Embargo Rises *UPDATED*

by Ryan Shields
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It’s about damn time.  Well not “THE” time we all are waiting for, late yesterday the embargo for reviews for The Dark Knight Rises finally lifted and the response is to say the least positive.  Leading the way, new t.v spots were released.

 

And then word of mouth literally followed.  Once again we are assured that Rises does not disappoint.

EmpireHe raised the bar so high, no-one could be expected to clear it.  Still, whether you believe this betters Begins or eclipses Knight, it is certainly a satisfying conclusion to what is now — we’re calling it — the best superhero series of all time…With spectacle in abundance and sexiness in (supporting) parts, this is superhero filmmaking on an unprecedented scale. Rises may lack the surprise of Begins or the anarchy of Knight, but it makes up for that in pure emotion.  A fitting epitaph for the hero Gotham deserves.” – 5 stars

 TotalFilm: “Its chief summer challenger Avengers Assemble may have bigger zingers, but this has one thing Whedon missed: emotional engagement; a genuine sense of jeopardy; deepening human drama.  (OK, three things.)  Spider-Man 3, X-Men: The Last Stand, Blade: Trinity… third time’s often the harm for superhero movies. Not on Nolan’s watch. A smart, stirring spectacle that faces down impossible expectations to pull off a hugely satisfying end to business. Boy, you’re in for a show tonight…” – 5 stars

The PlayList: “If, as Badass Digest argues, “The Avengers” “defeated irony and cynicism,” then “The Dark Knight Rises” feels like the rock-bottom, lowest-point examination of ourselves which provides the substance to make Joss Whedon’s optimistic vision endure. Because Nolan’s film is a reminder that superheroes aren’t merely a frivolous distraction, or even a wish-fulfillment fantasy, but an embodiment of our best selves – or at least what we want our best selves to be. A cinematic, cultural and personal triumph, “The Dark Knight Rises” is emotionally inspiring, aesthetically significant and critically important for America itself – as a mirror of both sober reflection and resilient hope.” – A

IGN: “The aforementioned gripes aside, director Christopher Nolan and his team have delivered the grandest, most emotional and superheroic chapter in their Batman saga. The Dark Knight Rises is a fitting emotional and narrative conclusion to this particular interpretation of the enduring story of Bruce Wayne the man and Batman the legend.” – 9/10

HitFlix: “We may never see superhero films quite like these again, and that’s fine. Nolan had something special to say with his time in the trenches, and he’s ended on his own terms. I suspect that the reaction to the film will be hotly divided, but I’m firmly on the side that this is a triumph, a victory for all involved, and one of the year’s most impressive efforts so far in any genre, on any subject. “The Dark Knight Rises” confirms that these films have always had an endgame in mind, and it has been a remarkable ride, one I would not want to follow. Whoever Warner Bros hires to reboot the “Batman” films a few years from now, I wish you luck. The bar is as high as it could possibly be.” – A

Variety: “Few blockbusters have borne so heavy a burden of audience expectation as Christopher Nolan’s final Batman caper, and the filmmaker steps up to the occasion with a cataclysmic vision of Gotham City under siege in “The Dark Knight Rises.” Running an exhilarating, exhausting 164 minutes, Nolan’s trilogy-capping epic sends Batman to a literal pit of despair, restoring him to the core of a legend that questions, and powerfully affirms, the need for heroism in a fallen world. If it never quite matches the brilliance of 2008’s “The Dark Knight,” this hugely ambitious action-drama nonetheless retains the moral urgency and serious-minded pulp instincts that have made the Warners franchise a beacon of integrity in an increasingly comicbook-driven Hollywood universe. Global B.O. domination awaits.

I truly expected nothing less from what the critics are saying.  We are so close to the premiere!  If only I could get those advanced tickets in my email that I’ve been wishing for, that would be amazing.  I wonder what the inevitable negative review will have to say.  Just be prepared for some backlash sir or madame. The fire rises.

*The Hollywood Reporter did have a review up but I did not include it for spoiler reasons.  For those who wish to read it, click here.*

**UPDATE: Hollywood and Fine has posted up the first negative review for the film.  “Premature? Hell, I’d say that anyone forecasting serious Oscar love for this lumpish, tedious film has been smoking too much of that potent, prescription California weed. “The Dark Knight Rises” rarely gets off the ground. It’s certainly not Oscar material.”  I’m sure this person is just reaching for attention.  Read the full review here and give your thoughts below in the comments section.**

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