has a comprehensive survey, although its organization could stand some tidying up.

Daily Dot: Meet Batman

On May 27, 1939, the 27th issue of Detective Comics was published, introducing Batman. The legend has held pretty tight ever since. I liked that in Batman Begins, the production design kept a retro feel while retelling Bruce Wayne's Gotham story.

Holy bootprint, Batman!

It's a little bit difficult to pick out, but the art on this hoodie says "Batman kicked my ass," with the batlogo firmly where, say, Penguin's posterior oughta be. Here's the logo, which came out of a stencil:

I normally go just for T-shirts on this blog, but the photo of the T-shirt on the site of Blade Diary, the vendor is, well, not as good as the one for the hoodie. More of my virtual T-shirt collection can be seen here.