Thursday, July 25, 2013

Review: The Dark Knight Rises

Warner Bros./2012
Available on Blu-ray/DVD

     When Warner Brothers rebooted the Batman franchise in 2005 with Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, critics and fans alike were skeptical of whether or not the character could be revived on the big screen after 1997’s ill-received Batman & Robin. After Tim Burton’s blockbuster 1989 film, Batman, and his sequel, Batman Returns, the series seemed to lose its dark, moody edge and move toward a campier approach reminiscent of the 1960’s Batman television show. Batman Begins gave us a dark, serious superhero movie deeply rooted in reality; a psychological rollercoaster of a film that served as a cinematic statement on fear, justice, loyalty, and vengeance. The film won over critics and audiences, re-validated the Batman character as a viable cinematic hero, and launched a new Batman film franchise. Nolan’s 2008 follow-up, The Dark Knight, was a massive critical success and a pop-culture phenomenon.

      The director’s third and final entry in his Batman saga, The Dark Knight Rises, was perhaps the most highly-anticipated movie of summer 2012. After all, the last film, The Dark Knight, was a game-changer for superhero movies, transcending the genre and setting a new standard for all similar films to follow. Expectations for Christopher Nolan and company to deliver were high, to say the least.
 

     The Dark Knight Rises is set eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, with Gotham City enjoying an unprecedented period of peace. Organized crime is all but non-existent, Harvey Dent (the character who became the villainous Two-Face in The Dark Knight) is hailed as a martyred hero, and a tranquility and peace of mind has settled over the city and its residents. The Batman, who took the blame for Dent’s crimes at the end of the last film, has disappeared from Gotham, and is believed by all but a select, knowing few to be Harvey Dent’s murderer. Gotham City’s newfound peacetime, as anyone who saw The Dark Knight knows, is based upon lies. The truth starts to reveal itself, though, as a new terrorist calling himself Bane surfaces in Gotham, intent on bringing the corrupt and deceptive city to an end. He claims to be a liberator, a savior whose actions are meant to give Gotham back to its people, but his motives are soon revealed to be much more sinister.

     Bruce Wayne, meanwhile, has spent the last eight years in isolation; a hermit who’s body and psyche have been battered by his encounter with The Joker and Two-Face in The Dark Knight. He is soon brought out of solitude to once again protect Gotham City from Bane and his army of mercenaries as Batman. Not only must he deal with the threat of Bane, an opponent who is in every way a match for the Caped Crusader, but the Gotham City Police Department is also hunting Batman, believing him to be the killer of the man who had saved their city. Add the seductive and mischievous Selina Kyle into this mix, and it would seem the grizzled and battle-weary Batman has his work cut out for him.
 
 

     An intense, stylish superhero action movie, The Dark Knight Rises also has a lot going on underneath the obvious. In a post-9-11 world, it makes a bold statement on the effects of terrorism and the willingness of society to surrender to authority. It is also about the relentless struggle of heroes, who sometimes have to give everything, including their lives, to uphold their ideals in the face of adversity. Christopher Nolan isn’t known for making light films. This is the same guy who made Inception and The Prestige. His films manage to be subversive and have multiple layers, all the while being both heady and entertaining. He is undoubtedly a talented director, and anyone chosen to helm the next reboot of the Batman legend will have some rather large shoes to fill.

     The Dark Knight Rises benefits from having a fine cast of both newcomers and returning players. Christian Bale reprises his dual role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, playing the character as a war veteran returning to face his final and most challenging adversary yet. He does a fine job of portraying the Dark Knight, only this time a little older and a little more haggard.

     Gary Oldman also returns as Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, an aging law enforcement veteran who struggles to keep secret the lies he knows hold the city together. Oldman is a fine character actor, and he uses his skills effectively to convey a sense of believability to Gordon.

     Tom Hardy, perhaps best known for his work in Nolan’s own Inception, plays the terrorist Bane, the lead villain with his own ties to Bruce Wayne’s past. Hardy makes the role his own, and although he wears a half-mask throughout the film, emotes well and acts superbly despite the obvious restrictions.

     Anne Hathaway plays Selina Kyle, the high-tech thief that has ties to both Bane and Bruce Wayne. Although the actress is best known for sweet and likeable roles, she plays against type here, being both dangerous and seductive. Also on hand is Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate, a business partner of Wayne’s helping him to develop a clean energy generator to benefit Gotham City.

     Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays Detective John Blake, a young Gotham cop who Commissioner Gordon takes under his wing. A gifted actor, he brings honesty to the role, as one of the few cops who still believe in doing the right thing against unspeakable odds. Michael Caine returns as Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s trusted butler and surrogate father figure. Also returning is Morgan Freeman as Fox, Wayne’s close friend and R&D developer. Liam Neeson and Cillian Murphy also make brief appearances, reprising their roles from Batman Begins.
 

     The writing team of director Christopher Nolan and his brother, Jonathan Nolan, along with David S. Goyer, have crafted an amazing story and a well-developed script. Every character, especially ones that we’ve been with since the first film, feel fully fleshed out and each have a distinctive story arc. The story itself is strong enough to stand on its own, with a definitive beginning, middle, and end.

    With distinct ties to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Rises is a satisfying conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Tragic, yet hopeful, it is an emotional final act that has resonated with audiences and, of course, divided the millions of Bat-fans around the world. When Warner Brothers and DC Comics decide to reboot the franchise again, which is inevitable, they will have a very high standard to live up to indeed.
 
 
 
 Reviewed by Shawn Strawbridge

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