*WARNING! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!*
Since 2005, Christopher Nolan rebooted the Caped Crusader as we all thought he was long gone with Batman Begins. No one had expectations when the director of Memento was on-board but he delivered one of the biggest surprises and created a film that many other comic book hero films will try to imitate. Then he raised the expectations even higher with the announcement of a sequel and he delivered The Dark Knight in 2008. Continuing to bring maturity and intellectual story-telling but also made an impact to many filmmakers. Now Batman has risen from the darkness and finally has a new challenge, not only from new villains but also Christopher Nolan announcing it will be the conclusion to The Dark Knight Trilogy. Many argue there hasn’t yet been a great comic book hero trilogy and the third in the series always tends to not live up to its predecessors (X-Men, Spider-Man etc.) I can safely say this isn’t that case and will say early that this is the best comic book hero trilogy to date!
The story is set eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne hanging up his mantle as Batman and keeping away from the spot-light since. Until the terrorist known as Bane enters the stage and plans to bring destruction and chaos to Gotham City. Meanwhile, Bruce interacts with Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman, though never referenced by that name), a cat-burglar but an anti-hero who only helps her own (survival of the fittest). Bruce sees this as an opportunity to go back as the dark knight and come face-to-face with Bane but things go worse than expected (A LOT worse!).
There’s only so much I can reveal the story but it is better to experience it on the big screen. Wally Pfister’s cinematography and Nathan Crowely’s production design really amps the scale, you feel the anarchy Bane delivers from the many set-pieces this film delivers (if you thought the hallway fight scene in Inception was mind-blowing, Nolan really tops that from the opening sequence which could mistake it as a Bond opening). Hans Zimmer’s music is a more bombastic score, further bringing the thundering emotion of Bane’s menacing speeches and actions. Everything about the production in this film is top-notch, do you expect anything less with a Christopher Nolan film? I will say the film is bold and daring to go to places most filmmakers would not even think twice on going, all credit goes to not only Chris Nolan but co-writers David S. Goyer and Jonathan Nolan. Though people will find obvious references to Occupy Wall Street, especially Bane’s motivation on punishing the wealthy and supporting the people (even releasing the prisoners of Gotham to have the city to their own will). The story really does come to full-circle, whatever happened in Begins or Knight comes to full affect in Rises. With all the gloom and doom in this film, Nolan doesn’t forget to bring some humour into this film as he had done from his previous films. The story’s events comes from these three Batman comic book story arcs; The Dark Knight Returns, Knightfall and No Man’s Land.
Christian Bale really does shine as he delves deeper to his emotional struggles in this movie, you can feel the suffering and pain he has to go through. Which makes his journey to rise from the ground and come out soaring! Like his father says to him in Batman Begins “why do we fall, Bruce? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up!”, a line that runs through his motivation to save the city and its citizens. Tom Hardy brings a brute menace to Bane and finally brings justice to the character that was ruined in Batman & Robin. He may have the muscles and brawn to show but it’s his tactical thinking that makes him even more threatening. He may lack the sinister edge of Heath Ledger’s Joker but that doesn’t detract the type of villainy he delivers. You honestly worry about Batman, as Bane just brushes off everything Batman throws at him from fists to various techs from his utility belt. Anne Hathaway is terrific as Selina Kyle / Catwoman, she has her own code which is she looks for her own self and doesn’t get involved with anyone else. Though the chemistry between Bruce and Selina is quite electric, both exchanging quips and sassy comebacks but it evolves to something more intimate. Seeing the both of them work together is probably my favourite scenes from the whole film and I honestly think (controversy incoming) Hathaway does portray Catwoman more faithfully than Michelle Pfeiffer did in Batman Returns. The rest of the supporting cast continue to bring the best of their characters; Michael Caine makes an emotionally strong performance as Alfred, fearing the loss of Bruce and not wanting to go through the pain again as he lost Bruce’s parents (a powerful scene where Alfred confesses to Bruce that he wished he never came back). Gary Oldman continues to be the best Jim Gordon, growing to stand being a strong character and is actually exciting he can take care of himself despite his age. Morgan Freeman is the ever charming Lucius Fox, he too continues to grow such a strong supporting character.
Is it perfect? No but neither was The Avengers and I enjoyed the hell out of it. The surprise twists won’t surprise most comic book fans but I also blame the media on releasing a few images online that really should have been left offline. Bruce’s reason on exiling himself from the world for such a long time because of the death of Rachel Dawes is a bit hard to swallow but is a minor nit-pick that doesn’t affect the overall film. Zimmer’s score is great to listen to and gets your adrenaline going but it is a bit too thundering at places (and sometimes partially hard to listen when characters are talking). I think many people (including the YouTube community) will start to make fun of Bane’s voice, though I never had a problem understanding him from trailers and didn’t have a problem understanding him in the film. The ending may split opinions, as some may find it being something really bold and broad but then leads to something completely different. Also a reference towards the character of John Blake felt a bit forced and didn’t work in my opinion.
As much I really do enjoy this Batman series immensely, I am glad Christopher Nolan has finished with the series and will be moving forward to make more films in the same vein as Memento or Inception where his strengths as a story-teller really does show! Though for now, he’ll be producing Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel in 2013 with Henry Cavill as Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman.
Overall; this film is fantastic, a satisfying conclusion to The Dark Knight Trilogy. Despite the minor faults this movie has, it still delivers an epic blockbuster not only just from the scale but also in emotion. Thank you Mr. Nolan, you made an honourable farewell to one of the greatest iconic heroes of our time.
4 out of 5