Review: 'The Dark Knight Rises'
“The Dark Knight Rises” opens today. There’s no need to set up this review – you’ve seen the first two Batman movies by Christopher Nolan, you don’t need to be convinced to see this latest installment.
So this write-up is just so you can bounce off on the points below on this box office monster of a movie.
Here are our observations on what is said to be last Batman movie Nolan will be doing:
● The movie begins with a very original action sequence – showing a stunt most likely never seen before in the movies. (We thought: Are we in a Bourne film?)
● Bale’s Bruce Wayne deciding to return to Crusading with the Cape is dealt with soon after this, but it took a while; it made us wish that the buildup would end soon and reveal the new Batman already!
● Even with fancy new Batmobiles and crazy villains, the heart of what makes Nolan’s Batman series great is this: Moral decisions made by characters in the movie play out in significant and relevant ways in the present. Case in point: the fate of Harvey Dent.
● An awesome surprise: Michael Caine’s Alfred gains even more dimension – his relationship to Bruce gives the movie room a chance to explore – and reveal! – why Bruce is seemingly apathetic to the concerns of others.
● There’s a world of pain in this movie: Batman gets a beating from a villain who is physically more powerful, and the suffering of Gotham citizens longing for their hero to “come back” hits you in the gut. If you’re old enough, this agony will remind you of the movie "Escape from New York". As the city crumbles, so does the spirit and will of the people to hope.
● Report card on the Nolan newbies:
- Anne Hathaway manages to shine in a stellar cast by "just" being herself. The Selina Kyle/Catwoman role fits her to a T.
- We have mixed reviews on Tom Hardy in the role of Bane – it was probably difficult to portray a character whose face is behind a mask. His mumble-y voice was also a concern, but as the movie progressed, Hardy effectively used physical movement and eye contact to communicate. (As a body actor, Tom Hardy is great!)
- Marion Cotillard is Bruce’s best love interest yet; as Wayne Enterprises Board Director Miranda Tate, she captivates Bruce and draws him out from his recluse. BUT: her fate is one of the movie’s many twists so [spoiler alert!] what you know about her may not be what you believe by the end.
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake is… just all right. He doesn’t have an imposing personality in the movie, but you will be drawn to his innocence, which is what the role asks for. But it also makes it hard for me to believe how Blake could rise up for bigger roles in the future though. [Spoiler alert!]
● Character, shmaracter, just tell us how the movie looks! This movie looks even more apocalyptic than the first two, because the terror plot is more real and identifiable. Gotham is basically a re-branded New York City, and the memories of 9/11 linger eerily whenever you see parts of the city explode. The special effects weren’t overly done, and the art direction and sets complemented the scenes and performances. They sat perfectly without being overwhelming, which is how a good action movie should be.
Even the gadgets/gear seem to have taken a back seat to the plot. Except for the flying vehicle (AKA the “Batwing”) there are no other new introductions, no Morgan Freeman popping up and telling Bruce, “Oh I have been working on a solution for that. Let me show you.”
● The Big Finish? Nicely done, Nolan! We’re not here to spoil the fate of Bruce Wayne/Batman at the end, but the tightly crafted story leads up to a strong closure to the trilogy, AND opens up new plots for future Batman movies (which we suppose, may or may not be directed by Nolan). The ending feels fresh. What we can tell you: Batman emerges from the vilified vigilante to hero by the end of the movie.
● What about “The Avengers” and “The Amazing Spider-Man” – is “The Dark Knight Rises” better? The earlier superhero movies of the summer come off a tad bit campy, with their eye candy and Pop Art style. This Caped Crusader is a serious contrast – a superhero movie that is ultimately about being human.
Let’s keep the conversation going! Tell us your thoughts on “The Dark Knight Rises” in the comments below.
