Today I learned that "Istambul (Not Constantinople)" was originally recorded by The Four Lads in 1953. Go figure!

Michelle's dance "audition" was either a memory or a dream sequence. It's not entirely clear.

Michelle's dance "audition" was either a memory or a dream sequence. It's not entirely clear.

In this same vein, it's refreshing to see a review criticizing an underdeveloped male love interest.

In this same vein, it's refreshing to see a review criticizing an underdeveloped male love interest.

As I think about it more, the true terror of Bane's character is the sense of confidence and control he takes into every situation. He tells you what he's going to do, and then he does it, and you are absolutely powerless to stop him.

As I think about it more, the true terror of Bane's character is the sense of confidence and control he takes into every situation. He tells you what he's going to do, and then he does it, and you are absolutely powerless to stop him.

Yes! I forgot the epic extra detail of Bane's henchmen watching, totally nonplussed (edit: should be "unphased"). Everything in that scene is set up to reinforce Bane's confidence in the inevitability of his victory. He's not even cocky - he's just sure that he's going to win.

Yes! I forgot the epic extra detail of Bane's henchmen watching, totally nonplussed (edit: should be "unphased"). Everything in that scene is set up to reinforce Bane's confidence in the inevitability of his victory. He's not even cocky - he's just sure that he's going to win.

It doesn't really ruin how awesome everything about Bane was leading up to that, but yeah, I agree, that was a really disappointing twist.

It doesn't really ruin how awesome everything about Bane was leading up to that, but yeah, I agree, that was a really disappointing twist.

Not scary? "You know how I got these scars…"

Not scary? "You know how I got these scars…"

As far as character choices go, I really like that Nolan changed "super strength serum" into "constant anesthetic to not feel horrible chronic pain." That's a very, very smart way to take a silly but very distinctive part of a character and turn it into something much more reasonable.

As far as character choices go, I really like that Nolan changed "super strength serum" into "constant anesthetic to not feel horrible chronic pain." That's a very, very smart way to take a silly but very distinctive part of a character and turn it into something much more reasonable.

I thought the movie was good. For the first time in three movies, I actually really cared about Bruce Wayne as a character. He's got a real arc of finding a self beyond just that of a hero. The idea of embracing the fear of death is a really, really cool idea for Wayne's character. The shift from wanting to die to…

I thought the movie was good. For the first time in three movies, I actually really cared about Bruce Wayne as a character. He's got a real arc of finding a self beyond just that of a hero. The idea of embracing the fear of death is a really, really cool idea for Wayne's character. The shift from wanting to die to…

I think the strongest scene in the movie was the first Bane/Batman fight. Dude just takes punch after punch and isn't phased at all. It's a slow realization of, "oh shit, this dude is better at this fighting thing than Batman."

I think the strongest scene in the movie was the first Bane/Batman fight. Dude just takes punch after punch and isn't phased at all. It's a slow realization of, "oh shit, this dude is better at this fighting thing than Batman."

I know she has a name, but as far as I'm concerned, she will always be "The Gooch."