The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

After the incredible “Batman Begins” and the runaway success of “The Dark Knight”, Christopher Nolan returned to Gotham for the last time to bring his game-changing trilogy to a close.

It goes without saying that “The Dark Knight Rises” had a lot to live up to, following on from what is widely believed to be the greatest comic book movie ever made. From what I can gather, fans were generally spilt over this film; some consider it to be the best of the trilogy, whilst others proclaim that it’s the worst film in Nolan’s entire career.

In my opinion “The Dark Knight Rises” is a deeply flawed movie that I really enjoy despite its issues. It’s the weakest entry in “The Dark Knight Trilogy” but it still thrills me with its epic narrative and dazzling finale. It may not be the best of the series (or even the best superhero film of 2012, as I’d argue that “Avengers Assemble” was better), it may feature unintentionally hilarious moments, but that doesn’t stop it from being an amazing cinematic experience!

As I’ve already reviewed the previous two films in “The Dark Knight Trilogy”, I’m not going to discuss the returning cast in much detail, as I’ve already talked about them at length.

Christian Bale is still fantastic as Bruce Wayne, I loved the direction that Batman went on in this movie; it definitely felt like the right place to end this incarnation of the Caped Crusader.

Michael Caine delivers his absolute best performance in this series; Alfred’s arc goes in a surprising and devastating direction that may bring a tear to the eye!

“The Dark Knight Rises” brings several new characters to the table, most of who were brilliant additions to the series. Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman was superb. The female characters in “The Dark Knight Trilogy” were pretty thin on the ground (the only one being Rachel Dawes, who’s main purpose was to move the male characters forward), so it’s refreshing to see someone on screen who is as capable as Batman. It’s a shame that (as this universe is well-and-truly over) we’ll never see Hathaway as this character again.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Blake, a GCPD officer who has to step up to the plate to fight for Gotham, was very good, barring a few plot holes. On the one hand, Levitt gave a great performance and I loved the larger role that Blake had in the story (especially where his journey ends.) The problem is that the script requires a suspension of disbelief in order to function properly (are you telling me that an orphaned child could figure out Batman’s secret identity, whilst Bruce’s childhood best friend couldn’t work it out?) Also, the big twist regarding Blake’s identity felt a bit tacked on, he was engaging enough on his own without tying him to a pre-existing character.

What appears to be the biggest point of contention regarding “The Dark Knight Rises” is its antagonist, the masked terrorist Bane. I’ll admit it, this version of the Bat-breaking villain is awesome! Tom Hardy did a stellar job in the role; he’s intimidating, terrifying and a force to be reckoned with.

His voice is ridiculous (which is made far more noticeable during his drawn-out and grandiose monologues), but I love it. Bane is probably the most entertaining movie character to impersonate from the last 10 years; I always enjoy quoting him (a hobby which Donald Trump and I seem to have in common, judging by his inauguration speech!) Also, the hilarious “Bane-Cat” YouTube series is one of the best things on the internet, which wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for this movie!

Bane might not have a very clear endgame, he might sound a bit silly, but he is definitely the best villain in “The Dark Knight Trilogy” after the Joker and Two-Face!

On a production level, “The Dark Knight Rises” is flawless. The cinematography is stunning, the score is epic in every sense of the word (thank you Hans Zimmer) and the action is breath-taking. The movie houses the best hand-to-hand fight sequences in the trilogy, watching Batman go toe-to-toe with Bane is both exhilarating and gut-wrenching. The Dark Knight’s arc from near-suicidal hero who is outmatched in every way, to legend who rises up to save his city is stirring, rousing and all together astounding!

Probably the best action sequence in “The Dark Knight Rises” is its outstanding third act climax; everything in the trilogy comes to an explosive full-stop with nerve-jangling action and emotional character moments. There’s a sense of finality that gives these scenes a bittersweet feeling, but honestly I can’t imagine a better way to close out this monumental franchise!

Sadly, “The Dark Knight Rises” isn’t without problems. The film is WAY too long! Barring a few good action sequences (the practical plane prologue is a highlight), the first act can be disappointingly dull and drab. I know that you’ve got to set the scene, but I personally felt as though you could have cut at least 15 minutes off of the running time. However, as soon as Batman goes to fight Bane in the sewers, the film goes from “pretty good” to “exceptional.”

As previously mentioned the finale is spectacular, it’s the phenomenal conclusion to all of the characters stories. But, “The Dark Knight Rises” features the worst death scene that I have ever had the misfortune to see in any movie! It happens during a pivotal scene where everything comes to a head. This is it, you think, this is the end of the Batman, time to say goodbye. You get out the tissues to have a good cry, and then… you witness this appalling piece of acting that breaks the tension and momentum of the entire film! This scene is so bad yet so good, I can’t understand how it was allowed to be placed in this dark and serious film!

Overall, I love “The Dark Knight Rises.” It may have more plot holes than you can shake a batarang at, but it’s also an immensely satisfying and operatic culmination of three legendary films. Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale and the rest of the cast and crew did a magnificent job of crafting a fantastic series that will live on for decades to come.

“It’s not who I am underneath... but what I do that defines me.”