The Dark Knight Rises review

So, here we have it, the finale of Christopher Nolan’s epic trilogy.

After the astounding The Dark Knight, with its show stopping performance from the late Heath Ledger, could this film in any way live up to the hype?

The answer is yes. Yes it could. In fact, in places it even surpasses what Nolan et al achieved in the previous two movies.

I’m sure you all know the basic premise by now. This is set eight years after the events in The Dark Knight. Gotham is at peace, thanks to the sacrifice of Harvey Dent... but that is all about to change. A storm is approaching Gotham. A storm shaped like an unfeasibly pumped Tom Hardy as Bane.

We first meet him in the jaw dropping aerial opening scene, which was filmed here in the Highlands. But it is when he gets to Gotham that things really heat up, as he sets about his plan to dismantle the city.

While this is happening, Bruce Wayne, who has been moping about feeling sorry for himself, encounters a young lady called Selina Kyle and the shenanigans start there...

There has been a lot of talk about the running time of this movie, and it is a long one, make no mistake. However, Nolan manages to cram in a hell of a lot of plot into it. An awful lot happens. I would desperately love to tell you some of the things that take place, but I will not. I will not even hint obliquely about any of them, because there are some great surprises in here. Some I saw coming, some I did not.

I mentioned Bane and Tom Hardy earlier, and really should give him another nod here. Hardy has a hell of a task here, acting in a mask throughout the entire movie, and talking with an heavily distorted voice (which is actually not difficult to understand), but he manages to do all his acting with his eyes – projecting all his emotion through them. It is a show stopping performance.

Show stopping, but not the best in the movie. For my money, that honour goes to Michael Caine. Caine, as Alfred the butler, gets a couple of scenes early on in the movie that are very powerful. In the hands of a lesser actor they could easily have slipped from pathos into cliché and ham, but Caine is masterful in this.

In fact, every performance is brilliant. Bale, Oldman, Freeman and the rest all bring their best to the screen.

But, is this the last in the series..? Nolan and Bale both say yes, and if they are telling the truth, it is a fitting place to end things. But there are plenty of threads left hanging if they ever want to pick them up again. And I for one really hope that they do.

I went to see the movie at Eden Court, which as you know is the venue for Hi-Ex! each year.

Rather brilliantly, after the movie, the charity The Bat Protection League had a table set up. Now, from what I had just seen, I would suggest that bats are not in need of that much protection...

You can read a bit more about them here.

And go see the movie!

Electric Man tickets now on sale!

As you all know, during the Hi-Ex! weekend, the Electric Man chaps will be showing their movie in Eden Court cinema!

You can buy tickets for the showings HERE.

Grant Morrison Talking with Gods at Eden Court

There's a special treat for comic fans in Eden Court this weekend!
They'll be screening this documentary on the... enigmatic... comic book writer Grant Morrison!
You can find details and book tickets for it HERE.

Doctor Who The Lost TV Episodes vol3 review pt4

Next up in this epic multi-part review of the latest box set from AudioGo is The Highlanders.

Well, of course this one was always going to appeal to us here ay HiEx!

This is only Troughton’s second time out at the Dcotor and in some ways he is still finding his feet in the role as the writers cast about for ideas, trying out this and that and, it seems, writing some aspects of the story to go with some of Troughton’s own talents.

I suspect, although I have no solid knowledge of the fact, that this is how we have the bizarre vision (or rather, audio) of the Doctor disguised as an old lady. Luckily, these scenes are great, with Troughton throwing himself into the who thing with obvious enthusiasm. And this enthusiasm seems to have spread throughout the rest of the cast.

Everyone seems to be having a ball here.

Of course, this is a notable story because it sees the introduction of a character who would go on to be one of the Doctor’s most popular companions: Jamie McCrimmon.

And of course there is the additional fun of having knowledge of the places where they are visiting. The Culloden battlefield site is just outside Inverness, for example. And the old jail is not far from Eden Court theatre, which of course hosts HiEx each year!

Ahem… sorry, that turned into a bit of a plug for HiEx!

But apart from that, this is a solid historical piece and an enjoyable romp to boot.

The Socks return to Inverness

HiEx guest and all round wonderful guy and ball of limitless energy Kev F Sutherland will be making a return to Eden Court in Inverness with his incredible Scottish Falsetto Sock Theatre on Friday 22nd April!

Anyone who was lucky enough to catch their performance at the last HiEx, or has seen them live previously, will know just how funny they are- so don't miss your chance to see them this time!

We should mention that the show is not for the very young- Kev recommends it for over 12s. If you want a taster of what to expect, have a peek at the clips below, and we'll see you at the show!

HI-EX! ECO MINI COMICS MASTERCLASS

As part of Hi-Ex's commitment to developing comic talent in the Highlands, they will be running a brilliant bunch of smaller events in 2011.

This weekend at Eden Court Inverness, Vicky Stonebridge (one half of Hi-Ex) will show you how to combine recycling, storytelling and drawing skills to make great fun minii-comics.

Bring scrap paper, ribbons, packaging, wrapping paper, shiny things and loads of imagination!

Booking details HERE.