Written by: Kevin Berge
Bane's no Joker, but he's pretty great... when he isn't incomprehensible. (Image Courtesy of: cbr.com)
Quick Take: The Dark Knight Rises has the same weight and intelligence of the previous two installments in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, but it stretches itself too thin with a story that skips multiple hurdles while still being overlong. A well acted and engaging ride, this is still a great film but the most flawed in the series.
Nolan's Batman Trilogy Review: Batman Begins | The Dark Knight
***This review will go in-depth into the story of The Dark Knight Rises expecting that the reader has seen the movie before. There will be spoilers, and those who have not seen the film may not understand elements of the review. Read ahead at your own discretion.***
The most famous and popular superhero ever created has been had many great and popular comic book stories told about him. The three most defining are Year One, The Killing Joke, and The Dark Knight Returns. You could read them as a trilogy, exploring three important aspects of the Batman character: his origin, his dynamic with The Joker, and his last stand.
Christopher Nolan has focused on those same aspects. The Dark Knight Rises is far from a dead ringer for the third comic, drawing equal inspiration from Knightfall and No Man's Land, but it is still primarily a story of Batman returning for one last stand, a damaged final battle for the fate of Gotham.
Nolan has repeatedly stated that he never had any intention of making a third Batman film, and the feeling behind this film shows that. He ultimately agreed only because he felt comfortable with the story being a strong conclusion to the trilogy that took inspiration from many comics as well as Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities.
I mention the film's origins and inspirations because it is the essence of this film. More than either film before it, this is very much a comic-inspired movie. It is littered with interesting ideas told in the comics and goes wildly large scale to a point that grounded realism is not even a concept by the final act.
This movie begins eight years after The Dark Knight with Batman having spent that time away from the world. Bruce Wayne is a recluse who now walks with a limp, damaged most mentally and physically. This opening has power as a concept, but it clashes with the previous film's ending which sold Batman as a vigilante who would continue to fight despite making himself a public enemy.
He is forced back into action after Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) steals his fingerprints for a plan connected to a rising terrorist threat led by Bane (Tom Hardy). These two are both great parts of the story in their own way with committed performances from the great actors.
Bane serves as a fundamentally different threat to The Joker, an intelligent bruiser who is a leader of men. He takes apart Gotham through Wall Street which also means bankrupting Wayne. In a direct adaptation of Knightfall's greatest moment, he fights and defeats Batman, breaking his back.
***This review will go in-depth into the story of The Dark Knight Rises expecting that the reader has seen the movie before. There will be spoilers, and those who have not seen the film may not understand elements of the review. Read ahead at your own discretion.***
The most famous and popular superhero ever created has been had many great and popular comic book stories told about him. The three most defining are Year One, The Killing Joke, and The Dark Knight Returns. You could read them as a trilogy, exploring three important aspects of the Batman character: his origin, his dynamic with The Joker, and his last stand.
Christopher Nolan has focused on those same aspects. The Dark Knight Rises is far from a dead ringer for the third comic, drawing equal inspiration from Knightfall and No Man's Land, but it is still primarily a story of Batman returning for one last stand, a damaged final battle for the fate of Gotham.
Nolan has repeatedly stated that he never had any intention of making a third Batman film, and the feeling behind this film shows that. He ultimately agreed only because he felt comfortable with the story being a strong conclusion to the trilogy that took inspiration from many comics as well as Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities.
I mention the film's origins and inspirations because it is the essence of this film. More than either film before it, this is very much a comic-inspired movie. It is littered with interesting ideas told in the comics and goes wildly large scale to a point that grounded realism is not even a concept by the final act.
This movie begins eight years after The Dark Knight with Batman having spent that time away from the world. Bruce Wayne is a recluse who now walks with a limp, damaged most mentally and physically. This opening has power as a concept, but it clashes with the previous film's ending which sold Batman as a vigilante who would continue to fight despite making himself a public enemy.
He is forced back into action after Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) steals his fingerprints for a plan connected to a rising terrorist threat led by Bane (Tom Hardy). These two are both great parts of the story in their own way with committed performances from the great actors.
Bane serves as a fundamentally different threat to The Joker, an intelligent bruiser who is a leader of men. He takes apart Gotham through Wall Street which also means bankrupting Wayne. In a direct adaptation of Knightfall's greatest moment, he fights and defeats Batman, breaking his back.
He's back for one last time, and this time he's old and weary. Can't you tell he's old and weary? (Image Courtesy of: playbuzz.com)
Tom Hardy (Inception) is an intimidating presence, but he also sells Bane's fascinating charisma even if his Bane voice is sometimes incomprehensible. As a character, he does so much to dominate and take over Gotham that he comes off the most successful villain of the trilogy.
Of course that is all let down by the reveal that he is in fact just a pawn for the League of Assassins and the protector of Talia Al Ghul (Marion Cotillard). The whole climax, a play on the French Rebellion, is a mess of bodies and destruction that boils down to Talia's last second reveal and the final ultimate dilemma for Batman.
He must take a bomb that can destroy all of Gotham out of the city and likely die in the explosion. It is an effective story beat that could have been the final stand for the ultimate superhero. However, he ends up surviving and deciding to just hang up the cowl, heading off to Florence with Selina.
This final act is the weakest of the film and also the weakest section of the entire trilogy, and it can easily hinder the enjoyment of some of the overall movie. It is enjoyable action, but it not only neuters the main villain but is focused too much on the action which is most reminiscent of more generic action disaster flicks.
Bane is at the head of a forced cultural revolution, battling the rich and elite in a fight against structural injustice. These concepts are far more intellectually compelling than they are presented at the close with it feeling too much like the movie just wanted a heroic superhero moment.
Still, there is a fantastic story here throughout to enjoy. In particular, this is the tale of Bruce Wayne, the broken man who must find his reason for being Batman again. Christian Bale is at his best in this film portraying the mental and physical damage to Wayne.
Even though The Pit scene leads to a dramatic stop in the pacing of the film, it is a fantastic showcase for Bale as Wayne retrains himself and manages to escape the prison, showcasing the dread that dominates him. This film also has many phenomenal scenes for Michael Caine as Alfred goes through many emotional moments in this torturous chapter of Bruce's life.
Of course that is all let down by the reveal that he is in fact just a pawn for the League of Assassins and the protector of Talia Al Ghul (Marion Cotillard). The whole climax, a play on the French Rebellion, is a mess of bodies and destruction that boils down to Talia's last second reveal and the final ultimate dilemma for Batman.
He must take a bomb that can destroy all of Gotham out of the city and likely die in the explosion. It is an effective story beat that could have been the final stand for the ultimate superhero. However, he ends up surviving and deciding to just hang up the cowl, heading off to Florence with Selina.
This final act is the weakest of the film and also the weakest section of the entire trilogy, and it can easily hinder the enjoyment of some of the overall movie. It is enjoyable action, but it not only neuters the main villain but is focused too much on the action which is most reminiscent of more generic action disaster flicks.
Bane is at the head of a forced cultural revolution, battling the rich and elite in a fight against structural injustice. These concepts are far more intellectually compelling than they are presented at the close with it feeling too much like the movie just wanted a heroic superhero moment.
Still, there is a fantastic story here throughout to enjoy. In particular, this is the tale of Bruce Wayne, the broken man who must find his reason for being Batman again. Christian Bale is at his best in this film portraying the mental and physical damage to Wayne.
Even though The Pit scene leads to a dramatic stop in the pacing of the film, it is a fantastic showcase for Bale as Wayne retrains himself and manages to escape the prison, showcasing the dread that dominates him. This film also has many phenomenal scenes for Michael Caine as Alfred goes through many emotional moments in this torturous chapter of Bruce's life.
The true villains of the Batman universe: the cops who decide repeatedly to get in the way. (Image Courtesy of: dccomics.com)
While Bane is a good villain, Anne Hathaway is an absolutely perfect Catwoman for Nolan's universe. Her character from the start is complicated, driven by similar disdain for the rich and powerful as Bane, but holding out hope for a fresh start (sadly represented literally by a magical "clean slate" program).
Her relationship with Wayne is far more heated and effective than his two movies of build up with Rachel Dawes, and it is satisfying to ultimately see her join his side in the fight for Gotham and save him when all looks hopeless. I would have loved to see more of the dynamic between these two.
Meanwhile, Gary Oldman's Gordon and a new young policemen who believes in Batman John Blake (Joseph Gordan-Levitt) are in the film, but they feel almost entirely unnecessary beyond a few nice speeches from Gordon. They are clearly a step too far in the story, unnecessary to the film.
Blake has one role, showing that the Batman mantle does not live and die with Wayne. He is the trilogy's "Robin" inheriting the Batcave to continue protecting Gotham with Wayne out of the picture. This is a nice thought, but Wayne is still alive, once more simply shirking his duties.
If there is one aspect this film triumphs over its predecessors, it is score as this is easily Hans Zimmer's (The Lion King) finest work of the series if not the best he has ever done. The steady stream of emotions his epic soundtrack conveys sells the film brilliantly.
There are many aspects of this movie I can complain about, but, at its heart, it is a beautifully shot and directed film with writing that creates even more interesting characters with a flurry of ideas that likely would have been best served spread out over more films.
Christopher and Jonathan Nolan as well as David S. Goyer simply had too many thoughts to make some clear cut brilliant successor to two near perfect works. It comes off as a long-form comic adaptation that cuts corners despite its overlong two-hour-45-minute run time, needing an hour or more to complete its vision.
Her relationship with Wayne is far more heated and effective than his two movies of build up with Rachel Dawes, and it is satisfying to ultimately see her join his side in the fight for Gotham and save him when all looks hopeless. I would have loved to see more of the dynamic between these two.
Meanwhile, Gary Oldman's Gordon and a new young policemen who believes in Batman John Blake (Joseph Gordan-Levitt) are in the film, but they feel almost entirely unnecessary beyond a few nice speeches from Gordon. They are clearly a step too far in the story, unnecessary to the film.
Blake has one role, showing that the Batman mantle does not live and die with Wayne. He is the trilogy's "Robin" inheriting the Batcave to continue protecting Gotham with Wayne out of the picture. This is a nice thought, but Wayne is still alive, once more simply shirking his duties.
If there is one aspect this film triumphs over its predecessors, it is score as this is easily Hans Zimmer's (The Lion King) finest work of the series if not the best he has ever done. The steady stream of emotions his epic soundtrack conveys sells the film brilliantly.
There are many aspects of this movie I can complain about, but, at its heart, it is a beautifully shot and directed film with writing that creates even more interesting characters with a flurry of ideas that likely would have been best served spread out over more films.
Christopher and Jonathan Nolan as well as David S. Goyer simply had too many thoughts to make some clear cut brilliant successor to two near perfect works. It comes off as a long-form comic adaptation that cuts corners despite its overlong two-hour-45-minute run time, needing an hour or more to complete its vision.