The Dark Knight Rises - Review

(Caution-There's nothing BUT spoilers here, so if you haven't seen the film yet STOP right now.)

  Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises is the final film in the current Batman trilogy, and runs a very close second to 2008's The Dark Knight. The dark mood, over the top action, complexity of characters, and the quality of acting combined for a great film.  Initially, I was indifferent about TDKR; not really excited, and just wanted to see the film to complete the trilogy.  BUT by the time the end credits began rolling I was sitting there disappointed that this was the final movie for this version of the bat.

  The Dark Knight Rises is set eight years after Dark Knight, with Gotham City's crime rate at an all-time low. Nolan successfully conveys the "calm before the storm" unease in the first half of the film. Gary Oldman's Commissioner Gordon struggles with his decision to hide the existence of Harvey Dent's Two-Face. The fact that Batman (Christian Bale) allowed himself to take the blame for Dent's death is also written on Gordon's expressions.  Bruce Wayne has secluded himself in the mansion, without purpose and devastated by the death of Rachel.  Insert a petty thief here. Selina Kyle (Catwoman) is on a mission for self and obviously doesn't share Bruce Wayne's view of life. Sneaking into the mansion, she manages to steal the pearl necklace of Bruce Wayne's decesased mother. Bruce is forced to answer some serious questions. Not to mention he's obviously feeling Selina. Now if all that isn't enough to wake up a recluse, I don't know what is.

  This film's antagonist is Bane (Tom Hardy), a mega-terrorist if you will; who is intent on completely obliterating Gotham. This was the original agenda of Batman Begins' Ra's al Ghul (Liam Neeson) and his League Of Shadows. Without going into too much detail, everything begins to take off with the introduction of ol' Bane. Nolan's version of the character, introduced in 1993, was as calculating and vicious as he was in the comics.

  Speaking of Chris Nolan, the geek in me enjoyed the movie for a number of reasons beyond the "good script, story, and acting". Nolan had a significant amount of scenes pulled directly from Batman's comic universe. Here are a few parallels.

 -In both the film and Frank Miller's graphic novel Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, the hero had not been seen in over 5 years and was believed to be either dead or retired.

-Also in the film & graphic novel, a major high-speed chase takes place through the streets of Gotham after an armed robbery (graphic novel)/kidnapping (film).

-During the chase, two police officers, one older, the other possibly a rookie are shocked when "The Batman" suddenly reappears and joins in the chase. In disbelief the younger officer desperately wants to pursue both Batman and the criminals. However, the older officer SLOWS DOWN and says, "Heh, we're in for a SHOW, kid."

- Despite being a "walking hospital", Batman initially believes his return will help restore Gotham to the "peace" of the previous 8 years. However, things are much more serious than he or anyone else realizes.

- There's yet another incarnation of Catwoman (Anne Hathaway I wasn't impressed at all) , but you won't kick her ass in a fight, and she and Batman can't get enough of each other.  "That's all I have to say about that" (in my best Forrest Gump voice).



-  Finally Bane exposes himself as the mastermind behind the chaos that has suddenly returned to Gotham.

-Even after observing a younger and stronger opponent in action, Batman lets his pride override his better judgment and confronts the "Young Thundercat" (everyone knows how much I use THAT quote-lol). In both the comics and the film, Batman underestimates the bad guy and gets KO'd (and nearly killed).  In the graphic novel the bad guy is the leader of the Mutants. 

- After getting "whupped", Bruce Wayne/Batman is broken mentally as well as physically. In other words, "shook". He's now forced to re-evaluate who he really is as well as his motivation for living.

Yes, the movie is dark and gritty, but it also takes the story and characters seriously. We get a thoughtful, mature view of Bruce and Alfred's relationship. Michael Cain's portrayal of Alfred was difficult to watch at times because through Alfred we could now see how becoming Batman was slowly disintegrating Bruce's relationships with those closest to him. It was also interesting how both Commissioner Gordon and Bruce Wayne struggled with the false truth they'd created 8 years earlier. The strain eventually became too much to bear; and both characters suffer physically and mentally before finally admitting to themselves (and others) that their public personas were frauds.

After 3 months of healing, and a steady diet of humble pie, a determined and pissed off Batman goes looking for a rematch. This time Batman outthinks the bad guy/Bane and gets some "get-back". This ain't the cheesy Batman from the 60s t.v. show or from the "Superfriends" of the 70s either. THIS Batman is vicious; and you realize that he's now thinking/fighting like a typical villain. Cold, calculating and without remorse.

Though I admire how Nolan was able to thread little bits of nerdiness from the comics into the script, I have to say that I liked the subtle changes made for the movie as well. For example, the fact that Tom Hardy's Bane wasn't dependent on venom for his strength made him much more formidable. You couldn't just cut the cord and wait for Bane to deflate. The other changes fit into the plot perfectly, such as the big twist near the end of the battle in the streets. ALSO, it's rare to find a supporting cast (too many to name here) as impressive as this group.

One thing that wasn't changed significantly was the "death" of Batman. All good things must come to an end.....maybe.

SO, after seeing The Dark Knight Rises twice and re-reading a bunch of Batman comics and graphic novels, Ade gave this one 4 out of 5 crowns. BUT I'm still waiting for Hollywood to turn Frank Miller's graphic novel into the next Dark Knight film. You don't even understand .....my family wouldn't be able to put up with me until the movie was released. As a matter of fact, NO ONE would be able to put up with me.







An appreciation for 'Brotherman'

Comics have been a huge part of my life since I got my first Spider-Man comic at age 4.  With comics the story/plot was what kept me interested in purchasing the next issue, but the artwork was what screamed for my attention. The artists became such a draw to me that over the years I began buying certain comics based on who was drawing the title at the time. John Bryne, Frank Miller, Jim Lee, George Perez, Todd McFarlane, and Joe Madureira have all managed to get me to plop down money just to follow whatever 10-12 issues they were drawing. 


  But one thing that had consistently troubled me was the lack of characters that looked like me. African-American. African. Of course there have been numerous black characters/heroes (a great site is World of Black Heroes ) , but they rarely had their own comic or played more than a supportive role. Of course Storm and The Black Panther are well-known, but there was still a desire for me to find someone to identify with.

  Another issue of mine was the way Black characters were drawn. ALL of us had the same shade of walnut brown; with the men having the generic 'fro, and the women looking like Sue Storm dipped in chocolate. There was no fashion sense (lol), and it was obvious to me that the artists and editors were too lazy or indifferent to care.

  In April 1990 I was introduced to Brotherman: Dictator of Discipline and was hooked IMMEDIATELY. Independently published (Big City Comics), the comic was the brainchild of the Sims brothers, Guy A. Sims (writer) and Dawud Anyabwile (artist). The hero, Antonio Valor is a public defender for Big City who decides to take matters into his own hands after he becomes frustrated with the justice system. You know the rest.Years before The Boondocks, Brotherman was witty and slipped in social commentary between jokes (or disguised as jokes).  The comic was able to capture a great slice of African-American culture; everything from dialogue to appearance (unlike some characters from the big three publishers).


Quick disclaimer:
Throughout the 90s there were other comics published independently by other African-American artists, and while I appreciate their Hustle, either the artwork or story (or both) didn't move me.

 My autographed copy

  Anyabwile was obviously influenced by the form and creativity found in graffiti. Just take a glimpse at the first page of issue #4.

The artwork and story only got better with each issue and I'm grateful that my local comic shop Oxford Comics carried the title. Black folks were THE characters, I cracked up at the dialogue, and the artist would frequently place something in the background that spoke to Hip-Hop culture.  And yes I realize that the pages were in black & white, but I didn't care (lol).

  Exactly when Brotherman's distribution slowed/stopped I don't know. When I couldn't find a follow up to the last issue I purchased I was extremely disappointed. But my disappointment was directed at the business side of comics and not the creators of the book. I knew it was difficult and expensive to publish independently so I'm sure "difficult" was an understatement behind the scenes. Needless to say, I found myself searching in many a bookstore/comic shop for ANY of the books. Eventually I charged it to the game and added my set to the comic collection; sealing Brotherman away in plastic covers.


Fast-forward to the summer of 2009. One of my "crew members" remembered my rambles about Antonio Valor and referred me to a youth workshop and viewing hosted by Big City Entertainment. I snatched up my reluctant sons and rolled to the Art On 5 Gallery here in Atlanta. Called "Drawing From The Soul: The Official Brotherman Comics Retrospective"; both Dawud Anyabwile and Guy Sims presented the business side of creating/publishing as well as a slideshow of Brotherman artwork.

Following the presentation, fans were able to walk through the gallery and view the artwork for themselves. The "Monsters" (my kids) were surprised that they enjoyed every minute of it. Their old man was just as excited as his sons, and couldn't wait to get his #1 autographed (lol). 




I'm proud of Big City Entertainment and also proud that my sons were exposed to something that the average fan would have had to pay BIG MONEY to attend at Comic-Con. They needed to see that they can create anything if they work hard and persevere, and that there are heroes that actually look and sound like them. 

 Dawud Anyabwile (Artist, Co-creator)

 Guy A. Sims (Writer, Co-Creator)


It will take some serious Indiana Jones expeditions to find the original comics, but the paperback and hardcover volumes are available at BrothermanComics.com or Amazon. Big City has plans for Brotherman to return to publication so I encourage everyone to see why, "Everything's Gonna Be Alright!"



The Amazing Spider-Man

  Ok, I'm pouring my QT cup of haterade down the drain.  After I sat down in the theater, I mean-mugged through the previews and was ready to be disappointed. The Amazing Spider-Man proceeded to hit me with upper cuts, overhand rights, and left hooks. Not only was I pleasantly surprised, I left feeling that this may possibly be the best Spidey film in the franchise. All of the changes that were made didn't distract from the movie in any way, and in some cases enhanced it (you'll see). This film was darker, more realistic (if that's possible for a superhero action flick), and the action was gritty. Loved it. Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker is dead-on with the comic; nerdy, vulnerable, and pensive.

  The story was VERY good for an action flick, as well as the acting. This barbecued crow is tasting pretty good and I'm not mad about it.  Aside from a few slow moments, this is a hit. SO Ade gives this film 4 out of 5 crowns. Check out The Amazing Spider-Man more than once, and remember to STAY through the initial credits (it's a Marvel movie-lol)

Imdb.com

Books & Videos for the Hip-Hop Heads

  There was a time when my Hip-Hop snobbery was at an all-time high (I used to be WORSE? Sure was!).  I remember getting into debates about the culture with many a person; and woe to the victim who would mess up and forget the history. With my nostrils flaring and much bass in my voice, I'd scream, "Awww, how you NOT gon' know the HISTORY?!?" Well, we all know that payback is a mutha, so it was only a matter of time before I met my match by running into people who were THERE. I mean, from the very beginning. I got a bunch of cavities from all the humble pie I found myself eating.

  One sister was a co-worker I'd known for about a year who mentioned one day in the break room that she grew up in the Bronx. She recalled going to parties in the park and never expected to see the music spread throughout the world. Another was a brother who I met in church. He turned out to be an MC in a well-respected trio out of Long Island in the early 90's. To hear the stories from someone deep in the industry blew my mind. Since then, I've found that many in my circle of friends could realistically teach a "Hip-Hop 051" course. And I'd be in the back of the class.....struggling.

  So now that I've learned that one can never know too much, I figured it would be cool to share a few things that may help others avoid the humble pie addiction. Please feel free to add to this list; I could use the hook-up.

Wikipedia-"Style Wars"

  Style Wars was my first exposure to Hip-Hop culture beyond the music. Later I was BLESSED to get the DVD, which features a "Where are they now" follow-up to many of the artists from the documentary. *Check for clips of a young Crazy-Legs AND of CAP (definitely the inspiration for SPIT in Beat Street).*  "Style Wars" on Amazon.com

  Wikipedia-"Subway Art" 

Subway Art was devoted soley to Graffiti and features some hall of fame artists; Dondi being one of my favorites. With tons of great "pieces", my high school librarian came close to choking me for repeatedly checking this out. This is a must-have for any graffiti connoisseur. "Subway Art" on Amazon.com

The first time I saw Wild Style, I had no idea who the Cold Crush Brothers, Busy Bee, or Lee Quinones were.  Beat Street was more of a film, whereas Wild Style was more of a DOCUMENTARY to me. The raw footage of MCing, breaking, graffiti, and DJing jumps out at you. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame voted the film in its top ten list of rock & roll films.  Wild Style on Amazon.com.

Wikipedia-Beat Street

C'MON...Beat Street HAS to be on my list if only for the battle between Rock Steady Crew and the New York City Breakers. I can excuse the acting;  my man Ramon needed more classes ( But I was only 14 years old (lol) ). Still I appreciated the exposure that Hip-Hop was getting at the time. And NO, Breakin' ain't never finding it's way on my list. "Beat Street" on Amazon.com

And last but DEFINITELY not least.....

If you don't look for anything else on this list, this is the one to have in the bookcase. The title says it all, and from beginning to end, it's a great read. Each aspect of Hip-Hop culture is examined extensively. From Kool Herc and Bambaataa, to Phase 2, Grandmaster Caz and Crazy Legs, this book combines all the aspects of the previous entries into one book. If you have the $$ it's worth every penny. "HipHop: The Illustrated History" on Amazon.com

I'm sure I've left off a few others, but these were the things that gave me the big head back in the day. Once again, feel free to add to this list. It would be great to see the collective knowledge in one place!

PS- Check THIS out!:www.at149st.com

Rihanna Syndrome

Syndrome:"a predictable, characteristic pattern of behavior, action, etc., that tends to occur under certain circumstances "(Dictionary.com)


   A few days ago I got a text from one of my "Council members" regarding a certain guilty pleasure we have.  It went something like this:


Him-"Man, I can't believe I really like some of these songs on the radio." 


Me- "Dude, we all have our guilty pleasures. I like stuff DESPITE myself.(lol). Some stuff just sounds good (to me). "Ri-Ri" be puttin' out some hits though."


Him-" 'Birthday Cake' is one of my guilty pleasures."


  I'll stop before I bore or lose anyone; but the rest of the conversation was about the recent brawl between the Chris Brown and Drake camps; and how Rihanna must be something else if her two EX-boyfriends were throwing 'bows in a club (and she wasn't even there). I guess it didn't occur to Chris Brown that he was in jeopardy of violating his probation (for putting his hands on her in 2009). The dramatic irony of this mess didn't slip past me.


  Still, that conversation was still on my mind when I noticed that some of us (men AND women) tend to flow from "The Brawl" to "The Sprawl"with regards to Rihanna and her love life. We shake our heads when we hear that she's no longer seeing Drake, but now is dating someone else. Folks almost had a stroke when the Ashton Kutcher thing made headlines. For obvious reasons Chris Brown (and domestic abuse) warrants a completely different entry, and her apparent decision to continue to deal with him is pushing me to scrap this and start down that sad street.


  I chose to call it the "Rihanna Syndrome" because it wasn't much of a surprise when opinions began to fly around the radio shows and internet gossip sites regarding Rihanna's dating situations. It's the age-old double standard when it comes to sex, and popular culture tends to shine a huge spotlight on it. Now, I'm not a big Rihanna fan, but I like "Birthday Cake" because the song is hot (I felt the same about "Rude Boy"-lol). Who she was doing and when she was doing it didn't/doesn't matter. Other friends pointed out that while everyone is in Rihanna's business, the male artists get the "boys will be boys"pass. We all know how it is on the road with the groupies and occasional baby mama(s); but that behavior is shrugged off as The Life. Hell, if Rihanna were a dude some of us would consider her boring. 


  To put it another way, some of us (men) are downright intimidated by a confident, sexually independent woman who doesn't apologize for who she is. If paparazzi had been following us around in OUR twenties....well... you know... Many of us have some college stories that definitely put things in perspective. Just sayin'.


  One last thing, though. I'm aware that Ri-Ri has gotten excessive with the partying, missing flights, missing appearances and whatnot. My comments aren't condoning excessive drinking, drugs, and a disregard for her career. Jay-Z has even reportedly told her to slow down or she's being dropped from the label. Partying is accepted in the industry....until it starts messing with the money. But her love life is not for me to judge simply because she's a star. I don't give a damn about popular opinion. As a woman, she deserves that much respect. But that Chris Brown is another story...

"..here comes the Spider-Man."- smdh

  Every time I see the commercials for this new Spider-Man film, I cringe. I'll admit I'm a creature of habit (as ANY of my people will attest), but this just seems like the execs are trying a little too hard. After all, the last movie was 2007; not a very long time. Just when a brother gets used to the last 3 movies and characters they erase and start over. And as much as I liked the X-Men films, the fact that they turned the timeline upside down was messing with the nerd in me. X-Men: First Class (2011) did it too; but got a pass due to a well-written script (and good acting). Despite what Hollywood believes, you don't always have to change characters or eliminate them altogether. Look, my first comic was Spider-Man, and X-Men was my all-time favorite (The Phoenix Saga, anyone?). My point is this: some of us are already mixing a pitcher of haterade. I have a 44oz  cup from QuikTrip sitting next to me.  
   In my circle of geeks most of the crew is looking forward to Spidey, and I look forward to the discussion afterward. SO, I'm gonna go and see the film (out of curiousity), but this wiping-the-slate-clean stuff has gotten old. BUT I have to admit that I got "cised" when I saw THIS trailer : http://www.imdb.com/list/TB56Gm1AqRw/#play-all   (big fan of Judge Dredd).

What The HELL?

The first question I asked myself was, "What in the hell are you doing?". My only answer was "moving". In other words, this is part of a new way of living/thinking. I've always had big ideas, but rarely acted on them. Time to start moving on my ideas and bring things to fruition. Rather than apologize for who I am (an old, destructive habit), I'm doing the opposite. Celebrating who I am, my interests, likes, dislikes, and my faults. There are a lot of people like me; who don't fit into any particular box, floating in and out of different social circles and interests. This is for me and for you.