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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