The Dark Knight Rises (SPOILERS!)

[Matt]

Let's say more about Batman and Robin.

I'll start.

How about the first reactions you had to the trailer?

Can you conjure those feelings again, or has the unveiling of its true self left such a scar that it is impossible for you to ever return to that headspace ever again?

I remember seeing Bane taking apart the signal and having multiple nerdgasms.

I hated BF, and the trailers for B&R convinced me that it would be more of the same. When word came down that it was even WORSE than BF, I wasn't surprised.

So no...I never had any kind of positive reaction to the trailers/commercials.

[Captain Russ]

Well I was part of your most hated group (starts with a "k," ends with "id") at that point, so I totally see how stupid I was back when I was a kid.

Once I saw the film, I became jaded and untrustworthy of all my heroes.

[Bobby Bear]

If I had to do it all over, I'd have made Jeffrey Combs Ed Nigma....

Amazing.

Let's say more about Batman and Robin.

I'll start.

How about the first reactions you had to the trailer?

Can you conjure those feelings again, or has the unveiling of its true self left such a scar that it is impossible for you to ever return to that headspace ever again?

I remember watching the trailer on a preview show called Movies, Games, and Videos that said it was meant to be a 15 rating (so a moderate "R", I suppose?) I was 10 at the time... and very, very excited.

[Matt]

Well I was part of your most hated group (starts with a "k," ends with "id") at that point, so I totally see how stupid I was back when I was a kid.

Once I saw the film, I became jaded and untrustworthy of all my heroes.

Don't you remember the pictures that were coming out of Poison Ivy, Bane and Mr. Freeze? I sure do, and I remember all of us going WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS STUPID SHIT, especially to Poison Ivy. This had SHIT all over it before a trailer even hit.

Get off my lawn.

[Captain Russ]

For some reason, Ivy's change didn't ruin much for me (I'd carried a flame for Uma since Munchausen).

It was really down to famous comedian Arnold Braunschweiger's one-sheet that made me go "that's not Mr. Freeze."

Bane's look was fine until I saw him in the film. The mask was cool and the vein bodypaint was a cool approach to showing a Venom-addled body.

And then I saw him in action and was absolutely mortified that they had taken a guy with an intellect and physicality on the level of the dark knight, and transformed him into an oafish henchman. He was the Jaws of this Roger Moore'd franchise at that point. Apologies to Richard Kiel for the analogy.

Remember that nameless henchman in the first Batman that tears Batman a new Bathole? That's how I'd envisioned the never-made all out brawl with Bane. My imagination left me holding the bag on that one.

[Ed Hocken]

Can't remember a fuckin thing about the lead up to Batman & Robin. I remember being excited for Batman Forever.

[FilmNerdJamie]

I do remember damn near the entire fan community was trying to rewrite history in the years between Batman & Robin and Batman Begins saying how "everyone hated Batman Forever too!"

Bullshit. I vividly remember everyone fucking loving Forever and it was considered a return to form for the franchise post-Batman Returns and everyone thought Kilmer was a suitable replacement for Keaton.

[Captain Russ]

I liked and still do like Fat Kilmer as Fatman.

That goddamn Seal song was everywhere that summer.

[Ed Hocken]

I remember being more excited for Men in Black than Batman & Robin. I could remember reading an article in TIME talking about the lack of enthusiasm for Batman & Robin.

[Anderson]

Batman & Robin was the first time I punched a hole in a screen. I was 16.

[FilmNerdJamie]

I actually remember wanting to see Contact more than anything else that summer.

[Captain Russ]

That's wholly unfair to the screen.

It was only doing its job.

[Captain Russ]

I actually remember wanting to see Contact more than anything else that summer.

That was a fucking amazing trailer.

[FilmNerdJamie]

I love you, man.

[Abraham Smashington]

Not sure if I said it or if any one gives a shit, but I dig that teaser. That last shot of Bane and Bats is neat and I'm going in pretty much blind.