New clips from ‘The Dark Knight Rises’: is Anne Hathaway the weakest link?

Last night at the MTV Movie Awards, Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Gary Oldman and Christopher Nolan introduced an exclusive clip for The Dark Knight Rises. From what I gather, a new trailer-commercial also debuted during the show too. We’re lucky to get these videos because MTV is clinging to their exclusivity for whatever reason. Be forewarned: these videos may give you a nerdgasm.

I could watch Tom Hardy/Bane on the plane for hours. That part still looks so cool/amazing to me. As for Annie Hathaway as Catwoman… I feel like I’m the only person defending her at this point. Anne can ACT. Anne is a lot better than you think. I don’t know if her Catwoman will be any good, or whether she’ll be like January Jones in X-Men: First Class – the weakest link of an otherwise awesome movie. I have high hopes for her. And JGL better bring it.

Posters for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ courtesy of Collider, additional photo by WENN.

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89 Responses to “New clips from ‘The Dark Knight Rises’: is Anne Hathaway the weakest link?”

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  1. Liz says:

    The problem with Chris Nolan is, he never gets his female casting choices quite right. Batman Begins? Katie Holmes. The Dark Knight? Maggie Gyllenhaal. Obviously haven’t seen The Dark Knight Rises, but my guess is: Anne Hathaway.

    • LeeLoo says:

      Yup. I mean I think he could have easily gone for Kate Beckinsdale or hell, even Mila Kunis. Anne Hathaway is in no way the proper Batman choice just from her credentials alone. Sorry, but Anne’s reputation as a prissy princess typecast is too engrained in everyone. Even if she does a wonderful job, no one will take her seriously.

      • autumndaze says:

        I don’t know; it only takes one stellar (or horrible) performance to turn around public opinion.
        I am withholding judgment on her selection as Catwoman until I see the movie…

      • mercy says:

        Mila would have been a good choice. Did she audition for it? I like Anne, she can act, but this role requires someone who can bring the sexy. As beautiful as she is, I’ve never found AH to be sensual or sexy.

      • Liz says:

        Exactly my point. Anne is too Jane Austen to be believable in this role, even if she does a perfectly adequate job. A villain in the final movie of a trilogy should at least be sinister. Anne is as sinister as a cotton ball.

      • Leigh says:

        Anne is so affected and pretentious…and not nearly bad ass enough to pull off Catwoman…

    • mary simon says:

      Charlize Theron would have made a fierce Cat Woman. Anne Hathaway seems more like Kitty Woman.

      • Eleonor says:

        You’re soo right! Yes Anne can act, but the main problem remains the same: the physique du role. Catwoman is HOT,is sexy Anne isn’t.

      • mercy says:

        Charlize would look great, but too cold a presence and I don’t like her voice for this role.

      • carrie says:

        Nolan dislike blond actresses: see Scarlett Johanson or every blond actress in his movies(they’re just awful)

        Nolan loves brunettes and he has screen-tested Jessica Biel,Kate Mara and Anne Hathaway so be happy that he chose Anne H

    • Amelia says:

      So far I’m underwhelmed. I’d like to think Nolan doesn’t always fail on the female front, I thought Ellen Page was good in Inception….but that’s about it. Scarjo wasn’t bad in the Prestige, Katie and Maggie were passable. I don’t think Nolan’s the director to crack out a good female performance.
      Personally I’d have like to have seen a Brit play catwoman. I’ve been told about by a couple of American friends that there’s something about an English accent that can bring out your inner villain. I’d like to have seen Claire Foy or Lara Pulver take on Catwoman.
      Anne Hathaway doesn’t have the ability to pull off a vicious streak. You’ve either got to be uber sexy that it just smacks you in the face, or ice cold and brutal. You can’t swing between the two of them.
      However I’m still going to see it and pre-book an IMAX ticket ^^

      • miriam says:

        He seems to cast brunettes a lot, but they all seem to lack sensuality, and with a character like Catwoman that can be detrimental. Catwoman is supposed to be a pin up role, a sxy, feline and desirable creature.

        Anne Hathaway, although a good actress, does not have sex appeal.

      • Seagulls says:

        Lara Pulver. Oh my god. She would have been perfect instead of the vomit inducing pill that is Annie Hathaway. Bluch.

    • Kola says:

      I agree!

    • Chatcat says:

      Liz I agree. He gets the male actors spot on…yet he fails miserably with the females. Although I think that Hathaway can act, I don’t find her to be that sexy or sultry enough to pull off catwoman…she is no Michele Pfeiffer that’s for sure.

      • Eve says:

        Agree with you all above. Nolan’s female characters are poorly developed. On top of that, I also think he is extremely overrated.

      • mercy says:

        She’s no Eartha Kitt, either. I liked both Ellen and Marion in Inception, so Nolan got the female casting right there. But I think this is a miss.

    • Mina says:

      Nolan has always had a problem with his female characters in general, not just on the casting side of things.

    • Fleur says:

      Indeed. I don’t get his casting choices there. And I’m firmly convinced that he can’t write female characters, period. They’re never characters with memorable actions, they’re just plot devises for the hero. Even Inception’s Ariadne: a devise for him to teach and a moral compass.

      • Eve says:

        Right on! By the way, I don’t like Inception — replace the word “dream” with “memory” and you have Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’s basic premise (even some of the technical bits reminded me of Michel Gondry’s brilliant movie — like when the beach house and the fences start falling apart; even the “dreaming in layers” concept: remember when Carrey and Winslet are trying to hide in the deepest parts of his memory?).

      • Veruca says:

        @eve —

        Thank you for solving the mystery of what always bothered me about that movie.

      • Eve says:

        @ Veruca:

        There are also ideas from an 80s movie called “Altered States” (with William Hurt) and, even more obviously, “The Matrix”.

        It’s annoying to see people calling “Inception” an original movie/concept — when it’s anything but. In all honestly, I think it’s borderline plagiarism.

    • Mimi says:

      If y’all remember, everyone doubted Heath Ledger could pull off the Joker. And we all know how that turned out…just sayin. Did anyone else tear up with Christian Bale? I did. Yep, I’m a pansy lol.

    • Mimi says:

      Let’s be open minded, people. Remember how nobody thought Heath could pull off The Joker? Yeah, well we all know how that turned out. Did anyone else choke up right along with Christian Bale? I did. Yep, I’m a pansy.

      • Eve says:

        I’m not saying his tears weren’t sincere…but the whole “homage” thing looked like an attempt to promote Dark Knight Rises at Ledger’s expense.

    • LucyOriginal says:

      I agree with all the above! 🙂

      ps: Chris Bale is awesome. He got me when I saw Empire of the Sun. I was very little, but I still remember him in it.

  2. k says:

    I will see this IN SPITE OF Hathaway. But it will be tough.

    • Dubbie says:

      That’s my view. TDKR is my 3rd most anticipated movie for this year, and I’m going to see it regardless! But…I hope she doesn’t mar the experience.

  3. Katalina says:

    I was worried before, but I actually thought this new trailer redeemed her a bit. I liked the scene with her and JGL quite a lot.

  4. Curly_Girl78 says:

    *nerdgasm* I love, love, love this franchise and Christian Bale is my all time favorite (hello, Jack Kelly and Newsies!).
    As for A. Hath as Catwoman, not my first choice but not because she can’t act. I just don’t see her bringing the sex appeal and physicality that Michelle Pfeiffer and Eartha Kit brought to the role. Dare I even say it? Truth be told, Anne needs a few more curves to in that suit and less kitchsy dialogue. But who knows, maybe I’ll be eating my words after the lights come up.

    • rainstarr says:

      I didn’t think anyone else knew about Newsies! YES, first time I fell for him when I saw that movie, and realized I had viewed him before as a child in Empire of the Sun (such a sad movie, and he was shockingly good in it, esp. at such a young age).

    • Otter says:

      Hell yeah, NEWSIES! I have that movie to thank for instilling in me my anarchist political passions, and my penchant for stunning rebellious blond men with cheekbones sharp enough to cut my heart out 😉

  5. Bubulle says:

    Looks good, I think Anne is a good actress but I still don’t buy her as catwoman.

  6. Naouh says:

    zzzzzzzzzzz Anne is a great actress and she’s beautiful BUT as catwoman NO…she lacks the raw sex appeal and the cattiness.
    just wanted to give you a guy’s perspective 😉

    • Chatcat says:

      @Naouh…not just guys feel that way, but thank you for your perspective.

      Look if I am going to lay out $11 for a movie I want the actor/actress’s to fit the “character” and catwoman needs to be sexy and sassy and smart and witty…Hathaway can’t bring that to this role…she is pretty and talented, but she isn’t sexy.

  7. Tiffany27 says:

    My issue isn’t really with Anne Hathaway, I just wish he would have gone with a different villain. I really didn’t want to see Catwoman/Selina Kyle again.
    Having said that the line for the midnight showing will start behind me!!!

    • Eve says:

      Having said that the line for the midnight showing will start behind me!!!

      Traitor!!! And here I was thinking you were an Avengers felow fan :(.

      I kid, I kid — most comic book nerds like both comics (Marvel and DC). I’m among the ones who don’t though (sorry).

      Having said that, have you seen this?

      http://glow-stick-0f-destiny.tumblr.com/post/22402360638

      I thought: “That must have been Tiffany (in case she’s in England)”.

      • Tiffany27 says:

        Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. OMG!!! This totally made my day!!!

      • Eve says:

        @ Tiffany:

        And that is really his Twitter! And here’s one gif I can’t stop staring at:

        http://veryspecificthingtohate.tumblr.com/post/9780669522

        God grief, I jumped on the Hiddleston bandwagon. I need help, don’t I?

      • Tiffany27 says:

        No worries. After The Avengers I’m now on everyone’s bandwagon. There’s not a single one of them I would kick out of my bed!

      • Eve says:

        Tiffany, I promise this is the last link I’m going to post (this is worth your time, I swear) — I can totally see Kaiser side-eyeing right now.

        But how awesome is that Mark Ruffalo remembers his encounters with fans (even their names) from SIX. YEARS. AGO!?

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GwRis0CZhQ

        I love him so much! And I think I love Graham Norton too.

      • Tiffany27 says:

        That’s crazy he totally remembered Jody! He seems really kind, funny, and smart. His wife is a very, very lucky woman.

      • ZenB!tch says:

        I’m the opposite. I grew up with DC and I prefer it. I had no clue what X-Men or Iron Man was. I liked the Avengers OK when they were on the ship and talking but the action was so Michael Bay.

        I did like Captain America – just saw it last week.

        Thor was horrible.

        I did like the guy who PLAYS Thor though. I will be at Avengers 2 for the same reason I went to LOTR – the hotties!

        I’m not going to Batman for the hotties. Christian Bale bugs me and you can’t see Tom under the Bane get up.

      • Original Lucy says:

        @eve – since I could not reply to your post above, I will do so here…I am so glad I am not the only one who didn’t like Inception…I swear, I almost fell asleep from boredom when I saw it. It seems that whenever I admit that I didn’t like it, people tell me I just didn’t get it, or how can you not like that movie it was so deep. For awhile there, I thought I must be a moron for not “getting it”. But slowly, I have been finding more and more people coming clean and admitting that they did not think it was a “brilliant masterpiece”! It sucked! Nolan is totally overrated!

      • Eve says:

        @ Original Lucy:

        The hype over Christopher Nolan boggles my mind. And I remember when Inception came out, everybody was talking about how hard it was to “get it” and that I should pay attention otherwise I’d get lost. But the moment I set my eyes on it I recognized a bunch of movies I had already seen mashed together. And the plot isn’t that complicated — I shake my head at comments from people saying it’s “cerebral”. Confusing doesn’t equal “cerebral”.

        So you probably got it, it’s just that it’s not as impressive as Nolan fanatics want you to believe it is. But what angers me the most is the blatant elements from other movies that he flat out copied. He just changed the names!!!

        Again, from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Remember when he (Carrey) keeps going back to that library, but he can’t see people’s faces? Just like DiCaprio is never able to see his children’s faces? The only difference is that in Gondry’s movie, people’s faces are “erased” or they walk backwards. In Inception, the kids never turn around.

        By the way, somebody posted on another website that it also reminded him (or her, don’t know) of Paprika, a Japanese animated film. So you can add that to the list of movies Nolan copied.

    • T.C. says:

      +1
      Catwoman doesn’t belong in the Nolan batman universe. If she did then Anne happy Hathaway is not the actress to pick.

    • Tommy says:

      I disagree. Catwoman is a staple of the Batman mythos and I think that one would be remiss not to include her in some capacity in this trilogy, which is possibly the most high-profile reimagining of Bruce Wayne in the history of the character.

  8. Mia 4S says:

    So excited it is not even funny! I thought she seemed great in these bits. I think I am starting to get where they are going with this Catwoman and I love it. It will be great to have a strong, fun movie potrayal of Selena after the Halle Berry horror. Yes Michelle was great, but Batman Returns? Watched it again recently…still mostly crap. It was also rather sweet that Christian choked up mentioning Heath. He seems nostalgic about finishing the trilogy, that’s really lovely.

    • ZenB!tch says:

      It’s horrid (and I love Tim Burton) and blasphemous as it may be Catwoman needs to actually fill the top of her catsuit.

  9. Reece says:

    I just realized a second bridge blows up in the background! *nerdgasm*
    I’ve been defending AH from the beginning. Now I just I say wait until you see the movie people! I get why some people dislike her. She can be too sweet at times but girl can act! She can bring the bitch on screen when needed so I can forgive the sugar.

  10. Jenna says:

    I’ll also watch this in spite of Anne. Because Anne as catwoman? No. Just…no. And JGL in a cop uniform? Unf.

  11. Bella Bella says:

    Am I the only person who would have LOVED to have seen Michelle Pfeiffer reprise her role as Catwoman? She was amazing and still is. Damn, she still looks 30 and smoking hot.

    • Bubulle says:

      No Michelle Pfeiffer is 54 and looks 54, she would have been ludicrous.

      • ZenB!tch says:

        She’s on CNN as I type I say late 40s. She looks older than I do (42) but not 50.

        However, I think her suit or blazer may be aging her.

  12. Bella Bella says:

    Not to mention that Pfeiffer/Bale would have been some really hot cougar action… a cougar is a cat right?

  13. Lisa says:

    Anne is a good actress. That one scene in Brokeback Mountain where she’s on the phone with Ennis “explaining” how Jack died, the one where the camera comes really close: that scene should have gotten her an Oscar, IMO.

    However, it doesn’t look like, from these clips at least, that her Catwoman includes that kind of intensity. We’ll see though.

    Tom Hardy is such a fascinating actor to watch: he manages to bring depth to even smallish supporting roles. Eames was by far my favorite character to watch in Inception, and not because he had so much going on but because Hardy made him so interesting. I can’t wait to see what he’ll be like as Bane.

  14. Neelyo says:

    Expectations are so low for Hathaway as Catwoman (mine included) that if she does a mediocre job, it will be considered a tour de force.

    Besides, she looks horrible in that mask. It does her nose no favors.

  15. Jackie says:

    anne is too ‘goody two-shoes’ for this movie and role.

  16. Lindy says:

    Kaiser, I’m with you–Hathaway can ACT. And she looks appropriately badass in that poster.

  17. junegorilla says:

    Ann Hathaway is the weak link in everything. Except a light Rom Com or fluffy movie like Prada. Catwoman needs an EDGE.

  18. Marie says:

    The movie looks good, but I really miss Heath Ledger as the Joker…

  19. JanieS says:

    If Anne Hathaway fails as Catwoman, it won’t be her fault. Nolan can’t write/direct/cast women for shit – he doesn’t even seem to see them as people, just plot devices.

    • Nicole says:

      The only good female character that he wrote/directed was Mal in Inception. I loved Mal.

      • JanieS says:

        And Mal was … a figment in the imagination of a man. And dead. :\

        I love Nolan’s movies, so this issue of his really bothers me.

    • Eve says:

      @ JanieS:

      Totally agree with you. Especially with this: “he doesn’t even seem to see them as people, just plot devices.”

  20. ssa says:

    She just isn’t Catwoman, and the more footage and pics I see, the more I’m convinced of this. My super scientific poll of everyone that will talk to me about DKR agrees.

  21. Nanz says:

    I (finally) saw Dark Shados over the weekend. The entire time I kept thinking ‘why is t Anne Hathaway playing this [Eva Green’s] role? I love Eva Green, but not as the campy villain. She was great in Casino Royale. But I could totally buy AH as campy villian. Curious to see what she will be like in The Dark Knight Rises. She is a great actor, but I just haven’t been able to connect her with Catwoman…yet.

  22. Nicole says:

    I can’t wait to see this movie. Tom and Christian are two of my favorite actors. I’ll watch anything with them in it. Is it weird to be slightly turned on by Bane? I’m still not feeling Anne though. 🙁

    • BB says:

      It’s not weird, I found him attractive but now I’m in love with Gordon-Levitt… 🙂

  23. Kiki says:

    Like most, I’m doubtful she can bring Catwoman to life. Sure, she can act, but the thing with Anne is that when I watch her in a movie, I can still see her, it’s like I’m still conscious that I’m watching Anne playing a part – I don’t think she disappears behind a character. And I really don’t think she’s got any sort of sex appeal. There are so many other actresses who could be doing this.

    • Annie says:

      Her face has a very definite “Anne Hathaway” look to it that makes it hard to forget who she is. She does have some talent though, so I’m suspending any judgement until I’ve seen the movie. She’s also the sort of actress I can imagine suprising us (she has a technically half-decent, very emotional singing voice on her – who would have guessed!). It does seem like a miscast but it could also be one of those “miscasts” that turns out to be an inspired cast after all.

  24. Pamela says:

    I think a lot of people were very skeptical when Heath was cast as the Joker–and he was absolutely incredible.

    I completely agree that AH seems too sweet and lacks the sex appeal that Catwoman needs. But she can act—so I keep hoping that we are all wrong.

    I kind of saw Emmy Rossum as a goody-goody type—and then saw “Shameless” and she is absolotely believable in that. So maybe it will be similar with Anne?

  25. Jilliterate says:

    Meh, it’s a flawed situation all around. I’m doubtful of Hathaway’s acting ability, but frankly, Catwoman is a terrible character. At worse, we’ve got Frank Miller writing her as a prostitute. At best, we’ve got Paul Dini writing her as a well-intentioned animal activist. The character, like most of Batman’s rogues gallery, is tied to a ludicrous theme that is contradictory to modern comics’ move towards realism. You can already see from the previews that Nolan is going to try and legitimize her character with the same pseudo-philosophy he applied to R’as al Ghul and the Joker in his previous films. The problem with that is just that: it’s pseudo-philosphy. It sounds smart on the surface, but doesn’t hold up under any sustained analysis. R’as was a complex-enough character that I think he worked, nonetheless. The Joker was a major writing flub and Heath Ledger’s acting ability was enough to make up for it. I don’t feel that Hathaway has the acting ability, and even if she does, the flawed nature of Catwoman’s character is stacking the odds against her.

    (Since most of the comment section seems to be hating on her, I just wanted to say that I thought Maggie Gyllenhaal’s performance in TDK was amazing, and definitely the most overlooked of the film)

  26. carrie says:

    Nolan considered many actresses for Catwoman and only has screen-tested 3 actresses: Jessica Biel (??),Kate Mara and Anne Hathaway.It’s obvious he wanted Anne Hathaway

  27. jc126 says:

    I hate Anne Hathaway. Every time I see her, I just want to punch her right in the fish face.

  28. Amy says:

    I guess I’m one of the few who liked Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes in the Dark Knight. Unlike Katie Holmes who seemed super bored in her role, Maggie brought the character to life!

    As for Anne Hathaway… I honestly think the Catwoman character is kind of stupid and I don’t think any actress could pull it off for me. In the scenes that Anne was not in costume, she hooked me in. When she was in the cat suit, I was a little confused.

  29. Dubbie says:

    I’m going to see the movie regardless, but I was disappointed when I’d heard she got the part. I just don’t see her as Catwoman. I was hoping for Eva Green.

    But maybe she’ll surprise me a la Mark Ruffalo.

  30. LittleDeadGirl says:

    I dunno. I really like her as Catwoman in the clip I’ve seen her. She has the catlike appearance and maybe she’s not pure sex appeal but I dunno I like her version of catwoman. I don’t want another carbon copy of Michele Pheiffer. She’s the best so far of the three female leads.

  31. tmnt says:

    Anne Hathaway is going to the single worst part of the movie.

    The Devil Wears Prada was great but since then she’s been trying too hard. She’s a try-hard. No one likes try-hards.

  32. lily says:

    I still find her acting way too forced, and it looks like she’s half asleep during the scene with JGL.

  33. Adrien says:

    I’m digging Anne as Selina Kyle…not sure as Catwoman.

  34. Chris says:

    The MTV Movie Awards are beneath an artist of Christian Bale’s talent but then again so is Batman. He’s the world’s greatest actor at the moment.

    • jc126 says:

      Yes, I think Bale is a fantastic actor, just so dedicated and talented. I thought his Fighter role was more a leading role than a supporting role, too.

  35. Bryan says:

    I don’t wanna sound condescending, but have any of the people commenting researched Catwoman at all? Because if you have, I’d think you’d know that there are different iteration of the character than the sexed up versions we’ve been gettin, and who knows maybe that’s what Nolan is going for?

    Instead of already judging her, it’d be cool to give her a chance and judge AFTER, but I guess that’s just too much to ask of morons who have already critiqued her character before the opening credits have even rolled *eyeroll*

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