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Showing posts with label Batman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Batman. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Video Game Trailer: Batman Arkham Knight Gameplay Trailer!



 Oh this looks incredible. That batmobile! WANT!

 Rocksteady really seems like they put everything into this one. I can't wait to play it.

Are you as excited as I am?


RAWR(for more)

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

O Hai Batffleck!


Zack Snyder has given us our first (albeit dark) look at Ben Affleck donning the very Dark Knight Returns-ish Cape and Cowl and standing next to a very sleek new Batmobile.

This should serve to quell some doubts in the fans, including me, about the fate of this movie. I will say I've been very skeptical about this project and whether or not it will be any good. I am liking this little tease though. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and see what else Snyder and Co. have to show off in the coming weeks/months.

What do you think?


RAWR(for more)

Zack Snyder Reveals Batmobile and Batsuit

After yesterday's tease, Zack Snyder makes good on his promise of revealing the Batsuit and the Batmobile.

Click RAWR below to see the picture.



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Monday, April 21, 2014

Action Figure Review: DC Comics Designer Series - Talon

Since the Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman storyline, The Court of Owls, I’ve been looking forward to the release of a Talon action figure. That day has finally come and I couldn’t be more excited!


Part of DC Collectibles’ new DC Comics Designer Series, Talon is the second release in the first wave dedicated completely to Capullo’s Batman designs. This figure looks like it was pulled directly from the pages of Batman.


Click RAWR to read more!


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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

DVD Review: Beware the Batman Season 1, Part 1



Coming off the cancellation of Cartoon Network's entire DC Nation block (i.e. Green Lantern and Young Justice), Beware the Batman premiered in July of 2013 alongside Teen Titans Go!. Only 11 episodes aired, but all 13 are now available on this 2 DVD set.

Click RAWR to read more after the jump!



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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Is Batman Vs Superman In Danger?


DC and WB don't want to tread ground already walked by Marvel so they're shoehorning an entire universe into a sequel to a movie that was barely a success (financially and creatively).  Rather than allowing the Superman universe to grow into something strong enough to support an Avengers-like franchise, they're turning Man of Steel 2 into a Justice League movie without calling it a Justice League movie even though they're also pushing a Justice League movie through as well.

Now it's delayed a year.  That's the first signal.

The second?  Ben Affleck's "injury."

Now, the folks over at cinematallica.com have posted a rather interesting article regarding Ben Affleck threatening to walk off the project due to "scheduling" and script problems.  I think it sounds like Ben Affleck thinking he knows more than David Goyer problems.

This movie is a bad idea from the ground up.  Why would you want to create a Justice League that features an old worn out Batman?  We had a worn out Batman in The Dark Knight Rises and guess what?  It didn't work.  

DC is trying to get a franchise going without actually building the world.  They want to fast track it and get it done because Marvel is killing them in this regard.  The thing is that Marvel did the work.  They laid the ground work and built a cohesive film world for their characters.  WB doesn't want to do that and because of that it's probably going to blow up in their faces.

I'm going to agree 100% with the gang at cinematallica that this MoS sequel will change to a straight up Superman sequel and the whole Batman vs. Superman angle will be dropped.  We can only hope at least.

We still have Arrow though so that's good.


RAWR(for more)

Thursday, November 21, 2013

WB Considers Numerous TERRIBLE Subtitles for Man of Steel 2


Warner Bros. registered numerous domain names that might be hinting at a potential subtitle for the upcoming Man of Steel sequel.

The problem is that they are all terrible.  See for yourself.

"Man of Steel: Battle the Knight"
"Man of Steel: Beyond Darkness"
"Man of Steel: Black of Knight"
"Man of Steel: Darkness Falls"
"Man of Steel: Knight Falls"
"Man of Steel: Shadow the Night"
"Man of Steel: The Blackest Hour"
"Man of Steel: The Darkness Within"

These are all cringeworthy. Shadow the Night? What does that even mean? This project is looking more and more like it will be a complete disaster and might possibly ruin the chances of a strong DC Universe on the big screen.  As it is it's getting further and further away from being a Superman movie.

Of course, if anyone out there wants to anonymously slip me the script for this to prove me wrong, you can do so at garon@popculturebeast.com.

Luckily, we have Arrow to keep our hopes alive.

SOURCE


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Friday, October 18, 2013

Action Figure Review: DC Collectibles New 52 The Joker

You can't spell Slaughter without laughter, and who knows that better than the Joker!

Straight out of Scott Snyder's New 52 storyline "Death of the Family," the Joker is back and deadlier than ever.


Click RAWR for more!


RAWR(for more)

Friday, August 9, 2013

"Zero Year" for @DCComics in #DetectiveComics and #ActionComics

A CBR Exclusive picture or something...

In November, the DC Universe will be introduced to the Zero Year.  Not to be confused with the Zero Hour, this tale will examine the origin story for Batman in his first (or zeroeth) year as the Caped Crusader.  Now now, I know what you're thinking: "Hey! Haven't we seen a Batman origin story f*cktillion times before???"  Don't worry, this one HAS to be different!

DC has announced today that the Zero Year origins will also feature two tie-ins: Detective Comics and Action Comics.  In Detective, Batman will meet Jim Gordon as they deal with the corruption of the police department (please see Batman: Year One (1987)).  In Action, Batman will meet Superman for the first time (please see Superman #76 (1952)); oh, by the way, Superman wears t-shirts, Ugg boots and skinny jeans or something nowadays.

If you've seen the recent news of Superman and Batman teaming up for Man of 2teel, then this might not be that big of a surprise.  I sometimes notice similarities between the comics and the movies; I feel the Marvel movies and the Ultimate Marvel Universe are fairly similar.  Perhaps DC is just prepping the Batman/Superman storyline in the comics first to see what dynamics may work for the movie.  But what the hell do I know, I'm just some asshole on the Internet!

Got any NEW ideas for the Batman/Superman partnership?  Let us know, PC Beasts, in the comments section below.

Sources:
[1] The Zero Year storyline starts in November 2013! [DCComics.com]
[2] EXCLUSIVE: DC'S "ZERO YEAR" EXPANDS TO "DETECTIVE" & "ACTION" (Comic Book Resources)
[3] Follow me on Twitter! @AlanTrehern
[4] PCB News: #SDCC: #Superman vs. #Batman vs. #Predator


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Sunday, July 21, 2013

#SDCC: #Superman vs. #Batman vs. #Predator

Breaking news coming out of the San Diego Comic Convention hit ears yesterday; some may find this breaking movie news simply interesting, others may feel it more important than Man landing on the moon.  Depending on who you talk to, though, mention Batman and Superman in the same sentence, and things get heinous.  People will literally start throwing punches over who is better [1].  With DC Entertainment's announcement yesterday, however, we can finally all relax and break bread together because the two DC juggernauts are going to appear in an upcoming movie TOGETHER (Man of Steel 2, or Man of 2teel). OOOOH WAH AH AH AH!!!!

This opens up the door to a myriad of possibilities!  I (Alan Trehern) don't want to jump to Crisis on Infinite Earths storylines, but seriously, what are they waiting for?  You're halfway there!  Just get an Earth-2 going and you're money.  In all seriousness, I'm just happy to see DC get their act together and start organizing the way Marvel does cinematically.  Also, let's see Scarlett Johansson as Supergirl; a total no brainer.

What are your thoughts on the new crossover?  Will they manage an epic, or will we have retractable ice-skates slash our faces all over again?
Official logo presented by DC at SDCC 2013.  [Photo via IGN.com]

[1] Superman by laser-vision EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
[2] IGN.com: Report: Superman/Batman Movie Planned; Flash, JLA also reportedly in development.


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Monday, May 20, 2013

Roundup: DC Comics Springtime Products


It's less than one month until the highly anticipated Man of Steel flies into a theater near you! If you're like me and you can't wait, maybe these recently released DC properties will hold you over.


Superman Unbound is the latest film from DC Animated. It's based upon Geoff Johns' 2008 storyarc "Superman Brainiac." Together, Supergirl and Superman must defeat the evil Brainiac, save Earth, and uncover secrets about their homeworld, Krypton. From the first minute to the last, Superman Unbound is action packed and the animation looks great!


For the kids, you might want to check out the all-new Lego Batman: The Movie - DC Superheroes Unite!  Lego-fied versions of Batman, Robin, Superman, Cyborg, the Flash, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern team up to prevent Lex Luthor and the Joker from destroying the Lego world!Based on the best-selling Lego Batman 2 - DC Superheroes Unite video game, this movie mixes action, humor, and the magic of Legos into a fun ride for the whole family.

For those of you with summer reading lists, you might want to add a few of these DC titles.


Cool off this summer with Aquaman Vol. 2: The Others! This perfect beach book continues Aquaman and Mera's adventures from the New 52 as they battle Black Manta and other deadly foes.


Also, check out both Batman Beyond: 10,000 Clowns and Justice League Beyond: Konstriction. Set in the futuristic Beyond universe both of these titles bring back the action and characters from the Batman Beyond animated series.



RAWR(for more)

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Is Christian Bale Rising As Batman?


Latino Review is breaking, again, exclusive news that WB is so happy with the upcoming Man of Steel that they are placing the upcoming Justice League movie in the hands of Zack Snyder with Christopher Nolan producing and pretty much overseeing the entire DCU film slate.

But that isn't even the big news. The big news is that it appears that Christian Bale is donning the cowl again and joining Henry Cavill's Superman in Justice League.

What.

Check out the full story (video) here.

SOURCE


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Saturday, November 10, 2012

Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 1: REDemption Review



Last year, DC introduced a new team of existing characters during their New 52 reboot. Red Hood and the Outlaws features the one-time Robin, Jason Todd, Starfire, and Arsenal (Red Arrow). This dysfunctional team is both a fun and unique title, something which the New 52 was in desperate need of.

Follow these three Outlaws, in their quest to find themselves and kick ass doing it! REDemption collects issues #1-7 written by Scott Lobdell (Teen Titans).

I don't know really what to say about this title other than it's AWESOME! Definitely a great take on the characters despite its initial controversy over the "too sexy" Starfire. I have read the current issues and they have delved deeper into Starfire's past, solidifying her as a character in the New 52 Universe. This title kicks major ass and is violent, hilarious, and heartfelt.

Ummm... I'm not sure I see the problem...

Do yourself a favor and pick up Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 1: REDemption! Also, look for the monthly series at your local comic shop!

Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 1: REDemption is 10 out of 10 Red Hoods!


RAWR(for more)

Friday, September 28, 2012

Batman Live: World Arena Tour Review



Batman Live: World Arena Tour is a stage show featuring the Dark Knight in the iconic retelling of Robin's origin. Bruce is present when the the Graysons are murdered and takes young Dick Grayson under his wing. Dick runs away from Wayne Manor in search of his parents' killer, while Batman does the same. Eventually, Dick takes the mantle of Robin and stands at Batman's side to save Gotham from the myriad of villains the Joker has released in Arkham Asylum. Will Batman and Robin be able to stop the Joker from taking over Arkham and save Gotham City in time?

Originating last year in the United Kingdom, Batman Live has brought Gotham City and all of it's heroes and villains stateside!

This show is massive! There are a ton of different locations and great set pieces. Joker's Hot Air Balloon, Gotham's rooftops, and of course a sleek new version of the Batmobile all make an appearance. The sets are all so different and the changes were seemless during the different scenes. The costumes and actors are fantastic! You really feel immersed in Gotham City.

A giant 415,750 pixel screen (in the shape of a Bat of course) serves as the background of the stage. This background transforms to various locales such as the Gotham Cityscape, Wayne Manor, Haly's Circus, Arkham Asylum, and (obviously) the Batcave. This screen also serves as transitions between scenes by zooming out to a comic book and zooming into separate panels to change settings. Also, flashbacks, a Batmobile chase, and the Batcomputer screen, are all done on this screen in comic and CGI form. DC regular Jim Lee ("Batman: Hush") did all of the comic artwork for the show. Doors within the screen are where the actors and props come out of, creating a very unique effect.

All of the fight scenes are choreographed wonderfully and flow really well. The action is exactly what you would expect from Batman. Most sequences are acrobatic in nature, but it works with the themes and settings within the story.

The story drags a bit in places and for being about Robin, he isn't in it much as the Boy Wonder. I was initially worried that it would be geared more towards children, but it is actually fun for all ages. There is the perfect combination of comedy, excitement, action, and adventure that makes it fun for the whole family.

Be sure to check out Batman Live: World Arena Tour in your area!

Batman Live Tour Dates

Batman Live: World Arena Tour is an 8 out of 10 Flying Graysons!



RAWR(for more)

Monday, September 24, 2012

Batman: Arkham City Comic Review



Bridging the gap between both 2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum and 2011's Batman: Arkham City video games, Batman: Arkham City is a must-have for any fan of the franchise. This hardcover collects the five issue mini-series as well as the Arkham City digital chapters 1-5.

The story delves into the appointment of Quincy Sharp as the Mayor and the creation of Arkham City, but a "Strange" man is behind it all. It's up to Batman to investigate what's going on, infiltrate the Arkham City walls, and find out who this shadowed figure is, what his motive is, and what he wants with Batman before it's too late.

The digital chapters follow 5 different villains adjusting to Arkham City and doing what they can to survive the Gotham's deadly prison.

As a bonus, there are 15 pages of concept artwork for the video game that are just stunning!

Arkham City Joker Concept Art

Written by Batman: The Animated Series veteran, Paul Dini, the story is solid, original, and hails back to the tone of The Animated Series. Carlos D'Anda's artwork is fantastic (he did do the character design for the game after all!) and has that cartoonish Ed McGuinness feel to it.



The collected Batman: Arkham City Hardcover gets a 10 out of 10 Titan Canisters!


RAWR(for more)

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 DVD Review



Part one of the highly anticipated DC Animated adaptation of Frank Miller's iconic The Dark Knight Returns arrives on DVD and Blu-Ray September 25th.

DC has really outdone themselves with the amazing voice talent in this film: Peter Weller (RoboCop) stars as Batman/Bruce Wayne, David Selby (The Social Network) as Commissioner Gordon, and Ariel Winter ("Modern Family") as Carrie Kelley/Robin.

It's been ten years since Bruce Wayne has donned the cape and cowl. He watches as the city he once protected falls to the ruthless gang known as The Mutants. Bruce decides to come out of retirement to take back Gotham from The Mutants and a few other familiar faces with the help of a new Robin.



This is one of the best DC Animated films to date! Directed by Jay Olivia ("Young Justice"), The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 is the most faithful adaptation I've ever seen. Incorporating Frank Miller's iconic character designs and use of TV broadcasts, the film is almost identical to the original work.

There aren't many special features on the DVD, but there is a sneak peak at Part two, due out in early 2013!

I cannot rave enough about how awesome this is! I only hope that after part two is released, Warner Brothers combines both parts into a special edition extended cut!

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 on DVD earns a 10 out of 10 Mutants!!

Look for it on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 25th! 
And look for our review of Part 2 early next year!


RAWR(for more)

Friday, September 21, 2012

The Dark Knight Trilogy: The Complete Screenplays Review



The Dark Knight Trilogy is arguably one of the best film interpretations of a comic book character to date. Since 2005, Christopher Nolan has helmed the iconic franchise as director and writer. These brilliant screenplays have been available online, but now you can own the complete trilogy in one book!

This 592 page monster contains the complete screenplays of Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises. Each screenplay reads just like the movie. I'm really glad they published these for the fans.

Also, this contains 60 pages of storyboards, featuring an iconic scene from each film. The storyboard for Batman Begins depicts the opening title sequence and a young Bruce chasing around Rachel. The Dark Knight's storyboards are for the awesome "Truck Chase Scene." Finally the storyboards for The Dark Knight Rises illustrate the opening plane sequence with Bane. Seeing these rare storyboards is really neat! The concept art is different from the final film, but it's really cool to see.

I guess my only complaints are that I wish the cover had an image that dealt with the trilogy as a whole, rather than just The Dark Knight Rises. Another thing, is the Batman Begins storyboards aren't from a pivotal moment in the film as the storyboards from the other two are. I would have rather had him training with Ras al Ghul or something like that. Lastly, this is such a niche item that I would have liked them to have gone all out and made it hardback, which honestly isn't that big of a complaint. That being said, this is definitely a must-have for any Batman fan!

The Dark Knight Trilogy: The Complete Screenplays gets a 9 out of 10 Bats!


RAWR(for more)

Monday, August 6, 2012

Heroclix Batman No Man's Land News



I recently started playing Heroclix again and I am totally hooked!

For those of you who don't know, Heroclix is a collectible miniatures game from Neca/Wizkids featuring your favorite Marvel and DC Comics (and more recently Halo, Gears of War, Street Fighter, Lord of the Rings, and Star Trek) characters.

I got back into Heroclix back in January just as the Infinity Gauntlet event was starting. Each month one's local Heroclix venue held a tournament for Limited Edition (LE) figures for the winners. Everyone who participated received that month's gem for their Infinity Gauntlet object (the first month's participation prize). From January through July these tournaments were held once a month until the Infinity Gauntlet object was completed. This was able to be equipped to a normal figure (for a point cost) to grant it additional powers and abilities.

Finally, this Saturday there is a tournament to play for Thanos himself! This awesome colossal clix is a must for any Marvel Heroclix fan! This LE is already going for $500 on eBay! Check out the amazing sculpt below!


Why am I bringing all of this up after the fact? Well because there is going to be a similar event starting in November/December for DC Heroclix: Batman No Man's Land!


Although this event will be a little shorter (Nov/Dec - May), it already seems way more involved.

First off, there is a Utility Belt resource dial and Gas Pellet 3D object a for the first month and each month there will be another 3D object to add to the Utility Belt (Batarangs, Grapnel Gun, Flash Grenades, Re-Breather, Handcuffs, and Batman's Cowl!).

There is little know how the Utility Belt resource dial will work, but the 3D objects (like the Infinity Gauntlet gems) can be used as an object in game or combined with the Utility Belt for additional abilities. The official Wizkids press release says that the 3D objects will be used to "enhance and customize" the Utility Belt. Whether that refers to aesthetics or functionality, has yet to be seen.

A prototype image was leaked from a Wizkids Heroclix announcement slide (see below). I'm guessing that the Cowl will go in the "glass tube" on top and the belt 3D object "pockets" will fit on the sides.


Another new element announced for the Batman No Man's Land event is the ability to "tag" your gang symbol in one of 6 territories (one for each month) on a laminated No Man's Land map of Gotham City. Each month you'll be battling for control of a section of the city. The winner gets to tag their territory with their chosen gang symbol (below).


I'm not certain, but I'd imagine there will be a way to designate symbols because there are generally more than six players (at least at my venue). These lead up to a special prize at the end of month six, but what that is has yet to be revealed.

Batman No Man's Land Event Map

The LE figures include: Lock-up, Batgirl, Ultimate Clayface, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, and a Joker & Harley duo! Check out more of the info here: http://heroclix.com/nomansland/#axzz22p5Y7r5E

Also, on November 14th, Heroclix will be releasing a new DC set... you guessed it! Batman! A few details have been released so far, but each brick will consist of 9 boosters and a super booster (reminiscent of Marvel's Giant Sized X-Men set) contained vehicle Heroclix for the first time ever!

Again, there are not a whole lot of details released for the mechanics of the vehicles, but we do know that they will have different functions if they are "piloted" or "unpiloted." From the looks of the prototype pictures, the Batmobile, Batplane, and Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet are in the set.



Accompanying this regular set will be a Batman Fast Forces set (Nov. 14th) and a CounterTop display (Oct. 31st) and a Nightwing and Batgirl duo Marquee figure! Also, this set includes the introduction of the Wild C.A.T.s team ability!

Nightwing and Batgirl duo Marquee Figure

I'm extremely excited for this to start, because of my love of Batman and renewed love for Heroclix!

For more information check out the links below:

Official:

Other Resources:


RAWR(for more)

Friday, July 20, 2012

The Dark Knight Rises SPOILER FREE Review



I realize this movie literally just came out at the time of this posting and that is why this review is SPOILER FREE! Please refrain from posting any sort of spoilers in the comments section so the readers have a chance to see the film for themselves. Thank you!

Let me preface this by saying that I am a huge Batman fan and have been for a long time. I began collecting Batman comics and action figures when I was five years old and eventually got a Batman tattoo when I was 18. I have made it a point to see every incarnation of Batman on screen both large and small and The Dark Knight Rises is no exception.

Back in 2008, I was stoked to see The Dark Knight. I loved the title. It was edgy, original, and summed up the themes of the film presented in the trailers (which I watched every day). I spent months growing out my hair and traveling to several Goodwill stores to piece together a very convincing Joker costume. The film instantly became my favorite movie of all time and I saw it about 8 times at the theater. To me, this film was a perfect ten. I couldn't fathom a sequel to it. I distinctly remember after it ended, having my arms covered in goosebumps and thinking how I wouldn't care if this was the last one because the ending was so epic.

Fast forward to buzz surrounding the new film, which was yet to be titled. I was trying to guess the villain: Riddler? Hugo Strange? Bane? And the title: The Caped Crusader? The Dark Knight Returns? Batman Ends? I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Slowly details began to emerge and I wasn't thrilled with the title The Dark Knight Rises, but I figured the studio may have pushed to keep the title similar and I knew better than to question Nolan's motives (after all I remember scoffing at the thought of Heath Ledger portraying the Joker). I was excited about Bane and lukewarm on Catwoman, but again I don't want to doubt a genius.

As the previews came out, the lackluster posters (compared to The Dark Knight), and what little of a viral campaign there was I began to lose my excitement. Don't get me wrong, I still wanted to see the movie, but I wasn't as involved. At first, I thought it might because I was getting older, perhaps more mature about things (ha!). When it came right down to it, I just knew it couldn't live up to The Dark Knight and I didn't want to get my hopes up. Deep down I was doing just that. I was thinking, maybe I'll be surprised and Nolan will out do himself yet again.

I told my friends from the start that The Dark Knight Trilogy is akin to the Original Star Wars Trilogy: Batman Begins = Star Wars, The Dark Knight = The Empire Strikes Back, and The Dark Knight Rises = Return of the Jedi. This is exactly how this movie was; it was Jedi. It completely met the expectations that I had in my mind for what it was going to be and what it meant to the series, but I was disappointed that it didn't meet my hopes.

That being said, as a standalone movie it is phenomenal! It's just hard to follow something like The Dark Knight and I guess that's what I was hoping for. I really enjoyed this movie a lot. The first two acts are intense and really set the tone for how the movie is going to be and how Gotham and its citizens have changed in the 8 years since the events in The Dark Knight. I have a few problems with how things are played out in the third act. I won't go into details, but I will say that a few of the events feel a bit rushed. Like the first two acts take their time to set some things up and in the end it is resolved with relative ease. Also, there is a bit of "hokeyness" towards the end that kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. It was a nice sentiment, but I found myself thinking "Nolan is better than that."

I think I'm being a bit more critical than I should because I have seen what Nolan is capable of and I thought this film would exceed my expectations rather than just meet them. I did like the film for the most part and I'm sure people would disagree with some of these thoughts, but like I said in my head I'll always compare it to The Dark Knight.

I love Nolan and everything that he's done for the series and I think that he was the best possible director there is for Batman. It was an honor and a privilege to let us witness and experience his vision of Batman. I am hopeful that Warner Bros will let us digest this series and enjoy it before they rush out another Batman reboot a few years down the road.

Breakdown of The Dark Knight Trilogy:

Batman Begins - 9 out of 10 Batarangs!
The Dark Knight - 10 out of 10 Scars!
The Dark Knight Rises - 8 out of 10 Tumblers!


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