Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises"

Deviss' MovieWeb TDKR Review wrote:I want to make it clear that I will endeavor to keep this Review as Spoiler Free as possible. Though some scenes... *Restrains self* No, no. I won't spoil the experience... As amazing as it was...

Onto the Review!

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The Dark Knight Rises brings us back to Gotham City nearly a decade after the events that took place in "The Dark Knight". In that time, while the city itself has seen an unprecedented time of peace, not everyone who resides in Gotham is very comfortable with it. Police Commissioner Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) still struggles with the burden of knowing what Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) truly did those eight long years ago.

And in those eight years, Bruce Wayne, consumed with grief over the loss of childhood friend Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes/Maggie Gyllenhaal), has cut all ties with the outside world and, hardly ever leaving the now-rebuilt Wayne Manor, has become a recluse. As a result of taking the blame for the actions of Harvey Dent, for which Bruce still shoulders considerable blame and guilt, Batman hasn't been seen since the night Dent died. Though, at the beginning of The Dark Knight Rises if you were to pull a random Gothamite walking down the street and as about him, they would probably say "We don't need Batman anymore."

Oh how wrong they would be.

At a charity ball thrown to commemorate the (false) memory of Harvey, Bruce runs into one Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway). Disguised as a maid, Kyle infiltrates the area of Wayne Manor that Bruce has shut himself on inside and makes off with a couple... considerably valuable items. But not before becoming acquainted with Bruce himself. The encounter with Miss Kyle, along with growing news and rumors about a "masked mercenary", later revealed as Bane (Tom Hardy), Bruce decides it's well past time he reacquaint himself with the world.

I still can recall the severe backlash from Fans when the news that Anne Hathaway, Miss Princess Diaries herself, would take on the role of Selina Kyle and alternate persona Catwoman. Though she's never explicitly referred to by that name at any point in the Film. Take my word for it, she does an exceptional job. From the way she carries herself whenever she's on-screen, to the fight scenes, sometimes shared with other Characters, and lines she gives, (albeit some could've been delivered better) we had no reason to doubt Nolan's choice in casting.

Another outstanding choice in casting was bring in Mr. Hardy to play the character of Bane. Having seen 2011's "Warrior" there was no doubt Hardy could bring the physical aspect of the role, but one thing I, along with many other fans, was more concerned with was "Will Hardy bring the intellectual side of Bane just as well the physical?" In case any of you readers don't know (and shame on you!) in the comics Bane wasn't just some muscle-bound meat head. He was one of Batman's more physically and intellectually powerful foes. Hell, Bane's nickname is "The Man Who Broke the Bat".

Of course, not to overlook Alfred Pennyworth, Lucius Fox, or Miranda Tate (Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Marion Cotillard respectively), each character is very well done. Both Alfred and Lucius return as Bruce's mentors and moral compasses. And Miranda... well she proves to be not what anyone expects.

One other significant point of worry was the early instance of not being able to understand Hardy. I personally had no issue with it, then or during the Film, but to each their own. While he's not on the same level as the late Heath Ledger's Joker, Tom Hardy's Bane is a force to be reckoned with. From the moment you see him on screen, you know things in this Movie are serious. There is one particular scene in the Film, which of course I will not spoil, that I will NEVER forget; the first on-screen meeting of Batman and Bane. Once my mind had finished processing what I had just seen, I was literally shaking in my seat. To this very minute, I am still speechless when it comes to The Dark Knight Rises. It's just that good.

While it doesn't hit the same high points or strike the same notes as "Batman Begins" or "The Dark Knight", The Dark Knight Rises is a phenomenal achievement in Film making. If he wasn't before, and I can assure you he was, Christopher Nolan is the best Director in Hollywood to date. And this epic Trilogy is one of the best. Right up there with Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. The visuals are stunning, the characters believable and engaging, and there were plenty of moments that left me genuinely surprised. I had to pick my jaw up from the theater floor more than once.

I almost forgot about John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)! As a young police officer with ties to a Gotham City boys home, he proves to be passionate, quite intelligent, and a major surprise himself.

As I write this Review, I'm listening to the Score to The Dark Knight Rises as a way to keep what I'd seen all the more fresh in my mind. To touch on it briefly, the Score itself is amazing. If you loved the "Batman Begins" or "The Dark Knight" Scores, grab this soon.

So in conclusion: The Dark Knight Rises is an outstanding, amazing, and sensational Movie. If you haven't seen it yet... GET OUT THERE! Christopher Nolan has given us the greatest ending to the greatest Trilogy yet. I urge you to go in as cold as possible, don't even watch a Trailer before you leave to your respective theater.

I personally would like to thank Christopher Nolan for not only giving us this monumental Movie, but also for giving us such an amazing ride through the past few years.

Den wrote:Sounds like a great movie. I personally am still 50/50 on seeing it, but you did a great job Dev! Thanks for the info.

Haha thanks Den. If you don't mind my asking, what's your reasoning/position on that?

Oh and thank you too Rink

foxrock66(Roadkill) wrote:Hardy's portrayal of Bane was phenom. He brought a personality and intelligence to the character that has been sorely lacking for most of his existence.

Rinku wrote:I think this was a great review and I agree that Anne Hathaway was a very good choice to play Catwoman.

foxrock66(Roadkill) wrote:Same opinion as Mello. Although she wasn't as horrible as I thought she would be, I couldn't help feeling like I was looking at an overly sexualized Ella Enchanted who just didn't fit the feel of the rest of the film. The cat suit, even as toned down as it was, still felt out of place and gaudy to me. Hathaway was the one and only weak point in a near perfect movie. Not nearly enough to ruin it, and she handled the part well enough, but I still would have preferred a number of other leading ladies. In fact, if she and Marion Cotillard had swapped roles, I would have been a happy camper

foxrock66(Roadkill) wrote:As for Bane I covered him already.

foxrock66(Roadkill) wrote:I didn't say I didn't like her at all. She served her purpose, but she's the least memorable part of the whole film.

And no, not kidding at all. I think Cotillard is a far superior actress - not to mention hotter - and would have much preferred her as Catwoman/Selina and Hathway as Tate.

zeb k wrote:But either way the movie was good.

Den wrote:Still haven't seen it.